It’s almost break time for families whose children and young adults will be spending extra days at home. That marks changes in our daily routines: more meals to prepare, more laundry, and more people with more projects strewn around. More importantly it marks more opportunities to spend quality family time together. So, here are a… Read More »
Looking for ideas for students, classroom assistants, or volunteers? Remember to (1) Checkout my FREE downloads (http://www.educatingamerica.paddyeger.com). (2) Examine sample pages of my book, flipbook, and workbook. You may purchase them from my website or through bookstores and online. (3) Found a great resource I might share with my followers? Have ideas you’d like to… Read More »
Bodhi Day, Advent, St. Nicholas Day, Las Posadas, Pancha Ganapati, Hanukka, Christmas, Kwanza, Hogmanay, Chalica, Chinese New Year, Sadem, New Years, Malanka, and many more. Many cultures and religions have special days that include ways to brighten Northern Hemisphere’s dark day of winter or to welcome in their approaching new year. Whichever end-of-the-year or beginning-of-the-next-year… Read More »
In an age of cell phones, social media, and texting we are losing active listening and direct conversations. One way to reestablish those connections in classrooms or in groups is to use an increased amount of cooperative learning. The process may be as simple as Think-Pair-Share or as complex as cooperative learning groups. Both share… Read More »
Vocabulary is organic. After we learn to speak, we use words; next we read and use words. I addressed this on October 2nd this year, but I keep thinking about it and how we need to be deliberate in exposing kids to a wide number of specifics naming words. We need to use specific words… Read More »
Just a reminder. You can find dozens of resources on my website related to teaching, parent issues, volunteer ideas, etc. Go http://www.paddyeger.com/educatingamerica. Check out the newsletters, articles and free downloads, then let me know which ones were the most help to you. If there is something you’d like to see on the website and can’t… Read More »
Feedback is a two-edged sword: we may hear compliments and/or we may hear criticism. Both are valuable. Sincere praise reassures us that we are on the right track. It sends us forward to brainstorm with new contacts and old. It means we’re contributing to their well-being and encourages us to keep on keeping on, to… Read More »
In this hectic world, it’s time to think about our shared concerns for children and youth. Here are a few of my ideas: We should strive to make children important in our daily lives. We need to keep communications open and as positive as possible. We need to engage children in thinking and learning beyond… Read More »
Every hours of every day in school is important. The question is…Is art education a waste of those precious minutes OR is it time wisely spent? Here are a few results of studies I recently read. (My bias will come through loud and clear.) Greater access to the arts: Improves students chances to succeed in… Read More »
The end of this week I’m honored to be presenting two sessions to para educators in the Edmonds School district during their fall in-service day. It will be a chance to talk about ways to engage students in their own learning. We’ll discuss hooks and pocket activities, ways to focus students, the use of hand… Read More »