How can I integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) into my daily lessons without it feeling forced or out of place?
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What are your favorite items to include in a science notebook (paper or digital)?
One of our first units in our knowledge block is nursery rhymes and fables. How can I make learning about these more interactive for my students? I am planning on having them create a "knowledge notebook" where they get a copy of the nursery rhyme and can illustrate it and are able to revisit it. I am also going to use AI to have my students interview some of the nursery rhyme characters (Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, etc.) to ask them about their actions. Are there other ideas you might have that I could try?
What are some of your best math test prep from third through fifth grade ideas? I’m trying to compile some ideas for my teachers!
“Children don’t learn from people they don’t feel connected to.” – Rita Pierson
As educators, it can sometimes feel like there’s no room for social-emotional learning (SEL) in our already-packed days. But here’s the thing: SEL isn’t an added extra, it’s part of the foundation. When students feel safe and connected, they’re not only emotionally supported but ready to focus, behave, and perform better academically.
The best part? SEL doesn’t require hours of extra work. A quick morning check-in, an “emotion of the day,” or modeling empathy can have a lasting impact. Research even shows that students in SEL programs tend to perform 11% better on standardized tests because when you teach the heart, the mind follows.
What challenges do you face while making room for SEL in your day? Share your thoughts in the comment. Let’s learn from each other!
How do you manage difficult parents that seem to blame teachers for their child's behavior and absences?
Who are some lesser known scientists that you share with your students? What are their names and contributions to science?
I want to include some Science of Reading strategies in my science teaching. What are some ways to go about this?
March is reading month! This year our reading month theme is - board games! What theme is your school using for reading month? And do you have a family night - if so, what type of evening do you plan with your families?
How do you structure your prep time to get through all of your tasks?
What are your favorite seeds to have your students plant? I usually stick with Lima beans or alfalfa seeds, but I’m looking to branch out.
A new (to me anyway!) site that I recently learned about is Youcubed! I have linked specifically the tasks section of this website because there are so many great ideas here for engaging students in real world math experiences. It appears to be for K through 12th grade, which is awesome! (https://www.youcubed.org/tasks/)
Any other amazing math task websites I need to check out that maybe I haven't?
How can I create a more collaborative partnership with families? My school team? Administration?
What’s a good assessment for a standard in deaf education about second grader’s learning colors in sign language?
It’s time again for parent teacher conferences. How do you best organize and prepare to communicate and stay on track time wise? I find it essential to have a front and back page guide to cover everything and to stay on track. I love starting with stars and steps. This allows all parents to hear something amazing about their child and also an area to work on. Here is a resource my teammates created that I use for conferences.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Teacher-Conference-Packet-4147269
What tips do you have for productive conferences?
How do you know when to and how to refer a student to a study team?
Anyone else attending the 2024 national teacher leadership conference in Denver Colorado?
My class is doing a First Grade Zoo project in which students in all grades and parents will be joining us for an oral presentation in which my students present and others can ask questions quickly. I have worked with a newer student with no English language from Guatemala. Other than Google Translate what can I do to include him in the presentations Friday? We have his poster and paragraph in English and Spanish, I am wondering if there is anything else out there to create independence for my ELL student in this activity?
Introducing essays to 3rd graders can be a rewarding experience when broken down into manageable steps. I’ve found that starting with personal narratives works best since kids are more comfortable writing about their own lives. Using tools like graphic organizers to help them structure their ideas, and modeling the writing process as a class, are key ways to ease them into it.
For example, teaching them the basic structure of an essay (introduction, body, conclusion) is crucial, but I focus on just a few sentences at first so they don’t feel overwhelmed. Sentence starters like “One time I…” or “In my opinion…” also help students get over the hurdle of that first blank page.
Peer review sessions are another great way to make writing feel like a shared experience instead of a solo task. This also gives students a chance to see how others express their ideas and can encourage growth in their own writing.
What strategies have you found most effective for getting students excited about writing?
