Many Physical Educators are now in the midst of their physical fitness tests across the nation. Just like classroom teachers, we need to do a “pre” and “post” assessment in order to not only evaluate our students, but also our planning and classroom strategies used throughout the year. Part of the testing process has to […]
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Posted inFeatured, Literacy, Middle School, Social Studies
The Poet Reminds Me
The month of April is a perfect time to to give attention to poetry. A middle school colleague and poet urged me to give some undivided attention to this often waylaid genre. My first email response was to do no more than to consider it but then I took a big breath and sent a […]
Posted inFeatured, School Improvement
40 Quotes for Exceptional Educators
“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.” -William Arthur Ward “The truth of it is – the first rudiments of education are given very indiscreetly by most parents.” -Sir Richard Steele “The difficult we do immediately; the impossible takes a little longer.” -US Army […]
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Talking with Students About Scary Events
[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”] To buy Cari’s book that details her sudden unemployment, “How to Finish the Test When Your Pencil Breaks” please click here. Whether we teach small children, middle schoolers, high schoolers or […]
Posted inFeatured, How to Fix Education, Legal
The First Amendment and Student Dress Codes
The implementation of student dress codes has increased over the past decade. The essence of the dress codes vary in reach. Some codes mandate specific uniforms, such as khaki or navy pants with a specific color polo or oxford shirt. Other codes ban specific items, such as flip-flops, midriffs, clothing with particular symbols, or clothing […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Part II: How Does That Sound? Reading with Fluency
To teach your students to read you must know where they are. It is important to understand their current instructional reading level (accuracy and comprehension combined) as well as their fluency level. If you are unsure how to test your students and gather this data, check out my recent article “See Jane Read.” Students below […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Mathematics
Interactive Student Notebooks – My Mathematical Lifesaver
Taking notes has always been the downfall of many of my students. They can copy what is on the board, but sometimes it is just not organized or even legible. Many students will just jot down the numbers, not writing down any part of the discussion or copying anything given during instruction. The students that […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Mathematics
Almost Free Math Games: Teaching with a Deck of Cards!
Time and money, two things of which we are forever short in education. While I can’t help you find more time, this is about inexpensive, almost free, math games. I love when I find every day, simple objects that can be used multiple ways. In my classroom, it is a simple deck of cards. You […]