As a middle school teacher, I often see kids exhibiting a variety of different moods and mood swings. Seeing kids suffer from depression is something different, though. Depression is a pervasive sense of unhappiness and sadness that often significantly impacts a child or young adult’s ability to function to their potential. Recognizing symptoms of depression […]
Why It’s Okay to Reduce Homework
As teachers, we all want our students to learn, practice skills, and thrive. Time is certainly limited in our classes. Even critical academic time gets interrupted with so much from assemblies, to guest speakers, and even standardized assessments themselves. So, homework often seems to be a great way to get kids to practice those skills […]
Back to School Planning Tip #1: A Positive Classroom Climate
My number 1 tip for teachers as we plan to head back into the classroom is my favorite thing most of all. It’s all about developing a positive classroom climate that fosters respect, understanding, and an environment that encourages learning in the most open way. #1 Setting Up A Positive Classroom Climate: There are several […]
Back to School Planning Tip #2: Getting to Know You Ice Breakers and Activities
The beginning of the school year is such a fun and exciting time for kids. They are seeing old friends while meeting new ones. Use this time of excitement to help your students get to know each other while you are learning about them. This brings me to my number two back to school planning […]
Back to School Planning Tip #3: Instructional Planning
It’s so important to have a guideline of several topics, resources, and curriculum components you’d like to incorporate this year. Is there something you’ve always wanted to teach but don’t have time to find it once the year starts? Summer is the perfect time to go back and evaluate what you teach and how you […]
Back to School Planning Tip #4: Getting Organized
Once the year gets going, it’s very difficult to slow down and make sense of things. You need to have a system from the start before you hit the ground running. That’s what brings me to my fourth critical back to school planning area: Getting organized. There are so many elements to consider about being […]
Back to School Planning Tip #5: Bulletin Boards
Even though it’s only the middle of July, lots of teachers are getting ready with their back to school planning. Of course teachers love summer, but we also love getting our thoughts and plans together for the excitement of the new school year. A lot of the planning can be done anytime in the summer, […]
Teacher’s Summer To Do List
Summer is almost overwhelming in a sense. Teachers have so much more free time and still so much we want to accomplish. I always like to encourage my own students to make lists and develop their goals on paper, so I figure I’d do the same with my summer aspirations. For other educator’s out there, […]
Surviving the Last Few Weeks (or Days) of School
Most schools in the U.S. are on the verge of ending school sessions for the summer. It’s an exciting time for both teachers and students. Sometimes I think the teachers are more excited than the kids! With the excitement, though, comes a lot of craziness and uncertainty about what the end of the year will […]
Teaching Social Skills & Why It’s the Most Rewarding Subject To Teach
Social skills are what allow people to communicate and interact positively with others. Most children learn these skills through positive role models, adult guidance, and interactions with others. They just learn them and the rest is pretty easy! Others, though, don’t pick up on the social skills that way. These are the kids who are […]
