TL;DR: Not all classrooms have to be inside a traditional building. Connect outdoor learning to the curriculum by using natural elements to teach, documenting the learning, and collaborating and co-creating with your students. I love teaching outdoors here in Canada! Escape from the busy life of a classroom and school climate to create mindful learning moments. Embrace the weather changes … Read More
Preheat Your Grill
TL;DR: Grab students’ attention, interest, and curiosity to increase engagement. As you start planning your next lesson, think of ways to preheat your grill and hook students into your lessons. Give students a reason to look forward to coming back to class the next day. ‘Preheat your grill’ by using different virtual backgrounds, implementing scavenger hunts, and getting students moving. … Read More
Using the Lessons of the Pandemic to Improve PD
TL;DR: We can use lessons learned in the pandemic to make improvements on professional development (PD). Improve PD by focusing on lifelong learning, considering an EdCamp or Facebook PD, or attending a Twitter chat. So in the words of the #EduDuctTape podcast, I am about to get out my soapbox. How many times have you sat at a staff meeting … Read More
If You Teach ELA, Prepare to Also Teach History
TL;DR: To effectively teach English, it is important that educators also teach history. Language arts gives us the opportunity to add dimension to our students’ understanding of a specific event, idea, or person. Use historical texts to create experiences. Our students’ futures are contingent on events happening now. They can use the skills they’ve built upon as readers and writers, … Read More
Staying Social During COVID for Students With Special Needs
TL;DR: This post shares strategies for helping students with special needs to stay social during COVID. Strategies include virtual playdates, virtual field trips, virtual yoga classes, and virtual celebrations. Playdates, storytime at the library, going out to eat with friends, having family over for a birthday celebration…these are wonderful opportunities for socialization! Every family is dealing with COVID in their … Read More