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GOOD TEACHERS ARE IDEA COLLECTORS. Everywhere they go they
look for simple, effective teaching ideas to use in their classrooms. And,
with today's classrooms becoming more diverse than ever, the need for a
variety of teaching approaches is essential. This site has been developed
to meet that very need.

Here you will find a range of information and ideas to help you with
your teaching. Below you will find the Teaching Tip of the month. On
other pages you will find information on practical books and videos, filled
with teaching ideas. There are also links to companies that produce some really fabulous tools for classroom settings. And finally, you will find information on seminars provided by Anne Beninghof, national consultant and author.

So have fun as you explore this site for some new ideas that will make your teaching more insightful, more effective and more fulfilled — after all, isn't that why we teach?
 
 
  Download here.
 
  Teaching Tip of the Month

 Connection Puzzles

Puzzles have a game-like quality about them that engage student interest.
Connection Puzzles use this motivation to encourage students to make connections between new information and previous knowledge or experience.

Materials

1 magnet sheet for computer printers

How to…
  • Use a computer to design a small text box that says "We Made Connections" (see illustration.) Print this in the middle of an 81/2 x 11 sheet of magnetic paper. If preferred, this can be hand drawn with a permanent marker.

  • With permanent marker, write each student's name on an area of the magnetic paper.

  • Cut the paper into puzzle pieces, so that each student's name is on its own piece. Leave the "We Made Connections" piece whole.

  • Place the "We Made Connections" piece on the board, in an area where it can be left throughout the week without being disturbed. Draw a rectangle around it, slightly larger than 8 ½ x 11 in.

  • Place each of the name pieces randomly on the board around the puzzle area.

  • Explain to students that throughout the week, if they make a connection between what they are learning and another piece of knowledge or experience, they will be allowed to connect their puzzle piece to the puzzle. The goal is to complete the puzzle by the end of the week (or unit, chapter, etc.)

  • As more and more name pieces are moved into the square it will become easier to connect them and see the holes in the puzzle. For students whose pieces are not connected, encourage them to think of connecting concepts, events, books or examples from life outside of the classroom. Students whose pieces have already been connected should be encouraged to continue to make connections in their minds.
Additional Ideas

  • Blank cardboard jigsaw puzzles can be purchased from several online sources. Purchase puzzles that have enough pieces for the entire class.

  • Write student names on these and attach a small piece of magnet tape to the back of each piece.

  • If there is no magnetic surface in your classroom, obtain a blank cardboard jigsaw puzzle and place some sticky tack on the back of each puzzle piece.

  • If you have several different classes throughout the day, obtain one puzzle for each class and have students write their names on the pieces. Attach the pieces to the inside of a file folder using sticky tack. The folder can be opened and tacked up on the board during the class period, and then replaced as classes change.
Want more tips? Select from the drop-down list of past teaching tips.