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Academic Discourse: 4 Key Aspects
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn, Abbigail Armstrong, Melissa Miles
Published via edCircuit : September 30, 2019
When we think about traditional student talk and academic discourse, whether it is in response to a teacher’s question, discussion with other students or generating questions, there are common problems.
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Academic Vocabulary
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Middleweb : January 20, 2013
Although we have always known the importance of teaching vocabulary, there has recently been a focus on academic vocabulary, especially vocabulary tiers, across the domains and content areas. Let’s take a look.
Boosting Comprehension Across Subject Areas
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Middleweb : September 24, 2024
In a typical classroom, beginning teachers will learn to use a wide range of comprehension strategies, whatever content they teach. Let’s look at five strategies that are particularly suited to scaffolding learning to higher levels and can be adapted to any subject area.
Four Creative Ways to Use Writing to Enhance Learning
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via edCircuit : June 1, 2018
Too often, students see writing as boring and hard. Use writing to enhance learning is an important life skill and a key aspect of classroom instruction. However, too often, students think writing is boring and hard. Let’s look at three creative ways to use writing with students to enhance learning. Here are 4 Creative Ways to Use Writing to Enhance Learning.
Give Me a Microphone: Developing Oral Literacy Skills
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Share My Lesson : October 2, 2024
Oral literacy, a foundational activity in a literacy classroom, can take a variety of formats. It might include speaking in a formal presentation, participating in a drama, or readers’ theater. But at its most basic level, oral literacy is simply conversation with a clear focus: to give students an opportunity to make meaning or to demonstrate their own understanding.
How to Improve Your Questioning Techniques
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Middleweb : May 6, 2019
Asking and answering questions is an everyday occurrence in most classrooms. Sometimes it happens orally, sometimes in writing, but it is one of the most common classroom activities. Good questioning helps students build understanding, but poor questioning can deter students from learning. How can you create questions that will help all students learn?
How to Boost Learning in the Non-Core Subjects
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Middleweb : December 4, 2022
When we talk about rigor, it’s often focused on the four core content areas: English Language Arts, Math, Science, or Social Studies. But rigor is for all students across all areas of learning.
Literacy is for Everyone
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Share My Lesson : September 6, 2024
Are you a literacy teacher? Here is my answer: Everyone is a literacy teacher. If you teach math or science or another subject other than English/language arts, you might think, “Teaching reading and writing is not my job.” Let me explain. I’m not saying you need to stop and teach a mini-lesson on how to read. However, if you want your students to understand your content, and if you want them to demonstrate an understanding of your lesson, they will need to read and write.
Optimizing Your Textbook to Meet Student Needs
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Share My Lesson : August 17, 2022
When I was a teacher, the textbook was my main source of instruction. Particularly as a new teacher, I was given an entire pack of materials, and told it would answer all my questions. Now, we typically use textbooks as one of a variety of tools, although at times, we still rely mainly on textbooks. Let’s look at three ways to optimize your textbook.
Put Some Bang at the Beginning of Lessons
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Middleweb : October 3, 2018
How we start out lessons in our classrooms makes a huge difference in the learning that takes place during the remaining minutes of instruction.
There are three keys to launching effective lessons. These are steps most of us have been taught, but in the daily rush to plan we may sometimes let one or more of them slip by
Learning Strategies : Reviewing Content without Repeating
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Share My Lesson : December 5, 2019
Barbara Blackburn reviews why repetition doesn't work for everyone and what learning strategies educators can use to ensure positive outcomes and growth.
Six Characteristics of Effective Praise
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Middleweb : December 6, 2015
Most teachers regularly use praise in their classrooms. However, students can interpret praise positively or negatively. Let’s look at six characteristics of effective praise, using a simple acronym:
Text Selection : Diverse Readings to Increase Learning
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Share My Lesson : February 18, 2020
Although reading is a critical part of learning in all content areas, there are challenges. Often, we use books or other materials that are not challenging for students. It seems there are two extremes: Some students only read books that are too easy for them; others struggle with text that is too difficult. It’s important for students to read a book or an article they can quickly and easily read; those opportunities build self-confidence, provide enjoyable experiences, and may increase student motivation.
Three Keys to Effective Questioning
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via edCircuit : December 16, 2019
Victory With Vocabulary
by Dr. Barbara Blackburn
Published via Share My Lesson : March 5, 2024
Barbara Blackburn shares how she creates opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding in ways that required them to synthesize information about a term or concept and refine it down to the key points.
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