The controversy rages on. Do kids need recesses? Aren’t they wasting valuable instruction time? If recesses are needed, how many and how long is appropriate? I’m no expert, but, when I taught, the recess breaks were important to the kids and to me. Primary children need to get up, get outside and run, socialize and… Read More »
It’s spring but it’s not too late to offer your services in classrooms! Yes, I know, you may want to weed your garden, or go for a walk, or spend an hour with a friend over a lemonade, BUT… consider also spending an hour or two helping in a classroom or in a school office.… Read More »
I accidently discovered this online forum for kids to help save the world, one person at a time. The event was a local celebration for kids who made a difference. Check out the international organization and then share it with teens you know. We.org Copied from their website: WE empower people to change the world.… Read More »
Show and Tell is more than talking about your weekend or the new puppy, especially with older students. It’s an early step in scaffolding (early steps in breaking down learning into chunks). It involves talking, looking at vocabulary and information as well as previewing text. So how does Show and Tell fit in? Learning by… Read More »
Teaching is a high-energy profession. It requires planning and your best all day, every day. Food does more than fill your stomach and provide energy; it also fuels your brain. You need to consume foods that will stay with you well beyond that lunch break you didn’t take or missed because of a meeting with… Read More »
While the United States settles into refining their Common Core State Standards, let’s take a quick look at a few of the why’s that make it important. * The benchmarks are international in nature and meant to reflect real world skills students need to complete in our global economy. * The standards hold teachers and… Read More »
Thank you for sharing your ideas on ways to thank classroom volunteers. Here are a few to add to your list. Enjoy! 1. Use a candy or gum name that works as a compliment and give out a sample of that sweet treat: Starbursts “You’re a Star, a Burst of energy in my classroom… Read More »
“Doing good does more than give you a warm glow – new research shows that volunteering can actually add healthy years to your life.” The opening quote came for an article in The Costco Connection dated June, 2015. The article goes on to say that volunteers live longer, healthier lives and reduce their risk of… Read More »
I always loved school as well as getting ready for the first day. “Back in the day”, all we carried to school was our crayons, our lunch and our jacket; everything except crayons was provided by the school (pencils, paper, scissors, even Kleenex). We showed up with our new box of 12 Crayola crayons (the… Read More »
The best way to know what’s happening in our schools is to volunteer. Parents are often invited into classrooms to listen to young children read, help students of all ages with art or science projects or to assist librarians, the office or other adults in the school. Seniors, community leaders and others also step in… Read More »