Blended Learning in Grades 4-12: Leveraging the Power of Technology to Create Student-Centered Classrooms

by Catlin R. Tucker

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 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.

Genres: Education, Teaching, School, Nonfiction

272 pages, ebook

First published June 12, 2012

Reviews

[Jen Pedrozo · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we prepare to teach in the pandemic, this is the best resource I've found so far. I have a feeling this will be falling apart by the end of the year because I'll refer to it so many times!

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldn't sleep last night, at least partially overwhelmed by a million worries about school. So I got up and read some teaching books. This is a pretty good book, I did get some ideas from it of ways to flip my classroom or involve more technology or support those students who just cannot move at the rest of the class' pace. OTOH, in comparison to the other book I read last night, I would say this book is a little too vague and theoretical and I would prefer a more vivid picture of how this is actually put into play. Ariel Sacks' book (the aforementioned other insomnia-fueled read last night) gives the theoreticals also but then it gives a very specific picture of her putting this in action in her actual classroom--this book had a few references to how Tucker uses different pieces from her suggestions but not that in depth or specific. I have a feeling the more recent book by this author (whose blog I have followed for a while now) might be more what I'm looking for.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for those looking for practical information

Although the book was written several years ago, the basic information is still accurate. I saw only a few places, regarding web tools, that could be updated. Caitlin does a great job sharing her pedagogically-sound advice, and any teacher desiring to better efforts to increase student motivation, engagement, and achievement will find many ways to do so throughout this book.

[Jessica Liew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book deals with the practical side of blended learning and includes many examples of what a blended lesson might look like in the core academic areas. A quick read because you can skim through the parts about subjects that you don't teach. More useful to American teachers as all the assessment pieces are based on the Common Core, but with adaptation, her ideas work for classes in other parts of the world as well.

[Marie-Sharrane]

Blended Learning in Grades 4-12 reviews how to integrate technology into the classroom. There are a lot of free websites that could be great resources. However, with schools using Schoology, Google Classroom, and other such platforms, I don't know if there is a regulation or security issues for using the provided options. Of course, it would need to be looked into prior to use. But it's still exciting to see free resources at one's disposal. Thank you!

[Debbie Deerwester · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was about integrating technology for students. It was just ok....

[Candy Kutty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great place to start when looking at a blended teaching style.

[Megan Merrithey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great place for teachers to start if they're thinking that "flipping" their classroom will help student achievement. Catlin uses practical approaches to guide teachers through changing their learning environment to better meet student needs. There are lots of resources she presents and if you follow her on Twitter, she continues the conversation.

[Karen Boucher · Rating 3 out of 5]

My favorite parts were about silent and involved online facilitators, and developing an online learning community, specifically the "Say Something" strategy on page 79.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as a summer book study and was pleasantly surprised to find so many practical, easy tips for me to incorporate into my classroom this fall to make it more student-centered.