Category: Primary

Avoid The Brain Drain! Here’s How You Can Make the Most of Outdoor Learning This Summer

The summer months are notorious for triggering brain drain. The shear gap in time, combined with the hiatus from hours of learning every day, prompts a decline in knowledge acquisition and retention. Now, it is no […]

The Student-Teacher Relationship Matters More Than You Might Think

Quality instruction isn’t the only factor that determines students’ academic achievement. Students’ sense of belonging to the school community is also significant to student achievement. A growing body of research shows the sense of belonging or “connectedness” […]

Fidget Spinners: Educational Panacea or Classroom Distraction?

Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock this past year, you’ve probably encountered kids (and even adults) playing around with the hottest new toy craze, fidget spinners. These little hand-held toys contain a ball bearing at […]

7 Amazing KidKraft Kitchen Playsets to Get Your Little Chef Cooking

Is there a little chef eagerly waiting for their turn to stir a pot each and every time you prep a meal? Well now, you can continue to feed their “inner” chef with a KidKraft Kitchen! […]

Appreciating What, Where and How Boys Read [Infographic]

Unfortunately for many boys, what gets in their way of reading for pleasure are very well-intentioned adults who try to steer them in the “right” direction. That’s why the greatest gift we can give boys this […]

“I Am My Faith”—A Story of Language and Faith in the Classroom

A disclaimer to start. I tell this story because it has a moment of true beauty to it and I’m trying to do it some justice. To get to that moment though, faith and culture may […]

5 Reasons Teachers Should Love Podcasts—and 5 Shows to Try in The Classroom

Savvy do-it-yourselfers and self-educators know there’s an instructional YouTube video for everything. Want to learn how to make great Spanish rice? There’s a video for that. Several, actually. Speak Dutch? Sure. Replace the brake pads on […]

Fading or Thriving In Sport? The Mental Approach That Shapes Healthy & Happy Champions Of Tomorrow

Over the past few years, there has been an increase in visits to my office by parents with young athletes between 11–13 years of age. At first, this seemed like a positive movement, perhaps motivated by […]

Marbotic Smart Letters and Numbers Review: Tech Toys With A Soul (and Major Fun Factor!)

The Product Marbotic offers wooden letters and numbers that work with six apps (free with the purchase of the letter and number blocks), which together allow your child to practice number- and letter-recognition, addition, subtraction, tens […]

A Future Artist May Be in Your Preschool Classroom—Some Things to Consider When Setting Up Your Art Centre

The art area in a preschool child care center can be one of a child’s favorite spaces. Just imagine, mounds of crayons, boxes of colored pencils, markers in every color, plain paper, glue, plastic scissors, magazines […]

Recess Rules!! And Why Kids Need MORE of It!

“For generations, recess has been considered by many students in elementary school as their favorite part of the day.” Recess is a cornerstone of childhood. For many children, it’s a breath of fresh air, an opportunity […]

Books to Inspire Coding & Robotics

I have been running a Coding and Robotics Club at my school, St Aidan’s AGS Junior School, Brisbane, for a couple of years now. One of the best ways to inspire children I have found is […]

The 6 Reading-Habit Initiator Personalities (Hint: Only 1 Transforms Boys into Readers)

There was a time early in my 20+ year teaching career when I didn’t plan ahead or think about what aliterate preteen/early teen boys needed from me to become self-directed readers. I truly believed that if […]

Get Young Minds Wired for Science

The first time that I was asked to teach a workshop it was on the subject of science. The conference organizer said, “let’s get young minds wired for science by introducing the need for a science […]

25 Essential Teacher Supplies for a Savvy School Year

Whether you’re a new teacher setting up your dream classroom, or a veteran educator looking to breathe life into your space, there’s a myriad of products that can improve the atmosphere and instructional possibilities of your […]

7 Superb Shape Sorters to Engage Your Little One

We all remember our favorite childhood toy or toys. Perhaps it was a telephone with googling eyes, or a toy vacuum so you could “help” with chores. We never realized that many of the toys we played […]

Hearts Held Together with Tape and Glue: A Middle School Love Story

Third period. Ten a.m. Last week of school. One of those mornings that has that soft smell of spring, but feels like summer. It’s a good one. Dennis has a girlfriend. Fine choice, too—Sylvia. I’m assuming […]

The Benefits of Reading to Children—More Than Just Quality Time Together

“The more rich and multifaceted the learning experiences, the more neurons are fired. What fires together, wires together.” —Dr. Betty Rintoul (NC Infant Mental Health Association, Baby Steps, Fall Newsletter, 2013.) This is a great quote that […]

7 Brilliant Battleship Games to Develop Logic and Critical Thinking Skills

Let me start off by saying I am not a logical thinker, nor am I strategic, and I blame my parents for this because they never introduced me to battleship games while I was growing up. The […]

The Innovator’s Mindset—A Blockbuster Lesson from George Couros

Let me begin by making three confessions: 1. I think this is a very clever title … read on to find out why. 2. I thought this review would never be written; indeed, I’ve taken nearly […]