One of the things I've heard so frequently in my teaching career: "Kids love you. How do you do it?"
Students want a relationship with someone. They want to know that the people who they spend all day every day with care about who they are. I read a quote recently that said, "There's nothing to lose by giving a student a second chance. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. There's only the possibility of strengthening a relationship, demonstrating the power of empathy, and instilling a glimmer of hopeful recovery." --Teacher, Justin Tarte
This describes perfectly how I build relationships with students. Do I have high expectations? Yes. But do I also demonstrate that you can make mistakes and learn from them. Giving a student a second chance allows them to be exactly who they are, a child.
What are some ways you build relationships with students throughout the year to build them up?
Foundational reading skills for K-2:
How do you teach reading to a group of students of different reading levels?
To begin the school year, I use a Google spreadsheet to help organize data. I take pre and post test/assessment data from summer school assessments/projects, a student's spring and fall Acadience score (including sub test scores), and their spring, *summer (if applicable) and fall NWEA MAPs ELA score and organize, analyze etc. and arrange students by skill discrepancy, need etc... students less than 9%tile in multiple areas - and data points - are considered Tier 3 in our system and I meet with them asap for intervention. Students in Tier 3 reading intervention are grouped this way - but students in Tier 2 are grouped by classroom times (for ease of scheduling per teacher request) first, and then they are broken up into smaller groups to better align with skill gaps.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2019640/13885360
Find out some very easy ways families can incorporate reading into a morning routine!
Does anyone have any great elementary activities they use for Constitution Day? While it might initially seem like a holiday that doesn’t need much celebration, now more than ever, students need to understand what the Constitution does and how it affects their daily lives. I’d love to hear what engaging, age-appropriate ideas you’ve tried in your classrooms!
What materials do you have in your classroom for your students to play with? We end our day with Discovery time (free play) and I am always looking for new items to add, the more open-ended, the better!
What are some of your most effective methods for building a positive classroom community?
Chemistry is too hard for elementary...or is it? Use this lesson to teach your students more about endothermic and exothermic reactions while they learn the basics of chemistry.
We host a STEAM night each year at our school and are always looking for large scale activities that families can engage in together. Have you been successful with any activities that you would recommend?
One concept that has come up in our math curriculum is the idea of inclusive and exclusive definitions. For example, our curriculum states that a trapezoid is a 2D quadrilateral with AT LEAST one pair of parallel sides. This inclusive definition would make a square to be classified as a trapezoid. What other concepts have you come across that might cause some anxiety for parents who have said, “That is not how I was taught?”
What are some do’s and don’ts for emailing parents, colleagues, and administrators?
.jpg)
Family Literacy Tip: Label the House!
Here is something you can share with your families!
Did you know that you can turn your home into a literacy-rich environment?
One simple way is to label everyday objects! Write the name of common items around your home—like door, fridge, bed, or chair—on colorful labels. Stick them in places your child can easily see. Encourage your child to read the labels aloud during daily routines. Labeling helps children recognize words in context and build early reading skills. It also helps them make connections between print and real-life objects. Try it today and watch your child’s vocabulary and print awareness grow—one label at a time!
#FamilyLiteracy #EarlyReaders #PrintAwareness #ReadingAtHome #LiteracyFun
There are differences between teaching upper elementary and lower elementary students. Lower elementary students need more scaffolds to help with learning new skills. They really depend on you to be clear when you are explaining what they are learning each day. Having posters to help reinforce the learning is very helpful. The students also rely heavily on word walls for math and sound walls that teach students what sounds look like when you say them. Upper elementary students are more independent and don't need as much explanation when learning something new. They are usually good at working in groups and can explain what their thoughts are.
Resilience - The capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties; toughness.
Teaching requires more emotional resilience than most other professions. Lacking resilience is a common thread that creates burnout and leaving the profession. Resilience is not something we are taught in school, but there are things that we can do to strengthen our resilience.
Don’t isolate yourself in your classroom. Get to know other teachers in your building and your students’ parents. Building relationships with your co-workers and parents can strengthen your resilience. Take care of yourself. If you’re worn out and not feeling well, you are more likely to isolate and avoid others.
What is your resilience level?
I would love to share with all of you the FREE program I designed for my RTOY advocacy! It is called Ride and Read! Any insight and or ideas that you could share would be fabulous. I have this idea - but am working on getting sponsors and grants etc. I would love if it could go global. SO many families could benefit from it! Check out more FREE info on my website; www.ginapepin.com. Here is the promotional video: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF6ok8DV0I/UWGwMq-QVjVyWoMSJrfnRQ/watch
