Looping is an infrequently used practice in modern schools, but for those who get the chance, it can be an amazing experience. What is Looping? Looping is the process of staying with a single group of students for more than one year. The most typical form of “looping” is a two-year span with the sameRead more
There is a lot of information out there about working with kids with different learning styles and personalities. We learn about auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learners. We read about multiple intelligences and emotional IQ. We even learn about extroverted and introverted students. But what about teachers? What if a teacher falls outside of the typicalRead more
Are you looking for a fun research project to do during the last few weeks of school? We borrowed this idea from a co-worker of ours who completed this activity with his 3rd-6th grade social studies class, but it could work in a variety of settings. Purpose: Students work in groups, partners, or individually, toRead more
You don’t need to be a traditional classroom teacher to influence lives and leave students with a lasting impression. The following support teachers shape lives every day in a variety of settings. Some work in schools, while others work with kids at home or in the community. One thing they all have in common: they ROCK!Read more
For many students, the best part of school happens not during the hours of reading, writing, and math instruction, but during “specials” time. These enrichment classes, including art, music, PE, and technology, provide kids with opportunities to explore, create, and enhance their lives. Specials also give students access to inspirational teachers. We’ve rounded up someRead more
If you are getting ready to kick off a new unit, and want a no-prep, no-planning idea to get kids in the zone, here’s something I tried last week that worked great. It’s sort of a takeoff on a SCOOT activity that is so popular in the primary grades, but with a twist for older students.Read more
The focus on offering rigorous courses in high school makes it difficult for teachers to find the time to teach “real world” skills to their students. Sometimes these non-academic skills leave the most lasting impressions. Teaching high school students interviewing skills is meaningful and useful. Here are some tips, tricks, and ideas for implementing anRead more
Field trips take time, planning, and a little bit of bravery on the part of the accompanying teachers. Is it really worth all of the hassle and resources it takes to bring students on field trips? We believe that field trips offer advantages that cannot be equaled in the classroom setting. Here are a fewRead more
With the rise of technology and the multitude of standards that teachers are asked to cover, cursive writing has quickly fallen by the wayside. Some of the high school students I’ve worked with type all of their work and have little or no experience with cursive writing. While technically a legal “signature” may be printedRead more
Matching Kids to Curriculum Oftentimes schools and districts will purchase a set of curriculum and teachers are asked to use it, regardless of whether or not it meets the needs of their students. Homeschool parents, and teachers with more flexible administrators, may have the ability to make purchasing decisions and/or supplement their prescribed curricula. HereRead more