Eclectic Technology

Can teachers teach the Common Core standards and provide authentic learning so students are engaged? This post explores this issue and provides eight strategies for teaching in authentic ways. Below are four of the strategies.

* Make the standards fit into student interests.

* Teach students to question.

* Emulate effective risk taking.

* Be open to many answers.

For additional information the four strategies above and for four more click through to the post.

What makes a great teacher? This post explores this question providing some insightful ideas from a variety of writings as well as two additional images that you may want to print out and share with teachers in your school.

Below are some questions you may want to consider.

* Should students be supported in risk taking, know that the end product may not be successful?

* As teachers should be be driving the train, or allowing students to share the role as conductor?

* Should students be problem solvers or should they be problem finders?

There is much food for thought in this post and you may be rethinking your teaching this year after you read it.

What do creative people do that may be different from others. This post explores this stating:

'While there's no "typical" creative type, there are some tell-tale characteristics and behaviors of highly creative people.

The post shares 18 ideas, each of which are explained in detail if you click through...but five are listed below.
* They daydream

* They observe everything

* They turn life's obstacles around

* They ask the big questions

* They constantly shake things up

You may find that some of the ideas presented make you think of specific students in your classroom. As teachers are we recognizing that some of our students are more creative in their learning and may improve if we differentiate the instruction to help them engage their creativity?