Checkout these back-to-school materials to enhance your school year. SAVE 20% and receive FREE shipping and a thank you gift on each item you purchase between now and September 30th. *Free shipping and *Free 30-pack of note cards that say ‘A Note from the Teacher’ are limited to shipping to U.S. addresses. (Classroom assistants and parents… Read More »
Knowledge is power. Knowing about your incoming students and families will help you prepare for the year. Here are a few suggestions to help you get started. Plan A Send a letter to every incoming family. Include a brief bio of yourself and then share your expectations for the year (topics, behavior, etc.). Invite them… Read More »
Congratulations! You’re stepping into a great profession of hardworking, dedicated people with their first priority…kids. So where should you start? Begin by asking these questions: What are the school and district philosophies. What are their missions? What are their major goals and how do they work to meet them? How do they fit into their… Read More »
Summer! The perfect time to carry around a book and spend time with favorite or new characters and subjects. This is # 8 in my 8-part series on Summer Literacy. Now’s time to get active with what’s been read over the past few weeks. Select a story that can be acted out OR go to… Read More »
Summer! The perfect time to carry around a book and spend time with favorite or new characters and subjects. This is # 7 in my 8-part series on Summer Literacy. The vastness of resources is mind-boggling. Rather than provide a list, I suggest you grab a cup of coffee, tea, or whatever, and go online… Read More »
Summer! The perfect time to carry around a book and spend time with favorite or new characters and subjects. This is # 6 in my 8-part series on Summer Literacy. Here are a hodge-podge of ideas to keep reading fresh/changing. In fiction: Read using different voices for different characters. Use/Make puppets and share the story… Read More »
Summer! The perfect time to carry around a book and spend time with favorite or new characters and subjects. This is #5 in my 8-part series on Summer Literacy. Reading can and should be an interactive skill. That means, taking the tine to talk with your kids about what they are reading. Before reading, ask… Read More »
Summer! The perfect time to carry around a book and spend time with favorite or new characters and subjects. This is # 4 in my 8-part series on Summer Literacy. Scan the book with a young reader. Look at all the illustrations. Talk about what the book might be about. Sit side-by-side and help the… Read More »
Summer! The perfect time to carry around a book and spend time with favorite or new characters and subjects. This is # 3 in my 8-part series on Summer Literacy. Remember, your local library may have a summer reading program where kids are encouraged to read, record their book titles and then participate in awards… Read More »
Summer! The perfect time to carry around a book and spend time with favorite or new characters and subjects. This is # 2 in my 8-part series on Summer Literacy. To be effective readers, kids need to read for 30 minutes every day. Set aside a block of time for silent reading (15-20 minutes) as… Read More »