Thought-provoking articles and classroom ideas for English teachers who never stop learning.
Helpful hints for better reading comprehension
Reading is a superpower that unlocks almost everything in life, from tackling schoolwork to allowing us to escape and explore imaginary universes. Yet, here in Spain, our students' reading comprehension levels are struggling to keep up with the rest of Europe. Let’s take a look at what’s happening and how we as teachers can help to turn things around.
Read this postThe effect listening to music has on the brain, and the problem-solving methods often used in studying music, both stimulate neuronal areas that generate deep, divergent, lateral thinking. In this post, we’ll clarify the nature of music as a learning tool, explore the different ways music converts us into expansive (as opposed to vertical) thinkers, and present techniques you can use to generate flexible thinking in your students.
Read this postIBL (Inquiry-based learning) has existed in different forms for centuries. In IBL, the teacher places much of the responsibility for the learning on the learners themselves, inviting them to ask questions, guiding them to find out the answers and encouraging them to delve deeper and find out more. Many teachers use an inquiry-based learning approach to boost student engagement.
Read this postThe effects of multiculturalism are both overt and hidden and sometimes even difficult to cope with. To help our students to be able to function effectively in this globalised environment, as educators we need to encourage our students to expand their tolerance for diversity, to think critically about basic and more sophisticated political issues, and to dare to explore human rights that surpass borders. But how?
Read this postIs it natural to separate disciplines (subjects)? It is helpful? Wouldn’t mixing disciplines help students to assimilate information more deeply? If we are concerned about promoting critical thinking in our lessons, surely interdisciplinary projects would promote this dynamic more integrally? Let’s look at the history, objectives and some examples of interdisciplinary projects and see if we can answer these questions.
Read this postWhen students aren’t motivated at the beginning of a class, it can be hard to grab their attention. Here, we give you some ideas on how to engage your students every time, right from the start.
Read this postBeing a teacher has always had its advantages and drawbacks, its rewards and its sacrifices. According to the author, Nick Franklin, as teachers we have more real experiences than people who do most other jobs and communicate and grow as a result. Discover Nick's thoughtful response to the question "Why do we teach?" and his tips to help us enjoy what for many teachers is a vocation.
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