One of the best things about being a teacher is getting to set-up your classroom for the upcoming school year! (Especially your first year!) Sometimes getting a classroom ready can be an overwhelming task, what with bulletin boards, decor, student seating, storage, a library, and many curriculum subjects to think about.
Technology is a great motivational tool that can ensure your learners keep reading and learning all summer long. Here are some ways you can create virtual literature circles for your children.
Literature circles are small student-led discussion groups.
We all know that both teachers and students alike dread test preparation. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be a drag! Here are 4 ways to make test prep fun and beneficial.
In honor of Dr. Seuss’ Birthday on March 2, have your class participate in Read Across America Day on March 3rd. Here are 6 ways you can get your students excited about reading.
Before the first day of school, prepare your classroom for a great year of independent reading. Make a goal to keep a record of all the texts you read aloud to your class. Start by creating a poster for the Class Reading List. Record everything that you read aloud to your class. Begin on day one. How many books, articles, poems, etc. will you read aloud to your class this year?
Here are a couple of ideas that take about 5 minutes of class time and get learners actively processing content from previous lessons.
Today during model writing lessons, I used a scale with all classes to help them assess their understanding at the beginning of the lesson (right after I shared the learning goal) and then again at the end of the lesson. Students really seemed to stay more focused on the specific writing goal and what they needed to know and do to meet expectations.
Here are 4 vocabulary games that can be played using vocabulary from any content area. These games are great ways to practice declarative knowledge and, specifically, academic language.
This is the third installment of “What Not To Do If You Want to Maximize Student Achievement” I usually try to focus on the positive, but sometimes it’s important to identify what not to do.
Initiatives come and go--typically when district or campus administration changes. However, it is never a good idea to just pretend to go along with grade level, campus, or district initiatives, even it you think “this too shall pass.” Although, it is relatively easy to just shut your door and be autonomous, this can create a divided, unhealthy campus and/or district culture that could have a negative impact on student achievement.
This is the first installment of “What Not To Do If You Want to Maximize Student Achievement” I usually try to focus on the positive, but sometimes it’s important to identify what not to do.
