Category: Teacher Tips
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Inspiring Young Writers
From my years as a teacher I encountered many students who would shut down when it came to writing. Some would say that they could not think of anything to write. Others had trouble knowing how to begin. I came up with a few ways to inspire my young writers and hope you find them […]
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Differentiated Instruction
Research shows differentiated instruction is effective for high-ability students as well as students with mild to severe disabilities. • When students are given more options on how they can learn material, they take on more responsibility for their own learning. • Students appear to be more engaged in learning, and there are reportedly fewer discipline […]
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New Vocabulary Words for Children
Did you know: •Students must learn 3,000 words per year by 3rd grade. •Only 400 words a year are directly taught by teachers. •Students do not learn vocabulary words based on their age or their grade. •They learn words based on their experiences , (Beck, et al, 2002) •Academic demands are high •Everyday speech consists of […]
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Student Engagement
Student engagement is a vital component in any classroom. Over the past year, remote learning has become a reality for most students around the world. As many students return to in-person learning, or any number of hybrid learning environments, here are some ideas to keep engagement rates high and help maintain student learning in any […]
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Check for Understanding!!
After you teach a lesson, even a mini-lesson, always make sure you scan your group to insure they have a clear understanding of what you have taught. Moving on without a check does a disservice to students. Form a small group to reteach the lesson. The hand method is a good visual that goes a […]
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What If?
I teach an online course for future teachers in a master’s degree program. I was grading journal post last night when I read a student’s journal entry detailing her fears about interacting (or failure to interact) with parents. She was candid in describing possible scenarios. “What if a parent had a horrible school experience and […]
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Active Engagement Strategy
Use Think-Pair-Share at any point in the lesson to structure meaningful conversation: •Before introducing new material to tap into prior knowledge •After watching a film clip to gauge a reaction •After reading a short text to begin a discussion •Before students begin an assignment, such as an essay or a set of word problems, to […]
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Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
A 2019 report confirmed that experiencing traumatic things as a child puts you at risk for lifelong health effects. What do we mean by Adverse Childhood Experience? Sexual abuse Abuse (physical or mental) Exposure to domestic abuse Exposure to substance abuse Mental illness, parental discord, crime Death of parent Imprisoned parent Impact: Neurobiologic Effects of Trauma : Disrupted neuro-development, Difficulty controlling anger-rage, Hallucinations, Depression, Panic […]
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Don’t Be Afraid to be Silly
It’s good medicine to laugh. It’s even better to have a belly laugh. This is a great way to begin the day, a meeting, the school year. According to Psychology Today, “A hearty chuckle releases endorphins, feel-good neurotransmitters and endorphins are part of the reason laughing is so contagious. Laughing also has many health benefits […]
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Think Aloud Stems
These are sentence stems for various strategies good readers use. Use these to model for students during lessons. Using think alouds is a powerful way to give students strategies they can use when they read independently. ———————————
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Connect With Students
We all know when someone cares about us. Students come to school hoping they will be liked and accepted. A teacher that takes the time to know each student creates a solid foundation of trust. Learning is often connected to experiences and emotions. When a child feels secure, learning can move into long term memory. […]
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Scaffolding
Always tap into a student’s prior knowledge, building on what they know. Help them make connections by using visuals, engaging in partner share, review previous lesson. Moving forward to new subject matter requires assessment to determine if there is a need to reteach. Know your students! Some can take leaps while others require review and […]
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Toot Their Horn
Students flourish when they are recognized and appreciated. There are so many ways to help a student feel great about their success. I like to honor each improvement with a visual representation of their accomplishment. When done selectively, this is a way to boost self-esteem in students, particularly those who don’t generally get recognized. A […]
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Independent vs Dependent Learner
This book should be on every teacher’s desk as a resource for promoting an inclusive classroom. It is important to remember that dependent does not mean deficit. We want all students to work to their full potential. Here is just one sampling of the valuable guidance from acclaimed author, Jaretta Hammond: Dependent Learner Relies on […]
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Quick Check for Understanding
After you teach a lesson, even a mini-lesson, always make sure you scan your group to insure they have a clear understanding of what you have taught. Moving on without a check does a disservice to students. Form a small group to reteach the lesson. The hand method is a good visual that goes a […]