There is always a point in the year when the students have become comfortable with each other and I know. Patience runs out, words develop edges and group work becomes unbearable. I have an activity I pull out each year to help students build each other up and look at each other with grace and […]
Kindergarten
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, How to Fix Education, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten, School Improvement, The Student Teacher Diaries
Student Teaching Diaries: Outside the Classroom
Teachers use multiple resources to learn and strengthen their craft. There are online resources, educational journals, district level in-service, networking groups and educational conferences. This week Lauren and I were both able to participate in conferences offered outside of our school district.  There is so much value to networking and learning offered at conferences. Mentor Teacher: […]
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 […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Elementary School, Featured, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten, Middle School, Technology
The Instructional Techie: Interview with James Sanders of the Ed Tech Team
This article was edited for length from the original interview. To see the whole interview, please view the video embedded at the end of the article. [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”] On February 16th, I sat […]
Posted inElementary School, Interviews, Kindergarten
A 41 Year Classroom Veteran Shares her Secrets
While the same can’t be said for all professions, everyone I know remembers a teacher who positively changed their world. As a teacher myself, I was re-inspired  to love  learning and to believe that I could become even more as an educator by my daughter’s kindergarten teacher. I had been questioning my own educational practices […]
Posted inCommon Core, Elementary School, From the Front Lines, High School, Kindergarten, Literacy, Uncategorized
Take the Test and Sit, Sit, Sit, Sit
An interesting graphic came across my screen this week. The purpose was to call attention to the hours spent testing elementary students by comparing them to the tests for college or graduate school: Standardized testing is not new to schools in the State of Connecticut. Many schools will be using the Smarter Balance Assessment (SBAC) […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Child Development: Five and Six-Year-Olds
Ahhhh…. The life of a kindergartener. These are, in my opinion, some of the most rewarding years to teach. These kids are full of wonderment about everything around them. Let’s look at the development of a typical five and six-year-old based on our five previously mentioned areas of child development: Cognitive Development for Child Development […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Elementary School, Featured, Kindergarten, Special Education
Working Together to Break the Silence: October is Selective Mutism Awareness Month
Imagine walking into your place of employment, the grocery store, church, or the mall. As soon as you enter the door, you become overwhelmed with anxiety. You are terrified and become frozen with so much fear that you cannot utter a sound, make eye contact with those around you, or even nod your head in […]