Formative Assessment

Do you hate giving zeros?  Do you think a zero is an appropriate response to a student who refused to do work?  Do you think it's right to use every grade a student produced in a grading period to produce his or her final grade?  Do you use rubrics?  Do you rely on multiple choice or essay tests?  Do you give a grade without comments or do you always comment? Do you think giving a 50 as the lowest grade rewards students for doing nothing?

My thoughts on grading practices have been influenced by the following: 

Formative Assessment Video

Working Inside the Black Box

Doug Reeves

Contests

When I taught, I always tried to be on the lookout for contests my kids could enter.  I figured it gave some authenticy to their work, especially when it corresponded to my curriculum. Here are some I've come across lately.  If you know of some that aren't posted, please share!

Arbor Day National Poster Contest - for fifth graders, comes with curriculum, cash prizes

Alliance for Young Artists and Writers - for 7-12 grade, exhibition, scholarship, and publication

Scholastic Book Club Contests - continuing contests, aimed at elementary

Essay Contest - sponsored by Penguin books, yearly contest, 11th and 12th grade students read book and write essay, scholoarship money and classroom library

Oh, The Places You'll Go! - yearly essay contest for seniors, scholarship

http://www.randomhouse.com/kids/readandplay/ - monthly contest to win book sets

National History Day - yearly contest, historical focus, secondary students, cash prizes and medals

Invention Dimension - yearly contest; invent new game, toy, or sport equipement; ages 6-19; cash, prizes and trip

Videos

You may have seen some of these videos, but I'm hoping there are new ones. I find these motivational and great resources to use with colleagues during professional development.  If you've become jaded or uninspired, check one of these out:

I teach, therefore you learn... or do you?

A vision of students today

Information R/evolution

The Machine is Us/ing Us

Did You Know 4.0

Shift Happens

Schools Kill Creativity

Careers

This site provides videos of people explaining their careers. It's all about finding your own path. Roadtrip Nation

This government site allows kids to pick what they're interested in and then see what it takes to do the job and how much they can make.  BLS Career Information

Post-secondary information.  Includes "find the perfect career" searchable information.  College Planning

Online games to play about applying for jobs and other career information.  CareerGames

Need help?

Here's a site that is dedicated to the community of English teachers helping each other:  English Companion

Are you a math teacher looking for some online games and tutorials?  Look here:  Hooda Math

Want to kick up your students' Powerpoint presentations?  Try Animoto

A cool site for collaborative storytelling: Storybird