One of the greatest challenges for new teachers and veterans alike can be lesson planning. For new teachers, getting to know the curriculum and finding ways to enliven it for students can sometimes be daunting. For veterans, keeping lessons fresh and new ideas flowing, even when you’ve taught the same thing for years, can be […]
Tips
Posted inClassroom Management, Fine Arts, How to Fix Education, Uncategorized
If You Build It, They Will Come: How to Build a Successful Choir Program – Educate the Administrative Team
By Anne Guess Read part one here. Part 2: Educate the Administrative Team      In all my years in the Texas public school system, both as a student and a teacher, I have met very few school administrators that were ever music educators. By very few, I mean I can count them all […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy
Creating Lovers of Reading: Tips for Using a Self-Selected Reading System in Your Classroom
Students come to us with reading levels all over the spectrum. As a new teacher, one of the biggest challenges in my heterogeneous classes was assigning and monitoring their reading. While challenging students with complex texts is not only important but required, it is still essential that our students read and read and read even […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Middle School, Social Studies
Social Studies Facts American Students Should Know: The American Government and Geography Edition
As a 6th-12th grade social studies teacher for the past 6 years, I have seen my fair share of students. I taught high school during a time of many standards changes were taking place here in Georgia. I would get a group of high school students who always claimed that they didn’t remember (or they weren’t taught the […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum, Social Studies
4 Tools that Every Social Studies Teacher Should Have In the Classroom
It’s  the first few weeks of the school year and school is definitely in full swing. If you are like me, you are trying to put together an amazing classroom that makes social studies come alive to your students. That can be difficult as a social studies teacher. There are many people who say that […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Instruction & Curriculum
Back to School Must Have’s: Bulletin Boards
It’s about that time that all teachers dread but love–a new school year! You are about to head back to school for in-service for the new year. You’re refreshed, rested, and in a great mood and then…..your principal hands you this long checklist of things that need to be completed by the time school begins […]
Posted inParents
Preparing Students for a Brand New School Year
By Jan Jackson For many parents, teachers and students the school year is starting soon–very soon. Gone are the late morning starts and endless evenings playing well into the night. Instead parents are attempting to enforce bed times and anticipating the upcoming school year. Â To help get our children prepared here are some simple tips […]