Group items tagged

This promotes a book, but it is a nice little article. It serves as a nice little reminder that we constantly have to adapt and make changes, and that that's okay. The book seems like a good summer read too! 

Question of the day for Language Arts "Quick Write" moments: Got a few spare minutes before lunch? Try asking your kids these fun questions: At what age is a person an adult? Why do you think so? If could change one rule that your family has, what would you change? What is something that makes your family special?

Although this article was printed on April 12, 2012, it raises some amazingly valid research points in favor of the necessity of Cursive Handwriting Instruction in schools in spite of the increase in key-boarding. I feel the most impressive points are Indiana Univ. Karin Harmin-James's MRI brain-scans of children and Neuroscientist Norman Doidge's book which discusses how the brain changes and develops neuropathways in relation to habit changes and repeated actions. Further, Doidge's research describes how handwriting and keyboarding require different actions and affect the brain in different ways.

What's Here The purpose of decorating a classroom is to create a functional space for learning. However, there are tips and tricks for arranging your space in a way that creates a comfortable, relaxed, and attractive environment. Your classroom is where you and your students will spend 30+ hours each week--why not take the time...

Did you know that current research indicates that students' brains are changing? Have you heard that the brain works best when the temperature is between 68 and 72 degrees? "BrainLady" Marilee Sprenger, talks about the latest research. Included: Teaching strategies that engage the brain.

Very interesting article; it calls to mind the original practices some students have come up with in various jobs which I have assigned for them to do around the classroom from organizing bookshelves to putting up boarders on bulletin boards and window frames. When I discover they are NOT executed as I would have thought to do the job, I give great thanks and praise, and restrain from changing to my preference! It reminds me of my mother's dislike of how I folded towels or loaded the dishwasher when I was younger - I refuse to show any exasperation over the student's creative execution of the task or project. (Although I must say I would NEVER encourage our middle schoolers to cartwheel into the library or any other classroom as a test of social acceptances of behavior as referenced in the article!)

Teachers play such an influential and important role in the life a child. The last thing a teacher wants, but so often gets, is a rude child. Teachers will usually try to address the behavior themselves, but they need the support of those at home to help create a lasting change.