Test Taking

When it finally comes to the time of the school year when children are preparing for tests, things often get a little tense. Some parents may not know what they can do to help their children prepare. Some teachers may be increasingly nervous about what he/she could do. Students can also feel anxious about the…

Science Experiments

Today, I had a talk with my younger brother’s peer. He told me that he absolutely hated doing science experiments. He said he hated wearing safety goggles, hated the silly gloves they had to wear, and even hated how much time experiments take up. It was surprising to me because while I was in school,…

Classroom Organization

It doesn’t take a classroom full of talkative children to drive a teacher nut. It doesn’t take a full agenda, or multiple calls to make, nor a million scheduled conferences. Nope! We can handle all of that. But let Thursday’s homework mix with Friday’s, the markers find their way to the glue bin, or the desk…

Encouraging Creativity

Like Daywalt and Jeffers reveal, children are expected to know that water is for the blue crayon, grass is for the green, and the sun is always yellow. Young children think that because this is the way the world is seen, then they should not risk making changes for the sake of their grade. Well yeah… but what ever…

Feeling Safe in the Classroom

Young children are constantly growing. They are learning new things, seeing new sights, and feeling new emotions. Students feel emotions like nervousness, anxiety, and even fear. For this reason, the classroom environment needs to be comfortable for the student. A teacher can help create a safe atmosphere by exhibiting nurture, comforting students, and showing interest…

Technology in the Classroom

Since technology is such a huge part of every day life, I believe that technology should be included in the classroom. Although not all lessons need to be centered around computers, it is important to include some usage every now and then. When technology is integrated into lesson plans, it gives students the opportunity to…

Popcorn Reading: A Not-So-Tasty Idea

“Popcorn reading”  is a method of group reading that is often used in the classroom. The way it works is that one student begins reading a segment of the page, then calls on the person they choose to read next. The problems I find when observing the popcorn reading method, or similar methods, is that…

Being a Teacher at Home

As an educator, I take great pride in my students. I love when they grasp a concept after my instruction. I love when they are able to explain topics in their own words. I even love when they take comprehension to another level and ask in-depth questions. If you think I am a crazy proud…

Student-Led Conferences

I am an advocate of student-led conferences. Let me tell you why. A student-led conference not only allows the student to attend what would normally be a traditional parent-teacher conference, but the student is also the director of the conference. I especially appreciate that student-led conferences allow me, the teacher, to hear exactly what the student is comfortable enough to…

Turned Tables

As a teacher I understood that it was not my student’s job to teach me, but they did. It was during my first job at an after-school daycare that I, the teacher, learned an important lesson. That day, I was tired and irritable and I let it consume me.The children were being loud, and rowdy, and well……