It’s back to school, time to start using anchor charts as reading strategies to help students with their reading skills, and reading comprehension. Anchor charts are essential tools to support and re-iterate the lessons taught in the classroom. Although the acronym PIE (persuade, inform, entertain) are associated with an author’s purpose activity or anchor chart, some have expanded on PIE, creating the acronym PIE’ED, which includes five author’s purposes (persuade, inform, entertain, explain, describe). Here is a list of great […]
Category: Educators
A Guide To The Author’s Purpose
An essential concept in mastering reading is understanding the why behind the words. What is the author trying to say? What is the motivation, the message, the intent of the literary work? The reason why the author writes a particular piece of fiction or non-fiction is called the author’s purpose. Authors choose the genre, writing format, and language based on the author’s purpose. Therefore, a student cannot assume the purpose because the text falls in a specific genre category or […]
The Best Webcams For Teachers and Online Students in 2020
Whether teachers teach English online, make use of teaching companies, or record lessons for their students in a classroom, a decent webcam produces a professional video outcome a teacher needs. Audio and image quality are vital features a camera should deliver. We have researched many webcams and created a shortlist to help teachers choose the best webcam for their needs. Our editor’s pick is the Logitech C922 because it is designed for professional use and has excellent audio and streaming […]
Our Practical Guide To The Best Laminators For Teachers and Classrooms
Teachers – and parents of younger children – LOVE to laminate. Why? It’s simple – kids tend to destroy unprotected paper items. While some schools have a communal laminator, many teachers want to have one for their own classroom – for a variety of reasons. We’ve spent over twenty hours researching the best laminators for teachers on the market today. Our conclusion: the best overall classroom laminator is the 5 in 1 Bluesmart Laminator Set. The built-in paper-trimmer and hole […]
The Ultimate List of Trivia Question for Kids
Trivia questions for kids is a fun activity for the entire family. It keeps kids occupied on road trips, holidays, and on cold, winter days, especially if it is fun quiz questions that are entertaining too. Quizzes for kids are interactive ways to test kids’ knowledge in the classroom in an engaging manner. Even the shy students may be challenged to a friendly competition to show their knowledge and understanding of a topic. Here is a list of questions, some […]
Everything a Teacher Needs To Know About Cover Letters
New teachers are eager to start teaching their first-class, and experienced teachers may want to apply for another teaching job. The challenge of writing a cover letter to accompany the resume could almost convince potential candidates not to apply for the teaching job. Is a cover letter necessary, especially when a school doesn’t explicitly request one? Can a teacher send the resume without a cover letter? Always accompany the resume with a cover letter. There are three exceptions. The first is when the job advertisement stipulates explicitly, no cover letter. If the ad […]
Best Book Bins for Classrooms
Keeping a classroom tidy and organized is an almost impossible task for teachers with lively students and cramped space. Often the classroom is too small, and the storage space not sufficient to keep everything neat and tidy. Students may be taught to become organized and put the books back where they found it, but how do you teach them organizational skills if there’s no place to store the books? The available storage and bookshelves are often not adequate or practical […]
Something To Call Her Own
What the world needs now? See, I can’t even bring myself to finish the quote. With all the schmaltz and candy coating that comes with a Burt Bacharach refrain, it’s hard to get it out. Sort of sticks in the throat and causes my hands to pause over the keyboard. But, despite the preamble of pop and bubble gum, it’s true. What the world needs now is love, sweet love. And when children are not able to obtain the love […]
How necessary is STEM really?
Hearing about STEM programs being incorporated into schools is nothing new, though I still frequently encounter districts that don’t have any STEM initiative in place. That doesn’t alarm me at first glance. See, I have also worked with schools who have a set-aside STEM time one day each week, and with schools who have a pull-out STEM class that everyone attends every week. I’ve also worked with an art teacher who had her students use the one 3D printer to […]
Is The Eureka Crate Our Favorite Teen STEM Box?
The Eureka Crate – Is It The Best Project Box For Teens? This post may contain referral/affiliate links. If you buy something, Fractus Learning may earn a commission at no cost to you. Teenagers are difficult to please. As the father of three of them- trust me – I know what I’m talking about. I’m not saying my children are difficult – just that by this age they know what type of activities best fit their wants and needs. They […]
Research Beyond Google
Over 1.2 trillion Google searches are done per year; that’s more than 40,000 searches per second. It’s so easy to type in a few keywords or a question when searching the web. Despite the magnificence of Google and other search engines, they cover only 4% (about 8 billion pages) of the world wide web; the additional 96% goes way beyond Google… The most significant portion of the world wide web, the invisible web, is inaccessible by search engines like Google. It’s also […]
Optical Illusions For Kids Your Students Will Love
Optical illusions are fun ways to improve kids’ cognitive abilities. An optical illusion image stimulates problem-solving skills and visual memory recall because the child will want to figure out how it works. Optical illusions are caused when the brain interprets the object that the eyes see differently. The rods and cones are the optic receptors in the eyes. What the eyes see is transformed into the brain as electric impulses which the brain interprets. The brain tries to make sense of what the eyes see. Optical illusions present something unusual to the brain. Illusions aren’t hallucinations. An optical illusion […]
Back to School Bulletin Board Ideas
Teachers understand the value of effective bulletin boards. A powerful back to school bulletin board may inspire reluctant students to become enthusiastic about the new school year. Starting a new grade or going to a new school has its challenges and for some students may even be traumatic. A successful welcome back to school board may help students feel at home in a new classroom with a new teacher. Here is a list of back to school bulletin board ideas. […]
Survey Reveals How To Get Kids Interested in STEM
According to a survey of 1,100 high school students, humor, relevancy, technology, and busting myths may be the four ingredients necessary to get kids interested in STEM careers. SIAM (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania conducted a survey with participants across the U.S. in 2019’s MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge. SIAM is an international society with over 14,500 members whose mission is to build cooperation between math, science, and technology to solve real-world problems. The purpose of the […]
20 of The Best Space Books for Kids in 2019
I think it is outstanding that children are getting interested in outer space again. For too long, the idea of exploring our universe seemed like it had stalled, and with it so did our interest in the stars. But now we are on the cusp of a new generation of astronauts heading off into the unknown. Not only are kids dreaming of the moon, but dreaming of Mars as well. The kicker is some of them will actually get to […]
Best Mind Mapping Software For Classrooms and Learning
During the Roman Empire In the 3rd century, Porphyry from Tyre mapped Aristotle’s Categories in what became known as the Porphyrian Tree. The Porphyrian Tree was possibly the first mind map. (#1) Many famous philosophers and scholars throughout history used mind maps for notetaking: Leonardo Da Vinci, Albert Einstein, Madame Curie, Michelangelo, and Thomas Edison. Tony Bunzan, however, made mind mapping popular. In his BBC TV series, Bunzan coined the term “mind map” and showed the audience how to create […]
25 Technology Skills Teachers Need To Master For the 2020’s (and Beyond)
Ask any teacher and they will tell you that it’s essential to keep up on skills in order to be at the top of profession. Students these days have lived their entire lives online. It’s as natural to communicate digitally as face-to-face. (I think for some, it’s MORE NATURAL to communicate on a screen than using eye contact, but that’s for a different article.) As we approach the begining of the 2019-2020 school year, here is a list with some […]
35 Stellar STEM Books For Summer Satisfaction
A summer reading list containing exciting STEM books with great stories and authentic problems to solve may inspire kids to want to read more this summer. STEM principles incorporate four subjects: science, technology, engineering, and math. For some, these are fun subjects, but for other students, it may be difficult and daunting topics. Here is a list of 35 stellar STEM books that could have your child change their mind and inspire them to explore these topics more. Science Books […]
Getting Started with Digital Storytelling In The Classroom
Everybody remembers a good story. When a teacher tells a story, they immediately have the attention of their students. Storytelling can change learning dull linear topics into a positive experience. In the 21st century, this art of ancient storytelling is enhanced with digital storytelling. A good story can almost tell itself, but a good storyteller transforms a mundane story into an unforgettable experience to the listeners. Digital storytelling boosts the involvement of the listeners even more by appealing to other […]
Essential Teacher Resume Tips To Get The Job You Deserve
A teacher resume, like any other resume, is the critical ingredient that may help you find your perfect job. A winning resume will move you along the process to an interview; a poorly written resume will do the opposite. The resume communicates to the potential employer if the person has the skills needed for the job. It is the first impression they receive from you. It’s your advertisement to tell them that you are the right person for the job […]