One thing students – and adults, for that matter – struggle with is the use of apostrophes. It’s difficult to watch people of all ages butcher the proper use of this fickle piece of punctuation, but it seems to baffle those young and old. A simple way to teach apostrophe usage is to use holidays. […]
holidays
Posted inOpinion
Remove Heteronormativity from Your Classroom Valentine’s Day Celebrations
Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! Every teacher knows that classrooms are buzzing with excitement on Valentine’s Day. Students are eager to share cards and candy with their classmates; some even have a special someone they plan on giving a gift to. But, unfortunately, on […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher
Teaching High School In December: A Three-Point Survival Guide
For high school students, the month of December has lost its luster. There is no belief in Santa, and the elf is missing from its shelf. Replacing the holiday excitement is a mature appreciation of scarcity and disparity. Adolescents are a blend of intellect and naivety. Their eyes are opening to a world that they […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Staying Engaged and Motivated Around the Holidays
As teachers, we often talk about ways to keep our students engaged and motivated during the holiday season. With lengthy breaks just around the corner, it can be easy for them to lose steam. But what about for us as teachers? The reality is that teachers, just as much as students, look forward to time off. […]
Posted inESOL, Featured, How to Fix Education, Instructional Strategies, New Teacher Bootcamp, The New Teacher Chronicles
Advice for New ESOL Teachers: Whose Holiday and Why?
The United States is growing ever more diverse in languages, religions and ethnicity and school districts are working (with varying levels of success) to adjust to their changing communities. ESOL teachers are often in the position of go-between for their students and the larger culture, which can be a little awkward when the holidays come […]
Posted inFeatured, Opinion
Why I Say “Yes” to Santa
[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”] The holiday season can be stressful for some children. When your students come from a background that isn’t as wealthy as other students, they can be left without hope. I’ve often […]
Posted inAsk a Teacher, Featured, Opinion, Parents, Principals' Corner
20 Simple and Free Gifts for Any Teacher
What do I give to my child’s teacher? As people of all walks of life traipse the store aisles this December looking for the perfect holiday gift, the teachers that give so much to your children occasionally enter your mind. Should you feel obligated to give a gift? By no means, no. But if you […]
Posted inClassroom Management
Avoiding Holiday Hoopla
In the past, as my class lined up at the door every morning between Thanksgiving and winter break, I used to remind them to “check Christmas at the door.” Sometimes, especially when it was snowing or the week before break, I’d take a storage bin and told them to drop all the Christmas excitement in […]