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Bestseller!

Blended Learning in Grades 4–12

Leveraging the Power of Technology to Create Student-Centered Classrooms
First Edition
By: Catlin Rice Tucker

This guide helps teachers integrate online with face-to-face instruction to personalize learning, increase engagement, and prepare students for high-stakes exams without sacrificing class time.

Full description


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Product Details
  • Grade Level: 4-12
  • ISBN: 9781452240862
  • Published By: Corwin
  • Series: Corwin Teaching Essentials
  • Year: 2012
  • Page Count: 272
  • Publication date: December 27, 2012
Price: $39.95
Volume Discounts applied in Shopping Cart

Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.
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Description

Use technology to focus on your students!

You've heard about blended learning, which mixes online learning with traditional classroom instruction. You have the support of your principal, the backing of your district, and you are ready to take the leap. Now what?

In this step-by-step guide, teacher and education blogger Catlin Tucker outlines the process for integrating online discussion with face-to-face instruction in a way that is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, works for your students, and allows you to focus your energy where it is most needed. Catlin Tucker will teach you how to:

  • Use the online environment to increase engagement and drive higher-order thinking
  • Design dynamic online discussion questions
  • Create a safe space online
  • Prepare students for high-stakes exams without sacrificing class time
  • Assess online work
  • Personalize learning and differentiate lessons
  • Move toward flipped instruction, which shifts the focus of class time from teacher to student

With concrete strategies, ready-to-use resources, and sample rubrics grounded in the Common Core State Standards, Blended Learning in Grades 4–12 is the ideal tool for the busy 21st-century teacher looking to create a student-centered classroom.


Key features

  • explores the why, explaining the reasoning behind integrating an online element and drawing on current research and the author's teaching experience
  • illustrates how by including numerous, concrete application strategies, specific instructions and tips
  • provides the here you go resources and tools educators need to be successful with students today.
  • An accompanying website (Corwin-hosted) will offer samples, tools, resources, and a link to the author's blog.
  • Emphasizing 21st century skills, the book will show teachers how to leverage the online space to personalize instruction, differentiate lessons, and provide opportunities for students to problem solve together.

Author(s)

Catlin Rice Tucker photo

Catlin Rice Tucker

Catlin Tucker is a Google Certified Innovator, bestselling author, international trainer, and frequent Edtech speaker, who teaches in Sonoma County where she was named Teacher of the Year in 2010. Catlin’s books Blended Learning in Grades 4-12 and Blended Learning in Action are both bestsellers. She has also written a book titled Creatively Teach the Common Core Literacy Standards with Technology to support teachers in thinking outside of the box as they shift to the Common Core. Catlin is working on her doctorate at Pepperdine University. She writes the “Techy Teacher” column for ASCD’s Educational Leadership. She is active on Twitter @Catlin_Tucker and writes an internationally ranked education blog at CatlinTucker.com.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Preface

1. The 21st Century Classroom

Crossing the Digital Divide

Developing 21st Century Skills Critical to Future Success

What Does the 21st Century Classroom Look Like?

Student-Centered Learning

2. Blended Learning

What is Blended Learning?

6 Common Blended Learning Models Currently in Use

Emerging Blended Learning Model: Teacher Driven Blend

Discussions are Critical to a Successful Blended Learning Model

Community of Inquiry Framework

3. The Role of the Teacher in a Blended Learning Model

Choosing a Learning Platform or Learning Management System

Blackboard

Moodle

Edmodo

Schoology

Collaborize Classroom

Defining Your Role as Facilitator

Silent Facilitator vs. Involved Facilitator

Effectively Differentiate Instruction with Online Discussions

Weaving Online Work Back into the Classroom

4. Art of Asking Questions Online

Encourage Conversations With Well-Chosen Questions

Question Types That Foster Conversation

Consider These Sample Questions

English Question Grid

History Question Grid

Science Question Grid

Math Question Grid

Question Types that Kill Conversations

Tips for Designing Strong Questions

What Does a Good Online Question Look Like?

5. Develop a Dynamic Learning Community Online

Creating and Maintaining a Safe Space Online

The Dos and Don’ts of Student Communication Online

Strong Sentence Starters

Creating Class Code of Conduct

Visually Display Your Expectations for Participation on Your Site

Building an Online Community

Break the Ice Online

5 Student Icebreakers Adapted for an Online Community

5 Parent-Student Icebreakers Adapted for an Online Community

Start Simply to Cement Routines and Correct First Missteps

Teach Students to Say Something Substantial

Preface for Chapters 6-9

Chapters 6-9 Are Based on the Following Assumptions

Teaching the Common Core State Standards Using Blended Learning

6. English Language Arts

Upper Elementary— Middle School— High School

Example Online Discussions and Activities

Explanation of Common Core State Standards Addressed

Weave Online Work into the Classroom with Student Centered Activities

7. History/Social Studies

Upper Elementary— Middle School— High School

Example Online Discussions and Activities

Explanation of Common Core State Standards Addressed

Weave Online Work into the Classroom with Student Centered Activities

8. Science

Upper Elementary— Middle School— High School

Example Online Discussions and Activities

Explanation of Common Core State Standards Addressed

Weave Online Work into the Classroom with Student Centered Activities

9. Math

Example Online Discussions and Activities

Explanation of Common Core State Standards Addressed

Weave Online Work into the Classroom with Student Centered Activities

10. Flip Your Instruction with Online Discussions

What is the Flipped Classroom?

“Homework” in the Flipped Classroom Model

What Happens in the Flipped Classroom?

What If a Student Doesn’t Do Their Homework?

Tips for Successfully Flipping Your Classroom

Ideas for Flipping Your Class

English

History/Social Studies

Science

Math

11. Accessing Work Online

Managing Online Participation

Rubrics

Online Discussion Rubric

Writing Rubrics for Upper Elementary, Middle School, and High School

Preparing Students for High Stakes Exams

Released Test Questions Online

Tucker’s Test Taking Tips for English Language Arts

Tucker’s Test Taking Tips for Math

Index

Reviews

Quote by Melody Aldrich, English Teacher and Department Chair, Poston Butte High School, San Tan Valley, AZ: “A must have for any teacher who wants to connect with students who are either reluctant to participate in class or who have everything to say. The book's tools provide a welcome segue into their terrain and show you how to master it. Included are many ideas and suggestions for bringing the Internet into your classroom and harnessing its power for the benefit of your students.”
“A must have for any teacher who wants to connect with students who are either reluctant to participate in class or who have everything to say. The book's tools provide a welcome segue into their terrain and show you how to master it. Included are many ideas and suggestions for bringing the Internet into your classroom and harnessing its power for the benefit of your students.”
Melody Aldrich, English Teacher and Department Chair
Poston Butte High School, San Tan Valley, AZ
Quote by Jim Anderson, Principal, Andersen Jr. High School, Chandler, AZ: “This book comes at the right time with answers for teachers, principals, and schools who want to be on the cutting edge of the effective use of technology, the internet, and teacher pedagogy.”
“This book comes at the right time with answers for teachers, principals, and schools who want to be on the cutting edge of the effective use of technology, the internet, and teacher pedagogy.”
Jim Anderson, Principal
Andersen Jr. High School, Chandler, AZ
Quote by Judy Brunner, Clinical Faculty, Author, Consultant, Missouri State University & Instructional Solutions Group, MO: “This book provides a wealth of information related to teaching in a blended classroom. Designed for 21st century educators, this text is a powerful and valuable resource for those that want to challenge, engage, and facilitate learning for all students.”
“This book provides a wealth of information related to teaching in a blended classroom. Designed for 21st century educators, this text is a powerful and valuable resource for those that want to challenge, engage, and facilitate learning for all students.”
Judy Brunner, Clinical Faculty, Author, Consultant
Missouri State University & Instructional Solutions Group, MO
Quote by David Callaway, 7th-Grade Social Studies Teacher, Rocky Heights Middle School, Highlands Ranch, CO: “This book will appeal to a wide range of educators and provide them with the foundation for creating a perfect blend for their classrooms.”
“This book will appeal to a wide range of educators and provide them with the foundation for creating a perfect blend for their classrooms.”
David Callaway, 7th-Grade Social Studies Teacher
Rocky Heights Middle School, Highlands Ranch, CO
Quote by Cathy Bonneville Hix, K-12 Social Studies Specialist, Arlington County Public Schools, VA: “This book will help teachers move their students online while maintaining effective teaching practices!”
“This book will help teachers move their students online while maintaining effective teaching practices!”
Cathy Bonneville Hix, K-12 Social Studies Specialist
Arlington County Public Schools, VA
Quote by Rushton Hurley, Executive Director, Next Vista for Learning, Santa Clara, CA: Catlin Tucker takes on the questions that serve as teachers' biggest barriers in exploring what technology can bring to their professional experiences. Questions of assessment, time, and access, as well as practical suggestions for how to begin working with modern collaborative resources, serve to guide teachers through the philosophical and pedagogical challenges of exploring the promise of blended learning.
Catlin Tucker takes on the questions that serve as teachers' biggest barriers in exploring what technology can bring to their professional experiences. Questions of assessment, time, and access, as well as practical suggestions for how to begin working with modern collaborative resources, serve to guide teachers through the philosophical and pedagogical challenges of exploring the promise of blended learning.
Rushton Hurley, Executive Director
Next Vista for Learning, Santa Clara, CA
Quote by Rushton Hurley, Executive Director, Next Vista for Learning: "In Blended Learning in Grades 4-12, Tucker takes on the questions that serve as teachers' biggest barriers to exploring what technology can bring to their professional experiences. Too often, exploration of educational technology is more about the tools than the learning, and consequently it is a pleasure to read this book in which inspiring and empowering students serves as the primary frame for discussion. The skilled examination of the larger question of how to teach well using whatever one has will make Tucker's book a valuable resource for teachers for a long time to come."
"In Blended Learning in Grades 4-12, Tucker takes on the questions that serve as teachers' biggest barriers to exploring what technology can bring to their professional experiences. Too often, exploration of educational technology is more about the tools than the learning, and consequently it is a pleasure to read this book in which inspiring and empowering students serves as the primary frame for discussion. The skilled examination of the larger question of how to teach well using whatever one has will make Tucker's book a valuable resource for teachers for a long time to come."
Rushton Hurley, Executive Director
Next Vista for Learning
Quote by Midwest Book Review, September 2012: "This book shows teachers how to use technology and blended learning practices to blend online discussion with face-to-face classroom instruction."
"This book shows teachers how to use technology and blended learning practices to blend online discussion with face-to-face classroom instruction."
Midwest Book Review, September 2012

Other Titles in: Middle School Teaching Methods | High School Teaching Methods | Classroom Applications of Technology

Price: $39.95
Volume Discounts applied in Shopping Cart

Review Copies

This book is not available as a review copy.

Related Resources

  • Access to companion resources is available with the purchase of this book.