Your student has participated in their school’s music program since sixth grade, is now taking private lessons, consistently makes the all-state band, and attends a selective music program each summer in Michigan. Oh, and they know every Beethoven symphony inside and out. If this describes your student, a music career could very well be in their future, but before that future can become reality, musical assessment, reflection, and preparation are needed. As they begin their…
If the students respect and like you as a person, your job as a teacher will be a lot easier. Unlike a boss who clashes with an employee, you can’t fire a student. You can spend your entire year trying to fix a fractured relationship that is broken due to lack of respect, but who has the time? Here are some guidelines to help earn the respect of your students from the get-go and how…
No matter our color, ZIP code, or language, we want all our children to have a public education that imparts honesty about who we are, the integrity in how we treat each other, and the freedom to pursue our dreams. Hispanic Heritage Month is not only a time for those of Hispanic and Latino descent to celebrate their cultural roots but also an occasion for people from all backgrounds to learn, appreciate, and celebrate the…
Patriot Day is a moment to pause and remember the lives affected by September 11, 2001. There are a range of Patriot Day Activities that can help you approach this delicate topic with the respect it deserves. These resources are crafted to encourage thoughtful reflection, foster empathy, and help students connect with the significance of this day in a meaningful way. Please be aware that this blog addresses a sensitive topic, so reader discretion is…
Looking around any classroom at the start of another school year, you will probably see a range of reactions from students. Some are eager to get started, returning from the break with a desire to start the year off in a positive way. Others appear less confident and seem to have approached the end of the summer with a sense of dread. Throughout the school year, you can also expect students to slowly lose motivation…
This September, be sure to pick up a book, visit a library, and explore places you could only see in literature’s grandeur. September is National Literacy month, which promotes awareness and interest in improving the overall literacy of a community. This can have a pleasing ripple effect through every individual life, their children, and their families. Multiple efforts to impede illiteracy have been made since the first National Literacy Month, but even after all these…
Going back to school can be a little intimidating, but while you can’t hold your kid’s hand as they try to find their classes, you can get them prepared with the right gear for the year. Here are a few items that can help keep you organized, energized, ready to tackle the start of the new school year. 1. Start the morning off right with a sunrise alarm clock. If mornings are difficult for your…
The calendar is getting ready to flip from August to September, which will soon mean the return of colorful leaves on trees, football season and bonfires. It also means Labor Day is approaching, meaning the unofficial end of summer. During the three-day Labor Day weekend, many Americans will travel, shop for deals online and in-store and maybe sneak in one final visit to the beach or neighborhood pool. However, the federal holiday is much more…
A study of the largest urban school districts in the United States found that students take an average of 112 standardized tests between pre-kindergarten and 12th grade. While some students excel at test-taking, others can get stressed out. A Washington Post study found high schoolers spend almost three hours a night studying. Experts say the right environment is key to homework strategies as students go back to school this fall. “Students need to learn in…
Fall will be here before we know it, and there are lots of new children’s books to be excited about! Here are some of the most highly anticipated children’s books releasing in fall 2024. 1. Good Night Thoughts by Max Greenfield. From actor Max Greenfield, the author of I Don’t Want to Read This Book and its two companion titles, comes a sweetly funny bedtime book about anxiety and being present. What do we do…
