Do you have a child with an introverted temperament? Introverted children, that's about one-third to one-half of the population, recharge their energy from time spent alone. (As opposed to time spent with other people.) You can take an assessment if you're not sure if your kids are introverts. Or read this article about the difference between shy and introverted. I have two introverts. And … [Read more...]
Introverted Teens and Kids Need This Book
Kids and teens, you can learn how to make the most of being an introvert at school, with friends, in your family, and with extracurricular activities with this remarkable guidebook: Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts by Susan Cain with Gregory Mone and Erica Moroz. Parents, you can read this and share excerpts or summarize parts. Teens and tweens, can pick up the book and read it … [Read more...]
Owl Eyes eReader Offers Free Texts for Classrooms
Owl Eyes is a free, easy to use, user-friendly e-reader site designed to give teachers texts to use and annotate in their classrooms. Owl Eyes is a cool site that will streamline your students' close reading experiences, track students' reading progress, and provide a meaningful way to kids to interact with text. The reading choices are classic and Common Core texts. Owl Eyes continues to add … [Read more...]
Note Taking By Hand Makes It Stick
Guess what?! When you write something down, you're 42% more likely to make it stick*! Post-it® Brand recently conducted research on Generation Z and discovered that 85% of this generation recognize that they learn best when using both non-digital tools and digital tools for school work. And they're right! Note taking by hand makes things stick because it beats typing notes for retention and for … [Read more...]
A World of What If
written by Luke Reynolds, teacher, and author of The Looney Experiment After being a student for many years, and now in my 12th year of teaching, I am in a state of constant amazement at what students e-mail to say they remember after years away from our classroom. It makes me recollect what is most vivid about my own schooling experience. Way back in fifth grade, I had a teacher named Mr. … [Read more...]
Classroom Strategies for Sensory Processing Disorder
Despite the DSM 5's (poor) decision not to recognize Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) as a disorder, it exists. And it affects many of our children. (One of mine included!) Fortunately, in the classroom, more teachers are becoming aware of SPD and the unique needs of children who have it. So what are helpful classroom strategies teachers are using for students with SPD ? First, let's quickly … [Read more...]
Get Organized! Classroom Organization Ideas and Hacks for Teachers
Now that it’s mid-way through the year, it’s time to get your classroom organized with these easy tips and ideas sponsored by Staples. Don’t miss out on Staple’s Teacher Rewards program – it gives you free shipping, 5% back in rewards, and up to 10% back in rewards on teaching and art supplies. Classroom Organization Ideas 1. Color Code Subjects I always color code each subject – … [Read more...]
The Best Classroom Cleaning Hacks
Teachers, if your classroom is starting to look worn and raggedy now that it’s mid-year, try these best hacks, tips, and ideas for cleaning to get it sparkling again and get rid of any lingering germs. These tips are brought to you by Staples, one of my favorite places to buy teaching, office, and cleaning supplies! How to Clean Dry Erase Boards If your dry erase board is not as white as it … [Read more...]
The Walls of an Exemplary Second Grade Classroom
The walls of a Kristen Hyde's exemplary second grade classroom reflect a learning classroom environment. Kristen's lessons are collaboration and instruction. She writes their thinking on a large sheet of chart paper. When they've finished the lesson, that paper goes up on the wall for reference, continued learning and reflection. I randomly stopped by - nothing pre-planned - and took … [Read more...]