Susan Fitzell - Educational Consultant and Speaker » Professional Speaker and Educational Consultant

Comment on: America’s Teachers See Growing Poverty – and more!

Susan Fitzell — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:53:40 +0000

Dare to read this article — and the comments! Amazingly, the comments are intelligent for once. I’m outraged by what I see happening in schools. Teachers are not the enemy. Yes, there are some that need to retire, however, we are putting our focus in the wrong place. If Unions were the problem, Texas would have perfect schools and systems. When we pay teachers by test score results, who will want to teach the struggling learners? Or, the poor?… Why would a teacher want a student in their class if that student might affect his/her test scores and therefore his/her pay? The political rhetoric is all about playing off public emotion and getting votes and little of it is based in the reality of what makes schools work.

Hit Tunes from Real Teachers

Susan Fitzell — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 16:00:17 +0000

Jeanne from Kirtland, NM teaches Quadratic Equation Through Song

During the week of August 10th I was pleased to work with two great groups of teachers. During the first great session in Kirtland New Mexico, one of the high school math teachers agreed to demonstrate how she uses music by singing the quadratic formula to the tune of “Pop Goes the Weasel.”

Teachers at Ranches Academy and Rockwell Charter HS Sing Testing Strategies!

Then I spent two awesome days in Eagle Mountain Utah with the teachers from Ranches Academy and Rockwell Charter High School. On day two, I presented, “Memorization and Test Taking Strategies”. We talked about testing strategies and three groups of teachers agreed to share the songs they brainstormed to remember testing strategies. Thanks to Sara, Kayla, Allie, Jamie, Stacy, Melanie, Angela, Dorothy, Tiffany, Tammy, and Sue (I hope I got everyone’s name right) for being courageous enough to let me film them to share with the world!

How can I Present History Effectively?

Susan Fitzell — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:54:21 +0000

Processing Long Information History Chapters!

Susan Streetman, Nederland HS writes, in history, some chapters are long and packed with information. Sometimes I think – how can I present this effectively? It’s too much! So, on colorful large index cards, I write quippy versions of the chapter’s subtopics. (using the exact subtopic would be too easy). Kids can confer during the game.

The Quippy History Game

Materials Needed

Then, also in my own words, I use small white index cards to write the main points under the subtopic. I try to make them humorous. I tell students a tough game is coming and tell them to be prepared. On the day of the game, I use music, a timer and a box. Student materials are the answers all mixed up, a handout with the quippy subtopics and lines denoting the number of items.

How to play the ‘game’

I begin with 3 minutes on the clock. I deal white cards after placing colored cards around the room while the time clicks off. I play music and students have to run around and deal information cards to match the correct heading. We check for the correct matches, put the wrong matches in the box, set timer for 2 minutes and re-deal. They love it and end up with a chapter review. They move around but must be in chair when the timer goes off.

The Summary Race

Cut up summaries to chapters, put students in groups. They race to be first (for a privilege) to descramble and paste the summary together accurately.

Fishing game.

Box decorated to look like ocean, a Scooby Doo fishing pole with a magnet instead of a hook. Paperboard fish with paperclips through eyeholes in ocean. Students compete in pairs to answer questions using magic slates. When correct, blind folded and go fishing. Number of fish lead to a privilege prize.

A Strategy using Videos to Cover History Topics

When I show films, I give out film sheets with different questions on them and 5 lines at the bottom. After the film clip, they must find 5 people with facts different to theirs that they place on their lines. These are shared and used for extra credit.

Groups Idea

Pick an explorer. Research his exploits. Make a poster. Use a clever title like “ Do you have any Ponce de Leon?” (students did that)! The poster must include; a time line, pictures of accomplishments, a map of his trek/s, and at least one navigational tool known at the time.

Give student groups transparencies

Group assignments are placed on them. They present and they are there for all to see. For example, we play, “Constitution Idol” ; student groups must present in any format the 27 amendments to the constitution DVDs, CDs, live. They can take liberties with words. They are an absolute riot. Everything from Barney to rap, Travis Tritt, Chumbawumba,. They are so great. Wear red, while, blue on awards day – for cookie or cake and photo for newspaper. They decide the winner. They all learn the amendments.

Susan Streetman
Nederland HS

Teaching Nouns: Teacher in the Trash?

Susan Fitzell — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 04:12:54 +0000

Teaching Nouns with Humor

When I teach nouns to my resource students, I always begin with this concrete strategy. With a regular trash can in the front of my room I drop a pencil, book, eraser, etc into the can. I then tell them these are all “things”, and all “things” are nouns! I then step into the can and let them know that a teacher is a “person” and a “person” is a noun. They laugh and laugh and never have trouble understanding the abstract of what a noun is because they understand the concrete! I also have them envision a huge can large enough to put Texas, the earth, or the universe in because they are nouns too!
by:
Jill Avery
Helena Park Elem
Nederland, TX

Teaching Tips from my Audience!

Susan Fitzell — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:57:19 +0000

Fearless Fractions

Fearless fractions: grades 4-9. Teaches teachers how to use color to introduce the addition and subtraction of fractions and mixed numbers. Each fraction has its own color as in Rainbow Fraction® Teaching System. Fractions cannot be added or subtracted until they become the same color (common denominators). Ratios, probability, percents, proportions, and making predictions are concepts that are taught right along with fractions in order for student to understand their relationship to fractions.Shared by:
Carol McKeever
Catherine Hillston
Middle School Methods Co

Rapping Longitude and Latitude

My students made a video where they rapped and acted out a rap I wrote on latitude and longitude. The video productions class filmed each period’s presentation and compiled them on a DVD. The best presentation was featured on the school news presentation.Shared by:
Dave Arena
Central MS, Nederland, TXYouTube has an very cute video on Latitude: I’ve Got An Attitude (About my Latitude)

Building Community Through Sharing Interesting Facts

Interesting Fact. For the first week of school, I have each student write an interesting fact about themselves, someone in their family, etc. I take 3 out each day, read them one at a time, then guess which student matches the fact. If it is not the student I pick, then that person guesses. Three guesses total are made. If no one guesses, the person, he/she stands up and then tells a little story about the fact. Sure helps when trying to learn names!

by:

Pam Stines
Nederland HS, TX