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Teacher Feature

Eric Strauss
Grades 10-12
Marketing and Government
Albuquerque High School
Albuquerque, NM

What's a lesson you teach that incorporates visual learning?
A: I have students do an amazing "ism" board where they trace nationalism through socialism, communism, capitalism and fascism.

Who or what motivates and inspires you to be a teacher?
A: My students are why I teach. For the past 16 years, watching the journey of young souls that walk through my door everyday bringing their joy, energy, sorrows, choices and love makes me feel like I am truly part of their lives. When they are brushing their teeth in their thirties and my voice pops into their heads reminding them of a lesson I taught them, whispered through their conscience, I know they are my students for life!

What teaching strategy do you find helps your students best grasp a lesson?
A:Hands-on manipulation of material that taps into their auditory, visual and kinesthetic learning styles: cutting, producing, presenting and moving are the best lessons.

Name the most important thing you hope students take away from your class.
A: Public speaking and the ability to present. Life is a job interview!

What’s your favorite quote or comment from a student?
A: "Everything you taught me I use in college!" and "I wish I would have listened to you more!"

Events

Stop by the VariQuest booth at a conference near you!

Feb. 17-19 – VariQuest will host booth #620 at AASA's National Conference on Education in Denver, Colorado.

March 2-5 – Spinitar, an authorized VariQuest dealer, will host booth #823 at the California Association of Directors of Activities State Conference in San Diego, California.

March 13-14 – VariQuest will be at the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals Spring Conference in Osage Beach, Missouri.

March 26-28 – VariQuest will host booth #717 at ASCD's 2011 Annual Conference & Exhibit Show in San Francisco, California.

School Spotlight

King Philip Regional High School

One of the newest businesses found in Wrentham, Massachusetts isn't located in an office building or amongst the storefronts on a bustling street, but in the town's high school. KP Images is a business opened this academic year by a group of partners, also known as students of King Philip Regional High School's DECA program. KP Images is a student-run enterprise founded by seniors Katie Benton, Harry Washington, and Raleigh Stetson, who use VariQuest Visual Learning Tools to create products to sell to fellow students, teachers, parents and the community. Read more.

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In the Know

VariQuest Professional Development Series Launches Thursday with a Differentiated Instruction Webinar

You're invited to attend a free live webinar on February 17 at 11 a.m. CST or 3 p.m. CST to learn how to use the VariQuest tools to enhance your instructional strategies and classroom management techniques. All attendees will receive a free gift! To register and learn more, visit www.variquest.com/webinars.

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New VariQuest Training Videos

Check out the new VariQuest training videos available at variquest.com to get the most out of your VariQuest Visual Learning tools for a lasting impact on your students! Want to learn how to create an awards plaque with the Awards Maker or learn how to enlarge classroom visuals with the Poster Maker? Learn how to do this and more at your convenience at www.variquest.com/training.

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VariQuest Tip of the Month: Saving and exporting your modified templates using the new VariQuest Software 2.0

Did you know you can export and save your modified Poster Maker and Awards Maker templates onto a USB flash drive, and then import the templates onto another Design Center or PC? The new VariQuest Software 2.0 enables you to install the software on your own computer and customize poster, banner and sticker templates in the comfort of your classroom, save it onto a USB flash drive and print at your convenience by exporting to a Design Center or PC connected to a Poster Maker or Awards Maker. Consider granting students the ability to create their own presentation visuals by allowing them to edit poster templates, such as graphic organizers, on a media center computer with VariQuest Software 2.0 installed. After all, VariQuest Software 2.0 can be installed on multiple computers using the same CD that comes in the software kit. Don't have 2.0 yet? Request your free software upgrade kit here, and stay tuned each month for more useful product tips!

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Lesson Activities from Julia

Julia is a VariQuest content specialist and former teacher.

Celebrate CTE month in February by sparking students' minds with ideas about their future careers! The following activities encourage students to explore careers in their community, investigate what must be accomplished to be in their potential career, and even write a resume to help students get their first job!

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Grades K-5

Careers in Our Community: Students will explore community helper careers and the skills that each career requires.

Cut out the Community Helpers Bulletin Board (THM005) and attach the letters at the top of a bulletin board. For easy assembly, use a bulletin board display space that is at least 36" x 48". Attach the black circles on the bulletin board below the letters. Place each set of related cutout shapes in a separate bag (e.g., place the dentist, dental chair, toothpaste, and toothbrush cutout in one bag). Read more.

Grades 6-8

Career Comparison: Give students an opportunity to investigate different career pathways, related careers, and understand the steps that they must take to secure a position in their field of interest.

For this activity, customize the Compare Contrast Matrix (ORG067) poster by editing the title to read: Career Comparison. Remove the text from the boxes across the top row that read Topic 1, Topic 2, etc., and leave them blank. Change the text of the boxes along the left column that read Attribute 1, Attribute 2, etc. by editing them to include the key information that students will be researching about each career. Print enough copies of the poster for each pair of students to have one poster. Read more.

Grades 9-12

Student Resumes: Review best practices for writing resumes and have students practice writing a resume for a job posting in your community.

Prior to completing this activity print and display one copy of the Possible Resume Headings (PSC073) poster. Print multiple copies of the Describing Attributes Map (ORG060) poster, one for each small group of students. Gather sample resumes in both targeted and chronological format. Read more.