It’s important to take short breaks during a long work time to refresh your brain. Same for students; especially young students, new-to-learning in classrooms. For them it needs to include movement. Try these simple ideas during a 3-5 minute break. 1. Stretching. Stand in an open space. Reach for the sky, the floor, the walls,… Read More »
Well-trained classroom assistants become a vital part of your classroom. They bring extra help, energy and enthusiasm as a well as extra hands interested in helping students. Remember T.E.A.C.H. as you work with them. T. Train assistants and Thank them daily. Take the time to observe their interactions with students and adults in the classroom.… Read More »
K.I.S.S.- Keep It Simple for Students. When in doubt, simplify your expectations/rules and post them as a daily reminder to all: students, classroom assistants and even guests. These 5 cover the basics. 1. Come calmly to the group. 2. Listen. 3. Participate. 4. Strive for quality work. 5. Help with clean-up and closure before leaving… Read More »
When I find a great resources it is important to share it with you who are out there, working to educate children. These two are worth your time checking out and possibly purchasing. The Cornerstone: Classroom Management that Makes Teaching More Effective, Efficient and Enjoyable by Angela Powell (Watson) (2009) is a nitty gritty uber-detailed… Read More »
Consistency is a classroom key to effective management. The consistency of adults enables students to be more incharge of their learning. When they understand the day-to-day functionings of their classroom, they have more time to focus on learning. Here’s the short list for all groups, class-size to 1:1. It’s an easy routine with built-in signals . Use it consistently… Read More »
We all have times when you need extra time to understand concepts or ‘get our heads around’ a task. When that occurs for our students, we need a plan in place. A chart of suggestions students can refer to on their own becomes a self-directed learning experience. 1. Reread the directions. 2. Ask yourself, “What… Read More »
Classrooms can be chaotic places, full of lots of children doing lots of different things at the same time. That is not necessarily a bad thing. It depends on how the teacher structures the activities. One of my favorite remembrances of classroom chaos happened during a culminating FOSS (science) kit activity for Balance and Motion.… Read More »
When you are planning a lesson or activity, think about the organization of your ideas as well as your time. The nitty-gritty basics are: 1. Focus. Introduce the lesson/activity by creating a straight-forward 1-3 sentences. This overview lets the students “in on” your plan. It also forces you to clarify your goals, thus weeding out unnecessary… Read More »
Two key strategies (active listening and wait time) used in classrooms also work in small groups. They assist group leaders as well as the groups they lead. Both show respect for the learning in progress. Active listening demonstrates taking turns as well as respect for the speaker.When a person is speaking, all attention needs to be… Read More »
Organize for success: plan ahead. The first minutes of your group time determine the success of your task. That’s when you ‘set the stage’ through your demeanor and expectations. 1. Focus on your current task. Leave your life outside the classroom at the door so you can give 100% of your focus to the students you will… Read More »