I'll never forget the most important lesson I learned in college as an educator. It had a HUGE impact on me, and I still think about it every year as I get my new group of students. I was a double major - elementary and special education. At my particular university, this meant I took 13 credits more than than someone pursuing a an elementary education degree. What it really meant - more sped classes. No biggie. So I took my special … [Read more...] about The Most Important Educator Lesson
Search Results for: label/Middle School
Choosing Classroom Novels for Upper Elementary & Middle School Students
When I was in the classroom, I had favorite novels that I went back to year after year because they just worked with my classes, and I think many teachers have that same experience. But I also liked to add something new from time to time. The difficulty is that there are so many great novels for middle graders. A good problem to have, but with all the choices, sometimes it's hard to know where to start looking. That's why today's post focuses … [Read more...] about Choosing Classroom Novels for Upper Elementary & Middle School Students
Recess Matters for Middle-Schoolers, Too
Please welcome guest blogger David Reeves, marketing manager of Playland Inc. He has some great points about students having recess - even at the middle school level! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Study after study has shown the importance of recess on the physical and mental health and well being of kids. Yet it seems that schools continue cutting recess for the upper grades in favor of another hour of academic excellence. If recess is so important to … [Read more...] about Recess Matters for Middle-Schoolers, Too
Winter Holidays in the Language Arts Classroom
Some language arts activities were just made for this time of year! Which is why today we are diving into winter holidays in the language arts classroom. Reading a play - what's better than enjoying A Christmas Carol with your kids during a season when they are so ready for interactive activities anyway? Funny holiday poems - perfect for kids in the upper elementary or middle school grades who are just too grown up for "'Twas the Night Before … [Read more...] about Winter Holidays in the Language Arts Classroom
Helpful Hints & Tips for New Teachers
Congratulations! You got through student teaching, found a teaching position, and you're ready to get started. YEA! It's an exciting time! Today I want to share some helpful hints and tips for new teachers. Your brain is probably in overdrive right now. You're trying to remember everything you learned during your years of college, while student teaching, and all the helpful information gathered from veteran teachers. But I know from experience … [Read more...] about Helpful Hints & Tips for New Teachers
100th Day of School Activities and Books for Elementary Kids
Every Elementary school teacher knows that the 100th day of school is kind of a big deal. First off, it means the school year is two-weeks past the halfway point. Secondly, the weather starts to show signs of warming (depending on where you live). Bonus - it’s a great time to have fun with math! If you’re on the lookout for some great 100th Day of School activities – I’m here to help! This blog post is going to showcase some great 100th Day … [Read more...] about 100th Day of School Activities and Books for Elementary Kids
Pi Day Activities for Elementary and Middle School Kids
March 14th is Pi Day - the favorite holiday for Math geeks everywhere. That's because Pi is one of the coolest things in Math, and so much fun to play with. Technically speaking, pi is the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. That number works out to be approximately 3.14. However, Pi is an irrational number and apparently "goes on forever. It is actually a rather magical number when you think about it. If you are looking for … [Read more...] about Pi Day Activities for Elementary and Middle School Kids
EDITABLE Panda Bear Puzzle for Elementary or Middle School
This EDITABLE panda bear puzzle is going to be loved by your 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, or 8th grade kids. Use it anytime during a bear unit or as part of a social studies or animal lesson to review on ANY topic of your choosing - math, literacy, foreign language, vocabulary, science, and more. This puzzle is a PowerPoint download. Please only purchase if you have access to this program. WHAT YOU GET: One EDITABLE panda bear … [Read more...] about EDITABLE Panda Bear Puzzle for Elementary or Middle School
FREE Ideas & Book Recommendations for Martin Luther King Jr Day
Hello, this is Kristin Muse from Samson’s Shoppe. I am a middle school special education teacher and always find myself frustrated that the students still don’t understand why we are off from school on certain days. No matter the subject area, I try to have at least a conversation about the upcoming holiday, what it is all about, and different ways people celebrate it. The school that I teach in is not very culturally diverse so this got me … [Read more...] about FREE Ideas & Book Recommendations for Martin Luther King Jr Day
