Author Archives: hougan

Inspirational Video

Posted on July 17, 2010 by hougan

This is a must see video: http://www.acslaw.org/node/16387. Cory Booker’s message is a good reminder that we have a noble responsibility that is greater than ourselves. Newark Mayor Cory Booker, during the final event at the 2010 ACS National Convention, gave … Continue reading →

Posted in Life | 1 Comment

Road to Teaching.com Popular?

Posted on July 9, 2010 by hougan

Last month signaled a milestone; we had 8,455 visitors for June. This is up 25% from last year! Thanks for spreading the word.

Posted in Website | Leave a comment

My book was chosen as TheApple's April Monthly Book Giveaway!

Posted on April 5, 2010 by hougan

Visit TheApple.com to enter to win my book, Road to Teaching: A Guide to Teacher Training, Student Teaching, and Finding a Job. It’s really simple. Good luck! This a great book for aspiring teachers, student teachers, and job seekers. Book … Continue reading →

Posted in Finding a Job, Student Teaching, Teaching | Tagged free book, giveaway, road to teaching, road to teaching a guide to teacher training student te, Student Teaching, Teaching | Leave a comment

Super Quick Teacher Tip – Give Instruction Before Assigning Groups

Posted on March 31, 2010 by hougan

TIP – If placing students into groups either 1) give instructions BEFORE assigning students to groups, and/or 2) provide written instructions once students are placed in groups. This will eliminate the need to raise your voice above the chatter,and repeat instructions … Continue reading →

Posted in Student Teaching, Teaching | Tagged beginning teachers, grouping tips, instructional tips, Student Teacher, Student Teaching, teacher tip, teacher tips, Teaching, teaching tip, teaching tips | Leave a comment

Effective Vocabulary Strategy – Flash Vocabulary Game

Posted on March 22, 2010 by hougan

A quick, fun and engaging activity to have students learn and practice using vocabulary is a game called Flash Vocabulary. In this game students are paired up. Using a document camera or overhead projector, teacher places a vocabulary words down, … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Teaching, Uncategorized, Vocabulary Instruction | Tagged academic vocabulary, building student Vocabulary, building students’ vocabulary, characterictics of effective Vocabulary instruction, education games, Effective Vocabulary Instruction, effective Vocabulary instructional strategy, jeopardy, jeopardy for education, jeopardy teaching, jeopardy vocabulary, linguistic, marzano, Marzano Characteritics of Effective Direct Vocabulary, non-linguistic, self-awareness chart, students Vocabulary understanding, teaching academic vocabulary, teaching vocabulary, vocab, vocab crosswords, vocab war, Vocabulary, vocabulary crosswords, Vocabulary fun, Vocabulary games, Vocabulary graphic organizers, Vocabulary instructional strategies, Vocabulary intruction, Vocabulary learning, vocabulary self-awareness chart, Vocabulary strategies, vocabulary war, word meaning | Leave a comment

Is Alternative Certification the Way to Go?

Posted on January 21, 2010 by hougan

A friend tells me that her husband is entering into teaching because it is a “solid job”. He lost his job and has been looking for work for some time. She suggested that he become a teacher. He is in … Continue reading →

Posted in education policy, Teaching | Tagged alternative certification, Teaching, teaching profession | 6 Comments

Plethora of Resources for Future and Student Teachers

Posted on January 9, 2010 by hougan

I wrote the following post on Edubloggers – a group for those people blogging about the K12 classroom including teachers, administrators, curriculum directors, professional developers, pre-service teachers, and college level educators who focus on k12 education.: Please share with me … Continue reading →

Posted in Website | Tagged beginning teachers, Classroom Management, k12 classroom, pre-service, Preservice, Student Teacher, Student Teaching, Teacher, teacher interview, Teacher Resources, Teaching | Leave a comment

Education Should Nurture Creativity

Posted on December 11, 2009 by hougan

Enjoy this video. It’s a thoughtful presentation with a good amount of humor. I do support his ideas and I propose an economic argument for why it’s important to nurture creativity in our schools. Having lived and worked aboard, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Teacher Training | Tagged creative students, creative teacher, creativity, nurturing creativity, purpose of education | 2 Comments

Recharge Yourself with your Belief / Philosophy Statement

Posted on December 10, 2009 by hougan

I spent yesterday guiding my students through the process of developing their belief/philosophy statement on teaching. I participated alongside my students. To spend a significant block of time to reflect on my values and beliefs regarding education, teaching, and learning, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged beginning teachers, belief statement, education reform, longer school year, philosophy statement, reflection, reflection on teacher beliefs, reform, road to teaching, road to teaching a guide to teacher training student teaching, school reform, teacher belief statement, Teaching, teaching philosophy | Leave a comment

What is it with this class? Part II

Posted on November 21, 2009 by hougan

Here’s a quick post of what is happening. This entire week I tweaked the curriculum to allow for the students to have more choice in their project. I have also started to use some different technologies to allow for the information … Continue reading →

Posted in Instruction, Success Story, Teaching | Tagged bell work, curriculum, do now, do now activity, do-now activities, fun curriculum, higher level thinking, Instruction, instructional technology, student choice, Teacher, teacher tecnhology, Teaching, Technology | Leave a comment