Over the summer I began work on updating the lesson plans on this website and started thinking more about all of the characteristics I’d want to see in a truly effective learning activity. Sitting in my kids’ classrooms this
Exit Tickets
Recently I got in a conversation with some teachers about use of exit tickets, which seem to be a relatively common instructional strategy. As we talked, we were surprised to realize several of us had made the same mistake when
Teacher Jackpot
This morning I volunteered in my daughter’s 3rd grade classroom and also spent a few minutes in my son’s 2nd grade classroom. It was the first chance I’d had to see their classrooms in action. Last year I wrote about
My Kids Don’t Do Their Homework
Yesterday I carried a box into my son’s kindergarten classroom; it was his share day. I noticed a pile of completed homework packets on the teacher’s desk, and immediately thought, “People actually do those things?” Because I don’t make my
Flexible Grouping
What Makes Grouping Strategies Effective? A Summary of Research Grouping students for instruction has long been a part of our educational system. Most commonly, students are grouped into grade levels by biological age. Grouping by ability has also been a popular method of
Test Taking Strategies
Informational article with suggestions for ways to prepare for a test
Related Skills: Cause/Effect, Fact/Opinion