Best+Practices+for+US2

Attached is a jigsaw activity I had my students complete. It worked got students to read, write, and present. The only down side was that it took me many hours to prepare.
 * Jigsaw** 02-10-2011

__**Grademakers**__ (01-12-2011) In an effort to promote understanding of key vocabulary, as well as improve test performance in my class, I came up with a new teaching strategy. I based grademakers off of a policy my AP US History teacher developed. Check out the attachment to see the format and rationale for this assignment. -Brian

I'm trying this strategy for my WWI Unit that we are currently doing. So far, I kinda like it. Unfortunately, I started it on the same day as a lot of students were out for Tet celebrations, so I am having a bit of a struggle with students getting caught up with them. On the other hand, students who have been keeping up already have some background info for the lessons, and I think I have more students with a deeper understanding of the material. We'll see when the test comes, but I'd be willing to try it again. - Dan
 * Re: Grademakers** (2/8/2011)

For my special education 10th graders, I tried out a new review strategy this week. I was talking to a friend who teaches elementary school students about word walls. One thing she has her students do is categorize words. As I continue to struggle with how to teach vocabulary, I thought I should give this technique a try. Yesterday I had my 10th grade sped kids organize the vocab words we studied this unit into three categories. I gave them the option of using spoke diagrams, a three column chart, or any other graphical way of organizing the words. If they didn't know what the word meant, I told them where in their ISN they could find the definition. Check out the attached assignment. -Brian
 * Test Review** (01-20-2011)