Scribbler's Den

In some of my classes I put a puzzle up on the board for students to try and solve.  This is useful for when they finish an exercise early or if I need time to mark the roll.  It can also be a filler if there is time left at the end of the session.

An example of these puzzles is 24 = H in a D

The answer is 24 = Hours in a Day

The first time you use these with your students I recommend you point out that both the number and the phrasing are clues.  It is easy enough to make these brain teasers up and and tailor them to your particular subject area.

I have attached a document with a couple of dozen included that you can use in your classroom - download.

There are some culturally specific riddles and some are dependent on experience.  For example Americans may find it difficult to get 13 = P in a RLT (13 players in a Rugby League Team) just as Australians will struggle to get 13 = S on the AF (13 stripes on the American Flag).  Similarly, if you haven't read 1000 leagues Under the Sea then you won't get 1000 = L under the S.

I can guarantee that some of these will drive your students crazy.  A favourite of mine is 200 = D for PG in M.  Can you guess the answer?

If you want more documents like this then just type the following search string into the Google search bar - brain teaser filetype:doc Adjust 'brain teaser' and 'doc' to suit your needs.

Enjoy.

My mother in-law was talking the other day about an experience she had when her son was in primary school.  He was moved into a class where he had no friends.  I am not sure if this happened mid year or at the start of a new one.  Regardless he wasn't happy and neither was she.  She ended up going to the school and requesting he be placed in a class where he had friends.

Now I really have no experience with the primary school sphere despite the fact I went to a couple when I was young.  So I don't know if this course of action was a good thing or not - in that setting.  In a high school though I would have reservations about this sort of request.  Perhaps it is my teaching style or just my experience but I often see the dark side of having close friends in the same class.

Primarily friends can be a distraction.  Many teenagers struggle to be organised and focused even without the influence of peer pressure and the need for peer approval.  Add to this a desire to socialise and you have a brick wall standing between a student and learning.  In a couple of my classes I have an issue where students constantly try to show their friends the fruits of their labour.  This can be a good thing but not when it is every minute or so.

In a high school (secondary) subjects are also content based or even streamed by ability so a requests to switch classes are often viewed with care.  Students at my school always try to work the system to be in a class with their friends.  They are quite open about this with teachers and then lie openly when asked for their reasoning by administration.

in a high school class room socialisation with friends could quite possibly be last on the list of things to do - in my opinion.  Lunch times and after school would be far more appropriate times.  Am i being myopic about this?  If any parents read this I would be particularly interested in your repsonses.

Teachers learn a lot of educational theories.  We read a lot about learning styles and aptitudes.  Seth Godin has written an interesting article that easily transfers over to the classroom experience and provides a different perspective on students.  Here is an excerpt from the article;

A kid who has innate hunting skills is easily distracted, because noticing small movements in the brush is exactly what you'd need to do if you were hunting. Scan and scan and pounce. That same kid is able to drop everything and focus like a laser--for a while--if it's urgent. The farming kid, on the other hand, is particularly good at tilling the fields of endless homework problems, each a bit like the other. Just don't ask him to change gears instantly.

The theory is that we are all hunters or farmers.  Seth is writing from a marketing angle but I think his article is worth a read with the classroom in mind too.

I have, over time, built up quite a collection of education blogs in my RSS reader and people I follow in Twitter.  The end result is a collection of education news, articles, and opinion.  All of this means I have access to a lot of resource links useful for my teaching practice and reflection and now hopefully yours too.

I am going to try and pass these resources on to you via a monthly post called Education Links.  I have seen many a website do this, education and non education.  I hope you will find these links a useful way accessing new information and fellow teaching professionals on the Internet.  Some links will be to news articles and others will be blog posts by teachers.

Of course, I know my posts here at Scribbler's Den have hardly been regular.  So, add the blog to your RSS reader if you don't want to miss out on the links when I do get around to posting them.  Here is the first batch.  Enjoy.

Adventures In Pencil integration - An Allegory blog featuring the efforts and thoughts of 'Tom Johnson' who is trying to integrate pencils into his curriculum.

Why News Sucks - An article about News broadcasts and how they can sensationalise their content and delivery.  Take note of the first comment for more analysis.

What Makes a Great Teacher - An article responding to a politician's assertion that all great teachers have quality university qualifications.

Learning Styles Debunked? - An article questioning the validity of learning style theory.

What Does A Good library Tell You About A School - A list of features great libraries have.

What The Web Of Tomorrow Will Look Like - A list of trends that will impact everyone including educators

Combating The Myths Of Online Reading - Strategies for ensuring students use online texts effectively

Office Politics - Strategies to Stay Positive

Time Saving Tips - A large collection of stategies for teachers to save time and energy.