What moral imperatives? I have been thinking more about the moral imperatives of teaching. These imperatives can hinder instruction and progress. That’s why the only option is to address and hopefully resolve them. They are moral imperatives because it’s wrong to not handle them. Preparing students academically-now that’s the job, a duty. Consultants, education experts/leaders (folks who travel around and talk about […]
expectations
High Expectations Are Not New For Students
High expectations have become “the raised bar” There is nothing wrong with high expectations, or with “raising the bar”. Good teaching includes working towards students having a depth in skills, and the ability to maintain rigor in their studies. It has always been that way. What has been happening through current corporate-driven reforms, though, is […]
Before the Storm: Behavior Strategies for Prevention Purposes
Think of that kid in the room that just can’t seem to make it through the class period. Things just seem to set that student off for some reason, and you don’t know what to do. Up until now, you’ve probably used strategies for handling the behavior after it’s already happened. But before you batten […]
In This Classroom We Do…
As you think about setting up your elementary classroom this year, start with your theme.  What interests or passions do you have? How can you share these with students to demonstrate life skills of persistence, listening with understanding, thinking flexibly, questioning, creating, imagining, learning from failure?  Our school-wide theme this year is CHAMPS and I am using […]
Differentiating with Alternative Assessments
[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”] We’ve all seen those long lists of activities to give a class as an alternative assessment. You read through the list, for example on a site like TeachHub, you pick out […]
Child Development: Seven- and Eight-Year-Olds
This article is part of a continuing series on Child Development.  To see Paula’s other articles, click here. You gotta love the life of seven- and eight-year-olds. Let’s take a look into the child developmental areas of these kiddos. Cognitive development: For the most part, in this child development stage, these kids are fairly well-established […]