Skills for Successful Teaching

Table of Contents

Teaching Children Organization, Time Management, & Study Skills
Attitude Is Everything......................................5
Organization......................................................6
Time Management Techniques ........................8
Study Skills Strategies ...................................10
Note-Taking Tips.............................................12
Test-Taking Tricks ..........................................12
Keeping in Touch.............................................13
Schedule and Checklist...................................14
Teaching Children Conflict Resolution
Different Opinions...........................................15
What Is Conflict?.............................................16
Competition Versus Collaboration .................17
Communication ...............................................18
Listening..........................................................20
Resolving Conflicts..........................................22
Responses to Conflict ......................................23
Students Solving Their Own Conflicts ..........24

Building Self-Esteem
What Is Self-Esteem?......................................25
Children and Self-Esteem ..............................26
Self-Esteem in the Classroom ........................26
Four Factors for Self-Esteem..........................26
A Sense of Belonging ......................................27
A Sense of Uniqueness....................................29
A Sense of Power.............................................30
Freedom of Expression ...................................32
Discipline and Self-Esteem.............................33
Building Self-Esteem: An Ongoing Commitment....................34

Improving Writing Skills
Preparing Power Writers ................................35
The Writing Process........................................36
“Writer’s Block” Breakers ...............................37
Focusing In ......................................................37
Writing Conferences .......................................38
Editing the Work .............................................39
Publishing the Work .......................................41
Writing Activities ............................................41
Evaluating Writing .........................................43
Writing Evaluating Checklist ........................44

Planning a Great Science Fair Project
Science Fair Objectives ...................................45
The Scientific Method .....................................45
Choosing a Topic..............................................46
Planning the Project .......................................47
Researching the Topic .....................................48
Conducting the Experiment ...........................48
Sample Controlled Experiment Setup ...........49
Recording Data and Results...........................49
Writing the Research Paper ...........................50
Designing the Visual Presentation ................51
Planning the Oral Presentation.....................52
Evaluating the Project ....................................53
A Word About Awards.....................................53
Your Steps to the Science Fair .......................54

Strategies for a Multi-Age Group
The Multi-Age Advantage...............................55
Teaming Up to Teach ......................................56
The Multi-Age Environment ..........................56
Organizing for Learning .................................57
Teaching Self-Direction...................................58
Strategies for Multi-Age Learning.................60
Diagnosing Needs............................................60
Grouping Your Children .................................61
Cooperative Learning .....................................62
Peer Power.......................................................63
Learning Centers ............................................64
Evaluating Your Program...............................64

Making Current Events Meaningful
Why Teach Current Events ............................65
Implementing Your Program..........................66
Resources for News .........................................66
Choosing a Focus.............................................67
Introducing the Newspaper............................68
Teaching About News Stories.........................68
Teaching About Editorials ..............................69
Teaching About Editorial Cartoons................70
Teaching About Letters to the Editor ............70
Community Connections.................................71
Follow-Up Projects ..........................................72
Bulletin Board Displays..................................73
Evaluating Your Program...............................74