Enjoying Children’s Book Week

Yesterday morning (May 13), the sun rose on silent wings, spreading its golden blanket across a land renewed. Renewed by what? Renewed by the fact that Children’s Book Week had descended upon us in the night.

Life, the Universe, and School Supplies

For me, the answer is always 42, unless the question is “How many times per month do you buy school supplies with your own money?” In that case, my answer would have had to be…

Are the Cupboards Bare? Teacher Appreciation Week Giveaway

By early May, with the end of the school year on the horizon and Field Day looming, a supply cabinet filled mostly with air and dust bunnies always stared back at me. The tissue reserves had been decimated by March, if not earlier. Notebook paper? Fugeddaboutit! Cleaning products? Sure, there were a few items left, including an emaciated roll of paper towels and a half bottle of Goo Gone.

Take the Tech Outside

It’s that time of year. Take your students outside for fresh air and supercharged STEM learning! Courtesy of the STEMblog, here are “5 Ways to Take Technology Outdoors.”

To Sleep, Perchance to Dream

Sleep and I are good friends. In fact, I’ve known sleep about as long as I can remember. I’m so fond of sleep, we bond every night over a pillow and pleasant dreams. Maybe that’s why I keep coming back to the topic. I think a healthy relationship with sleep is a huge key to students’ success in the classroom. Research has proven that delta sleep—the deep, slow-wave, rejuvenating sleep—is essential for proper growth as well as physical and intellectual development.

I Am a Daydream Believer, and You Should Be Too

Whether you are a student at your desk, a teacher at the window, or a husband in a hammock, daydreaming is grounds for a reprimand, or worse—public shaming. Yet we may just be making life hard on ourselves. Daydreaming may not only be normal, it may be a sign of a brain functioning at a higher level.

On the Verge of Wrapping It Up

Yes, unless you teach in a year-round school, that part of the academic year when you start looking at ways to wrap it up is here (or coming very soon).

This Is Your Brain on Awesome, Part 2

I introduced you to the first five of Louis Cozolino’s “Nine Things Educators Need to Know About the Brain.” An article excerpted from Cozolino’s book, The Social Neuroscience of Education: Optimizing Attachment and Learning in the Classroom, appeared at the Greater Good blog. Here are the remaining four insights from Cozolino…

You Picked a Great job

Congratulations, teachers. You made a good decision (as if I had to tell you that). Because you chose to be teachers, you chose the good life. (read more at the blog)

Why Not Talk About Homework?

The debate that never ends: homework. How much is too much? Is it even necessary? Is it effective? Does it cause you too much grief? Have you ever unintentionally used it as a punishment? Does your school or district have a policy that requires you to assign homework?