"A1: I think that the "inch deep and a mile wide" approach that I feel is part of the package deal of standardized testing does nothing to develop skills our students need for the future. Think about it. When we need facts we…"
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Shawn McCusker
- Huntley, IL
- United States
- Blog Posts (1)
- Discussions (58)
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- Groups (12)
- Photos (16)
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Shawn McCusker's Groups
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1:1 Educators
34 members
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Common Core
24 members
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Google+
48 members
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Games in Social Studies
62 members
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Conference and PD Notes
12 members
Shawn McCusker's Discussions
Why I Teach
7 Replies
One of the things that I really like to know when I meet teachers is why they teach. The responses are always so varied. I think that understanding why a person teaches helps me make sense of the…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Rachel Labossiere May 23, 2011.
Shawn McCusker's Page
Latest Activity
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 4 in the group Book ClubShawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 2 in the group Book Club"Will do Bill. It is now officially on my summer list of things to do next year. "
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 2 in the group Book Club"I completely agree the the effective construction of essential questions is very important. I also agree that the question that you have mentioned at the end of you last post is a nice open ended one. I am just hoping that at the end of the…"
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 2 in the group Book Club"I really like that idea too. I just love the idea of recording all of the connections so that when the students enter the room they immediately remember where we left off and all of the connections we have made. "
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 2 in the group Book Club"1. Vocabulary is the first step in reading any primary source in my World history class. I work with students on a active reading format early in the year. Step one is to scan and look for any words that they may not understand. In…"
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 2 in the group Book Club"I think the effectiveness of using those questions varies from unit to unit. I like the idea of giving them direction to guide them but at time I feel like they need to be turned loose. I also hand out a key terms/topics sheet at the…"
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 2 in the group Book Club"As I was reading I could not help but think that the whole topic of Creative Commons would make a great topic for an #sschat. Would you be interested in something like that? I think that all of us could benefit from a greater…"
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 2 in the group Book Club"I agree with you. We must not over generalize and dismiss the value of online content. As more and more of traditional print mead goes online there is a divide between the types of written sources that we find online. Just as there…"
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 1 in the group Book Club"I really think that people who we talk to do not understand the relationship that teachers have with time. I spend the entire time trying to get the most out of every class, and every minute. Every gain in depth represents some…"
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 1 in the group Book Club"After reading your reply I just kept thinking, "I think she should Skype with classrooms all over the world." Especially for students who don't expect to go far beyond their local community, the twitter community is making those…"
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 1 in the group Book Club"The idea that we always feel like we are rushing resonates with me. I am sure that I need to take time to just let ideas germinate, but I feel like it is hard to pause and really, truly, deeply reflect. Providing processing time is really…"
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 1 in the group Book Club"Bill I agree. I became really motivated to be a more dynamic classroom teacher when I taught an evening Alternative High School program. Some of the best lesson ideas I have ever created came about because I saw that I need to engage…"
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 1 in the group Book Club"I love the idea of making the strange familiar and the familiar strange. It is something I have been doing all along but never put it into such a nice phrase. I'm going to "borrow" that and put a sign up in my classroom.…"
Shawn McCusker replied to Shauna Liverotti's discussion Why Don't Students Like School? --Chapter 1 in the group Book Club"2. In my classes I like to attack the issue of background knowledge by teaching the "Theory of 5 Whys?" very early on. The idea holds that in order to really understand an issue you have to give an answer and then ask…"
Bill Chapman replied to Shawn McCusker's discussion Death and Life: Chapter 7- "Choice" in the group Book Club"Thanks for these thoughts Shauna. In my 40 years in education, I've worked in public schools, private non-religious schools, and one Catholic school; but no charters (public or private). I certainly agree with you that there are good and bad…"
Shauna Liverotti replied to Shawn McCusker's discussion Death and Life: Chapter 7- "Choice" in the group Book Club"I have been stewing over this chapter for a couple of weeks now. As a parent of a charter school student and as an educator who has worked in private, public, and now in an online public school which falls under the category of a choice…"
Profile Information
- Work / School Affiliation:
- William Fremd High School
- About Me:
- I teach US History, World History and American Studies and Study Strategies. Growing as a teacher stopped being work a long time ago, now it is my passion. I have a wife and two children who are my everything.
- Twitter Account:
- @ShawnMcCusker
Shawn McCusker's Photos
Shawn McCusker's Blog
Teach to the End
The last few weeks I have felt all of the typical end of the year stresses. It is harder to get out of bed. It is much more tempting to just go home after school. But this year I have manages to prevent myself from succumbing to these tempatations. In fact I feel like the momentum I have is increasing because rather than holding on until the end of the year. I have been…
Continue Posted on May 19, 2011 at 12:00am — 4 Comments
Comment Wall (15 comments)
- At 10:49am on January 30, 2012,
Dan Sadowsky said…
Thanks, Shawn, for welcoming me. I certainly will be checking in here from time to time, as well as to the #sschat on Twitter. Looking forward to learning much from the community!
-- Dan (@dan_sadowsky)
- At 9:58am on January 28, 2012,
Robert Hans said… Shawn - Thanks for the warm welcome. I can see this is a great ning site and resource for Social Studies teachers - I appreciate your creation of it a look forward to networking with the community. I will definitely check out the Monday #sschat on twitter. As I stated on my page I am in transition to teaching social studies as a second career and have been developing an online present to help others in a similar quest. https://alternate-route-teachers.wikispaces.com/
Robert Hans (@RHHR)
- At 1:10am on January 28, 2012,
Ms Charles said… HI Shawn, thanks. This is a great resource, unfortunately as I live in Australia I will be well entrenched in the classroom when the chat is on. I am interested in setting up Skype chats with classes who study Australian or World History so if anyone reads this please let me know.
Looking forward to meeting lots of enthusiastic teachers
- At 9:27pm on January 25, 2012,
Michael-Ann Cerniglia said… Thanks, Shawn. I am looking forward to getting to know the people on here and using the ning.
- At 10:47pm on January 11, 2012,
Tim O'Connor said… Thanks Shawn! I teach at Grayslake North High School. I am currently working towards my masters in technology integration through Concordia University. I am still learning all of the great aspects of twitter. I plan to start joining the sschats. Thanks again!
- At 9:34pm on December 21, 2011,
Dwight Stevenson said… Thank you Shawn, this is an absolutely great tool, and great use of social media.
We've seen the power of social media through events like the Arab Spring, it was exciting, and I found myself glued to Twitter in January, watching the events unfold in realtime.
The story on the NYTimes website is what got me here, and I participated in my first #SSChat this past Monday.
Thank you for the welcome, and I too look forward to working and learning with you.
Best,
Dwight
@dwsteven
- At 1:29pm on September 15, 2011,
A.Schiff said… Thanks you Mr. McCusker, I look forward to the chats and the learning experience!
A.Schiff
- At 8:50am on September 10, 2011,
Lori Rosa said… Thanks Shawn!
- At 8:36am on August 19, 2011,
Julie Mushing said… - Thanks Shawn, look forward to the continued learning!
- At 11:50pm on August 1, 2011, Karen McMillan said…
- Thanks for the welcome, Shawn! I look forward to learning and sharing here.
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