Dear WeAreTeachers:I’ve been feeling obligated to socialize with the elementary staff I work with. Every week a group goes to happy hour, and they meet up on weekends hikes about once a month. I’ve gone before, but honestly, by Friday night, I’m wiped out and just want to go home and eat and watch a … Read more
Second grade art students love a chance to try out new techniques and materials. That’s why they’ll embrace these imaginative projects, which use a wide variety of media to create amazing results. Parents will be impressed by the beautiful masterpieces their kids bring home to display! (Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share … Read more
Learning to read fluently is vital for every kid, and it only takes 15 minutes of practice a day to make a real difference. We’ve rounded up the best reading websites for kids to help them get the practice they need. Most of them are free, but there are some excellent paid options that schools … Read more
contributed by Jane HealeyPh.D. Teaching research is extremely complex, and the process must be taught to students at every step. Inserting technological tools because they are easy or convenient is fabulous as long as the tool does not obfuscate the learning. Many fancy programs exist for students to ‘manage’ research projects. These tools offer note-taking … Read more
What is social learning? Social learning theory is a behavioral theory that posits that new behaviors can be learned by observing and imitating others. It is underpinned by the idea that meaning-making (ie, learning) is a cognitive behavior and process that occurs in social settings. And it is the possibility of future social interactions that … Read more
Dear WeAreTeachers:I’ve been working at a high school for five years, and it has been rough. My students don’t do their homework. They are mostly passive in class, with the occasional disruption of side conversations. I was given a curriculum to use. It’s just OK, but not really engaging. I teach Spanish, and I really … Read more
by Grant WigginsPh.D., Authentic Education When Stanford Professor Lee Shulman was first enmeshed in the research that led to Board certification of teachers by NBPTS, I asked him – in a hotel bathroom, of all places – what interesting findings were turning up about great teachers as compared to the rest. He replied: “Well, you … Read more
What Are Effective Project-Based Learning Teaching Strategies For The Blended Classroom? by Terry Heick While nothing is certain, more and more schools have returned to in-person learning after spending much of the last 24 months in remote teaching and learning circumstances. Which almost makes a post like this less and less useful as each day … Read more
by Terry Heick Critical reading is reading with the purpose of critical examination of the text and its ideas. To add a bit more to that definition, we might say, “Critical reading is reading with the purpose of critical examination of the text and its implicit and explicit themes and ideas.” What is Critical Reading? … Read more
We know teachers shouldn’t have to work a second job. But it’s a reality for so many. Whether it’s to save money for a vacation or to pay off bills that stacked up during Covid, here are some legitimate and creative ways teachers can make extra money. 1. Sell your lesson plans. Teacher Pay Teachers … Read more