“As children, our classroom desks are increasingly arranged in pods, the better to foster group learning, and research suggests that the vast majority of teachers believe that the ideal students is an extrovert.” -Susan Cain Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking (pg. 6) How often do we as teachers assign group projects and […]
Child Development
Posted inChild Development
You Can Teach Children Living in Poverty
Right after you begin your daily class starter, Johnny comes into class late and doesn’t have his supplies. He looks despondent. Next thing you know, he’s thrown his books on the floor and put his hoodie on over his head. What do you do? Consider this: Does Johnny come from a house where he has his […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher
Easing Those First Day Jitters
It is so important to make our students feel comfortable upon the first day of school. We need to remember the backgrounds that our students come from. And we can’t assume that just because we have kids in the middle class that they are coming from homes that have everything together. We also need to […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
To Test or not to Test: That is the Question
Picture this, lush green fields and ancient ruins of magnificent structures gazing over the tops of houses on the lanes. This is my view on the train from York to London. My family is from Yorkshire and I had the delight of spending time with them during my brief stop. However, I’m left contemplating a pressing […]
Posted inParents
Fostering an Independent Three-Year-Old
Children are capable of so much more than society gives them credit for. Helicopter parenting is becoming increasingly common and children are being required to do less and less for themselves. Sure, it’s easier to do for your child rather than wait or risk a tantrum. How much are they learning from it though? Today’s society […]
Posted inKindergarten
Kindergarten Readiness: 10 MORE Things Your Child Should Know
Last week, I explored the academic side of Kindergarten readiness. But school readiness is not all about regurgitating facts because some things just cannot be measured. One child’s brain development differs from another’s, but there are many things that teachers look for that have nothing to do with intelligence. Here are 10 more things to […]
Posted inChild Development, Current Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, High School, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten, Middle School, New Teacher Bootcamp, School Improvement, Teacher Burnout
The Final Days of School
Charles Swindoll said, “Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, money, circumstances, than failures and success, than what other people think, say or do. It is more important than appearance, ability or skill. It will make or break a business, a home, a friendship, an organization. The […]
Posted inAdult Learning, Child Development, Classroom Management, Confessions of a Teacher, Current Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured, From the Front Lines, High School, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten, Middle School, Opinion, Parents, Professional Development, School Improvement, Special Education
The Mental State of Teaching
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.” – William James Is anyone else climbing into this boat and dropping anchor? I know I am. My life has been turned upside down since January with personal struggles, professional struggles and just day-to-day struggles that seem to be heavier than […]