Multiple-choice tests are a curious breed. Those in favor of using them as a standardized method of testing will swear by the years of research and practica done to make multiple-choice tests reflect learning. Those against the format will argue that they are too subjective and not a good measurement tool for many non-subjective courses

Nothing can turn off kids quicker to learning math than if the lesson is poorly taught. Getting a math answer for a lot of kids can be hard. If your kid experiences this, there is a solution to try to help them learn this very important skill for life, a math CD to use at home. You need to look for CDs that meet certain criteria for your child to get the right answer every time. In other words, buy one that will engage them, and not frustrate them when trying to find the right math answer.

Most kids can use a little extra help with math, and it

School summer programs are not new to the general public or system at large, but special school summer programs

I just wanted to share this information with you. We may feel like some of the most unlucky, most victimized people on the planet if we have ADHD (Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder), also known as ADD or adult ADD. But we might also appreciate that we are some of the most spoiled people in history thanks to the internet with its abundance of sources for information on ADHD. And thanks to the brilliant, experienced, and qualified specialists who provide books, magazines, video and audio information on ADHD.

But maybe you have yet to experience the books, magazines (yes, whole magazines are devoted to Attention Deficit Disorder), articles, and other media sources giving up-to-date and exceptionally helpful information on ADHD, ADD, and the companion maladies (such as depression, manic episodes, and illnesses related to or brought on as a fallout of our having this complex disorder).

So here are a few places for you to look, sources for you to consult, or communities for you to join:

ADDitude Magazine - I found copies of this in my colleagues office, where, as a differential skills therapist she worked with many students with ADHD. The magazine is so real-world coping, so progressive and proactive, I subscribed to it after reading the first two or three articles.

Any books by Thom Hartmann

One of the most difficult tasks that a teacher faces is classroom management. The number of students that each teacher is responsible for is increasing. The funds for support staff to help in the classroom are decreasing. This combination means that educators need to learn and implement classroom management skills so that the students can learn.

There are a number of curriculums that incorporate classroom management as part of the lesson plans. This is helpful to teachers that are just starting out and need to develop their own style in the classroom. Many times the two groups that seem to struggle the most with these techniques in the classroom are the educators that are new to the field and those that are close to retirement.

The new educator is trying to adjust to school administration, fellow teachers and the set up of the school building in addition to getting to know their students. This means that also having to learn classroom management techniques can be overwhelming.

However not having strong management and disciplinary skills may mean that students will take control of the class and then it is difficult for the teacher to re-establish who is in charge. Each educator needs to adapt techniques that fit their personality and the subject they teach. Classroom management techniques are different for a shop class or science lab, where hands on learning is happening, compared to English or Math, which requires listening and reading.

The new educator needs to establish how they are going to run their classroom from the start, or they will spend too much time trying to deal with problem behaviors and disruptions.

The educator that has been around for a while may also have problems with classroom management due to the changing needs of students in the classroom. Our society has changed drastically in what is expected of educators and expectations of how children are to be treated in the classroom.

This means that what may have worked as a classroom management technique in the past, is no longer accepted by the community. For this reason the teachers that have been in the classroom for years find themselves in need of training, workshops and conferences on many techniques that they were not required to know in the past.

There are many resources for classroom management strategies. Each educator needs to finds the style that compliments their teaching techniques. Also different students need different management styles, so it is a good idea to have more than one strategy that can be used. If there is support staff helping in the classroom management the educator and staff need to coordinate the techniques that they are using so that the students are dealt with consistently. By coordinating efforts the classroom will run much smoother. See you on the next post