It seems like by the time everything gets settled, the school year ends. Then in August, new freshmen arrive and need to be “broken in” to the high school climate. While we have amazing freshmen teachers to help with the adjustment period, sometimes they are not enough. In Japanese culture, there is a “senpai,” an […]
Classroom Management
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured
The Reigning Terror of Indoor Recess
Oklahoma has been hammered this spring with thunderstorms, flash flooding and, the song of my people, tornadoes. This type of weather creates what some teachers cringe at-INSIDE RECESS. Giving kids a little too much free time when they are already cooped up is usually a catastrophic combination for those schools that still get recess time. […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Why I Lend Out My Personal Books to My Students
In my incredibly messy classroom, behind my desk are my personal books- novels ranging from Pride and Prejudice to Splintered. They are worn underlined, and some have sticky notes in them. About six weeks into the school year, one of my students wanders over there to look at my pictures, then they pick up a […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Elementary School
Before You Go: End of the Year Field Trips
The end of the year always brings excitement and one of those traditions for many schools is the class field trip. Hearing those two simple words can bring delight or fear to the heart of a teacher. If you are planning a field trip, follow a few simple steps and it will start your journey […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured
Ending Sexual Stereotyping
We have all seen it. The student who walks to his own drumbeat, different colored hair, withdrawn, hoodie up, possibly small and lanky, a little more feminine than most guys his age. maybe a few piercings or tattoos. He is silently screaming, “Look at me!” without saying a word. And other students do see him. […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Middle School, Opinion
Four Things Teachers Should Try Before Removing a Student
At some point in their career, teachers will have to deal with a student so disruptive that the class can quickly become a nightmare. Perhaps the student talks through the lesson or throws objects in the middle of class. Sometimes, the student teases other classmates, making them uncomfortable. And when it comes to respecting the […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Elementary School, The Student Teacher Diaries
Student Teacher Diaries: Classroom Management
This weekly series features the observations and experiences of a veteran teacher and her student teacher as they learn together this semester. At the beginning of the year it is important to establish the tone of your classroom. I like to select a theme that ties things together. For the past couple of years I […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Current Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Kindergarten
Formative Assessment: Getting Started
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] Formative assessment is not just another buzz word in education. Formative assessment goes beyond the exit ticket and check-in tests. This is a shift in teaching and classroom management that allows […]