Effective teaching requires the use of techniques and strategies to counter student passivity and enhance engagement. Research demonstrates that drawing improves memory retention, increases motivation to learn, provides an opportunity to learn what makes an image an effective communication tool, allows demonstration of conceptual understanding,…

The purpose of this article is to describe a modeling sequence about the digestive system. "What happens in your body when you have lactose intolerance?" is the initial question that will guide the activities. Students will build a 3D plaster cast of the digestive system as part of a modeling cycle through which they are expected to…

This article aims to outline the important role of the summary phase within a mathematics instructional model and provide six strategies to support teachers to move beyond "share time." By drawing upon good teaching strategies during the summary phase, teachers can enhance the learning experience for themselves and for their students.…

Courses: Rhetorical Criticism, Rhetorical Theory, Rhetoric and Public Memory, Rhetoric of Space/Place. Objectives: This unit introduces critical regionalism as a methodology for rhetorical analysis. By encouraging students to see regions as rhetorical constructions, critical regionalism teaches students to recognize and analyze the inevitable…

Impromptu speaking is a typical exercise in communication-focused courses. This format is often used to practice reducing or assess speaking anxiety, getting to know one another, and delivering project updates and ceremonial remarks. For students to practice their skills in quick thinking and speech preparation, instructors commonly have students…

Classroom evaluations are implemented with the best of intentions -- to measure student satisfaction in the classroom. However, survey questions do not always apply to the learning environment, especially in nontraditional classrooms. We want to improve our craft as teachers and as facilitators, but we lose the chance to critically reflect on our…

Writing lesson plans is often considered busywork, but it can be a useful path for discovering what is important about artmaking and teaching. This book shows teachers how to slow down, breathe, and linger over the process of unit and lesson plan writing to uncover how much this process can support them professionally, creatively, and personally.…

Drawing provides opportunities for children to communicate their thoughts even when they do not have the vocabulary or the English proficiency to fully explain their ideas. This practical guide presents foundational information on the role of drawing in vocabulary development. The authors describe a research-based intervention designed to support…

Engineering is increasingly expected in elementary classrooms now that the "Next Generation Science Standards" have explicitly identified engineering disciplinary core ideas as well as engineering practices. To incorporate engineering into their elementary classrooms, the authors used building blocks (i.e., LEGOS) to help students begin…

It is common for high school physics teachers to comment on the challenges they face in supporting students' graph drawing skills, knowing their importance for the study of physics. This paper suggests a novel and alternative way to support students to develop their graph drawing skills as well as teach them about sound, frequency, and amplitude.…

Courses: The exercise is designed for an introduction to public-speaking course or a "basic course" with a major public-speaking assignment. Objectives: By the end of this activity, students will be able to (1) identify their own misconceptions about public speaking, (2) recognize the relevance of public-speaking skills to their career…

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how instruction for students from linguistically and culturally diverse families can be enhanced by the literacy practice of transformative read-alouds, which teachers can utilize to create a sense of community within the classroom for all children. Transformative readalouds are especially beneficial…

"Drawing Conclusions" explores the use of juxtaposed visual representations (JVRs) to help preservice teachers grapple with abstract concepts, theories, or complex controversies in education. Acting as both a learning tool and an intellectual spark, JVRs are two simple contrasted sketches that students produce on a divided sheet of…

Ken Robinson (2006) once suggested that schools kill creativity and it is argued that in England, since the introduction of the most recent iteration of the National Curriculum (2013), creative subjects are in danger of being marginalised in favour of spending time preparing for high-stakes testing in maths and English. Meet Little Inventors! It…

As physics instructors, we try to help our students learn physics. But most of us begin to realize that our students are not learning as much as we hope they would. As we listen to our students, we begin to see some of their difficulties. Some of their difficulties are expected, but some are unexpected. One such difficulty is drawing the force…