Use the summer to reflect
Regardless of what your summer plans are, please consider adding the 3Rs: rest, rejuvenation and reflection.
Getting students to lead the lesson
I find my students are more active and motivated when a classmate is leading the class discussion. But what are some steps that teachers can take to create a foundation that will support meaningful accountable talk?
Documentation helps kids ‘think like scientists’
in my inquiry-based pre-K classroom, I have been experimenting with methods of documentation. By documenting their observations, children can begin to “think like scientists.”
Mastering time management
By becoming more efficient, we can help ourselves, our current and future students, and future generations of teachers for whom we model the concept of teaching as a sustainable career rather than a draining, altruistic sprint.
Skill-building through the arts
I am a special education teacher who teaches performing arts in a theater program for children on the autism spectrum. I incorporate skill-building in my arts instruction — but these activities could just as easily be integrated into the rest of the classroom day.
Creating a student-centered classroom
I have pushed my kids to work at stations so that they spend more time doing hands-on/minds-on work and less time listening to my voice.
Show that it’s OK to take risks, make mistakes
Positioning myself as both a teacher and a learner creates a climate of respect and risk-taking, where my students and I can all feel free to take that extra leap and not be afraid to fall.
Your community as a classroom
Taking young children outdoors every day is an important and sometimes overlooked part of the early childhood curriculum.
Using annotation to strengthen reading
Student-created rubrics
Rubrics that students create themselves are a great way for students to take ownership of their work and have a clear understanding of assessment criteria.