Teacher to teacher

As teachers, we have all dealt with a child who is difficult to reach, and teaching that particular student can be a struggle. Here are some tips to assist you.

While many feel comfortable teaching historical events within a rigorous context by using primary sources and other resources, teachers may be more tentative about tackling other topics, such as the Supreme Court, that are more nuanced and harder to analyze.

I’ve been working with struggling readers to use annotation as a method for reading difficult texts. I encourage students to slow down and annotate what they understand while reading.

Building a classroom community — the cornerstone of any successful early childhood program — goes far beyond learning names and class rules.

You didn’t cause it, but one of the students sitting in front of you this year with learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may have already given up on learning.

The beginning of a new school year is filled with excitement and, undoubtedly, stress. Whether you are teaching the same grade and subject or headed to something new, getting back into the swing of things is not always easy.

Although there is an emphasis now on teaching informational texts, making space in the curriculum for poetry can benefit students. Poetry allows both thought and silence on the page and has myriad forms. Especially for students who are not always eager readers, the range of poetry presents a compelling entry point.

Play is steadily disappearing from kindergarten, which can have negative consequences for children’s academic success. This was not the intent of the Common Core. High-quality Choice Time experiences contribute to the overall development of a child.

The development of caring bonds between teachers and their students not only nurtures healthy emotional and social development in young people but can also improve academic achievement. My students succeed because they believe I care about them. This motivates them to believe in themselves, stay focused, work hard and never give up.