Blog 6 - One minute Guru

This blog is a place for you to share your ideas for tools you come across during exploration and research for your projects. In this blog post, you will have a ‘on stop shop’ list of tools, tips and tricks that you can access when you are brainstorming for lesson plans in the future. Post at least 5 tips, tricks, or tools that you and others can use later. 


Useful Teaching Tools:
1.)  National Center on Universal Design for Learning: UDL Guidelines - Version 2.0

The National Center on Universal Design for Learning website, http://www.udlcenter.org/, provides a list of helpful guidelines that allow teachers to make their lessons more accessible to students with different learning styles and needs.  If teachers get stuck, they will find lots of useful examples under "Implementation."

2.) School Improvement in Maryland: Standards: PK-8

When designing a lesson it is important to take standards into account to make sure that students are learning material that is challenging, yet age-appropriate.  These standards are specific to each state, but Maryland teachers will find the School Improvement in Maryland website a great resource for PK-8 standards.

3.) School Improvement in Maryland: Technology Standards: PK-8

In addition to providing information about standards in content area, the School Improvement in Maryland website provides standards that will help teachers incorporate technology into their classrooms. The website covers all Maryland technology standards for grades PK-8.

4.) Pam's Lessons: JPTAAR Format

JPTAAR format is useful for providing a lesson with structure and direction, and consists of six main divisions: Judges prior learning, Plans instruction, Teaches, Assesses, Analyzes, and Reflects on lesson and data gathered.  Pam's Lessons provides a link to download a JPTAAR template, as well as sample lesson plans.

5.) Towson University: Center for Professional Practice - INTASC Principles

Towson's INTASC (Interstate New Teachers Assessment and Support Consortium) Principles are a very basic set of principles that will help a teacher to design a thoughtful and meaningful lesson.  These ten principles include useful advice on learning styles, instructional strategies, and communication.