I was in the classroom for 26 years and I have to admit I fumbled many times. The good thing is I found what works and what doesn't work. Throughout those bumps in the road, there are lessons to be learned- even for teachers! Read on to find out what NOT to do in the classroom and alternative suggestions that will have your students begging to learn! 1.  DON'T USE A TEXTBOOK EXCLUSIVELY I'm not going to lie. When I first started teaching back in the dark ages, I thought the textbook was the best way. Who knew better than an already created source of information? I quickly learned that students weren't learning as much as I thought and guess what? They were bored reading one page after another. Look at a textbook as a guide, not the sole plan of your lesson. Think of Social Studies for example. When I was teaching American History in fourth grade, we had a textbook. My students were learning the bare minimum. There was so much information, that I didn......

Inspirational quotes are, well, inspirational! We teachers love displaying our favorite quotes in our classrooms. A good quote packs a big punch of meaning in a nice little (hangable) package. Using quotes is also a great way to get students thinking critically, and there's a lot we can do with one of these bite-size pieces of text, like: Vocabulary (What words within the quote should we look at more closely to understand the quote?) Literal Meaning (What's the author of the quote saying?) Deeper Meaning (What's the author really trying to say? Is there symbolism? metaphor? analogy?) Language (Does the author use word play? Is there an certain economy of words that adds clarity to the quote?) Context (What are the circumstances surrounding the time in which the quote was said? What is the historical background? What is the author of the quote famous for?) Transcendence (To whom does the quote apply? Does it transcend age? gender? culture? time period?) ......

Whether your students are reading a novel, learning a math concept, or being introduced to new content in Social Studies and Science, critical thinking activites play an intricate role to help students learn on a deeper level.  Being able to think outside the box or at a deeper level, helps students not only retain the information, but they develop an appreciation for the lesson.   This post will provide you with ideas for provoking critical thinking to use across the curriculum and FREE charts to use with your students. 1.  Think Pair Share TPS is a strategy in which students work collaboratively to answer a question or solve a problem.   This strategy helps focus attention and engage students in comprehending the material.  The model is desgined for teachers to: a.  Think-  Ask students a specific question about the topic or a theme in story.  Tell them to "think individually" about what they know or have learned about this topic......

Are you looking for ideas for an end of year ceremony? You will find creative ideas for before, during, and after the ceremony! Your students will be engaged, your parents will be shedding tears, and you will be a rock star! Read on to find out more and grab a freebie! BEFORE THE CEREMONY 1.  WIGGLE WORMS:   All children get a little wiggly when it comes to sitting for a lengthy period of time.  Promise a handful of gummy worms after the ceremony and tell them to wiggly the worms into their mouths! 2.  INDEPENDENT ACTIVITY:   Students need an independent, quiet activity while you are gathering last minute materials or you are all waiting to be called to the auditorium. Here are some great ways to motivate students and keep them engaged while you run around making sure everything is ready! a.  Memory or Reflection Activities  Ideas the can easily be written on the board:     *  Favorite memory of the year.   ......

Most districts are now requiring teachers to provide data-driven differentiation.  What can you do for those students who are labeled as gifted learners?  If they are already high achievers, it can be difficult to help them reach a higher level of success.  These tips will help you and your students achieve their goals and keep you from pulling your hair out!  Let's start by defining each of the terms. What does data-driven mean? Data-driven is when data from test scores are broken down and used as the foundation for instruction. What is differentiating instruction? Differentiating instruction is when teachers modify instructional ideas, tools, resources, and/or activities to meet the students' individual needs.  For example, teachers may use leveled books so each student can read about the same material on their own reading level. Who is the gifted learner? A gifted child may have some of the following traits: creative extreme curiosity sen......