Interpreting maps, charts, and graphs is part of many school subjects: geography, science, social studies, economics, etc. Often times, teachers spend many hours online trying to find just the right map or maps to drive home a key concept of a planned lesson. Handouts and powerpoints are often used. Often times, students try to stay attentive, but this engagement can be limited.
So how can teachers reverse the trend? Try GEO COMMONS! Teachers can create maps addressing almost any topic being addressed or use maps already there. Data can be easily uploaded into map design on over 20 subject areas. Teachers might also consider having students generate their own maps as class projects. This is a major shift from the popular powerpoint!
Registration is required, but it is a free site. Maps created can also be saved for future use!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Twitter @ell_teacherpros
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Showing posts with label economics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economics. Show all posts
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Monday, August 27, 2012
GREAT INFOGRAPHIC GENERATOR FOR ECONOMICS, HISTORY, SCIENCE, GEOGRAPHY AND MORE!
Here is a tool that will make content comprehensible to long-term ELLs and others. Charts can convey academically deep concepts with ease at times. For example, economics may at times seem a bit overwhelming to some students due to the math. Here students study what makes an economy grow, slow, or collapse. This involves monitoring trends in the business market that steer the economy. With the current global international business community, these trends become even more of a challenge to follow for many students. Using this tool, market swings/projections could easily be handled.
Now, imagine using a tool that could in a few minutes convey complex topics in visuals. Further, these visuals could be shared with ease either as printouts or as PDFs. Now, of course, students could still use chart paper to draw up ideas from scratch, but at least this tool might provide them with some suggestions as to how to display their in-depth understanding through well thought out visuals.
Again, here is another non-traditional, but highly demanding, alternative assessment. Students could design their own and then explain what concepts they are addressing in it. This is academically challenging work. An essay might come later, but for now, this would provide the students (ELLs especially) time to totally familiarize themselves with the highly academically grade-level content. Once that is fully grasped, compiling their own charts could be accomplished with ease.
EASY INFOGRAPHIC GENERATOR
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Epson Artisan 730 Color Inkjet All-in-One C11CB18201 (Google Affiliate Ad)
Epson Artisan 837 Color Inkjet All-in-One C11CB20201 (Google Affiliate Ad)
Boise - X9 Multipurpose Paper, 20lb, 92 Bright, 8-1/2 x 11" - Case - (Google Affiliate Ad)
Now, imagine using a tool that could in a few minutes convey complex topics in visuals. Further, these visuals could be shared with ease either as printouts or as PDFs. Now, of course, students could still use chart paper to draw up ideas from scratch, but at least this tool might provide them with some suggestions as to how to display their in-depth understanding through well thought out visuals.
Again, here is another non-traditional, but highly demanding, alternative assessment. Students could design their own and then explain what concepts they are addressing in it. This is academically challenging work. An essay might come later, but for now, this would provide the students (ELLs especially) time to totally familiarize themselves with the highly academically grade-level content. Once that is fully grasped, compiling their own charts could be accomplished with ease.
EASY INFOGRAPHIC GENERATOR
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Epson Artisan 730 Color Inkjet All-in-One C11CB18201 (Google Affiliate Ad)
Epson Artisan 837 Color Inkjet All-in-One C11CB20201 (Google Affiliate Ad)
Boise - X9 Multipurpose Paper, 20lb, 92 Bright, 8-1/2 x 11" - Case - (Google Affiliate Ad)
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
"Move" ECONOMICS from the TEXTBOOK to the REAL WORLD with PRACTICAL BUSINESS WORLD APPLICATIONS
With the arrival of the common core in social studies, teachers will be focusing on linking key concepts from the text to the outside world be it the world of business or the university.
The links below cover a high school economics class. Though not specifically called "common core", it does reflect the higher order thinking skills required by students to think independently. Application of content to life outside the classroom provides students with the skills the workforce admires. Also, team work, seen as a PLUS in business, is apparent all throughout the lesson. Here, every team is consulting with members within their groups to create that perfect product that will generate the most "money." Rules are laid out. Timers are on. Every student is actively engaged in the assignment as they try to beat the clock. Students later discuss their success or "near" success using academic language to make their point.
How would such a setup support ELLs? Rules are clearly laid out (and on a chart for easy reference). Teacher has students re-iterate their understanding of the rules. ELLs would also be able to ask persons in their groups for further directions if needed. The teacher also spent time laying out what would be done in the lesson and WHY. This type of scaffolding is a must for ELLs. The additional support here allows ELLs to access the point of the lesson so that they proceed along with confidence in their ability to complete the assigned task.
With the advent of common core, more states are putting up lessons on the internet to share their successes here. I will be combing the net looking for them to share with you in this blog:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
"Organization Center Wall Pocket Chart"
The links below cover a high school economics class. Though not specifically called "common core", it does reflect the higher order thinking skills required by students to think independently. Application of content to life outside the classroom provides students with the skills the workforce admires. Also, team work, seen as a PLUS in business, is apparent all throughout the lesson. Here, every team is consulting with members within their groups to create that perfect product that will generate the most "money." Rules are laid out. Timers are on. Every student is actively engaged in the assignment as they try to beat the clock. Students later discuss their success or "near" success using academic language to make their point.
How would such a setup support ELLs? Rules are clearly laid out (and on a chart for easy reference). Teacher has students re-iterate their understanding of the rules. ELLs would also be able to ask persons in their groups for further directions if needed. The teacher also spent time laying out what would be done in the lesson and WHY. This type of scaffolding is a must for ELLs. The additional support here allows ELLs to access the point of the lesson so that they proceed along with confidence in their ability to complete the assigned task.
With the advent of common core, more states are putting up lessons on the internet to share their successes here. I will be combing the net looking for them to share with you in this blog:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
"Organization Center Wall Pocket Chart"
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Math OUTSIDE the Classroom? Help Kids Make that Vital Connection:)
All too often, students rarely see how the math they use in school has many applications in the real world outside of school. In fact, math can have a fun side to it from time to time:) Prove it with this site: FUN MATH FOR KIDS.
Some of the activities I explored were math and music, electoral votes, kite making, tetris math, and create a graph. Directions were easy to follow and actually fun. This is a site that teachers could encourage parents to use with their children. In fact, parents would be able to support classroom lessons with some of these sites. Further, when parents are actively involved in their children's classwork/homework, children are more motivated to learn. Parents are an integral part of a child's education. Any site that encourages that should be widely circulated at Back-to-School Night, parent conferences, etc.
For almost any teacher from any discipline, why not try linking some of the sites to the actual lessons with math applications which you are working on in class? If you are a social studies teacher, why not try CREATE A GRAPH? Graph voting trends in stellar colors and styles. If you are a math teacher, take surveys and graph results. If you are science, create graphs showing lab results. PE? Graph heart rates for the class.
Try it. You will like it:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Some of the activities I explored were math and music, electoral votes, kite making, tetris math, and create a graph. Directions were easy to follow and actually fun. This is a site that teachers could encourage parents to use with their children. In fact, parents would be able to support classroom lessons with some of these sites. Further, when parents are actively involved in their children's classwork/homework, children are more motivated to learn. Parents are an integral part of a child's education. Any site that encourages that should be widely circulated at Back-to-School Night, parent conferences, etc.
For almost any teacher from any discipline, why not try linking some of the sites to the actual lessons with math applications which you are working on in class? If you are a social studies teacher, why not try CREATE A GRAPH? Graph voting trends in stellar colors and styles. If you are a math teacher, take surveys and graph results. If you are science, create graphs showing lab results. PE? Graph heart rates for the class.
Try it. You will like it:)
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Great Resource for Teaching Personal Finance in Grades K-12!
This site deals with economics. Here teachers will find an extensive collection of lessons on economics, personal finance, and resources for teachers, students of all ages, and after school providers.
Some of the featured lessons covered currently are loan amortization, and calculating simple interest. You will also find interactive tools covering everything imaginable related to economics. I tried the SAVING and INVESTING BLITZ and didn't do as poorly as I had expected:) Of course, in a real class setting, the teacher would also have access to the teaching tools (and state standards) to address this topic (and MANY more) before students attempted the game.
Parents are not left out here either. The resources provided lay out strategies for parents to support their children in learning such things as planning for college, careful spending, developing a savings plan, and more.
PERSONAL FINANCE is wonderful resource that parents, teachers, and some students will definitely want to bookmark to refer to on a regular basis.
Hope you enjoy the site!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Some of the featured lessons covered currently are loan amortization, and calculating simple interest. You will also find interactive tools covering everything imaginable related to economics. I tried the SAVING and INVESTING BLITZ and didn't do as poorly as I had expected:) Of course, in a real class setting, the teacher would also have access to the teaching tools (and state standards) to address this topic (and MANY more) before students attempted the game.
Parents are not left out here either. The resources provided lay out strategies for parents to support their children in learning such things as planning for college, careful spending, developing a savings plan, and more.
PERSONAL FINANCE is wonderful resource that parents, teachers, and some students will definitely want to bookmark to refer to on a regular basis.
Hope you enjoy the site!
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Helping Kids Understand the World Wide Financial Crisis
The world is probably dealing with the worst financial crisis since the depression of the 1930s. Jobs are hard to find. Homes are being lost due to foreclosures. Parents are struggling to put food on the table with drastically reduced finances. Marriages are breaking up. The list goes on. Yet, despite all those tragic events, students will still come to school--probably the one area of stability in their lives.
With school opening around many parts of the US this month, teachers will most likely be faced with questions from students. Some questions might focus on their own family's financial woes while others might focus on how could this debacle occur in America. Other students might want to know how the activities on Wall Street personally affect their lives. Then there are those who might question why the president doesn't have the power to "fix things."
Well with all this turmoil in the world, there is a unique opportunity to make a learning experience out of it. HELP KIDS UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL CRISIS Scholastic Magazine offers some well thought out lesson plans on many parts of the puzzle and the lessons are developed in such a way as to make them fully comprehensible for ELLs and EOs. Many come with PDF worksheets, downloadable books, photographs of struggling Americans during the 1930s, etc. Since this section is aimed at grades 3-8 (though high school ELLs would benefit from it as well), you will need to see which sections apply to your grade level.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
With school opening around many parts of the US this month, teachers will most likely be faced with questions from students. Some questions might focus on their own family's financial woes while others might focus on how could this debacle occur in America. Other students might want to know how the activities on Wall Street personally affect their lives. Then there are those who might question why the president doesn't have the power to "fix things."
Well with all this turmoil in the world, there is a unique opportunity to make a learning experience out of it. HELP KIDS UNDERSTAND THE FINANCIAL CRISIS Scholastic Magazine offers some well thought out lesson plans on many parts of the puzzle and the lessons are developed in such a way as to make them fully comprehensible for ELLs and EOs. Many come with PDF worksheets, downloadable books, photographs of struggling Americans during the 1930s, etc. Since this section is aimed at grades 3-8 (though high school ELLs would benefit from it as well), you will need to see which sections apply to your grade level.
Denise
ELL TEACHER PROS
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