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:…
The rainforest is a great thematic unit topic! You can even do it year after year and still not run out of things to learn about and do. Depending on your child’s age you can focus more on learning fun facts about animals in the rainforest or you can dive into biodiversity and conservation. Here are some ideas to get…
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…
1. Put Letters In Alphabetical Order. Dump out letters A-Z on the floor or a table and have your child line the letters up in the correct order. If they don’t know the whole alphabet yet they can practice with just the beginning half or the first few and add more letters later. 2. Match Uppercase and Lowercase Letters. Write…
With schools starting back up around the globe educators are looking for fun games that can help students run and getting their “wiggles” out while still maintaining social distance. Most districts are still recommending that students: Keep 6 feet apart Do not touch others Do not share equipment Here are some games I’ve been playing all summer with students. Some…
Differentiating instruction isn’t just about giving students more or less work than others. Students who have mastered a topic or skill don’t need to be forced to do double the math problems than everyone else. They have already mastered the concept. Instead, higher level students should be directed to move beyond what the class is doing. To try something more…
Summer is such a great time to learn about the ocean, beach, or Hawaii! If your kids love the Moana movie you can even incorporate that into your theme. Here are some great Moana/beach activities to try out with your kids. Moana/Hawaiian books: The Mighty Maui Makes A Friend Maui describes his many accomplishments as a demigod. But there is…
Summer days are long and sunny. You may be tempted to hide inside in the air-conditioning but there are a lot of great experiments and learning opportunities you can do centered around the Sun. Here are a few of my favorites. Create a Sundial The Sun can be used to tell time, direction and seasons. For older students you can…