There was a time when the greatest new games could not be bought with a click from the App Store. There was a time when gaming was not a pursuit of lone children with poor posture, […]
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 […]
Creativity and Innovation in Leadership: Four Necessities for Creative Cultures
Recently, I published a piece on how to increase creativity and innovation in the classroom. While it is essential for teachers to foster a creative and innovative mindset in their students, it’s just as crucial for […]
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 […]
Write The Book You Want Them To Read
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” That one belongs to Gandhi. No doubt a tall order. So close to some spiritual truth, it’s hard for it to mean anything concrete to most […]
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 […]