For many topics in mathematics teaching the concept before the algorithm can lead to deeper learning. Teaching addition and subtraction of fractions with different denominators is one such topic. Using pattern blocks for this topic gives students a visual representation that they can translate to the algorithm for this topic. You may want to review […]
effective teachers
Posted inFeatured, How to Fix Education, Principals' Corner, Uncategorized
Shifting Our Mindset Around Teacher Evaluations
[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”] During my first two years teaching I have to admit that I often thought of myself as a bad teacher. But fortunately I had an incredible mentor in my instructional facilitator, […]
Posted inFeatured, High School, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy, Middle School
Rainbow it Up! The Color-Coded Essay
As a secondary English teacher, I teach many pieces of academic enrichments within my curriculum, but my main passion tends to fall at the feet of writing. When I began teaching middle school English a handful of years ago, writing was barely a blip on the radar as we had so much pressure to pass a […]
Posted inClassroom Management
10 Tips for First Year Teachers
Congratulations you’ve been hired for your first teaching position! You are about to have a great adventure with your own students. To make your first year easier here are 10 tips that you probably weren’t taught in college, but might really help you as you get started in your career. Tip 1 – When you meet […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Mathematics
Fractions – Parts of a Whole
Fractions can be one of the most frustrating topics to teach to elementary school children. Linking the experience of your students with fractions in their daily lives to fractions in the classroom can make this task easier. Young children have early experiences with the concept of fractions when they want to share a sandwich with […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Opinion
Why I Support Teacher Tenure
I’m a teacher. I have tenure. This gives me staying power and job security. My job isn’t supposed to be political – it’s supposed to be about teaching student. For that reason, tenure is something I feel that I need in my profession. Why? As a social studies teacher, I need academic freedom. It’s my […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Middle School, Opinion
Teachers Pay Teachers – The Greatest Program You're Not Using
Let’s face a fact here – the average reader of The Educator’s Room isn’t your average teacher. These are the teacher-leaders of this profession. They work hard. When the public accuses our profession of working minimal hours, we look at the piles of awesome writings, projects, and own curricular material they’ve written on their own […]
Posted inFeatured, Interviews, Series
Inspirational Educator – Melissa Seideman
Teachers take note – Melissa Seideman is changing the way you think about our profession. This social studies instructor from upstate New York has iron in many fires – from being a co-director of #sschat to using technology in her classroom almost daily to hosting a Gilder Lehrman Reconstruction workshop this summer, she is as […]