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C-CUEs

From the Center for Christian Urban Educators

C-CUEsFrom the Center for Christian Urban Educators

August 15, 2017

Useful links and thoughts for school leaders and teachers curated from the web by Harriet Potoka, Director.
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Getting to Know Students Deeply

As teachers begin a new school year getting to know their students should be a top priority for them. In this blog post, educator and author Shane Safir shares six ways to do just that and discusses the importance of gathering "street data” as they seek to understand their students.
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10 Ways Teachers Can Create A Positive Learning Environment

There is a direct relationship between the kind of learning environment teachers create in their classrooms and student achievement. In this article, Jonathan C. Erwin, M.A., author of The School Culture Solution shares 10 specific strategies for developing the optimal classroom climate and culture.

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Learning in Motion: Bring Movement Back to the Classroom

With a new school year beginning, many students are expected to rapidly transition from months full of activity and movement to a classroom that relies—primarily—on stasis. Studies show that children who are more active exhibit better focus, faster cognitive processing, and more successful memory retention than kids who spend the day sitting still. Sitting should not be the standard - explore these ways to make time for activity.

TECH TALK - 10 Amazing Google Geo Tools for Your Classroom

Many teachers are likely already using maps and Google Earth with their students. Here’s a list of 10 other Google Geo tools that will help students learn about new places, solve problems, and tell stories! You may not be able to physically go everywhere, but virtually the possibilities are limitless.

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FOR TEACHERS: Seven Lessons for Teachers from Dumbledore

In this blog post one teacher shares how this iconic character from the Harry Potter series has informed her teaching practice. Acceptance, kindness, humor, humility - read the blog to learn more and the additional lessons shared by other teachers in the comments. Students would thrive in classrooms led by teachers following these principles.

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FOR TEACHERS: Word Up: The Must Dos of Vocabulary Instruction

Giving students a large, rich vocabulary and the skills for using the words is an important goal for teachers of all ages. Research has consistently shown the relationship between reading comprehension and vocabulary. As teachers consider ways to incorporate vocabulary instruction for their students in the upcoming year this blog post by Rebecca Alber offers 5 must dos for teaching vocabulary - essential activities that took her a number of years as a teacher to figure out.

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FOR TEACHERS: 10 Things Teachers Can Do to Prepare for the New School Year

If you’re an early childhood educator looking for resources to help you enhance your classroom, look no further than these 10 must read early childhood education blogs. These blogs offer creative, actionable ideas that you can implement in your classroom right now.

Teacher-Student Relationships

One of the most important tasks for teachers at the start of a new school year is beginning the process of building strong and meaningful relationships with their students. Positive relationships helps teachers build trust which enables students to take academic risks, allows teachers to better differentiate for individual needs, and prevents the kinds of power struggles often found in poorly managed classrooms. In this resource you will find links to a variety of ideas and suggestions that can be used to build positive and authentic teacher-­student relationships.

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FOR PARENTS: Experts Weigh In: “How Can I Get My Young Child Less Anxious About Starting School?”

Starting school can be exciting for young kids. It can also be scary. That’s true whether this is their first time going to school or they’re starting a new grade. And the change in routine can be especially tough for kids with learning and attention issues. How can parents help their young children feel less anxious about going to school? Here, four experts weigh in on why young kids may feel anxious about school, and how to help.

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FOR PARENTS: Are Your Kids Ready for School? Tips and Tools for Parents

Preparation and establishing good school habits will go a long way to helping children begin the school year strong. These tips will help reduce stress for both parents and kids and ease the transition from summertime to school time.
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4 Things Principals Can Say That Make Teachers Happy

School leaders may not have the power to give out raises or lavish teachers with expensive gifts. What is in their power is their voice. One of the simplest ways for school leaders to bring happiness to their teachers begins by sharing a positive message. Make a commitment to use these 4 messages often during the upcoming school year.

Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked

In a new book, “Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked,” the social psychologist Adam Alter warns that many of us — youngsters, teenagers, adults — are addicted to modern digital products. Not figuratively, but literally addicted. Reading this article, Why We Can’t Look Away From Our Screens, will give you an overview of the book and what Alter suggests to address this problem.

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Center for Christian Urban Educators

The Center for Christian Urban Educators seeks to encourage, equip, and empower Christian educators as they impact the lives of the children entrusted to their educational care.

Email: hpotoka@ccuechicago.org
Website: ccuechicago.org
Location: Chicago, IL, United States
Phone: 312-310-5617
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CCUE-Chicago-567881706592903/?fref=photo
Twitter: @HJPotoka