Category: Educators

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 […]

Essential Tips For A Winning Teacher Resume

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 […]

Fifteen Fun Phonemic Awareness Activities and Games For Kids

Phonemic awareness games may help your child read fluently. Research has shown that the quicker a child differentiates the sounds in a word, the faster they understand. According to the National Reading Panel report on Teaching […]

THE NO GOOD, LAZY CHEATERS GUIDE TO SCHOOL

In boxing, it’s called The Walk-Away. As a kid, I was attracted to this easy stunt. It required a little under-stated showmanship on my part, and I immersed myself into the role. After the ref […]

90 Brilliant Would You Rather Questions For Kids

We all know children can sometimes be shy. What if there were a game you could play to draw them out of their shell? That game is called “Would You Rather” – it’s great for kids. […]

Benefits of Adding Gamification to Your Classroom

Teaching isn’t a game; neither is learning. Playing games, however, is fun for young and old. With technology advancement, video games have become the norm in most households—adults and children. What if gamification principles can help […]

31 Eye-Catching Spring Bulletin Board Ideas For Your Classroom

Spring brings newness no matter where you are in the world. Shaking off Winter, Spring is the season of a new fresh look. It’s time to grow, to blossom and bloom. Spring Bulletin Boards can bring […]

100 Report Card Comments You Can Use For Nearly Every Situation

Every parent wants to know how their child is doing at school. End of year report card comments is valuable insights on how the teacher assessed the child for that year. These card comments tell parents, […]

Community Based Instruction: Essential for Special Needs Individuals with Behavioral Difficulties

What is community-based instruction (CBI)? How is CBI different from field trips? Community-based instruction is education that is based in community environments as opposed to highly controlled locations such as schools or center-based programs. Community-based instruction […]

How To Create An Effective Classroom Management Plan in 2019

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a well-behaved class always? Having good relationships with your students could eliminate 90% of the issues, but there will still be the 10% that requires classroom management. As a new […]

What Is Guided Reading (and How To Use It In 2019)

Reading is an essential skill all children and adults need in modern society. With guided reading, students improve their reading skills, problem-solving techniques, and learn to read with meaning. The key to successful guided reading is […]

Fun Pi Day Activities

Pi Day – celebrated on March 14 or 3/14 – is filled with challenges and activities celebrating the mathematical constant pi (π). Some schools focus on celebrating at 1:59 pm for a more accurate pi number […]

6 Tips for Beating Winter Blues in Early Ed

In winter the air temperature in South Dakota can reach temperatures as low -14⁰ F. Often on those frozen mornings, the wind chill makes it feel closer to -30⁰ F. It can be challenging to maintain […]

What To Look For In The Best Teacher Planner

Every teacher needs a good lesson planner to keep their classroom organized. Without one, it’s nearly impossible to keep everything organized and avoid letting important items fall through the cracks. The good news is there are […]

Creating and Nuturing the “I CAN” Culture In Your Classroom

Failure is the secret to success; it can also be the confirmation of disappointment and of not being able to make it. How you look at failure determines the outcome. Fear of failure cripples the student […]

Coaching Students To Success

The coaching model for writers came out of desperation. I was hired after resigning as a full-time English teacher at a massive high school to create and run something called ‘study lunch’. Yes, not an attractive […]

Getting Started With Zentangle Patterns For Kids in the Classroom

You ever feel the need to draw to get out your creative side – but you aren’t sure how to begin? You aren’t alone. This need inspired the creation of Zentangle Patterns. Maria Thomas used to […]

Winter Bulletin Board Ideas

Theme based bulletin boards in a classroom are not just pleasing to the eye, it’s part of the teaching strategy. With careful planning, the teacher can use this extra space as an extended teaching tool. Use […]

Don’t Confuse My Kindness With Weakness

“You’re too nice,” he said to me. Now, I get this all the time. All the time. All my life. All walks of life. Relatives. Teachers. Coaches. Friends. Girlfriends. As a child, I got if from […]

A Practical Guide To Giving The Best Teacher Gifts This Holiday Season

Generally, teachers don’t expect gifts for doing what they are passionate about. They care about children and want to educate them in preparation for the world beyond school. A teacher gift at the end of the […]