[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”] I am proud to announce that Stewart the Spelling Minion will join our classroom this year. I’ve already introduced Gilligan in a previous piece, who helps with social studies retention. Gus […]
spelling
Posted inElementary School, Featured, Instructional Strategies, Kindergarten
Incorporating Hands-On Activities For Wiggly Kids
We have 20 school days left. 20. The weather is warming up, the kids are counting down and the ‘end-of-the-year-itis’ has hit like the plague. Ugh. Every unit I plan for the last six weeks of school is hands-on. I simply cannot handle a classroom full of fidgety, wiggly, non-focused kids for several days in […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Eight Ways to Teach Spelling to All Learners
For some of us, spelling comes easily. For others, like me, it is wildly apparent that English is derived from a confusing array or sources. While most good spellers are good readers, not all good readers are good spellers. Still, kids need to be held accountable for their spelling. Every fall parents ask about spelling: […]
Posted inElementary School, Featured, How to Fix Education, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Teaching to New Rules:Phonics for Upper Elementary
From the day children are born, the race is on here in America. Boy or girl? Weight? Length? And so it begins; how does your child measure up with “average” child their age? We watch for those important milestones. Rolls over, check! Sits up, check! Babbles, check! Crawls, check! Walks, check! The list goes on […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum
The Beauty of Mistakes
I still do spelling tests in my classroom. I know some schools have gotten away from weekly spelling tests, for one reason or another. I feel that it is an important skill to continue through all grades. We are two weeks into school, the second spelling test, and it happened. One of my overachievers melted […]
Posted inLiteracy, Social Studies
Can you Nagaram an Anagram?
I’m in love with anagrams. Scramble letters that turn into memorable phrases or names of countries or words with a “q” sound like cupid, or cubical have caffeinated my brain during car rides and washing dinner dishes. My daughter likes them too, maybe too much. Every Sunday, we three, mom, dad and daughter, listening to the […]