Movement, action, excitement, pretending, play; all types of kinesthetic learning, and all things kids love. When we can incorporate these things into learning to read, we’ve hit the memorization jackpot. Engagement instantly goes up and retention of information skyrockets. To top it all off, having students performing actions while practicing the words they are learning helps their brains to retain… Read More
Giving Compliments; A Management Strategy
They say compliments go a long way, and it’s oh so true. While giving compliments can seem more like positive praise and classroom community building, it also works wonders for classroom management. Below are a few different ways you can incorporate giving compliments in your daily classroom routine. It will not only provide that positivity and community, but also foster… Read More
How to Teach Chunking to Help With Reading Fluency
C-a-t. Caaaaat. Cat. For those of us teaching our students and children to read, the sounds above are so exciting to hear! We jump for joy, give them as much praise as possible, and instill in them how proud they should be for learning to read. Fast forward a few months and these same actions are less exciting, and a… Read More
5 Student Created Name Tag Ideas for Any Grade
` After almost two decades of writing out a name tag for every student, every year, I was ready for something different when I moved up into the world of upper grades. I wanted to take a new approach with different, creative ways that my students could create their own name tag. It would allow them to take ownership over… Read More
Homemade Gifts from the Heart; The Good, The Bad & The Happy
I am the first to admit that I am no Betty Crocker. At times, I try to harness my inner Martha Stewart, but…well, let’s just say that doesn’t quite work out either. This fact of life has never really bothered me. We’ve gotta know what our strengths are, right? And after all, that’s what restuarants and bakeries are for. At… Read More
10 Ways to Teach Character Traits
Teaching character traits is at the core of creating respectful, responsible and caring citizens. With great character education, we can foster a a mutual love and respect for others despite our differences. We can learn to agree to disagree peacefully. We can promote children and adults who are thoughtful of others and kind to all. Students and teachers alike benefit… Read More