Working in groups is often to referred to as cooperative learning. Cooperative learning breaks down the classroom into smaller groups, giving each group a task. Students work together to discover a new concept of help one another learn. Research taken from Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality shows there are multiple benefits of using cooperative learning groups in your classroom.…
Participating in class activities and answering questions is a very important part of learning. It also helps the teacher to assess student’s understanding of a concept. But what if a student is so shy they won’t answer questions in class and struggle to participate at all? Should you force them? No. I used these strategies when I was teaching English…
I’m always amazed how many teachers come back from Winter break feeling refreshed and inspired, only to be completely overwhelmed shortly after. Let’s be honest, the slow (usually cold), gloomy months of January and February can be difficult for teachers and students to get through. Behaviors crop up in the classroom that you may not have really seen earlier in…
Games are a fun and important method for helping students practice skills and remember facts in the classroom. You can read more about that in my post: Why is Active Learning Important? Here is one game that I’ve used in multiple subject areas. To play Around the World, have each student stand up in a circle. Depending on how your…
This month we learned all about the secret and exciting world of spies! Students practiced different types of codes, learned to disguise themselves and even solved a mystery. Here are ideas for your own Spy unit or Spy party! Secret Codes The most important aspect of any good Spy unit is codes! There are lots of different types of codes…
Are you looking for some great STEM ideas to use this November? Here are my favorites! You can download a free poster of each of these challenges at the bottom of the page. 1. Create a turkey trap Before beginning this project, I love to read the book How to Catch a Turkey by Adam Wallace & Andy Elkerton. This…
It’s November, and most schools started back to school a couple of months ago. About this time teachers everywhere are beginning to feel overwhelmed by student behavior (or should I say misbehavior). The excitement and newness of the beginning of the school year has worn off and students are all showing their full colors! If you are struggling with a…
Every teacher knows who I’m talking about! That kid who never.. stops.. moving. The one who is always tapping his pencil, turning around in his chair or building a tower with his crayons. What if I told you that wiggly student might just be learning the best way he can? There are three types of learners out there: Visual Learners:…
Classrooms around the world are becoming more and more diverse. The way in which we connect and present information to students from different backgrounds, cultures and races can effect the way they learn. Nikki Rucker says: “Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) attempts to bridge the gap between teacher and student by helping the teacher understand the cultural nuances that may cause…
We just finished a unit all about the human body. Since I work with younger students (Kindergarten- 2nd grade) I wanted to make the unit very hands-on and engaging. I didn’t want to try and dive too deep in a lot of technical anatomy. I just wanted them to understand the basic function of our main body parts. Here’s what…
