Elementary / Primary School Teacher Resources
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Back to School Night Tips
Back to School Night doesn't have to be stressful or worrisome. Check out this sample schedule of a Back to School Night agenda so that you can plan ahead and convey all of the important information you need to share in an orderly and logical manner. I also recommend this cute, quick little parent-student bonding activity that can be worked into the Back to School Night activities.
...Are You Subbing This Semester?
If you're working as a substitute teacher right now, make sure you've reviewed these tried-and-true tips from the trenches. These strategies will help you have a happy and productive day in your temporary classroom. Best of all, if you consistently put these principles into practice, you'll be asked to return for more work. Ultimately, this means more exposure, positive word-of-mouth, and increased job opportunities in the future.
What's your best tip for subbing success?
Do You Scaffold?
Sometimes, teachers can fall into the trap of thinking that ESL or Special Education strategies are only necessary for those specific subgroups of our student population. However, the wisest teachers know that these techniques represent just plain old good teaching to help all children meet their learning objectives.
So, if you aren't already in the habit of using various Scaffolding Strategies, now's the time to refamiliarize yourself with these tools that are so crucial to student learning. Scaffolding gives students a context, motivation, or foundation for integrating new information into their minds.
What is your favorite way to introduce your students to new information?
Getting to Know Your New Students Through Ice Breaker Activities
Ice breaker activities help you and your students get to know each other at the start of a new school year. When everyone's a little nervous and looking to break the ice, use these simple fun activities...
In These Tough Times, Teachers Must Ask Parents to Supply the Basics
What school supplies do you ask your students (or, more accurately,their parents) to bring from home? With today's budget crunches, many teachers are in need of more basic supplies than crayons, scissors, and glue sticks. Sometimes they require paper towels, facial tissues, and all-purpose cleaning sprays just to make it through the school year. What a sad state of affairs for our education system.
...Birthdays and Kindergarten Enrollment Dates Linked to ADHD Diagnosis Rates
If you teach elementary school, you are certainly familiar with the increasingly high rates of ADHD diagnosis in recent years. Interestingly, a new study links student age (and kindergarten enrollment date) with the diagnosis. Perhaps younger students are not truly deficient in attention, but rather just a little immature still?
...Do You Assign Classroom Jobs?
With so many things to do each day in the classroom, why not take advantage of kids' natural desire to help out the teacher? Assign classroom jobs in a deliberate and well-planned manner, and watch your students rise to the occasion while they learn personal responsibility.
...How Should Teachers Dress?
For some reason, the issue of how teachers should dress is always controversial on this blog. I think it's pretty straightforward. Like it or not, everybody in this world communicates nonverbal messages through their outward appearances. Since teachers work with young, impressionable minds, it's all the more important to present a professional look in the classroom.
...Unique Lesson Planners
I have a confession to make. In my "spare" time, I am addicted to Etsy. So when I came across a couple of unique lesson planners made by independent artists, I knew this was something I would have to support, celebrate, and share. After all, we gaze at our lesson planners for an entire school year, so we might as well choose a planner that is fun and different. Don't you agree?
...Free Ways to Say "Great Job!" to Your Students
Teachers always need to save money, right? With all of the recent layoffs and budget cuts, it's becoming increasingly crucial to cut costs while still maintaining effectiveness. I'm of the belief that teachers shouldn't have to spend their precious funds on trinkets and toys that serve as material rewards for students. There are plenty of FREE ways to reward students for a job well done.
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1 response so far ↓
1 John // Jan 30, 2008 at 9:21 pm
Please consider a link to my website at
http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/freestuff.htm. There are lots of free
useful material for the beginining primary teacher. I am a primary
teacher and hope this will help.
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