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

The Meaning of the Red, White and Blue Colors of the American Flag

Many people want to know the answer to the question, why is the American flag red, white and blue. Knowing the American flag's meaning lets the citizens comprehend the symbols, colors and the design represent. It is also a reminder to the people how the country started.

1. The first answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because they are the colors the represent the thirteen state that battled the regime of the United Kingdom in the United States.

2. The second answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because the red represented courage, white represented purity and blue stood for the Americans' belief in justice. These are the character traits that Americans believe.

3. The third answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because it was the agreed colors by the congress in 1782. The national records however do not have the explanation why the congress back then chose these colors.

4. The fourth answer to the question why is the flag red, white and blue could be because the color red was taken from the flag of the United Kingdom. The white represented the end of the colonization of the Great Britain. The blue represented heaven. The stars symbolized the dreams of the citizens of the United States. It also symbolized that hopes of the people in America should not be limited. The five points of the stars could be the representation of the rays of the sun which symbolized light.

5. The fifth answer to the question why is the American flag red, white and blue is because these colors symbolized freedom. The colors collectively represented liberation from any form of alien sovereignty. The colors of the flag are the powerful symbols for America's stand for independence. It also represented all the important beliefs the forefathers of the United States bravely fought for to achieve.

It is important to observe the proper etiquette when you are in front of the flag. It should never fall. It should never be torn or made dirty. There is also a proper way of disposing a worn out flag. There is a federal law in the United States that bans anyone using the flag for business purposes however this law is continuously not being followed because the first amendment can always counteract this law.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kenny_Leones

Reasons Why We Call the Smallest Finger the Pinky

The pinky is the smallest finger in the human hand. It has an important role in giving shape to our hands even with its tiny size. It is true that not all small fingers of people are colored pink but why do we call the smallest finger in our hand the pinky?

This is a term that has been used for many years already that we can't exactly pinpoint where or from whom it started. We can answer the question, why the small finger is called a pinky by looking at its etymology.

1. The first answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky could be because it was derived from a Scottish term. According to a dictionary made in 1808 by the writer named John Jamieson, the term pinky originated in Scotland where it was a word used by the old folks to refer to anything that is small in size. The term was later adapted by the Americans to call the smallest finger in our hand as the pinky. This is the logical explanation why we have come to call it the pinky.

2. The second answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky could be because it was originally a word used by the Dutch. The Scots actually got this term from them. The Dutch used the terms "pinck ooghen, " to refer to an eye that is not totally closed. If you translate these terms literally it would mean "pink eye". They also used it to refer to the smallest finger. This was the Dutch word that proliferated throughout Europe. It is not because the Dutch have fingers that are colored pink.

3. The third answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky is because according to the dictionary from Oxford, it originated from an adjective that was used centuries ago to refer to something that is tiny in size. This was an adjective used widely to pertain to the smallest finger. It does not have any connection to the pink hue.

4. The fourth answer to the question why is your small finger called a pinky is because of the Americans who lived in the eighteenth century. They were the people who used it widely. The pinky swear even originated from that term since Americans during that time started using it as a symbol of staying true to a promise made.

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

A Brief History of Glastonbury Tor

Tor is a Celtic word that refers to a conical hill. Glastonbury Tor is one of these hills that is located at Glastonbury, in Somerset. It rises up out of the middle of the Somerset Levels.

Previously, the Tor would have been an island as the Levels used to be wetlands and were regularly flooded by sea-water, often being submerged for decades or centuries. The reclamation that took place and turned them into the inhabitable farmland that they are now left Glastonbury Tor stood as a hill rising steeply out of the surrounding plain, rather than the island that it had been. This change has given it a dramatic appearance, as it is the one landmark for miles on the otherwise flat ground.

The Tor has shown evidence of settlement going right back to Neolithic times. Flint tools of the sort used by humans for thousands of years have been found there, along with signs of Dark Age settlement, such as postholes. Other remains of this period are seen in a hearth and a metal worker's forge that have been discovered, as well as burial plots.

What appears to be a 5th century fort was also discovered on the Tor, or the remains of it at least, but it appears that this had its spot stolen by a church that survived until 1275. Then an earthquake hit Britain and destroyed many buildings around it, including the church. Another one was built later, but it got torn down too.

There is a belief that the Tor is the island Avalon from the King Arthur mythology, partly based on the island apparently being called Ynys yr Afalon (The Isle of Avalon) by the native Britons

The Tor also has rings of terraces around it, thought to either have been crafted for agricultural purposes, as they would make planting, taking care of and harvesting crops easier, or as defensive ramparts.

Whatever the Tor has done in the past, it is still a popular and dramatic landmark, and draws many visitors every year. When in the Somerset Levels it is hard to miss.

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