Whaddya say we chat about favorite first-day-of-school activities? As a teacher, I loved to know what types of activities my colleagues were planning. Heck, I’m not teaching and I’m still curious! Maybe it’s because I was never quite sure how much to plan or exactly what to plan. For the first few days of school,…
Planning and Curriculum
Stew Update
Have you checked out our “Modifying Instruction” stew? It’s simmering away with great tips and ideas! Be sure to have a look. And if you’d like to contribute, remember that today is the final day to comment and have your name entered in our gift certificate giveaway. Okay, I must share one more update. It’s…
Modifying Instruction
Y’all know that I think you’re awesome, right? Well, I do. I love, love, love all the wonderful comments and suggestions you make! In fact, your comments guided me to today’s topic, and it’s a biggie! How do you modify your instruction to meet the diverse learning needs of students? What works for you? How…
Storytime Selections
There’s something magical about storytime, isn’t there? I loved reading aloud to my students and witnessing their responses to literature. Even my most reserved students opened up during a great story! I’ll never forget the day a colleague stepped into my room during a bout of hysterical laughter. With her hands placed firmly on her…
Let’s Do Science!
Happy Friday to ya! I just had the best time reading the comments for “Squeezing In Science.” Have you read them? I can’t wait to get home to microwave a flower. Actually, there’s a microwave in our kitchen; so if I can find a flower around here, I won’t even have to wait until I…
Squeezing In Science
Here’s my take on teaching formal science lessons in the elementary grades: When push comes to shove, it’s the science lesson (or the social studies lesson) that gets moved to the next day and then the next day, and before you know it your science lessons for next week are the same ones you planned…
Coins for Teaching
Here’s my coin-related wonder: does having multiple versions of one coin affect your students’ understanding of coin values? First, let me say that I support the U.S. Mint wholeheartedly. I love coins! In fact, if anyone connected with the U.S. Mint is reading this blog, I’m behind you all the way and I’ll take any…
Keeping Current
Do you know that each year we update our early childhood and elementary plan books? I’m working on that today. Well, in all honesty, I’m simply pulling the pieces together! Our in-house editors have selected and edited 52 brand-new classroom tips for the The Ultimate Teacher’s Plan Book Early Childhood and over 80 fresh and…
Embracing Change
Change is good, right? I know it is, but here’s my confession—sometimes change scares the heck out of me. And yet I know I embrace change on a daily basis. I guess it’s the big changes that can throw me for a loop. To this day I vividly remember the afternoon my principal informed me…