Testing season can be stressful for students and their teachers! We asked teachers for their favorite positive, motivational, stress-reducing, hard-work-encouraging and just plain fun read-alouds for those bubble-test kinds of days. Here are 14 favorites. 1. An Awesome Book! by Dallas Clayton “This is just a really fun and colorful book about dreaming big for [...]
It seems we spend a big chunk of the school year focused on summative assessments. From the big end-of-unit and end-of-semester tests to state standardized testing, this drive toward the final test can leave many educators feeling pressured to hurry through the curriculum to make sure they cover all of the material. Taking a moment [...]
Sometimes it can be difficult to know whether students are really “getting it” as you move through a unit or lesson. Formative assessments provide in-the-moment insight into student comprehension. Here are six formative assessments that can be administered as you’re teaching to help guide instructional strategies. These assessment ideas also encourage students to take an [...]
First things first, technology hasn’t changed the fundamentals of teaching and learning but it sure has transformed how the classroom looks and the role of teachers in it. From electronic whiteboards and tablets to 3-D interactive models and adaptive learning programs, technology offers so many opportunities to support student learning. In fact, 91% of administrators [...]
Collecting data is not necessarily every teacher’s cup of tea, but in today’s teaching climate, it’s definitely a necessity. After all, good data can provide important information to teachers and students and go a long way toward improving teaching and learning. And if keeping track of all the streams of data coming your way is [...]
Data is all around us, and we’ve become experts in using it. From checking customer reviews before purchasing a product, to using a fitness band to monitor our health, we rely on data to make so many decisions in our everyday lives. Data is just as useful in our professional lives, too. When districts implement [...]
Fall is in the air and classrooms are full of new students. While everyone in the room may be in the same grade, students have a diverse set of learning needs. Before diving into the first lesson, teachers need to understand who knows what so they can adjust their instructional plans accordingly. That’s where benchmark [...]
Teachers and other educators play such an important role in students’ academic and social and emotional development. Much research shows that a strong and caring teacher/student relationship can greatly impact students’ success. Here are some ideas on how to lay the groundwork for strong relationships with your students at the start of the new school [...]
Getting back into a morning routine can be challenging after summer break. With a little planning ahead, you can avoid hectic and stressful mornings. These tips and tricks will help ensure you start each school day at your best. 1. Get a Good Night’s Rest We coach our students to get a good night’s rest [...]
A new school year doesn’t just mean new students. Parents and caregivers are part of the classroom community too. Family engagement is a critical component of students’ success in school. Building strong relationships with your students’ parents will help maximize students’ success. These four strategies will help you develop strong home-to-school connections, which in turn [...]
