Teaching tools & materials
Each student creates their own productive challenge. We teachers follow along with brooms, brushes, sweets and books to read.
In a few areas, I have developed what seem, in my classes, useful materials. Here are some general notes, with more information in sub-pages and samples to download. Hope you enjoy – and perhaps use – them.
Fromm Institute :: Discover & craft your writing voice
The website Quininger developed out of this writing course at USF. The site holds a group of DIY tools for students as well as the student journal. One of the most useful tools has proven to be the grading/self-assessment matrix, or 'Twenty ways to look at writing'. A sample of journal pages may be seen here.
Professional tools :: Typography & text design
Over the years, I developed worksheets and step-by-steps for my students. I'm assembling a collection here.
Grades 6-7-8 :: A 3yr program in world history
As California began to revise its teaching guidelines and historians broke out of Euro-centrism to a larger world view, I was asked to organise a 3yr course for students preparing for high school. The old approach dealt with ancient civilisations in grade 6, introducing geography for the first time, then in 7 moved from Rome into medieval and modern times, with a gesture toward MesoAmerica. It finished in grade 8 with a concentration on the US.
Fromm Institute :: Discover & craft your writing voice
The website Quininger developed out of this writing course at USF. The site holds a group of DIY tools for students as well as the student journal. One of the most useful tools has proven to be the grading/self-assessment matrix, or 'Twenty ways to look at writing'. A sample of journal pages may be seen here.
Professional tools :: Typography & text design
Over the years, I developed worksheets and step-by-steps for my students. I'm assembling a collection here.
Grades 6-7-8 :: A 3yr program in world history
As California began to revise its teaching guidelines and historians broke out of Euro-centrism to a larger world view, I was asked to organise a 3yr course for students preparing for high school. The old approach dealt with ancient civilisations in grade 6, introducing geography for the first time, then in 7 moved from Rome into medieval and modern times, with a gesture toward MesoAmerica. It finished in grade 8 with a concentration on the US.
Many schools have now abandoned the 'continental' organisation of learning but keep a roughly time-bound organization. I have found students benefit most from a mix of geographic and chronologic. There's a draft of the plan here.