Back to school season is here and it is time to think about building a classroom community. Of course, we want our classrooms to be inviting places where students feel safe and excited to learn. It can be overwhelming thinking about all the tasks that we need to accomplish before the children even enter our …
Building a Classroom Community When Returning Back to School Read More »
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, distance learning is the new reality for many teachers and students. As discussed in my previous post, setting expectations for digital learning is very important. Another skill that is necessary to teach, model, and review is how to appropriately have discussions in a virtual setting. As an …
Distance learning is the new reality for many schools around the world bringing a whole new level of anxiety for many teachers. As teachers adjust to this new form of education, many thoughts race through their heads: How will I teach my students so they are actively engaged? How will I make sure that my …
Hurricanes bring strong winds, lots of rain, and high levels of anxiety. As a South Floridian, every hurricane season brings with it the uncertainty of a natural disaster heading my way. Three years ago, during Hurricane Irma, I left my home in Cooper City, Florida and began driving north to avoid the potential dangers of …
Looking for a great way to promote literacy at your school? A great idea is to host an author visit. As one of my jobs as a literacy coach, I plan a literacy week for my school. This year’s literacy activities were based on the award-winning author, Debra Frasier. From vocabulary parades to a family …
With Constitution Day approaching, how do you plan on teaching your students about this historical document? The Constitution of the United States is the Supreme Law of the Land. Depending on the grade level you are teaching, your students’ background knowledge on this topic might be very limited. So how do you present this information …
I am currently the literacy coach at my school. This was the theme of my classroom when I taught third grade. Although I do not currently have my own room, I wanted to share with you how I used a theme to enhance the environment for student learning. I chose a Hollywood theme since I …
Wouldn’t it be nice if all students behaved according to our expectations? Ideally, yes! However, the reality is quite different. When I take a step back and reflect on best teaching practices, the use of behavior charts is not on my list. Behavior charts advertise students’ daily behavior to the class and any visitors that …
Say No to Behavior Charts (use these tips instead) Read More »
Is School Fun? You might be wondering why I would ask such a question. With the beginning of the school year approaching, I began reminiscing about my first year of teaching. Although it was over twenty years ago, I can remember it very vividly. My class was created two weeks after school began. My principal, …
It is summer and the biggest teacher dilemma has occurred. You walk into any Target, Walmart, and/or Office Depot and you get smacked with back to school supplies. Do you scream, run away, cry, or jump for joy? If you are a teacher, you probably do all of the above. You scream (probably inside your …
