MissCalculate's blog post about making a memorable project got me thinking about how important that is for teacher's to accomplish.  Students are probably given thousands of assignments throughout the course of their education; I think you've done well if you manage to leave one or two of those things permanently etched in their memory as a cool, ...

Teachers often make portfolios of student work, but what about students creating their own?  Teaching Mahollitz is a great elementary classroom blog.  The teacher emphasized reflection in her classroom, a practice of any good teacher.  In their self-reflection, she asked students to compile their own work in a portfolio.  They got a choice ...

Good teachers reflect. Hands down, this is one of the most important lessons to me as an aspiring teacher (and as a blogger!).  Without the benefit of reflection, I’d continue making the same mistakes again and again, watching myself fall short, and not actively pursuing improvement.  If you don’t reflect, you want see where you need work ...

Good teachers are resourceful. You have to be in order to use materials that best fit your classroom’s needs. I worked in a classroom a few weeks ago that showed me a great idea for a simple tool:  file folders. When the class went to centers, one group at a time was supposed to go to the “folders station.”  I’ve seen younger elementary ...

Good teachers differentiate. I’ve learned that over the course of my subbing career.  I am in classrooms all the time with students who need a little more help than others, or students who are a little more advanced than the rest.  Sometimes, something as simple as completing an assignment can become stressful when you have 4 kids ...

Good teachers are efficient. Often, I look up at the clock during a lesson I'm leading and think, ''Yikes!  Not enough time!''  I know that's a common issue for teachers.  Valuing efficiency is important for good teachers because you have to figure out how to cram everything you need to teach into short intervals that are never enough time. ...

Good teachers organize.  A teacher I subbed for a few weeks ago helped illustrate that for me in a way that I found most entertaining. I have subbed for this teacher several times during the past two years, and I love it.  She teaches 4th grade gifted students, and I always enjoy my day when I’m there.  That’s why I agreed to sub for her even ...

When I began this blog, I envisioned it as a place for me to talk about my personal experiences as well as my findings about educating and reaching students. I specifically said I wanted to talk about the things I see that work in the classroom and things that don't.  Admittedly, I haven't talked as much about my personal experiences as I ...