The Reasons Teachers Should Use Interest Inventories
Whether the school year has just started or it’s in full swing, teachers could help improve their classes and instruction by doing interest inventories with their students. Interest inventories are usually quick and simple ways for teachers to assess their students likes and dislikes. Most importantly, they can be a vital tool for driving instruction, and they are great way to find student engagement activities to use with your class.
(more…)
Surefire Ways to Motivate Your Under Achieving, Under Performing Students
Not all of your students are motivated to learn. Some of your students simply need that extra nudge to get them to perform at the level they need to in order to be successful. So, what do you do?
Well, the first thing you don’t do is give up. Let’s take a look at the things that cause students to be underachievers, and then, you can determine what you need to do to change things.
(more…)
Ways to Increase the Likelihood that Your Homework Assignments WILL Get Turned In
It has happened to all of us. You give a student a homework assignment. You go over the correct procedure for completing it. You explain what you want. You explain when you want it. You even send the directions home to your students’ parents. But, when it’s time for the homework assignment to be turned in, it isn’t. You are at a loss. Nothing seems to work. So, what do you do? Do you stop giving homework assignments? Do you punish the students? Do you drive yourself crazy trying to get your students to care enough to do the work? The following are solutions to your homework problem:
(more…)
How to Raise Test Scores When You Are Crunched for Time
Testing is the name of the game, and your very job may depend upon you getting your students’ test scores up. Maybe, you’re thinking that you don’t have enough time in the day to get it all done. If you want to raise your students’ test scores, but you don’t have a lot of time, there are ways that you can increase your students’ test scores in as little as 15 minutes a day.
(more…)5 Reasons Teachers Need a Fall Bucket List
The weather is finally starting to cool down, and your mind may still be focused on work. However, don’t let the daily grind stop you from enjoying the beautiful fall weather. As an educator, it can be hard to find time to think about things other than work. But, let’s not miss the wonderful opportunity to celebrate fall. You can ensure that you make the most of the autumn season by creating a Fall Bucket List
(more…)
Spelling Word Walls Aren’t Just for School
Word Walls are a common part of any elementary classroom. They have even made their way up to middle school and even to high school. They are used to help students become familiar with words that they may encounter in their reading books or other settings. They act as a visual bridge between words and their use. Spelling word walls are similar. They can be used to help students learning how to spell commonly misspelled words or words that they use every day that the majority of the class has not learned to spell yet.
(more…)
How to Successfully Teach Figurative Language
Language is simple, right? It’s something that we use every day. Our students should have no problem understanding it on their own. Wrong! Many students struggle to learn English. Add figurative language to the mix, and your students are bound to be confused.
Figurative language is on almost every state test from the lower levels all the way up through college. So, what can you do, as an educator, to help your students successfully learn how to identify figurative language and how to use it?
(more…)
The Top Things That Teacher Should Do to Prepare for Going Back to School
I know you don’t want to hear it, but I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. It’s getting around time for back-to-school. Put your teacher hat on. Get your smile on, and let’s get ready. The following are things that we want to make sure that we do before we head back to school.
(more…)
Writing Activities that Your Kids can do This Summer Using Flowers
Flowers are a natural part of the summer landscape. They are pretty with their beautiful petals and sweet fragrances. But, did you know that they could be used to help lessen the learning gap for your kids this summer?
(more…)
How to Prevent Summer Learning Loss
Summer vacation is here, and for many students and teachers, it is time to take a break. However, many students lose a large portion of the information that they have learned throughout the school year during Summer Break.
To lessen the learning gap this summer be sure that your children are engaged in some learning activities. These activities should include reading, writing, critical thinking, math, science, and history. Art and drawing can also be incorporated into their learning experiences.
The following suggestions are some simple and inexpensive ways to keep your kids learning over the break.
(more…)