Teaching with art and incorporating art inquiry into the classroom is a powerful way to engage students with diverse learning needs, improve critical thinking and social-emotional skills and make learning relevant to students’ lives. Many teachers shy away from teaching with art, however, which causes their students to miss out on these potentially transformative learning experiences. Teaching with art creates opportunities for novelty in the classroom, which stimulates students’ minds, activating different ways of thinking…
While it is always important to recognize how much teachers matter, this year is especially significant. Many teachers have worked around the clock to move their teaching online and to support their students while schools are closed. Social distancing can make it tough to show teachers how much you care, but there are still plenty of options. From e-cards and thank you videos to classroom goodies or decorations, here are 20 ways you can show…
Here are two questions teachers can think about as they reflect on their daily instruction: when students enter the classroom, are they happy to be there? And, when they leave, are they smiling and feeling positive about their experience? If not, a few small changes may need to be made. Every student wants a positive teacher to help make their day better and their class more enjoyable, and it’s something every teacher can achieve. Here are 3…
Teachers and parents alike hear a lot of excuses when students don’t do their homework. “That was homework? That’s due today? But… it was the weekend.” What they often don’t hear is the research on how to help. It seems we are in the dark about engaging students in the homework process, and specifically about what contributes to homework resistance. How can we better support students in not only completing, but also learning from assigned…
What are the best tutoring apps for teachers and students? Well, believe it or not, what actually qualifies as tutoring apps isn’t clear-cut. Is it a tutoring platform where educational content is available? Is it for teachers wanting to tutor classroom content for absent students, homework help, etc.? Or for the students themselves? What about professional tutors? Blended tutoring? Language tutoring? There’s a lot to consider. With that diversity in mind, we gathered 10 of…
While some students enjoy unlimited access to the internet and other digital technology, there are other students, just as capable and full of potential, who struggle to learn even the basics of computer use due to a lack of internet access. Our world heavily relies on technology for everyday communication, education, work, and much more. Over time, students without internet access at home will face massive disadvantages, including: Lack of basic research skills Lack of…
Grading participation is common in classrooms around the country, whether students are in the second grade or taking college courses. Participating in class has long been considered necessary in order for teachers to gauge how well the student understands the material. Engagement can’t always be judged from how many times each student raises their hand, however. In fact, some teachers now argue against grading participation, saying that it penalizes introverted students. Today we will take…
As we look forward to a foreseeable future of mostly online learning, teachers are finding themselves walking a tightrope of keeping students motivated while not letting their own morale down. Student motivation is a major concern regardless of which study model is adopted by each school: online, blended, hybrid, or a myriad variation. In the current pandemic scenario where teachers must deal with alternative learning modes, student motivation is especially important. Here are 5 strategies…
In our first blog post of the new year, we will be taking a look back at some of the biggest pieces of education news in 2020. Let’s start with the obvious: the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted education for tens of millions of students (along with the lives of their entire families). The deaths of educators and the 1.2 million child coronavirus cases have contributed to a tragedy of unimaginable proportions. Although it’s still not…
Learner reflection is an essential part of being a student. If we don’t spend time thinking about and processing new information and experiences, our brains won’t be able to store the information properly. This is why cramming and other study strategies like it don’t actually work. Below are 12 strategies for implementing learner reflection in the classroom. 1. Journaling is the classic mode of learner reflection, but it doesn’t have to be boring. Students could…
