Does anyone else feel like the pandemic changed the game of learning forever? I think we all know it has, but we don’t want to admit that sometimes we need to change how we teach in order for students to get the experience they deserve, especially by understanding the pandemic effects on students. It’s no … Read more
We are constantly trying to find good tips to help us with classroom management in the classroom. Something that is often discussed is the concept of classroom management hand signals as nonverbal cues to student needs. It’s genius, really. Classroom hand signals help teachers control the class without saying a word. It’s an extremely simple … Read more
We know that learner-centered education is all the rage in education circles, but are there actually hands on learning benefits that outweigh the time it takes to craft these lessons? While we constantly hear about the benefits of hands-on learning, we often end up questioning whether this is really an effective way for young children … Read more
Click above to listen to Podcast Episode 55: “Engaging Classroom Activities for Middle Schoolers“ There are many fun activities for middle school students that are not only great options but can be used in school, at home, or at after-school activities. Developing engaging classroom activities for middle schoolers which are fun and interesting can help … Read more
Click above to listen to Episode 37 of the Student-Centered World Podcast: Simplifying Classroom Differentiation (Transcript at the bottom of this page) Differentiation of instruction shouldn’t be the bane of a teacher’s existence. Though there are many ideas for differentiated instruction out there, it seems overwhelming to attempt to do this for every single one … Read more
If you’re like me, it feels like we just started learning about Generation Z and what makes them different from the millennials. However, time waits for no one and we are now diving into looking at the new generation, the Gen Alpha kids. The term Generation Alpha refers to the group of individuals born between … Read more
As teachers, we so often rely on our own experience each year that passes in the classroom when it comes to developing lesson plan ideas. Once 2020 hit, the entire dynamic of education and what that means for the classroom changed, and searching for a lesson plan template that made sense in terms of learning objectives and educational … Read more
The concept of mindfulness in the classroom has become quite a buzz phrase over the past few years in education. This term floats around quite often, but what exactly does mindfulness in the classroom mean and how do you incorporate calming brain breaks into the classroom naturally? As defined by a quick Google search, mindfulness … Read more
If you’ve ever wondered if your administrator has a distinct plan for what to look for when doing a lesson observation or teacher evaluation, you’re not alone (even if you’re not a new teacher). Sometimes they are very specific in their “observing teachers in the classroom checklist” and their expectations, and other times, you are left … Read more
In our last post in our Ultimate Guide to Brain Break Activities series, we took a look at calming brain breaks in the classroom. These particular brain breaks help students achieve a sense of regularity amongst themselves and help bring down an unnecessarily high energy level in the classroom. What about when students need a little pick-me-up? Just as … Read more
We know as teachers that we are teaching students much more than just the curriculum. In addition to fostering a love of student learning, we are also helping them become well-rounded individuals that are ready to meet this world head-on. We are just one piece to the puzzle (it certainly takes a village), but this leads … Read more
One of the biggest struggles that teachers are seeing in the classroom right now is the lack of student motivation. Though this has been a growing problem for years, the pandemic exacerbated the issue. There are so many ideas out there that explain how to motivate students, but so many of them include rewards. This … Read more