One of the skills I see kids lacking consistently is the ability to find information on their own. Resourcefulness used to come almost innately, but nowadays it’s missing in action. One of the ways I try to teach this skill is with journals. We use journals for just about everything in my class. Most of […]
math
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Principals' Corner, Uncategorized
Math Through the Looking Glass
By Jeffrey Benson At staff meetings in most schools, the subject area teachers sit among their peers. They sit with ones who most understand their struggles to convey the content and skills specific to their disciplines: PE with PE, science with science, arts with arts. As a consultant to schools that work with challenging students, […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Mathematics
The Case for Using Calculators
There are a multitude of opinions on the topic of calculators, ranging from: “I learned math without a calculator” to “what happens if children are dependent on calculators and there isn’t one around” to “children should not move on to higher level math until they can do basic computations mentally.” I am going to explain why […]
Posted inParents
A Little Spring in Your Break: Continued Learning Outside of School
Summer is here, and while students are enjoying their time “off,” it’s a great time for parents to instill learning while they are home. Teachers find this time refreshing as they can spend a few moments focusing on themselves and their families. Kids relish the time off to get outside and begin the pre-rumblings of […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Current Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Opinion, Parents
Tried and True Resources for Curriculum Reinforcement
Over the course of my 18 years of teaching, I’ve seen many trends in skills that aren’t mastered before kids move into the next grade level. I’ve also been in schools where funding is not adequate for curriculum and supplies that are needed. Most of my teaching experience has been with early childhood, Pre-K through […]
Posted inChild Development, Classroom Management, Featured, From the Front Lines, Instruction & Curriculum, Opinion
The Importance of Executive Function
[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”] Do you have a student who just can’t seem to follow a set of directions, no matter how simple they may seem? Or one who seems to drift from one assignment […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Technology
Flipping My Classroom With Edmodo
By guest columnist Leanne Hudleston [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”] When my principal approached me and asked if I’d ever heard of “flipping my classroom,” my initial chuckle was soon replaced with confusion because I wasn’t familiar […]
Posted inParents
Summer Brain Drain–Activities to Keep Kids Learning
So, school is out and your children are home. You have a two month break to look forward to baseball, swimming, playing outside, and enjoying family time. During that time, remember the importance of reading and practicing academic skills. Children who read, and are read to, will increase their vocabulary knowledge many times over children […]