Team building games for kids serve a variety of purposes, but most importantly, they help children develop essential social skills. By participating in team activities, kids learn to work together, understand the importance of collaboration, and develop empathy towards others. Moreover, these games promote communication skills, as kids are encouraged to express their thoughts and ideas with their teammates. Through team building games, children become more aware of their role within a group, learning to…
Now is the time to remember those in need! As Thanksgiving quickly approaches, food banks and other charitable organizations all over Massachusetts are now accepting donations. Please consider getting into the spirit of giving and help those who really need it. You can make a monetary donation or collect food to drop off at a food bank to give back to your community. Recommended donation items include cereal, oatmeal, rice, beans, low sodium soup and…
When students learn about and celebrate Veterans Day, they learn more than historical facts. Celebrating this holiday teaches patriotism and empathy while allowing children to honor and show gratitude to the men and women who fight for our freedoms and protect our nation. Teaching students about Veterans Day develops character in other ways by teaching the value of sacrifice, loyalty, and commitment to the greater good. These values will turn them into active community leaders…
November is Native American Heritage Month, which was recognized federally for the first time in the United States in 1990. Native American Heritage Month provides an opportunity to reckon with our past and to reflect on the treatment of Indigenous people throughout American history. During this month long event, it is important not just to celebrate the legacy that Indigenous history makers have left, but also to celebrate those who continue to shape our society, lead…
Kids love the magic of a Happy Halloween, but costume and traffic safety are essential for trick-or-treaters. These tips can help make a safe and enjoyable holiday for everyone. To help ensure adults and children have a Happy Halloween, fda.gov has compiled a list of Halloween safety tips. Before Halloween arrives, be sure to choose a costume that won’t cause safety hazards. All costumes, wigs and accessories should be fire-resistant If children are allowed out…
El Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a day of celebration, particularly for the people in Mexico and Central America and for many Mexican Americans in the United States. It is a day to honor and commemorate the lives of the dearly departed and to welcome the return of their spirits. The tradition of the Day of the Dead is rooted in Indigenous and Spanish Catholic ritual customs. Today, this celebration has…
Observed each October, during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, or “NDEAM,” we celebrate the value and talent workers with disabilities add to America’s workplaces and economy. NDEAM’s purpose is to confirm our commitment to ensuring disabled workers have access to good jobs, every month of every year. Let’s hear from an educator on how we can bring disability history and disability employment awareness into the classroom. A few years ago, curriculum specialist Richard Cairn showed…
A SMART goal is a framework for defining objectives, where each goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Follow this method to establish clear, attainable goals that hold you accountable to a deadline. SMART goals are useful in all professional sectors and industries, as well as in your personal life and in education. Using this framework will help ensure that you are working toward clearly defined goals that you can execute by a…
Think about any time you’ve seen an army boot camp portrayed in pop culture: the traditional drill sergeant, ordering his troops to do endless laps and push-ups as punishment for their errors that day. Now, with that scenario in your mind, imagine it being played out by children and teenagers at school, and instead of drill sergeants, their teachers are at the helm. Believe it or not, it’s actually quite common in certain areas of…
While report cards are a common tool for communicating a student’s academic performance, they have several shortcomings, such as reducing a student’s complex learning journey to simple letters and numbers, as well as failing to capture the nuances of their strengths, challenges, and overall growth. In almost every case, report cards do not effectively reflect a student’s understanding of content or mastery of skills. They also fail in attempts to ‘report’ their progress in other…
