5 Tips for New Teachers

…quickly figured out that the best way to get to me was was to say, “That’s not fair!” Then they would very cleverly point out how unfair it was, and…

Tips for Teaching Informational Text

…I’d like to share some of those tips and strategies for teaching informational text with you. Comparing and Contrasting Text Types One of the best ways to get started is…

Favorite Read Alouds for November

…as enjoyed sharing them with mine. They are a great way to foster a warm holiday spirit in the classroom. If you’re looking for ready-to-use printables and activities to go…

The Power of Audio Books

…out how to connect several students via headphone adapters connected together. I assigned one student in each group the role of “Audio Captain” who would start and stop the audio…

Literary Lunch Bunches Foster Love of Reading

…on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.” One way you can give Book Clubs a try is by starting a Literary Lunch Bunch program. Literary Lunch Bunches are fun,…

Poetry: A Common Core Dilemma

way poets can break all the rules and write from the heart that appeals to kids. I experienced this myself, and I often observed it in my students. My own…

Caring Classrooms Community on DonorsChoose

…through DonorsChoose, and now she’s giving back through her efforts to support other teachers’ projects. Her article, Sometimes It Takes a Virtual Village, is just one more way that she’s…

Walls for Language Learners

…classrooms for the first time after a summer away, feeling a bit overwhelmed by those four blank walls staring back at us. We have a variety of visions as to…

Exploring the Scientific Method with Toy Cars

…the experiment yourself so you know what issues might arise. Any time an experiment does not go just the way it should is the perfect opportunity to discuss variables outside…