There are lots of things you won’t learn about teaching during your time in college. How to start up your literacy block at the beginning of the year and what you should be teaching in phonics are on the list. Making attractive bulletin boards is another one of these topics. Back-to-School bulletin boards welcome your…
I’ve done a lot of experimenting with desk arrangements over the years. I’ve definitely found my favorite. Keep reading, I’ll tell you about it. I’ve also discovered that it’s smart to pick a few arrangements that you like and teach your students how to quickly move between the positions when the activity requires it.…
#1 Have Them Help Demonstrate – Your first instinct might be to choose a model student to help demonstrate a task. Try picking a student who struggles to follow directions instead. You may have to give them a lot of guidance as they demonstrate in front of the class but then you know they have…
You stayed up late pulling together an awesome activity that is sure to be a slam dunk with your students. You go in early to make the copies and put everything in its place. When your students arrive you start presenting your material. “Boys and girls, today we’re doing a rock investigation for scie…” You…
Back to School Tips I’m linking up my back to school tips with some other great bloggers today for the Back to School is as easy as 1, 2, 3 link up. After 8 years of teaching the one thing I wish I would have known from the beginning is this: I tend…
Student Engagement Do you feel like you have to practically put on a circus to achieve student engagement with your lessons? Before you bring out the lions, tigers, and bears, take a step back and see if one of these small changes might be the missing piece in your student engagement puzzle. Make It “Doable”…
Every teacher needs a few fun, fast, easy, tricks up his/her sleeve. Here are a few easy classroom management tricks I’ve picked up over the years. Need a Second to Get Ready for the Next Lesson? I got this first one from an art teacher I used to work with. She would have a few…