ASP Faculty

Amazing video on a kindergarten in Tokyo designed to let kids be kids.... It shows how effective play is in the process of learning.... And how developmentally appropriate it is for children of that age...

Food for Thought

This site gives valuable tips on how to react to the students and what not to do. It can also pertain to other specials.

Gives alternate perspectives on everyday situations. Maybe even some insight as to where others are coming from.

Useful

Great article! I really like the students' perspective of groups.

Very interesting article. Amongst several points mentioned I agree with and practice job assignments to group members to ensure ALL members of the group are working!

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!)

This is a great website for Algebra worksheets.

I agree, and also for so many levels of Mathematics, right down to working with basic facts. This site is truly one to visit over and over again.

Sometimes we take social skills for granted. Here is a good resource which provides for simple class discussion and role-playing.

Carol, Some of the attached activity sheets that can be printed from this article are great. They can truly be used by students through the middle grades.

A list of categories with webinars that you can watch in a variety of educational topics on your own time.

Ann, I didn't know that this existed on the rcan site. I will definitely be returning to it. If done with small faculty groups, I wonder if these these webinars can be used for Professional Development. (?)

or better yet, have students use it to make one for their friends!

My students have been using Spelling City for 3 years. I highly recommend an account to help them study on their own.

Richard Lavoie is one of my favorite speakers.... Here is just a "taste" of his thoughts on motivating students.... I encourage you to watch more of his videos.

Diana, these are wonderful. I watched the entire first one and will be back for more. Thank you!

Some books for teaching metaphors and other figurative language

Helpful hints for writing across the curriculum.

Tips and Resources

This is a cute Claude Monet art project for 4th or 5th grade but would probably use watercolors instead of fingerpaint! Good for any 4th, th or 6th grade teacher.

The benefits of gripping and moving a pen or pencil reach beyond communication. Emerging research shows that handwriting increases brain activity, hones fine motor skills, and can predict a child's academic success in ways that keyboarding can't.