Help Students De-Stress for Success
I came across this article on Edutopia and found it very interesting. The article gives some great techniques for helping to de-stress your students. For my kiddos, we dance to Dr. Jean or if it's the afternoon, we have rest time with some quiet music to help us relax and clear our minds. I fully believe when students de-stress, they learn better. Every year I have noticed a change in my students when they come back from Christmas break. When they come back in January, it seems like everything we worked on from September-December, has finally sunk in.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Christmas Sites for Teachers
Twelve Days of Christmas Sites
I came across this article today listing 12 Christmas sites for teachers to use these last few days of school. The sites listed sound very interesting, fun, and informative for students. Some of the sites teach while others are more for fun. I checked out the Antarctica "Street" View site. On this site, students can explore different parts of Antarctica.
I came across this article today listing 12 Christmas sites for teachers to use these last few days of school. The sites listed sound very interesting, fun, and informative for students. Some of the sites teach while others are more for fun. I checked out the Antarctica "Street" View site. On this site, students can explore different parts of Antarctica.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Winter Reading: What's on Your Bedside Table?
Winter Reading: What's on Your Bedside Table?
Oh for the love of books! I am really looking forward to having the next few weeks off so I can just read books that have nothing to do with Educational Technology. I have many many books that I am looking forward to reading for the first time and others that I want to re-read. I always enjoy reading short, heartfelt Christmas stories. My re-reads....The Hunger Games. What's on your reading list?
Oh for the love of books! I am really looking forward to having the next few weeks off so I can just read books that have nothing to do with Educational Technology. I have many many books that I am looking forward to reading for the first time and others that I want to re-read. I always enjoy reading short, heartfelt Christmas stories. My re-reads....The Hunger Games. What's on your reading list?
Friday, December 7, 2012
Collaborative Learning
How Collaborative Learning Leads to Student Success
This article was about students reaching out to each other to share knowledge and help solve problems. Educators are finding that students are more successful in their collaboration skills and understanding. I should note, this article is discussing a college preparatory school for grades 9-12.
I feel collaborative learning should begin in elementary school. Positive collaborative learning promotes positive teamwork and student-led learning. Even it's just cleaning up after free choice, that's collaborative learning for my students. It's a great start for future activities because each person has a part they have to complete. I praise my students when they work well together and stop them when they just yell at each other and argue during group activities.
This article was about students reaching out to each other to share knowledge and help solve problems. Educators are finding that students are more successful in their collaboration skills and understanding. I should note, this article is discussing a college preparatory school for grades 9-12.
I feel collaborative learning should begin in elementary school. Positive collaborative learning promotes positive teamwork and student-led learning. Even it's just cleaning up after free choice, that's collaborative learning for my students. It's a great start for future activities because each person has a part they have to complete. I praise my students when they work well together and stop them when they just yell at each other and argue during group activities.
Building Social and Emotional Skills
Building Social and Emotional Skills in Elementary Students: Passion and Strengths
This blog is part of a nine-part series in building social and emotional skills in elementary students. Each blog features skills from the acronym HAPPINESS. The blog discusses helping your child or students in finding their inherent strengths, practicing that strength, and ideas to help your child realize their strengths and passions.
Bullying is such a prominent issue in our schools now and I feel this is a great skills to begin teaching our students at a young age. Currently, I am having an issue with tattling in my classroom. I always try and encourage my kids to stand up for themselves and speak up when they don't like what something said to them. For those moments when one student says something personal about another student, I am going to begin having them say something positive or a strength about themselves plus standing up to that other child.
This blog is part of a nine-part series in building social and emotional skills in elementary students. Each blog features skills from the acronym HAPPINESS. The blog discusses helping your child or students in finding their inherent strengths, practicing that strength, and ideas to help your child realize their strengths and passions.
Bullying is such a prominent issue in our schools now and I feel this is a great skills to begin teaching our students at a young age. Currently, I am having an issue with tattling in my classroom. I always try and encourage my kids to stand up for themselves and speak up when they don't like what something said to them. For those moments when one student says something personal about another student, I am going to begin having them say something positive or a strength about themselves plus standing up to that other child.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Creating Social-Emotional Moments
Parents: Make Bedtime a Social-Emotional Moment with Your Kids
I came across this article today on Edutopia and I thought it was great. The article is also connected to a blog that I began following with some great ideas for parents. I do not have children currently but have done a lot of babysitting over the past 15 years and always enjoy before bedtime reading; probably one of my favorite times. This time gives parents and children some quiet time to bond over a book or events of the day. These quiet moments are a calming time for children and may help them sleep better. The article also mentioned that people that think about things/people etc they are grateful for before they go to sleep, tend to sleep better. Good thoughts = good sleep :)
In January of this year I started writing every night one thing I was grateful for that day. Some days were more difficult than others but it really made me think back on my day and focus on the good part of my day rather than the frustrating moments. I made it to April before I stopped writing. My goal for 2013, try it again for the whole year.
I came across this article today on Edutopia and I thought it was great. The article is also connected to a blog that I began following with some great ideas for parents. I do not have children currently but have done a lot of babysitting over the past 15 years and always enjoy before bedtime reading; probably one of my favorite times. This time gives parents and children some quiet time to bond over a book or events of the day. These quiet moments are a calming time for children and may help them sleep better. The article also mentioned that people that think about things/people etc they are grateful for before they go to sleep, tend to sleep better. Good thoughts = good sleep :)
In January of this year I started writing every night one thing I was grateful for that day. Some days were more difficult than others but it really made me think back on my day and focus on the good part of my day rather than the frustrating moments. I made it to April before I stopped writing. My goal for 2013, try it again for the whole year.
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