One of our primary goals at the beginning of the school year is to get to know our students. This is important for several reasons. First, the better we know our students, and the more they know we know them,
As I work with teachers on helping students craft effective and supportive rules at the beginning of the school year, a question almost always comes up: “What do you think about using the Golden Rule as a classroom rule?” It’s
In my first two years as a classroom teacher, I used an incentive system to try and motivate and manage students. At each cluster of four student desks, there was a plastic dish. When groups were working well, paying attention,
“I went to a workshop on active learning, and we just sat and listened all day!”
“I attended a ‘differentiated instruction’ seminar, and we all did the same thing at the same time!”
“Why can’t we ever get professional development
Independent student research is making a comeback! After years of moving away from student-centered learning, due primarily to the over-emphasis of standardized testing, the movement toward differentiated instruction and personalized learning has reignited teachers’ interest in helping students conduct research
(This post was originally published on edCircuit.com.)
“Have you ever noticed that a third year teacher and a 30-year teacher have the same job description?”
This question, posed to me a while back by a colleague, seems particularly important in
Mikey was a challenging fourth grader. He broke down in tears often in the beginning of the year. Reading was hard. Math was hard. Recess was hard. Everything was hard. He crumpled work papers, fought on the playground, and teased
Every now and then, I come across a letter from Uncle Curmudgeon, an old retired teacher, to his niece, Kennari, an aspiring new teacher. I’m happy to pass them along from time to time!
Dear Kennari,
Greetings. It’s another slow
Few would argue with the importance of educating the whole child. Even in today’s age of standardized testing and emphasis on academic standards, perhaps even because of this recent emphasis, educators are increasingly aware of the need to nurture students’
My 22 year-old self can’t believe I’m writing this post. When I was a brand new teacher, I was firmly convinced that I should dress casually for work. Relaxed pants and a button-down short-sleeved short was my normal outfit. I
Every now and then, I come across a letter from Uncle Curmudgeon, an old retired teacher, to his niece, Kennari, an aspiring new teacher. I’m happy to pass them along from time to time! Enjoy! -Mike
Dear Kennari-
Last evening I dislodged myself from home and made the 30-minute drive to Exeter High School to hear a talk given by Dr. Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics Education at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. Warm and witty, with
Original Article: https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/blog/do-your-students-seem-older
Have you noticed an age shift in your class now that it’s the middle of the year? It always seemed to me that when we’d come back from February vacation, my students had all grown an inch, seen
Think the days of allowing students to research topics of passion and interest are gone? No way! In fact, the high level skills of the Common Core State Standards make student-driven research more relevant than ever.
Imagine a
What Every Teacher Needs to Know about Setting Up and Running a Classroom is a series of practical books for teachers, each geared toward a specific grade. Each book will guide readers through various aspects of setting up an
Original Link, from PN Newswire: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-edition-of-the-first-six-weeks-of-school-released-300049770.html
New Edition of “The First Six Weeks of School” Released Responsive Classroom’s Classic Guide for K-6 Teachers
This practical guide from Responsive Classroom helps K-6 teachers use the crucial early weeks of
Good teaching is good teaching is good teaching, whether you're helping fourth graders learn to multiply or teaching a wide receiver a new play.
Orignial Article: http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/beating-teacher-burnout
What Causes Burnout?
On top of everyday stressors like scant resources and long hours, there’s a surprising culprit behind many cases of burnout: teachers’ own beliefs that they’re not able to do all the different (and changing) parts
How do you refer to the students in your class when addressing them? At first glance, this may seem like a trivial issue; but consider how many times throughout the day we speak to students to get their attention. The
Original Article: http://highviewmindfulness.blogspot.com/2014/08/blog-post.html
Helping teachers survive in- and out of- the classroom
I sometimes have a fantasy that I will be exiled to a deserted island, and that I can only take with me a handful of books. What would I
Original Article: http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/free-resources/encouragement-and-inspiration/books-on-positive-thinking
The Well-Balanced Teacher: How to Work Smarter and Stay Sane Inside the Classroom and Out is a new book by Mike Anderson. I heard his presentation at an ASCD conference and really enjoyed his perspective. He explains the
Original Article: http://teach.com/education-technology/healthy-habits-to-start-a-career-by-mike-anderson
The beginning of a teaching career is hectic and busy. There will be many days (and nights and weekends) when you will be overwhelmed and exhausted. Teaching is hard work, and when you’re on the steep end of
“DON’T HAVE A BAD DAY AT SCHOOL. AUTHOR MIKE ANDERSON HAS THE ANSWER”
Click here to listen to this podcast episode.
Check Out Education Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with EduTalk on BlogTalkRadio
Original Link: http://www.coreofeducation.com/2014/04/07/can-we-find-sanity-in-teaching/
ASCD Author Mike Anderson spent time with the Core to discuss his book The Well-Balanced Teacher: How to Work Smarter and Stay Sane Inside the Classroom and Out. We first met Anderson at ASCD 2014 in Los Angeles last month.
December 16, 2012, Responsive Classroom Blog, Original Link: https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/blog/no-ordinary-monday
Teachers, principals, and other school staff nationwide are thinking about what to do and what to say tomorrow when they and their students return to school in