Another Recommended Blog

Have you checked out Cool Cat Teacher?  Vickie Davis's site is filled with links to lesson plans, resources, and anything related to teachers.  It's definitely worth your time.

A Great Resource

Are you looking for a blog related to student engagement, learning, and technology?  Then the Engaging Educators' Blog is for you!  Check it out.

Starting a New Year

Are you receiving my e-newsletter?  This month's is on Starting the New Year!  September's issue will be on Increasing Student Participation.  Every issue has quick tips, a Principal's Corner, and Recommended Resources. Sign up now using the link on the right.  I'll be resending the August issue early next week. 

Reflective Questioning Guides for Rigor Made Easy

I always receive requests for guiding questions with my books.  This time, I created two. 

The first one is designed for teachers; the second one for leaders.

And if you missed it, I posted the link to a facilitator's handbook last weekend.  I love those activities, and they are easily adapted to the book of your choice.

Facilitating Book Groups

Since Rigor Made Easy is now out, I wanted to share a few resources.  Have you ever been asked to facilitate a book group or book study?  This one is for you!  The format I prefer is activities to use before reading the book, ones for use while reading a book, and those appropriate for use after you have finished reading.  Even those these activities are specifically for Rigor Made Easy, they can easily be adapted for any book study. 

Rigor in Education Discussion Group and Rigor Made Easy

Rigor Made Easy is definitely out and shipping!! I'm in Wellston, Ohio today and tomorrow and they are flipping through their copies now.  The Eye on Education website is showing a March 5 date for ordering, but if you are interested in multiple copies or an earlier ship date, give them a call at 1-888-299-5350.

Next, if you are a member of LinkedIn--or even if you aren't--I've just created a new discussion group for Rigor in Education.  It's a great opportunity to ask questions, share ideas, and meet other people who are also interested in the topic of rigor.  Please join us if you would like.

Rigor...Chatting in an Open Group

I've just created a new open group over at LinkedIn on the subject of rigor.  Because it's an open group, you can join even if you don't belong to LinkedIn.  I'd love to see thought-provoking discussions, and I'll be happy to answer any questions, ranging from the Common Core State Standards to how do I help parents understand that rigor is a positive thing?  If you are doing a book study on any of my books, start a discussion, post your question, and let's see what happens! 

Sneak Peek of New Book!!

 Today, I found out my newest book is off the press and on the way for shipping!  It will also definitely be available at NASSP in Tampa (and so will I). Want to get a preview of some of the activities/key points? Check out the downloadable templates and the free study guides for teachers and leaders.

It's an introduction to the concept of rigor, with a focus on what rigor looks like in the classroom.  It also includes information about the Common Core State Standards, student motivation, strategic and nonstrategic learners, and how to put high expectations into action.  Please don't hesitate to send me feedback/comment about the material.  You can also view some preview pages and find ordering information here.

Rigor Made Easy

I'm excited about my new book, Rigor Made Easy. It will be available by the end of the month from Eye on Education.  I've been a bit off the grid this week finishing up the accompanying study guides.  They will be free as downloads on my website as soon as the book is out.

New Resources for Teachers and Principals

We just relaunched my website, www.barbarablackburnonline.com.  If you click the free resources page, you will find a wealth of options, including activity templates for teachers from my books, planning templates for leaders from my leadership books, research-based white papers, podcasts, videos, guest blog entries, and transcripts from online chats.  By the way, you can contact me through the site, and I'm collecting ideas for my next book on rigor--a toolkit for teachers (separate volumes for elementary and middle/high school).  I love to share stories from teachers--click here to share an idea or strategy!

Social Proof--Negative or Postive (Guest Post from Bryan Harris)

One of Eye on Education's other authors, Bryan Harris, is a great resource for classroom management and engagement.  Here's a sample: 

Social proof is the tendency of individuals to look to others' behavior to help determine their own behavior. When we see others doing something or taking a course of action, it has tremendous influence in our own decision-making process. We see examples of social proof around us every day. Most of us want to see the latest movie everyone is talking about and drive with the flow of traffic regardless of the posted speed limit.

As educators, we sometimes resort to the use of negative social proof in an attempt to guide and influence student behavior. We lecture classes about missing homework, coming to class late, uncooperative behavior, or apathetic attitudes. We do this in an attempt to clarify right from wrong and acceptable from unacceptable. However, the practice of highlighting the negative behavior of a few students can actually backfire.

For the rest of the blog (thanks to ASCD), click here!
Bryan Harris is director of professional development for the Casa Grande Elementary School District in Arizona. He is the author of Battling Boredom. More information can be found at http://www.bryan-harris.com.

Ratcheting Up Reviews

Looking for some new ideas for reviewing content for your students?  My December newsletter is out and there are strategies and resources for teachers, and a special plan for principals.  Sign up using the button on the right--I'll be resending it throughout the week to new subscribers.  Also, if you haven't seen the earlier issues on motivation and engagement as well as Rigor and the Common Core State Standards, click "View Our Archives" to check them out.  Have a great day knowing that you are making a difference for someone today!

One of My Favorite Resources

Throughout December, I'm going to profile some of my favorite resources.  First up, organization and time management is always a struggle, isn't it?  No matter how much I try, my inbox is never empty, and I have a stack of papers on my desk.  Frank Buck, a friend and contributor to my books, helps me with these challenges. He's also trying to convince me to go paperless! Here's my summary of his resources:

For professional development to “stick,” there must be follow-up. That was the reason the “Get Organized!” blog was started over 6 years ago. Workshop participants can read additional content and interact long after the workshop is over. The focus of the blog is a nut-and-bolts approach to organization and time management. In a world that is becoming increasingly more digital, readers find simple solutions to harness common technology tools. The free e-mail newsletter is a once-per-month “breath of fresh air” which appears automatically appears in the reader’s Inbox. It’s attempt is to teach, inspire, and make navigating our work and personal loves a little easier.

To begin receiving the newsletter, visit FrankBuck.blogspot.com and look for a link on the right-hand side of the screen inviting you to subscribe.

November Newsletter is Out!

Did you receive your November e-newsletter? This issue focuses on rigor and the Common Core State Standards.  If you haven't signed up, use the link to the right. I'll resend throughout the week.  If you have signed up and didn't receive it, check your spam folder!  I'm in New York City today for a day off with my dad.  If you will be at Madison Square Garden tonight for the Duke/Michigan State game, we'll be cheering in the Duke section!

Just a reminder....

Did you miss signing up for my first newsletter? The next one comes out in three weeks, and is on the Common Core State Standards. To sign up, use the link below or the signup to the right!


http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Ideas-for-Promoting-Motivation-and-Engagement.html?soid=1107463978567&aid=WBKjaXTYdXQ

Awesome new search engine...plus readability levels!

From my friend Erin Klein...a search site that also shows the readability of the site.  This is one of the coolest ideas for teachers I've seen!  By the way, her site, http://www.kleinspiration.com/ is definitely one to bookmark!

Another Inspiring Video

As I said earlier, I think all the Tales from a Teacher's Heart videos are awesome.  Here's one from Season One featuring my work with one school.

My Favorite Middle Level Resource Site

There are lots of resources out there, but just for middle level teachers, nothing beats  Middleweb.
 John Norton is a great guy, and his site is one of the most comprehensive for teachers.  If you need information on a topic related to middle schools, you'll probably find it here!  

Online Resources for Teaching

I started to compile my list of other great online resources for teaching, but I ran across this site  and decided not to reinvent the wheel!  As the author points out,

The possibilities for social media tools in the classroom are vast. In the hands of the right teacher, they can be used to engage students in creative ways, encourage collaboration and inspire discussion among even soft-spoken students. But we’ve already made our case for why teachers should consider using social media in their classrooms. What about the how?Even when people say they want to incorporate social media, they don’t always know the best ways to do so. It’s especially daunting when those efforts can affect the education of your students. To help, we’ve collected seven of the the best classroom tools for incorporating social media into your lesson plans.

Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning

This is another great resource from the ALA.  It's their list of the top 25 best websites for teaching and learning.  Here's their introductory description:

The "Top 25" Websites foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation, and collaboration. They are free, Web-based sites that are user friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover.

• Media Sharing
• Digital Storytelling
• Manage and Organize
• Social Networking and Communication
• Curriculum Sharing
• Content Resources: Lesson Plans and More
• Content Collaboration