Building relationships with your students and between students is one of the most important things you can you to improve learning and behaviors in your classroom. Research has proven that students need real connections with adults in their life in order to thrive. Here are some ways you can begin building rapport with students this year. Share Things About Your…
With all the organization tips, tricks and freebies out there, what is it that you actually NEED?! For those of you about to start your first year teaching or just trying to set things up so things go better than last year, I’m here to give you my top 7 must have tools to organize your class. 1. Student Mailboxes…
I was intrigued from cover to cover by Chip and Dan Heath’s book. It is fantastic! The book identifies two parts of every individual. That is the logical, analytical “Rider” and the emotional “Elephant”. You must speak to both parts of the individual if you want to bring change. The Rider brings direction and focus. Without the Rider the Elephant will…
I was delivering a training for teachers the other day and afterwards my colleague came up to me and said humorously, “There were moments when you were talking that you acted like you didn’t know the answer. The way you asked something and then waited and waited. I wanted to jump in and just say ‘tell them!’” We all start…
(This page contains affiliate links) A Makerspace is any place in which learners can share STEAM (Sciences, Technology, Engineerings, Arts and Mathematics) related concepts of interest, and then collaborate with other learners on ideas and hands-on constructed projects. Lamens terms…. a Makerspace is a place for kids to bring their imagination to life! It can be a corner of the…
Every year teachers spend the summer thinking through all the new things they want to implement in their classroom. You might dream of changing the way you do centers, implementing flexible seating or changing the way you collect papers. However, if you aren’t doing this one thing…. you should be! Keeping yourself organized is one of the most important things…
Teachers have an innate desire to learn and grow. We are always poking around on the internet for new ideas to use in our teaching. Pinterest has become some teachers closest friend. But, how do you really become a better a teacher? In most other professions employees regularly see other’s work, have their work reviewed and collaborate in teams with others…
From the time I was a little girl I loved playing school with my younger sister and her friends. I was always the teacher. My favorite part was grading their work with my red pen! Years later, 7 years of full-time classroom experience under my belt, and I have to admit I have had numerous days where I asked myself…