When I was young, I read voraciously. I remember my parents catching me awake after my bedtime, with a flashlight and a Matt Christopher book under the covers. As an early reader, I was obsessed with the Cam Jansen series by David A. Adler. I would take out a stack from the library and go […]
Featured
Posted inFeatured, Opinion
Five Important Habits for Teachers
There are so many tasks to accomplish as a teacher – important issues, small duties, and everything in between, but there is never enough time to accomplish them all. Then there are those important habits to develop, even when we don’t feel like it. The world doesn’t stop if you do not do them, but they […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instructional Strategies
The Difference between Character Education and Indoctrination
Since the beginning of the educational system begun by Plato’s Academy, the importance of instilling virtue was an understood and mandatory task of the teacher. In the past century, however, with the rise of technology and the ever increasing amount of knowledge at the resource of education the role of Character Education has lost its important […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Elementary School, Featured
Creating Appropriate Early Childhood Classrooms For Little To No Cost
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 […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies
Carpet Time For Young Learners
In my multi-level, elementary classroom carpet time is one of the most important times of our day. Carpet time allows me to see my kids demonstrate whatever concepts we are working on and allows positive learning interaction between my students. I design my carpet time around language arts and math. My language arts concentration is […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion, Uncategorized
Lack of Substitutes Is Canary in the Mine
As our local association’s president, I traveled to all 10 schools in our district for a 10-minute meeting at each one. At these meetings, I asked the members there what single topic they wanted to discuss, and at 4 of the 10, the teachers wanted to address the dearth of substitute teachers available. “]Not only […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Read Alouds – Not Just For Young Kids
[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”][bctt tweet=”Reading aloud is still an important part of language arts for older students as well as younger ones. “]Reading aloud to upper elementary and middle school kids allows them to hear […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Mathematics
Math Talk – Fostering Mathematical Thinking
The two most powerful learning techniques that I used with my math classes were Think Aloud and Math Talk. I used Think Aloud, which is teacher directed, with the entire class slowly transitioning them into Math Talk for their group work. My Think Aloud Procedure I would begin with a problem that many of my […]