Blogs for Educators

When it comes to school, grades are the end result of students’ effort and the thing that many students and parents focus on the most. But your objective as a teacher is to help your students learn. That means helping them acquire the knowledge they need to succeed in your class and beyond, achieve grade-level standards and be prepared for the next grade.  

The coronavirus pandemic brought about rapid changes in education, including the adoption of technologies to make virtual and remote learning possible and effective. Many of these advancements are here to say, but what is on the horizon as technology continues to evolve?

Social skills are an essential part of life. The ability to empathize and communicate with others helps students with things like self-advocacy, working in teams and contributing to group projects. You can build these skills by starting small. Here are a few ways to integrate social emotional learning into your teaching.

Do you have a struggling reader (or several) in your class? Reading troubles are common, but they must be corrected. Students who have difficulty reading often have problems in other subjects too—and can experience diminished self-esteem and motivation. It’s important to help these students overcome their reading challenges sooner than later. Here are several tips to help them.

Have you explored inquiry-based learning? This student-centered approach engages students in their own learning by encouraging them to ask questions, explore, think and discuss.

With the school year half over, it’s a good time to touch base with any parents of students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Although it’s not necessary to review these with parents every semester, it can be worthwhile if you have concerns or just want to make sure parents are in the loop about their child’s performance and behavior in your classroom.