Supplies…check Classroom organized and ready for students….check Classroom Routines and Procedures? Here’s a reminder list to have worked out before the first day of school. Try to post important details in the classroom as reminders to students. Storage of backpacks, coat, lunches Entering the classroom Homework (and notes, etc. from home) collection box Attendance… Read More »
Looking for ideas to share with kids about how to get UNstuck from a problem? Consider these ideas. Reread or restate or rethink the problem in your own words or with your own ideas. Make a mental picture or a short movie to see the problem. Think about what you might do to change things… Read More »
So, the door opens, your little kids rush in from school…your older kids drag in from school. What next? I know you are curious about their school day but wait! Hold off until they’ve had a snack, finished their sports practice, had that piano or karate lesson and/or had a chance to relax or play… Read More »
When working with young writers, keep your ideas simple and easy to remember. One of the best is making a chart and using their fingers to count off the steps in writing: rough draft, revision, write out or type, share, evaluation. Rough Draft: Encourage them to draw 8 simple pictures to show how their idea… Read More »
Growing a vocabulary requires spending time with new words. Focus on important words; those with often-use potential or subject-related value. Try these ideas to help students ‘own’ the selected new words. First create a special journal or **worksheet to allow space for the some or all of the following components: Introduce the word and the… Read More »
Spring! Sunshine, Sports, Homework, Projects, Testing Help you kids organize their springtime. Here’s a list of study habits for ending the year with an up-tick: Use a weekly and monthly planner to organize school homework and projects as well as family and extra curricular and other activities. It’s not a good time of year to… Read More »
Incorporating S.T.E.A.M. into your classroom need not be expensive. What it takes is an added pinch of creativity. Try these ideas to get started enhancing your S (science), T (technology), E(engineering), A (art) and M (math) activities. Use the materials that you have on hand. Team up with other teachers to share kits and materials… Read More »
In addition to Think-Pair-Share partnering, here’s a list of ways to unpack student thinking: Take quick classroom surveys as a quick way to get ‘a feel’ for where the students are in their thinking about a topic. Ask students to share how they reached their individual conclusions. Accept a variety of methods and processes. Ask… Read More »
The days of the carrot and the stick are long past. Modern classrooms look to self motivation as we seek to actively engage students in their personal educational goals. So what does that look like? demonstrating by sharing your personal goals for the classroom as well as for yourself as the teacher-leader setting classroom goals… Read More »
This past month I’ve enjoyed meeting people at two book events. If you were unable to attend, I’m extending the same book sale offer to you via this blog. You may purchase my Educating America book, flipbook and workbook for $20 (plus $6 shipping in USA) It’s a $34 materials value and comes with free… Read More »