The Secrets to Working Successfully With Group Work

When it comes to working with groups, always use your outgoing, resourceful, creative and smart students as group leaders. Teach them the message that the success of the group is also their own personal success because they are members of the groups.

1. Encourage them to work with their groups so their groups can function on a higher level.

2. Consider having a special incentive (i.e. a prize or bonus) for those who proved themselves to be good, caring and effective leaders.

Here are a few classroom tested tips for setting up group work procedures:

1. Lead the class into a discussion on what a good group leader means to them. Write the criteria on the board. Have each group rank the qualities.

2. Give the leaders autonomy in carrying out group decisions especially when it comes to solving issues of disagreement.

Periodically, have each group review its performance about a given task or project.

Start with small scale group tasks

When you feel that your class is really to experiment with group work, illustrate the task in slow step-by-step fashion. Don't continue until you have everybody's attention. Make sure students know you're the boss and they should listen to the procedure otherwise your classroom management will get out of hand. They will have plenty of opportunity to talk once they start the group work. Give students a set time for the assigned stage of work in class.

Tell them how many lessons they will have for the assigned group task. Give them a deadline and tell them what should be finished at home and what should be finished in class.

Teaching students the importance of group work is a lifelong skill. Successful group work lends itself to nurturing people skills such as collaboration and teamwork. Preparing students for this lifelong skill begins with the younger years.

Make Your Teaching Sparkle. Teach for Success. Make a difference in the classroom.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorit_Sasson

Reasons Why The Sears Tower Was Built

Sears is knows as one of the highest structures in the world. Many people want to know the answer to the question, why was the Sears tower made. The construction of this building started in 1970. It was finished after three years. It has one hundred eight floors. It can be found along the Wacker Drive in Chicago. It has outdone the World Trade Center as the highest building in 1974. We can answer the question, why was the Sears tower made by reviewing its history.

1. The first answer to the question, why was the Sears tower made was because the company, Sears and Roebuck decided to build a tall building where all their offices can be found. It was one of the biggest companies in the sixties. It had three hundred fifty thousand workers within Chicago.

2. The second answer to the question, why was the Sears tower made was because of the design made by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. They decided to create a unique design that will become a huge building with several offices. Their creativity led to one of the tallest building we have today.

3. The third answer to the question, why was the Sears tower made was because Sears wanted to build a massive office because they projected their growth to become bigger after a few years. They wanted to have one main headquarters where all their employees can work.

In the eighties antennas were placed on top of the Sears building. It added a lot to the height of the building. It became one thousand seven hundred seven feet. The antennas were for the television networks. It helped in improving the reception of the network, WMAQ-TV.

One of the antennas was extended adding the total height of the building to one thousand seven hundred thirty feet in 2000. Sears experienced downsides in their business later on and they decided to move out of the building because maintaining it was very costly. They experienced the slumps due to the tight competition with the other players in the industry.

Lightning strikes on the Sears building is a very common occurrence because of its height. The antennas are the ones hit most often. It is estimated that it gets hit at least more than six hundred times in a year. Sears building has toilets found on the one hundredth third floor. It has the second tallest toilets in the globe.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Leones

How to Build the Personal Touch With Students

I suppose building a personal connection with students is similar to pitching an idea to an editor. You have to do something to grab the attention of that editor just like engaging your students.

And like editors who want to feel connected to the story, students want to feel a sense of connection with their teacher.

So on that note, building a personal connection for many new teachers is challenging because of the trickiness in balancing classroom management and teaching.

The key is to build personal touch with students (in smallish doses) consistently with each student over a period of time which will have the full class effect. Don't worry if you haven't built a personal connection with all your students. Some students won't respond as positively to the personal touch and that is fine. Students will notice and feel the kind of person you are and will connect to you in one way or another. The most important thing is not just keep to your role as classroom manager teaching academic content.

After all, you are not teaching x number of students, you are teaching 30 (more or less) INDIVIDUAL students with individual needs. There is a real difference.

You will begin to also notice that building this connection will also affect how well you are able to engage your students right from the very minute you enter their class.

If they don't feel a connection with you however slight as it may be, they may not necessarily feel compelled to learn. with that said, I'm not suggesting you go out to be their best friend, but connecting with your students does not necessarily begin with teaching academic content.

So in order to help you build the right classroom environment for starting a lesson, pay attention to the following issues, which can substantially affect the 'pitch' of your lesson.

1. Is the class calm enough? Maybe your class would use a little more personal contact with students. Start small. You don't have to have a lengthy conversation just say something short and sweet like: "I noticed how well you did during that football game - well done!" Just keep it genuine.

2. Pay attention to external circumstances - temperatures, excessive heart, the time of day.

3. Entering the classroom with a smile on your face is humbling and brights up the room. A smile brings the students closer to who you are.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dorit_Sasson

Reasons Why Apples and Teachers Are Associated

Apples have been long associated with teachers. It was a popular gift of students to their teachers in hope of getting better grades. The origins of this association is not clearly known although there have been a few attempts of explanations of how it all began. No one can really explain the answer to the question why are apples associated with teachers.

1. The first possible answer to the question why are apples associated with teachers is because of the fact it became one of the traditional presents given to teachers in European countries like Sweden and Denmark in the eighteenth century. Americans also followed this tradition and it grew popularity.

2. The second feasible answer to the question why are apples associated with teachers is because of the popular belief that apples are good for our health. It can keep the doctor away. It is one way of showing concern of parents and children for the teacher's health. Apples have high amounts of antioxidants that are good for the immune system. This made the apples a meaningful gift.

3. The third feasible answer to the question why are apples associated with teachers is because in the late years of the twenties, people called students who gave gifts to teachers not just apples as "apple-polishers".

4. The fourth possible answer to the question why are apples associated with teachers is because in the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, teachers earn poor wages. The parents gave apples from their orchards so they can give some compensation to the teachers. It is one way for the families to give something back to the teachers at that time. Back then students gave apples in baskets until it became common just to give one apple.

5. Another reason why apples are associated with teachers is because apples are sweet. Teachers are usually sweet people to be around with. They also need to be sweet to young children who need a lot of encouragement as they are growing up. Apples just like chocolates are good gifts to give to someone you care as it reflects the feelings you get from the person.

6. Another good reason why apples are associated with teachers is because back in the eighteenth century, there were plenty of apple trees you can find. It is an inexpensive gift you can give to anyone especially to a teacher who would surely appreciate an apple. People back then can quickly pick up an apple from a tree and give it to the teacher.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Leones