Who is reading my blog? Where are they coming from?

Larry Ferlazzo's recent post mentions ways to keep aware of where traffic is coming from to get to your blog or website. He also gives ways to make sure your links are up to date.

I followed his link to Sue Waters' Edublog in which she gives great instructions on how to interpret the complexities of using google analytics.

I have used this google site for a while and have seen the effect on readership of emails to parents. I'm only just beginning to see the potential of the analytics site.

Very helpful.

Headmagnet

Headmagnet claims to be a site that helps you learn and remember facts and faces?

Thanks to freetechnologyforteachers for the tip



This site needs a sign up.

Reading and Oprah

Here are 2 video clips, one of a 21000 strong audience dancing to the Black Eyed Peas...you need to see this one first.

The next one is a fantastic advert for reading and books.

Thanks to Larry Ferlazzo for these tips.

Make your own Newspaper article

I have seen this newspaper clip generating site before, but thought I'd mention it again.

It's a great format for teaching report writing in your literacy lesson.

Virginia Rojas, in here recent visit to school, suggested giving learners a RAFT to help them.

R - Role
A - Audience
F - Format
T - Topic

Children could use this RAFT format to give them "supported choice" to present their learning in a way which suits them. Here are some "cRAFTy" links:
Raft Strategy
More RAFT, with supporting rubrics and examples

The newspaper clip generator provides another Format to add to the mix.

The Devil is in the Detail!

Here are the photos from the visit by Paul and Sharon Ginnis.

Paul's photos are from the dramatisation of the fertilisation of an egg...see earlier video post. Paul's book,Teacher's Toolkit: Raise Classroom Achievement with Strategies for Every Learner, includes this and many other strategies which I have only just dipped into. The ones I have tried are very rich in learning, but as Paul always said, "the devil is in the detail".

Sharon's session was based on using artefacts, drawing, model making and music to engage with stories. The story we used was the incredible shrinking machine. This can be found in her book, Covering the Curriculum with Stories: Six Cross-curricular Projects That Teach Literacy and Thinking Through Dramatic Play.

Here is a newsletter, from Derby City Council, which mentions some of the strategies, some examples of some of the type of learning activities promoted by Paul and some links.

No fun allowed!

Thanks to Steve Wheeler's blog, for this inspired image!

CV, Letter of Application or personal statement

With my move back to Britain being imminent, I am CV writing and sniffing out teaching posts.

As well as asking colleagues for a peak at their letters and CVs I've been looking online and have found some useful resources:

A whole batch of TES documents

What to include:
Teacherworld - lists common contents of CVs and the importance of person specifications and job descriptions.
NASUWT - page of CV tips - aimed at NQTs but with some good advice

Finding the jobs:
NASUWT - Local Authority Contact details

Payscales

More to come later...