Tag Archives: back to school

From Passive to Active: 3 Student Engagement Strategies You’ll Love

Engagement happens when students feel safe, valued, and challenged at the right level. -Carol Ann Tomlinson That’s a big ask…How can we make our classroom environment safe and welcoming all while differentiating? It starts with classroom setup and classroom management. In my last post, we tackled how to create such environment by considering traffic flow,Continue reading “From Passive to Active: 3 Student Engagement Strategies You’ll Love”

Classroom Setup on a Budget: 3 Hacks Save You Money

Listen to the podcast episode instead. How do I create a warm, welcoming classroom environment on a budget? Everyone loves a good classroom theme…myself included! For me, your classroom theme represents your personality as a teacher and creates a vibe that sets the tone of your room for the rest of the year. Whether youContinue reading “Classroom Setup on a Budget: 3 Hacks Save You Money”

Three Literacy Assessments You Need to Target the Science of Reading

The start of the school year is both exciting and chaotic…when it comes to the back to school season, there is never a shortage of skills to teach. SEL (social-emotional learning), character traits, literacy skills, and the science of reading…the list goes on and on. One task that must not be forgotten during these firstContinue reading “Three Literacy Assessments You Need to Target the Science of Reading”

The Science of Reading from Day 1: How to Include Literacy Practices into Your Back to School Plans

Listen to the podcast. Aww…back to school…the smell of sharpened pencils, the excitement of new books, the smiling faces of your new classroom family…there is something very special about the start of a brand new school year. Although I truly love back to school season (despite mourning the loss of my summer break), it canContinue reading “The Science of Reading from Day 1: How to Include Literacy Practices into Your Back to School Plans”

5 Literacy Activities for the First Week of School

Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development… Kofi Annon As many of you know, I am a literacy mentor along with being a classroom teacher. The quote above stresses the importance ofContinue reading “5 Literacy Activities for the First Week of School”

Community Circles: Combining SEL and Classroom Community

Taking the time to build community, to get to know your people will have long-lasting benefits. -Clifton Taulbert Ah…SEL… sometimes I feel like we have a love-hate relationship. It’s not that I don’t see the importance of explicitly teaching social and emotional skills. In fact, quite the opposite! As educators, our ultimate goal is toContinue reading “Community Circles: Combining SEL and Classroom Community”

Picture Books: A Window into the World of SEL

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s about learning to dance in the rain. Vivian Greene Although SEL, or social-emotional learning, has been around for decades, it has really made headlines in the world of education since the pandemic. We as educators must explicitly teach students how to manage their emotions. Being ableContinue reading “Picture Books: A Window into the World of SEL”

Summer Planning in 3 Hours or Less

Oh, how we love summer…a time to rest, a time to reflect, and honestly a time to become human again. We as teachers know how truly exhausting the profession is, and everyone outside of the teaching world just doesn’t get it. I think I can speak for most educators when I say the first monthContinue reading “Summer Planning in 3 Hours or Less”