Kids spend approximately three quarters of their day in a classroom, so of course this space needs to be comfortable, warm and inviting. It also needs to be set up according to child development needs. These needs play a huge roll in deciding where everything is going to be placed and what the classroom will […]
Elementary School
An elementary school is a primary school for children between the ages of 5-11 and between the grades prekindergarten and secondary education.
Posted inElementary School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Making Connections in Reading
Readers process text in many ways to make sense of what they are reading. There are proven strategies strong readers use to help comprehend and process text. For the first six weeks of school my fourth graders have been practicing making connections. This skill involves using the text in the story or article to connect to your […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, Opinion
What If You Couldn't!? — Shifting our Thinking about Teaching
Going into the classroom to finish up the second decade of my career I still learn. My room and my style are different from that first class 19 years ago, but the philosophy behind what I do has not changed. I believe in active learning. I believe in appreciating differences. I believe every child has […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured
Don't Give Me More Work: Challenging Kids
Part of the thrill (and exhaustion) of education is having a community of different learners. Students in our classrooms have different needs. Most school communities have numerous resources, staff, time and energies spent on helping students who need extra help to reach grade level. Often, however, there are very limited resources for those students who […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, Opinion
Letting Go of Perfectionism in the Classroom
Perfection [per-fek-shuh n] noun The highest degree of proficiency, skill, or excellence, as in some art Something that cannot be improved Perfection. A word that can be both a blessing and a curse. This single word can lead you to strive to be the very best in all that you do, setting high expectations and […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, The New Teacher Chronicles
First Day Jitters
It is hard to put into words the feeling I felt when that school bell rang at 7:55 signaling the start of the first day of school. Parents had left with their cameras full of “first day” pictures and no one was in the back observing my teaching and making sure my lesson plans were […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies
Stop Increasing “Quid Pro Quo” Elementary Homework
“…but first, I give them a quiz,” the 2nd grade teacher was telling me. “A quiz?” I was surprised, “Why?” “Well, how will I know they read their homework?” she responded. “But…they are only in 2nd grade…so……” I trailed off; she blinked expectantly. I didn’t finish my sentence. “So… this is how the madness starts,” […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured
Red, White and Back-to-School
[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”] Every year right after the Fourth of July something magical happens. Shelves, which were previously filled with bright summer cookout and beach essentials, now become filled with #2 pencils, binders, and […]