The Blog

What I am realizing now is they are asking this because, as math teachers, we are NOT doing enough to make sure that question is answered BE

Motivation in education is the driving force behind a student’s desire to learn and grow. It is the intrinsic desire to do well and achieve success in the classroom. Motivation in education can come from a student’s own internal desire to learn and grow or it can come from external factors such as rewards, recognition, and encouragement from teachers and peers. It is important to foster motivation in the classroom in order to create a positive learning environment. Motivation

MTSS, or multi-tiered systems and supports, encompasses a tiered approach to academics, behavior, and social emotional learning giving us a better picture of the way these components all work together for our students. Tier 1 includes services that ALL students receive. To learn more about building a strong tier 1, check this out! By setting up a solid foundation and clear process, we are able to shift to a preventative lens, intervene earlier, and benefit ALL students. Today

If you’ve spent any time in education lately, you’ve probably heard the phrase “science of reading.” But it’s more than a buzzword. The science of reading is a large body of research explaining how people learn to read, why some students struggle, and which instructional practices reliably lead to success. It’s not a single program or trend — it’s decades of evidence that can transform how we teach literacy.

Number sense is the ability to understand and use numbers in a variety of contexts. It involves being able to recognize patterns, recognize relationships between numbers, and use mental math and estimation strategies to solve problems. Number sense can also involve a knowledge of basic math facts and the ability to use them to solve problems. It is a key part of mathematical fluency, and an important skill for students to learn in order to be successful in math.

I often get asked for recommendations on where to start learning more about the Science of Reading (SoR). There is so much information floating around us at every turn, it’s hard to manage it without getting overwhelmed. So here are a few resources to begin your journey.  Take them in one at a time, don’t rush, give yourself time to process and think about what you are learning. It is so important to know the what, the why, and the how. So think of new learning in those terms

Fluency is essential for skilled reading. It is often referred to as the bridge between decoding and comprehension. I’d add that it’s also a huge factor when it comes to joyful reading. No one wants to do things that are laborious or feel like a chore. So how can we engage students in fluency building activities that are fun?

Don’t ask me why, but I started thinking about the fun old Schoolhouse Rock songs, that I still remember 50 years after I first heard them. The catchy tune of Conjunction Junction came to mind. (If you have never heard it and have no idea what I am talking about you can listen to it here: Conjunction Junction .) I realized that this is so very important in teaching today. Not necessarily for the English concept of conjunctions but for the teaching aspect of transitions, fun a

By William Reed As adults, it is common for us to have to set goals for our jobs and for ourselves in life. Research backs up how...

As we return to school after the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, we soon realize that there is a long stretch of cold and dark days ahead of us. Our dreams of a white Christmas are on hold until next December and the dirty slushy roads feel more dreary than magical. In anticipation of what might be referred to as the winter blues, we can create a plan to build fun, connection, and play into our days! What are the Winter Blues? Less sunshine, colder temperatures, and

The holiday season is upon us and decorating makes the season even more exciting! Check out these Holiday classroom bulletin board...

Fall is upon us and decorating makes the season even more exciting! Check out these Fall classroom bulletin board decoration ideas to add...

Teaching is highly complex and demanding work. Each grade level and course are given a list of standards that if taught with equal focus...

By April Connelley I am a reader. I view reading as one of my main sources of learning. If I want to understand something on a deeper...

By April Connelley Students need the opportunity to read and write across the school day in every subject. Of course regular...

Employability skills are a set of skills outside of technical or academic competencies that are considered imperative to being a successful employee and team member. In an effort to ensure these skills are integrated into academic settings, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) has arranged these competencies into four categories: mindsets, work ethic, learning strategies, and social emotional learning.

Who loves a sale more than educators? Right, no one! Amazon Prime Day is upon us and we can’t wait to add new things to our classrooms,...

Instead of going over the classroom rules and policies on the first day of each year, I took the time to always do two things. First, I...

As you begin your career, mentors are invaluable. They help you stumble through all that you do not know when you start. They are there to listen to your ideas, without judgement. They share thoughts and ideas that help you figure out exactly what you need to be doing. They support you by sharing their materials, ideas, errors they have made in the past, suggestions, and what has worked well for them over the years.

As the world around us gets busier and busier, there is an increased need for understanding how to manage our time and tasks. Below we will discuss why it is important, give some quick tips, learn how to prepare the mind and environment, and discuss how to make the lessons stick!