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The New 3Rs Academic Transformation
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The Right Systems, The Right Resources, The Right People
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by Blaine Helwig
Mar 30, 20183 min read
Student Choice – Empowerment, but with Personal Responsibility
The choices made by students in their behavior have everything to do with their social and academic success in the classroom. Their...
58 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Mar 23, 20183 min read
Classroom Rules – Why, How Many and Which Ones?
According to Exodus, Moses climbed Mt. Sinai, and God gifted him the Decalogue – Ten Commandments that provided a foundation of conduct...
1,070 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Mar 2, 20183 min read
Student Engagement – Active versus Passive Learning
You are a public school teacher. You are about half-way through your science or math lesson. The door opens and the principal walks into...
1,697 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Feb 23, 20183 min read
School Culture – What Does It Really Mean?
There are many industry specific words bandied about in public education that all too often, educators possess only a vague definition....
910 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Feb 16, 20184 min read
Scoreboards, Performance, Practice and Reflection
The other night I was watching the latest release of ESPN’s 30 for 30 – a remarkable and interesting documentary series highlighting...
67 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Feb 9, 20183 min read
Math Word Problems, Skills and Practice: In this Case, it takes Three to Tango!
Math word problems were difficult for me when I was a kid. At the end of thirty or so skill base computation problems on the exercise...
41 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Jan 13, 20183 min read
Is that Number Even or Odd? – Commentary on Math Lesson Planning
Let’s teach/plan an elementary lesson on even and odd numbers – first step, compile the basic information on that topic: The even numbers...
113 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Dec 15, 20173 min read
Mathematics Vocabulary – A Necessary Addition
Kenton Weeks, a South Dakota rancher and farmer, opened the door of his truck. He and his dog got out of the cab and walked into his...
75 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Dec 1, 20173 min read
Testing: What ALL is being assessed?
Educators test students throughout the school year. Students are frequently assessed via both formative and summative assessments ranging...
57 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Oct 28, 20173 min read
Substitute Teacher Needed – Prepare for an Emergency in Advance
As an elementary principal, I would do my best to arrive at school at least 15 to 45 minutes prior to start of the opening school doors...
34 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Oct 21, 20173 min read
Pedagogical Reflection – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
It is one of the primary functions of the campus administration’s job to support classroom teachers in improving core instruction and...
79 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Oct 17, 20173 min read
How Long Until I am Good at this Teaching Gig?
New teachers struggle in the classroom. We all did. When I started, I expected to be much better at teaching kids, and I was 32 years old...
32 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Oct 13, 20173 min read
Math Test Stamina Issues – Numeracy to the Rescue!
“My fifth graders can’t do 35 to 40 word problems in 4 hours! How can the State Education Agency expect any 10 year old to finish a math...
241 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Oct 6, 20174 min read
Kinesthetic Vocabulary Learning – Math and Science Block
Prior to reading this short blog, it is recommended the educator read the October 2nd posted blog entitled: Kinesthetic Vocabulary...
265 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Oct 2, 20174 min read
Kinesthetic Vocabulary Learning – Language Arts Block
Title 1 elementary students are experiencing difficulty with the most common, high frequency English words, and educators are trying to...
1,366 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Sep 28, 20172 min read
What are the Benefits of Stop-Gap Resources?
I am of the belief that Title 1 academic education reformation involving high percentages of students classified as economically...
26 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Sep 14, 20173 min read
What Are "Stop-Gap Resources?"
‘Stop-Gap Resources’ are a moniker that I believe accurately describes their function when used in Title 1 schools or with students...
204 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Sep 5, 20173 min read
Beginning Teachers: When and When Not to Use Tactile Math Manipulatives
As discussed in an earlier blog, “Manipulatives, Pictorial Representation – then, Paper/Pencil,” arithmetic instructional design and...
112 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Aug 31, 20172 min read
Manipulatives, Pictorial Representation – then, Paper/Pencil
Generally speaking, arithmetic instructional design and student learning should always follow a structured process: tactile, pictorial...
277 views
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by Blaine Helwig
Aug 22, 20173 min read
General Algorithm Power is the Mathematical King
Students must memorize certain basic mathematics information. It cannot be avoided. But, elementary teachers must understand what kids...
43 views
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