Every teacher should know how to do an interactive read aloud. Here is why it works and how to do it. When you consider a framework for best literacy methods within a classroom, daily read alouds from a variety of genres should be a foundational teaching practice. There are a variety of purposes for reading … Read more
Give your students’ brains a rest and a recharge with these brain break activities. They aren’t just fun – they’re critical for many kids to be successful in the classroom! What is a brain break activity? It’s a way to fight the fidgeting, reenergize your students and and bring them back to a state of … Read more
New discoveries on brain research and learning – use these ideas to truly differentiate your classroom. Can our brains actually grow new dendrites when the cells are stimulated through unique and novel situations? Does the human mind really “prune” out cells that are rarely or never used? It appears to be true. Researcher Kathie Nunley … Read more
Kids remember 30% of what they see, but many of our students use a visual learning style in our classroom. How can you increase input so your kids remember and use what you are teaching them? What is the definition of visual learning? Visual learning is when someone can easily recall what they see. These … Read more
Do you have students with a kinesthetic learning style? Learning styles activities for these types of students are characterized by touching or manipulating objects. The majority of students have a visual learning style or use kinesthetic learning strategies as their preferred method of learning. Interactive learning styles are also called haptic, which is Greek for … Read more
How to reach your students with an auditory learning style! These are best practices and effective techniques that really work. While most students will either have a visual or kinesthetic learning style as their primary preferred mode of learning, there are students who truly learn best by hearing. This individual learning style is characterized by … Read more
Teaching to the different learning styles is not hard. It actually makes the classroom more enjoyable, stimulates the brain and fosters emotional health in our students! What is a learning style? It is simply a way to explain a student’s preferred method of learning and development. Identifying particular learning styles children display is not meant … Read more
What can teachers honestly expect from students who are learning a second language? It’s really hard to know what to expect from students that you have trouble communicating with. However, I see it time and again – teachers expect students who have been learning English for a couple of years to perform at the level … Read more
How to build background knowledge and why it is critical to many students.. Students learn best when new content is linked with past learning and experiences. The differences we see in reading comprehension for our ESL students is partly due to their schema. Schema is also culturally specific. That is really important, because when the … Read more
These 4 simple ESL teaching strategies (and quick modification tips) will maximize teaching and help you reach all learners. When a classroom teacher is looking for ESL reading and teaching resources, he or she is searching for a strategy that is easy to implement and highly effective. Teachers must provide sheltered academic instruction to reach … Read more
Second language acquisition is a complex process that can take years to fully develop. Teachers need to understand the difference between “playground language” and “academic language.” Our students come to us with a variety of backgrounds. Some possess little to no knowledge of what school is like, many are not proficient yet in their … Read more