A common grumble among my colleagues is teaching writing. We are well aware that American students score dismally on writing assessments, mostly because most teachers are scrambling to teach everything else on the menu. Consequently, writing has been neglected. Now that assessments are beginning to move from multiple choice to short answer and essay writing […]
Instructional Strategies
Posted inClassroom Management, Instructional Strategies, Middle School, Social Studies, Technology, Uncategorized
21st Century Classroom Management is… Fun?
Recently a veteran colleague and a teacher in training posed questions concerning classroom management and power struggles with students. Years ago the approach to dealing with students who test the boundaries of rules was quick and strict reprimand. Students were graded on neatness, orderly and timely manners, for being quiet unless called upon. While there […]
Posted inElementary School, Instructional Strategies, Special Education
How to Differentiate Instruction
In my last post, I talked about the difference between an accommodation and a modification, two things that many educators have a difficult time differentiating between. Accommodations and modifications generally get utilized by students with 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Differentiation becomes a sticky topic these days, though, as we educators feel the […]
Posted inElementary School, Instructional Strategies
How to Focus Instruction: Two Ways to Easily Increase Rigor
In education today, our goal as teachers is to increase rigor and learning in our classrooms. Rigorous instruction is instruction that is thorough and focused content. As an educator, it sounds awesome! Your lessons are already focused and well thought out. So how exactly do you go about doing this without adding more to your […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher, From the Front Lines, Instructional Strategies, Middle School, Special Education
The Working Hours of a Special Education Teacher
Special education teachers work hard. People see smaller class sizes and equate that with less work, but that’s a fallacy. I can tell you that in my small class, I’m planning three different lessons and within those three lessons, I’m modifying within levels. In my inclusion classes, I modify assignments, and teachers look at it […]
Posted inInstructional Strategies, Middle School, Uncategorized
Classroom Management in Middle School
Middle school students are both exciting and difficult to teach. They are exciting because they are moving toward adulthood and constantly changing. They are difficult because they are not fully mature and often lapse into behaviors of younger children. Finding classroom management techniques that work at this age takes some trial and error. Here are […]
Posted inInstructional Strategies, Literacy, Uncategorized
Turning that Picture into Writing
On my bathroom wall at home, I have a large framed drawing my son made in first grade. It has a lot of underwater action, including thought bubble over the shark saying “I am the king of the ocean.” Another thought bubble over a fish close to the shark’s mouth reads, “I am going to […]
Posted inInstructional Strategies, Middle School, Special Education
7 Strategies for Helping Students with Organizational Problems
You’re teaching a lesson on math, and you see Johnny shuffling through his enormous trapper keeper still. Not only can’t he find his pencil, but he left his notes in his locker. At the end of class, he shoves all his papers into the trapper keeper, not bothering to look where he shoves them, nearly […]