Have you ever asked kindergarten students what bugs them? Well, we were on a mission to do just that and I’m pretty amazed by what they have come up with! Over the years, my students and I have had the opportunity to work with younger students for Reading Buddies. And while it’s always great to […]
Students as Teachers
Designated time a.k.a Genius Hour
#PinDropQuiet It’s quiet in my classroom right now. A little too quiet. Did my students just have the most boring lesson ever? I don’t hear snoring. Did they all eat turkey for lunch? Not today. Are the students all out of the room during prep? Nope. They are all here and engaged in something called Genius Hour. Here’s […]
For Earth Day – A Chance for Environmental Custodians to Show What They Know
Knowing that I have a worm composter in my kindergarten classroom, two girls (grades 1 and 2) came up to me last week as they walked in from recess holding a bucket of earthworms. A bucket. Full of worms. They asked me if they could join these worms with the ones in my classroom, and […]
Student surveys
If you haven’t had your students use google forms, the survey creator on google drive, then you must! Students will have the chance to create online surveys and administer them to anyone they want. We took our data management project to whole new heights when they created a survey for a certain grade to answer. […]
Surveys that matter
Today was a very interesting day for learning that took a different direction than I anticipated. We started off talking about ideas for the holiday assembly when I mentioned to my students that I would like them to survey the grade to find out their interest. It seemed unfair to force a grade of students […]
Tech Talk
I would like to share a new initiative my class is starting at our school Ancaster Meadow. Our class realized the large need for technology in the classroom. We noticed that students are sometimes unfamiliar with apps that are available for completing work and for presenting learning. We are starting a new program called “Tech […]
The Power Of A Story
Story is a magical tool that can bring to your students exactly what they need or want at any time in your day, week, month or year. When my students need to laugh I find a story that brings us to belly laughing. When my students need to understand empathy, a story helps them look […]
On Being the “Best Teacher Ever”
Many times my students write me notes or draw pictures that I often post on my wall saying that I was their “Best Teacher Ever!” Although flattering as it may sound, some students are at a loss for words to describe the ways in which they feel valued in my class and this sentiment, “best […]