Tangible Teaching

As this school year comes to a close and (hopefully) back to fully in-person classes next fall, I have been thinking about how to use all this distance learning experience we have gained.

What about an international book club? Would it be possible to connect through reading with other students by using books to share insights and gain understanding? What do you think?

Reading is the foundation of all learning. Without the ability to understand what is written, students are lost and all too often are passed from grade to grade. Classroom teachers with large classes struggle to reteach skills that were not learned in lower grades.

If your child is struggling with reading, summer is the best time to learn the "how-tos" of reading. Set your child up for success by making sure they can read for understanding and you can be assured they willl then read for pleasure!

For some reason, my students LOVE to write on whiteboards. Combined with their social natures (especially middle and high schoolers) learning can be leveraged without adult intervention. Try it with your student: put a whiteboard, a set of colorful markers, and a math assignment in front of them and watch the laughter and learning occur. It's like magic! Throw in some brownies and soda and they may never leave.

When we forget where we came from and our experiences, we lose our way. Teach your children their history lest they lose sight of what matters.

Distance learning, hybrid learning, zoom rooms, what a year! All of us have spent so much more time doing school than in the past. But we are doing it, we are persevering, we are succeeding. Recognize and celebrate your child's efforts, everyone likes to know that their hard work is appreciated.

Expressions such as this note from a student remind me why I am honored and humbled to stand before them each day. ❤️ ❤️

My resolution this year is to make sure I spend time on what I enjoy doing as well as time on what I have to do.
🌷 My mom called them hyacinths for the soul -- those things that add joy to our lives.
What hyacinths have you given to your soul today?

Words matter.
We work very hard in class to consider the impact of our words and to articulate what we know, mean, and feel in a respectful manner.
Because words matter.

My daughters learned how to compute percentages while shopping. If they could tell me the discounted price, I would purchase the item (another tip I passed along: never, ever pay full price!).

My students say my jokes are not funny but with jokes like this, they will be ROFL'ing in no time 🤣
Drop your emoji reaction in the comments . . .

Whew! It's the first week back to in-person learning and the excitement level out of sight! Planning to identify and remediate any "missing pieces" is also in full swing -- usually it only takes a small bit of work to make sure students are ready for the next year.