Fundraising with your Students

Fundraising in your classroom?

I read a lot about fundraising FOR your classroom, but why not help your students create fundraising pages OUTSIDE your classroom.

A screenshot of a student made video

Why?

So much of school is doing an assignment for your teacher, reading a book for your teacher, giving a presentation for your teacher.

With the use of more technology, many teachers have students share their information outside the classroom via YouTube, or a blog. However, even then, the goal is often that the teacher likes it and it lines up well with the rubric.

An infographic created for a previous project

Pushing things outside of the classroom helps improve the motivation of students. They aren't doing things just for your class, but because they matter in the real world.

With crowdfunding, students have an authentic audience and a real life task. They get to research a charity, find appropriate graphics, and create a video. All of this is done with one goal: to persuade people to donate to their fund.


CrowdRise 101

Below is a list of the CrowdRise pages my students created. Before you check them out here's a quick CrowdRise101 on how to work the page:

• You can confirm the charity the funds are going to (and click on the name for more information)
• Read the text that the students have created which should quickly persuade you that the charity is a noble cause.
• Under the picture you'll see grey circles. These tell you how many graphics or videos the CrowdRise page has. Click the arrows to scroll through. You can see different pictures and hopefully a video the student has shared!
• Rather self explanatory, but the giant "Donate" button encourages you to make a donation. You can also leave a comment.
• Questions? Issues? The service button in the bottom right should help.

Student Created CrowdRise Pages

Here are some finished copies. If you have a moment (and possibly $10) to spare, consider making a donation!

• Families to Build a Miracle. 
• Build a Miracle CrowdRise Page
• This was one of the first pages to get a donation.The graphics include infographics students have made, and a rather informational video.
• MDStudents Building a Miracle
• Build a Miracle CrowdRise Page
• As you can see Build A Miracle is a favorite charity with the students. These students have a habit to be very dramatic in their videos. I think you'll agree they are quite emotional!
• L'Arche USA
• L'arche USA CrowdRise Page
• This is one of the most energetic groups I have ever had. I LOVE the video and the page is very clear on what their goals are. Plus, they pronounce L'arche much better than I have managed to do.
• The Laboure Society
•  Laboure Society CrowdRise Page 
• Since I teach at a Catholic school, all of the charities had to be vetted. However, I wouldn't consider all of the charities as Catholic charities. This one however is. I was a little surprised that this group of three boys decided to raise money to help people become priests.   
•  Divine Mercy Care
• Divine Mercy Care CrowdRise Page 
• This was the one group of students who decided to use an animation website (powtunes) to help them make their video. I do wish they would have done a voice over, but the information provided is all really good and I hope you take the time to read it. 
•  Supporting Mary's Mercy Center
• Supporting Mary's Mercy Center CrowdRise Page
•  Dramatic music, simple text, succinct photos.The students don't start talking until 40 seconds into the video, but I really think it is persuasive. See if you agree!
• The Tomorrow Project 
• The Tomorrow Project CrowdRise Page
• I don't think I am supposed to admit this when it comes to a charity project like this, but this is my FAVORITE charity. See what the students have put together and decide whether or not it is your favorite too! Technically this charity is Catholic Charities, but as they do so much students decided to focus on The Tomorrow Project.

Share, Comment, Advise
If you were persuaded, but don't have an opportunity to donate, I'd encourage you to share your favorite page on Twitter or Facebook. Hashtag #CrusadersCrowdfund so my students will know that their pages are being shared and appreciated!

We would also appreciate any comments or advice.

Infographic Project - Charity Based Research

My students have done infographics before to practice argumentation and essay structure. This project uses infographics again, but this is a different project that is much more non-fiction and research based.

This project has tons of technology and websites.

I am really excited about it, and about being able to post about it. In total the charity infographic project took three classes, but there was very little homework. I am listing all the steps together here and you can divide them as needed, take steps out if wanted, or add to it. I actually did a bit more (e.g. I worked on using notecards) but here are all of the infographic based steps:

1. To start, I pass around a sheet of statistics on a topic we are covering: in this case GMOs.We quickly review the statistics and go over whether they are for or against GMOs. Then, I ask students how interesting that was. Most of them say not very.
2. Using infographics I found online earlier, I show them 10 different GMO statistics we go over each infographic and decide: how does it look, how are the facts, and is it for or against GMOs.
3. Students on their own think about what they liked about infographics, and what they didn't. What seemed to work, and what fell flat. After some individual work I let them share with a small group, and then we discuss it as a class.
4. In small groups (2-3) students are assigned to select an infographic about anything they want. They need to know 1. Why they picked the topic 2. Why  they liked it
5. Students made short presentations on their infographics.
1. The goal of 1-5 is to introduce students to the topic of infographics and have them get a feel for what they like and don't like. What colors don't work well. When is too much on an infographic too much? Is white space good or bad? etc.  For me, 1-5 took one 90 minute class.
6. Finally, I let the students know that they will be creating their own infographic on a charity. 
7. I gave them an approved (they had to be within the guidelines of the school) list of charities and told them to pick whatever one they wanted. They could also pick a different charity, but the school administrators would need to approve it. In groups of two-three students selected a charity.
8. We went over good sources vs bad sources (we covered this before) and I let them research away. If a student started researching and realized they didn't like their charity, they were allowed to switch.
• My students spent an entire class researching. While some finished early, most were really working the whole class period. For fast finishers however go to step 9.
9. After I noticed some students had quite a bit of reliable research ready, I showed them http://piktochart.com/. There are other infographic sites out there, but (for reasons I will discuss in #15) I prefer to use this one. If done researching, students could create an account and begin playing on the site.
10. I show them an infographic that I made on a charity (I selected one they didn't choose as an example). We go over what we like and what we don't like. We look at the organization pattern, the charts, the visuals, the colors etc.
11. Examine and review infographic assignment.  Be sure that students understand everything they are expected to do.
• Using the rubric on the assignment have students grade my infographic.
• I usually make a few typos, or choose a hard to read font to make sure they give constructive criticism.
12. Give a quick tour of Piktochart. I like having students learn on their own, but giving them a good start is usually a solid idea.
• How to sign up
• Where to start
• Free vs Paid
• How to undo
• Where to find pictures
• etc.
13. Allow students to work on Piktochart
14. Have students submit their Piktochart to me. I make corrections and give it back to them. 
15. Model Presentation (This is why I like Piktochart! Some other sites have this option as well though.)
• Using Piktochart's presentation mode I give a presentation justifying why I selected my charity. 
• I am always sure to make a few easy to spot mistakes so students can correct me
16. Have students grade my presentation
17. Let students create their own presentations
18. Students present their infographics to the class
19. While presenting, students evaluate the infographic and the quotes
20. Finally, my students evaluate themselves.

DONE...for now. There's actually a final part, where my students raise money for the charity, but I'll save that for another post.

For now, I'll show you some of my favorite infographics my students created. Click on the charity name to see the whole infographic.

• San Diego Hunger Coalition was a group that really took advantage of all piktochart had to offer. They had fun picking different backgrounds, and they stuck to small chunks of text (rather than writing everything down). This group was a clear division of labor. One person researched cool facts and statistics, and the other person played on Piktochart until they found the perfect look. Normally I am more a fan of collaboration (rather than divide and conquer), but this group was persistently communicating, so it seemed to work well for them.  
• L'Arche This student really had fun with the graphics. Every block in her presentation has the same theme, and all of the visuals go with one another. She also added little details where possible. For example, one of the graphics was of a person and it didn't include eyes, so using the shape tools she added them. Her partner missed a few days of school, so she did most of the work on her own, and I was really proud of the final product.
• Build a Miracle Group was big into incorporating the graphics into the block. That is, nothing was ever stand alone, it was almost one big picture. They also found really great facts to support donating. This group was also one of the most prepared groups when it came to donating. They really worked hard to know their stuff and came across as quite knowledgeable.
• Finally, Las Hermanas San Diego was a really fun group! They went outside the box a bit, and used the graphics in ways that weren't normal. For example, they used rectangles as surfboards, and put people in normal clothes standing on them to make surfers! Adorable!

Thanks so much for sticking around for the whole post! This really is a fun project it helps teach students about:

• the good charities do
• research skills
• visuals
• learning how to use new computer programs
• working in a team
• organizing their thoughts
• evaluating one another
• self evaluating

And of course, the writing and speak skills I am focusing on in my speech class were there (grammar, intonation, transition words, volume, etc.)

I have the worksheets I used available for purchase at TeachersPayTeachers  if you are interested. You can also download the preview for free to see part of it.

Infographics for Novels

I finally have a moment to post about a great project that I did with my students last semester. We were reading Julius Caesar and I wanted them to work on their digital skills in a way that isn't just technology. I also wanted them to practice their essay skills without writing an essay.

I decided to make an infographic project! They had to compare (or contrast), William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar to Tina Fey's Mean Girls. There are other movies you can do this to (21 is one I've seen many teachers do), but I like Mean Girls because the high schoolers can really relate to it. Plus, I teach a lot of exchange students from other countries. Since my school is private, I appreciate the ability to point out that no, not every public high school in America is like their pop portrayal.

The assignment:

Mean Girls, has a lot in common with Julius Caesar. Just look at the themes! However, since the movie and play have vastly different settings, and audiences, it isn't just a modern adaptation (like Ten Things I Hate About You and Taming of the Shrew). In your infographic, create an analysis of the play vs. movie where you argue the basic story of Julius Caesar was changed specifically because one one thing. Please support your ideas with at least 6 pieces of textual evidence (three from the movie, and three from the play).

For example: They could argue that because Regina was much younger than Julius Caesar, the movie becomes a comedy rather than a tragedy.

I got students started by telling them they could think about which characters were alike, and then why they are different.

For example:
Cady -Brutus
Janis-Cassius
Regina-Julius

Many students also want to say Gretchen is like Caesar (mainly because of her monologue where she suggests Brutus is just as cute as Caesar. Give freedom here! Whatever makes the most sense to them, is what they should support.

They could also look at the setting

For example:

Students High School vs Politicians and Soldiers in Rome

60BC vs 2004

A small town near Chicago, Illinois vs The Roman Empire

And anything else they found interesting! Heck if they wanted to I'd be happy if they wrote about fashion, or diction.

Some example, "thesis statements" from my students (you can see their complete infographic by clicking on the links)

• In the movie Mean Girls Regina's ambition destroys the dreams of others, but in the play of Julius Caesar his ambition destroys his life.
• The play Julius Caesar, written by William Shakespeare, talks about a character name Caesar whose ambition was potential, whereas the movie Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey, talks about Regina whose ambition was destroying social life of others.
• The differences in the stories comes from the difference in themes. Julius Caesar is a serious play with honor and a historically backed betrayal of one of the great Roman rulers. On the other hand, Mean Girls talks about betrayal at a smaller scale and relationships with other classmates.
• In the movie Mean Girls written by Tina Fey, and The Tragedy of Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare, their main themes is individuality. Whereas Cady cares only about the good of herself, Brutus cares about the good of his country.

This was a great way to get them practicing essay writing skills, without making them write essays. They needed to find support (quotes), interpret the quotes, and analyze them to support their argument.

 It was challenging, but they really enjoyed it!

This could have been done entirely as a homework assignment, but we spent two days working on it in the computer labs my school has on campus.

There are quite a few infographic tools to choose from. I let my students select their own, but in the future, I plan on limiting it to one site. This time troubleshooting the whole class got complicated as they each needed different directions.

The three sites I suggested to my students were:
http://piktochart.com/ 
https://venngage.com/
http://www.easel.ly/

They were all free sites and I thought they all worked just fine. My students seemed to prefer piktochart. I would suggest you find the one that you like the most since you'll be the one answering their questions.

That's it! Has anyone else used infographics with their students? I am looking forward to including them in my speech class!

Finnish Infographic

If you don't have time to check out On Top of the World you can also check out this infographic on Finland's school system.

Note that one of the things discussed by Maria Kouta is the, "No Homework in Finland,"myth. She states that homework is given, just not on the scale seen in other countries.

A Breakdown of Teachers Hours

We've all heard the jokes about teachers and their easy schedules. For those of you who either believe it, or want to defend yourself this infographic is awesome. Check it out


    Created by Knewton

What do you think; is it accurate? I know I am often at school from 6am to 9pm, so I don't doubt the 11 hour average.

Listen while you read

One of my favorite assignments to give to students when they've finished reading a section of a book is to make a soundtrack for the book or chapters.

I love the reasons my students give me for selecting a song. The lyrics may remind them of the character's emotions. Other times the melody reminds them of an event (e.g. it sounds like waves to them and the scene is during a storm). Other times it is just the ambiance that it adds.

Here's an example of the assignment:

Literacy Assignment -Soundtrack from Carissa Peck

I love the assignment because I get to discover new songs, and get an idea of what type of music my students listen to in their free time. I also find that students have to really understand a chapter to pick music for it, which helps their critical thinking skills.

Some students are more comfortable with pen and paper, and others prefer actually making a YouTube Playlist. However, recently I've discovered an online tool called Booktrack! There are a lot of different ways to use Booktrack!



One way, which doesn't require much from students, is to add sounds to what they will be reading at home. This helps students get in the mood, and helps them get sucked into the reading!

Check out the infographic on the right to see what one study done by the University of Auckland showed! To read more about the studies done check out their site! Basically, they will understand more AND enjoy it more wen they are reading and listening.

In the future I plan on assigning each of my students a different book to read at home. I feel that having them summarize what they've read and add sounds for mood to their summary would be a GREAT assignment.

If you're working with public domain stories (Shakespeare, Grimm Fairy Tales, etc.), you can divide the class so that each student has a different chapter. Have them individually make a booktrack and then assemble is together for a reading experience future classes can enjoy!

Multiple Meanings of a Words

My friend is small.

What do I mean by that?

Is she skinny? Is she a midget? Is she a little short? Does she have childlike features? Is she underdeveloped? Is she unimportant?

The truth is, small has a lot of meanings! It can mean all of the above and MORE. It all depends on the usage.

Check out this infographic from Kaplan that shows the top ten words with the most definitions in the dictionary! These are all "easy" words. They are short words (each of them only a syllable) and words most students would easily define if asked.

However, a key part of a lot of English  exams (and English in general) is knowing what a word means in a specific context, and being able to recognize that one word can mean different things depending on how we say it.

Here's a quick reading (or listening activity) to do with your students.To start: ask them what the word rich means. Then give them this text (or have them watch the video that follows). If this is too lame for you, I am sure you can make your own!

Susan: Hello!
Lucy: Oh my God, hi! I haven't seen you in ages. I love that dress.
Susan: You don't think the color's too rich?
Lucy: No it is just perfect especially with your complexion. How's life?
Susan: Well, I started dating a new guy.
Lucy: Let me guess...he's rich?
Susan: Yes, him. Anyways, we've been going out every night! I swear I gained at least 10 pounds, all their sauces and are so rich.
Lucy: That sounds amazing. You live such a rich life.
Susan: I am sure it isn't nearly as interesting as yours. How's life?
Lucy: I got that new job, at the newspaper, it's great! I just write down funny stories once a week.
Susan: I am sure you're dating life is rich with examples.
Lucy That's rich coming from you!
Susan: I don't know what you mean.
Lucy: You date a different boy every week!
Susan: I think this is why we haven't seen each other in ages! 

The listening is below, be warned the quality is pretty poor I made it quickly for one of my classes. My classes are used to me speaking quickly, but it may be a bit too fast for your students.

Now ask them if their original definition still stands. In one instance it still works! See if they can go through again and identify the different meanings of rich. Then see if they can come up with any additional meanings. This is a great reminder to pay attention carefully and not just assume the word has only one definition. This is also a way to remind your students that if they use more specific words their writing won't sound as redundant.

Here's an alternative activity. Students tend to be intimidated by larger words, but I feel that smaller words are more intimidating! Try out this PowerPoint activity (a really short game) in class and show your students that rather than using smaller words, one larger specific word may be more helpful.

Small words from Carissa Peck if you prefer a video you can view the slideshow on YouTube as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lI4FIbzQhqc

Now that you've helped your students realize larger words can often simplify things, keep an eye on this week's blogs (like yesterday's post) for more ideas! If you want them to do more with the different meanings tomorrow's post has a fun craft project!

Online Education Infographic

I used to consider online teaching something I would never do, but with advances in technology, and more research into the subject there are some good arguments to be made about the benefit of teaching online. Check out this inforgraphic about  the advantages of online education.

College students now perceive online education as a real option to earn their degrees, especially when they consider a few factors. The percentage of students taking online continuing education courses has risen to approximately 31 percent.

Some students do consider the quality of instructors as they weigh their options. This is no different for students thinking of taking a class or two online. They want to know that they will be spending their money and time on an instructor who knows what she is doing as she delivers class lectures to a camera, reaching hundreds, if not thousands, of students. Depending on the program, some students may verify whether an online program is accredited.

Some students do have to consider their finances. If a continuing online education is more affordable than traditional college, this will be one of the most important factors for them.situation, this betters their chances of employment after graduation.
Students do think about the course materials they will be taking. If the course is intended to help them in an established career, these students will research several online universities, as well as their curricula, before making a decision.

Amy White is a freelance blogger and at-home mother of two. She recommends continuing education through comprehensive continuing education online

To DIY or not DIY that is the question

Many teachers I know spend hours upon hours making items for their classes. 

Why? 

Many times because to buy what we are making is simply too expensive. 
Other times it is because  what we are trying to make really doesn't exist. 
Finally, some people DIY (do it yourself) because they enjoy doing it! 
Some projects are really easy and require very little time making DIY a great option. 
Other projects require lots of tools, skills and time.
Before you break out the hodge podge take a moment to think about whether or not you should DIY a project.

This infographic will help you to figure out whether you're doing DIY for the right reasons.
If you enjoy DIY, or are really skilled with a tool box, then doing it yourself can be a productive and even relaxing way to spend a weekend.
However, there are a few kinds of people who should stay well away from DIY, including:

• Drama queens: If a leak or a paint spill will lead to tears or things getting smashed up in anger, don't try DIY.
• Loners: If you don't have a friend who can help with heavy lifting, stay safe and pay someone else to do your project for you.
• The busy bee: Rushing a DIY project will end in either injury or disaster. If you can't give the project the time it needs, it's better to spend money to get it done well.
• The easily distracted: Did you finish the last DIY project you started? If not, what makes you think that you'll finish this one?

Sometimes, bringing in the experts is the cheapest and least stressful way to get things done.

Infographic created by UK Oak Doors

Technology and Our Memories

Who was the 30th president??

I don't think students need to memorize everything. I distinctly recall numerous teachers telling me not to worry about memorizing dates and facts. It was much more important to them that I understood the basic ideas rather than exact facts. "If you ever need need to know how high Mount Everest is, or how many wives King Henry the VIII had" they explained, "you can look it up in an encyclopedia."

In this day of smart phones most of the time we don't even need to find an encyclopedia. We turn to Google or Wikipedia and find the information we need, and usually I am OK with this.


Many students take this one step further. They don't even feel the need to take notes. Instead they use their smart phones to take a picture of the board.

While I do encourage the use of Google or Wikipedia to help a student understand a basic grasp of something, is technology altering the way our memories work?

A recent study done by Fairfield University shows that when students take a picture of something they are LESS LIKELY to remember it later. This "photo taking impairment effect" is something I discuss with my students the first day.

If they take a picture, and then go home and re-write the notes they will likely remember the information. However, simply by taking the picture they are, in part, telling their brain the information is stored elsewhere and they do not need to remember it.

What about Google? Is Google making our memories weaker? It turns out there are good parts and bad parts to the ease of accessing information online. Since our memories are fallible, it is a way to double check things and be sure that we are using the correct data.

On the other hand, when students aren't taught to properly weed through information on the internet it is very probable that they will find false information and reinforce that. Also, the lack of a basic set of knowledge makes comprehension of the topic (and thus deeper level thinking) much harder to achieve. The infographic below is from www.onlinecolleges.net and does a pretty good job at showing some of the affects.

Should we really worry about food allergies?

Some schools are taking severe precautions to assure there are no issues with food allergies. These can include having an "allergy section" of a cafeteria where students who have allergies need to sit. Other schools have banned certain foods in the entire school (often peanuts). Some schools have gone so far as to ban any food in the classroom (which is fine) INCLUDING coffee. From what I heard the teachers revolted a bit on this and eventually coffee was allowed in the classroom. 

Nonetheless, food allergies are a serious thing, and those of us lucky not to suffer from a food allergy are often rather ignorant. Hopefully this guest post (and infographic) help keep us aware.

Did you know that there are approximately 30,000 emergency room visits in the United States each year that are caused by food allergies?

Over half of the U.S. population tests positive to one or more food allergens, which is why it is important to get all of the information you can. This way, you can be aware of allergies your students may have and take precautions to avoid allergy attacks.

A food allergy or hypersensitivity is an abnormal response to a food that is triggered by your immune system. Common allergies are to nuts, shellfish, dairy and eggs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from an itching in your mouth and difficulty swallowing to nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Be sure to ask parents about what food their child needs to avoid and and how you can respond quickly if a reaction occurs.

You can learn more about food allergies and see statistics in the infographic here.

Created by the team at Sticky Jewelry.

Can I make it as a freelance teacher?

I keep meeting all of these FANTASTIC teachers who don't teach for a school. 

These teachers are essentially freelancers. They teach on their own schedules often online (meaning they can teach in different locations).

This seems to be a growing area in education, so when Brian Fenwick offered an infographic in the facts and figure of freelancing I thought other educators may like to look at it..  

Close to a billion dollars has been earned by freelance workers across the world and this figure continues to grow at a considerable rate as ever more people turn to this career path to make their living.

Maybe unsurprisingly the United States and India top the list of country earnings. In terms of area of expertise, it is those who possess design skills that seem most likely to choose freelancing.

There is evidence to suggest that the United States economy has changed in its basic structure with a greater prominence for the service industry which may well explain why freelancing has grown quickly here.

The economic situation of the past 5 years has also, no doubt, had an impact on how people have chosen to earn a living; if a person with the required skills was unfortunate enough to find themselves out of work, freelancing would inevitably seem like a route out of their jobless position.

A final factor that may have influenced the growth patterns of the freelance world is the recent search engine algorithm changes by the world’s most popular search engine Google. High quality content is now paramount when it comes to ranking highly and every website owner from small to large has had to take the necessary steps to provide this. Freelancers are often the ones called upon to help create and market this content.

The likelihood is that freelance working practices will continue to grow in popularity over the coming years.

This infographic was researched and produced by Brian Fenwick and comes as his new ebook is released that details how anyone can become a freelance writer if they follow certain guidelines and put their skills to use.

Statistics of Special Needs Students

For me, one of the hardest things about teaching special needs students is that I feel so unaware of what I am supposed to do. I feel like I will never have enough training and I have an enormous amount of respect for those who do have sufficient training to handle different children with different needs on a daily basis. I have hosted guest posts before on using encouragement with special needs students, as well as specific tips for dyslexia. 

This infographic goes over some common types of special needs kids and how we can best accommodate them in our classrooms. While it specifically references the United States, I feel teachers internationally can find this helpful.

Statistics of special needs students show that these children are just as capable of achieving what students without special needs can accomplish.

In the United States of America, 18.5 percent of kids under the age of 18 have special needs. These kids face specific everyday challenges that others do not. It is a misconception that these children are not as smart or talented, but this couldn't be farther from the truth.
There are generally four basic types of special needs children.

• These include kids with physical disabilities, including multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic asthma and other conditions. 
• Kids with developmental disabilities include those with autism, Down's syndrome, dyslexia and other learning disabilities. 
• There are also special needs children who have behavioral and/or emotional problems, including those with ADD or ADHD, oppositional defiance disorder and other conditions. 
• The fourth category of special needs children include those with sensory problems, such as those who are blind or visually impaired and kids who are deaf or hearing impaired. 

If you have a special needs child in your class or in your family, you will of course want to ensure that the child is getting all of the best care when he or she is at school. The most basic right is for all children to be treated humanely.

There is also the issue of the Americans with Disabilities Act, also referred to as ADA. This means that anyone with disabilities has to be treated equally to anyone else so that they can get the same opportunities as those who do not have disabilities.

Another act is IDEA, which is an acronym for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This law states that students with disabilities have to be prepared to live independently, gain higher education and obtain employment. In addition, if a special needs child does not have the stamina, strength or endurance to keep up with certain school activities, he or she can qualify for a special education status known as "other health impaired."

There is also the Rehabilitation Act that protects individuals with disabilities. Section 504 of this act requires that schools make accommodations for students with disabilities, prohibits schools from discriminating against children with special needs and that students who have impairments that play a large part in their lives in limiting their activities are qualified as disabled.

It is important to get a good doctor for your special needs child. Obtaining the proper medical care will help your child to be the best he or she can possibly be. The doctor should be someone nearby, non-threatening and who can provide a quality service.

Source: www.masters-in-special-education.com

Other Common Spelling Mix ups!

How many of your students are convinced they don't need to learn to spell because they have "spell check." Be sure to remind them that spell check does NOT help with similarly spelled words.

You can always find new ways to practice spelling with your students! Those who are more visual may find an infographic helpful. Earlier this month I posted a New Year's Eve infographic of  commonly confused words and many people found it helpful. Hopefully this one will help some teachers (and their students) as well.


Some of the most common mistakes we make when writing happen when we are moving too quickly and end up making a spelling error. Even worse, there are many times when we use the wrong word in place of the right one, such as dessert for desert, and we don’t see the mistake in our minds. Technology such as autocorrect on our phones and spell check on our computers oftentimes will not pick up words that we spell correctly but happen to use in the wrong situation. That is why it is important to read your words again so that you can catch any errors before sending the message to your boss or turning in your assignment to your professor. Familiarize yourself with words that are similar in spelling to others so that you can keep them separate and the meaning of your words intact. Read through the infographic below to see just a few examples of these words that tend to trip us up.

Created by DLA Editors, a company providing high-quality document editing and proofreading services

Idioms Inforgraphic

Idioms are a lot of fun to teach and learn. Learners need them to communicate in business, to understand movies, and to enjoy songs.  This infographic covers lots of fun facts about idioms from the most used idioms to about how many idioms are used per minute!
  The Idiomgraphic - An infographic by LAL Schools

New Year's Spelling Mistakes

I find I make two different types of spelling mistakes. There are some words that I always struggle with spelling correctly. Then there are the words that often pop up spelled incorrectly because I made a typo. 

Sometimes in this second group my typos are not caught because they are auto corrected to a similar word. 

If I am making these simple mistakes then I am SURE that my students are also making them!

There are lots of different ways to practice spelling with new vocabulary words, and visuals are a great plus! Check out this infographic to learn the differences yourself or to help your students! 

Spelling words incorrectly while on the job, especially in messages to your boss or students, is a sure way to be embarrassed while you are working. Make 2014 your year to appear more knowledgeable than ever – learn how to spell! It can sometimes be confusing when reading a paper or email that has incorrect spelling or use of possession because even the simplest mistakes can have a great effect on the meaning of a sentence. For example, New Year’s Day is completely different than New Years Day. The first occurs on January 1st of every year and is celebrated all over the world. The latter is what people often use to refer to this day we celebrate, but without the apostrophe indicates it is the day of many new years. Read through the infographic to the right to see a couple of examples of words that are commonly mistaken for others in regards to New Year’s Edition.

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