Special educators need a pretty large toolbox of strategies and resources to support our learners. So often, our students can have significantly diverse needs and levels. On any given day, special education teachers might need to take student reading data, modify a math assessment, teach science wit
A cheat sheet of education theorists and their research based teaching practices.
These 25 quick and easy tips for new teachers will help you create a positive, engaging, and effective learning environment for your students.
Differentiation and scaffolding can help students better understand and learn. Here are teaching ideas and tips to use in class.
I recently applied for a first grade position in a neighboring district. The employment in that district is highly competitive. I fortunately landed an interview at a school there and knew I needed something to take with me to showcase my talents and passion for teaching. I had read that teaching portfolios had helped many others in this situation. I have always kept a portfolio each year to meet our state's professionalism rubric, but I needed something a little more tailored to the needs of an interview. I decided to create my own that highlighted some important areas of teaching and that would serve as evidence to questions asked during the interview. Since I was going after a primary grade teaching position, I wanted the colors to be bright and colorful. I think it's also important to put your contact information on the cover, as well as your picture. They might want to keep your portfolio to look over while making their decision. Your picture will help remind them of you and your interview. I also wanted to take them on a tour of my classroom. They should be able to envision me in their building. Since I am a blogger, I have lots of photos of my classroom. I included a blog post after this page in the portfolio that took them through my learning space. You could even add a layout of your classroom from a website that allows you to create those. That would show them that you value classroom layout and like to plan ahead. Classroom management is an area they will definitely want to know about. What is your system? How do you ensure a smoothly run classroom? How do promote positive behavior and desired expectations in your classroom? I included information along with photos of these areas. Not only did I incorporate my latest strategies, I also added strategies of the past that I had tried with my students. Lesson plans should also be included. I have taught kindergarten and second grade, so I included examples of both. If you do visual plans, definitely incorporate those! They are attention grabbers and look great in your portfolio. I included a copy of my current classroom schedule. I wanted them to see that consistency and routine were vital to my learning environment. One section in my notebook was all about lesson plans and creative activities I had incorporated in my classroom. I divided that section up into some effective best practices. In each section, I included the strategy, brain research to support the practice, and photos of them being incorporated into my classroom. I also included some units I had created along with photos of students engaged in activities from those units. Another section in the portfolio highlighted assessment and data. Education is so data-driven these days that I knew I had to incorporate this. I listed all of the assessments I had experience with, included data from assessments I had administered (do not include student names), and showed how I used the data to drive my instruction. You may be asked about parent communication in your interview. In this section, I included newsletters and various other ways I communicated with parents and got them involved in their child's education. I also took the time to break down what my reading and math blocks looked like. I made sure to mention the five components of reading, curriculum I had experience using, and student work samples. I made sure to highlight how each of these areas drove student success. Finally, I had sections for professional development and important documents. You should include any professional development you have attended, as well as any you have led. Be sure to also include documents such as a copy of your teacher license, praxis scores, and a college transcript. There are many more components to my portfolio that you will have access to if you purchase this Editable Teacher Portfolio. I am confident it really helped me receive the first grade position. It provided easy evidence for me to refer to during the interview. The file is a PowerPoint, but you could also save it as a PDF when completed to send digitally to principals. Since it is editable, you can add or take away any pieces to fit your needs. It will definitely make you stand out in your teacher interview! I hope this portfolio is beneficial to you and lands you that perfect job! Happy teaching and best wishes!
Curriculum mapping is an essential skill for educators. Curriculum Mapping ensures a teacher teaches all the standards for the grade level by mapping out what…
This infographic offers 10 tips for designing learner-centered training.
From creating content for students to analyze to sharing strategies for assessment and classroom collaboration, ChatGPT has the potential to save you hours of time and make your life infinitely easier. Here are 50 prompts that will help with that.
Teacher interviews can be nerve-wracking! Here are the teacher interview tips that I have learned. What can you do to improve your interviews?
Can you list ways your teaching portfolio stands out from the crowd? If not, read and implement these portfolio organization tips and strategies for teachers.
I received a handout at a workshop I recently attended on different factors coaches can look for in classroom observations. Collecting quality evidence during observations and presenting it in a clear manner to teachers is such an important piece of improving teacher practice and student achievement…so this handout really got me thinking about what I look […]
I hope that with this infographic, teachers not only will see how to implement successful differentiation strategies, but understand what the word means...
Happy …JULY?! Is that right? Is the summer really flying by that quickly?! ? As it normally does, our summer vacation is racing toward the finish line, but I’m finding myself more energized and rejuvenated for the new school year than I was at this time last summer. Thank GOODNESS! I really think the combination ... Read More about 5 AI Tools To Try
Expand students' views of the world with these eleven ways to use technology in the classroom. Share your ed tech ideas on the forums at ReallyGoodTeachers!
These school related memes perfectly summarizes your typical student with these #studentproblems. Grades / Homework / Tests / That Feeling / Paying Attention / Teachers / In Trouble / Grades H…
If you're a teacher looking to leave the classroom, check out these educational companies that hire teachers.
From creating content for students to analyze to sharing strategies for assessment and classroom collaboration, ChatGPT has the potential to save you hours of time and make your life infinitely easier. Here are 50 prompts that will help with that.
If I could tell myself 10 things as a first year teacher, this would be it! Try these 10 tips for a smooth first year of teaching.
There are different ways to differentiate instruction. Which is the best one for math teachers? Which will have the best impact on your students?
Add some personality to your online classroom!
Virtual dissections can be a huge help in teaching science, biology, physiology and anatomy. Here are some of the best resources for your lessons and labs.
I so remember my first year as a new teacher! I wondered why I was even hired! (Did they not know that I didn't have a clue how to do ‘this teacher thing'?!) Yes, I had graduated with a degree, a teaching certificate, and had an idealistic philosophy of education (that had no basis in research […]
From creating content for students to analyze to sharing strategies for assessment and classroom collaboration, ChatGPT has the potential to save you hours of time and make your life infinitely easier. Here are 50 prompts that will help with that.
How to Use Toony Tool to Create Educational Cartoons, Posters or Memes for classroom projects. This free web tool will work on Chromebooks, laptops, computers or iPads!
Keep all of your lesson plans for the whole school year in one streamlined easy-to-access place with a Google Sheets Lesson Plan Template!
The self-paced classroom benefits students and teachers! We share how to make it a reality in your classroom using the Grid Method.
STEAM takes the STEM model and adds in the arts to the sciences and math. Creating a bridge to connect the creatives and the innovators at a young age.
Download this Premium Vector about Home education concept. a boy learning with computer at home. vector, and discover more than 141 Million Professional Graphic Resources on Freepik. #freepik #vector #digitallearning #digitaleducation #digitalschool
Inclusive Classrooms ~ "Promote a safe and welcoming classroom school and community where individual differences are valued..."
When I was a brand new teacher, I thought the quality of my teaching was ultimately tied to the quality of my resources, so I spent hours searching for great materials. I believed that if I had quality resources, ones that my students enjoyed and were engaged with, then that would make me a good teacher. Well, I still believe that having quality resources is extremely important, but over the years I've also come to realize that being a good teacher is SO much more than the tools in my toolbox. Everyday has a million moving parts that need our constant attention, focus, knowledge and skills of best practice. So even though I now believe that being a good teacher is more than the quality of my teaching materials, knowing that I have a good variety of kid tested and teacher approved resources at my fingertips allows me the time and energy to focus on other aspects of my teaching day. So today, as a follow-up to my original "favorite resources" post, I want to share with you MORE of my "go-to" resources that I consistently use in my classroom with my students! Build a Sentence I love this resource, and so do my students! This resource gets beginning and intermediate ELs speaking and writing! First, a photograph is posted. Then students generate a word bank by telling what they see in the picture. I ask for one word at a time. No matter the level of my ELs, everyone can come up with at least a word or two. I get additional details by asking about colors and quantities of items they see. Once our word bank is sufficient, they use those words to create varying lengths of sentences. They are asked to create a 3 word sentence, then a four word sentence, then a five word sentence, and so on. I'll ask, "Who thinks they can come up with a 4 word sentence?" My students all start thinking and counting on their fingers, then quickly a hand shoots up, then another. They love it! This activity is heavily scaffolded for beginners. Students orally create the word bank and sentences, but I write the words and sentences on the board using correct spelling and grammar. Then they copy. I am a big believer in modeling for beginners, and I model a LOT! This activity is a definite favorite among my students. They practice their oral language skills as well as their writing skills. I do this with my small groups at least once a month. Writing with English Learners I created this resource to prep my students for the writing portion of the annual language proficiency assessment. In Virginia, where I'm from, ESL students take the WIDA ACCESS each winter. Being that writing is the literacy skill that usually takes the longest to develop, I wanted to explicitly teach the skills students needed to be most successful on this assessment. In my lesson plans, I incorporate a listening, reading, speaking and writing focus each week. For the writing focus, I usually pull from these two resources. Whether I am teaching how to stretch out words, write a story, explain a process or analyze information, this resource allows me to choose the skills my particular groups need to work on. For my intermediate and advanced ELs in grades 3-6, I focus on "language formats" found in writing. Whether they are asked to describe, provide an opinion, analyze or compare and contrast, understanding and applying the language with that format is key. 5 Ws and H - A Writing Resource for Adding Details This resource is a new favorite! It teaches students to add meaningful details to their sentences. I often ask students to "tell me more." This writing activity gets them in the habit of giving more information in their sentences by adding thoughtful details. This resource is designed for gradual release. The first set of activities can be done in a whole group setting. A photograph is projected and students are asked to answer the 5W & H questions about the picture. This information is then used to write two thoughtful sentences. As students become more proficient with adding details to their sentences, the next set of activities can be done in either a small group setting or as an independent activity. The last set of activities are writing prompts that students can independently respond to in their notebooks. Posters are included which add a great visual reference for a classroom display. Restate the Question This is a simple, yet effective, activity that teaches students to restate the question or prompt in their answers, both orally and in writing. As a writing activity, either project a prompt on the whiteboard and have students write their responses in their notebooks, or print out the question and have them glue it into their notebook. This takes modeling the first several times, but afterwards should be a quick independent activity. For a speaking activity, pull out a card and ask the question. Students take turns answering several of the questions. This works great in a small group setting. My students often ask if we can keep on "playing." VIDEOS! VIDEOS! VIDEOS! Incorporating videos into my lessons is a MUST! When I plan a new unit, one of the first things I do is to scour the internet looking for fun and meaningful videos. My go to place is YouTube. There are some real gems out there, but it does take some looking. When I find a goody, it goes into my collection and I use it again and again. Here is a blog post that I wrote about using short films to teach reading comprehension skills. I continue to add to the list as I find new films. Click on the image to see the list! Check out my Short Film Bundle here. Monthly Themed Vocabulary This is an great resource to use with primary learners and beginning ELs. Each month contains 20 vocabulary words. I love this because it's relevant to what's happening around students at the given time of year. Along with the terms, which I use as a monthly word wall, matching cards, writing activities, a vocabulary booklet and BINGO games are included. In closing... As I create my weekly lesson plans, these "tried and true" resources are many of the activities that my students use throughout the school year. Having a collection of reliable and engaging materials available frees up the time I'd otherwise spend searching. I'm sure you have your go-to resources too. Happy teaching!! (Affiliate Link)
"I need to come up with some ideas for my son' teacher. My son is on the spectrum. The teacher is really struggling with his behavior as well as his learning style (he's a very visual learner, I know, and he doesn't do well with lengthy verbal instructions)." Research has identified classroom characteristics that promote success for children with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism (HFA: individualized instruction, interesting curriculum, positive reinforcement, predictability, short working periods, small teacher-to-student ratio, and plenty of structure. Research has also identified optimal teacher characteristics: consistency, firmness, frequent monitoring of the child’s work, humor, knowledge of behavior management strategies for students on the spectrum, patience, personal warmth, and positive academic expectations. Based on this research, here are 70 quick and simple – yet highly effective – tips and tricks to use in teaching your students who are on the autism spectrum: 1. Allow the child to change seats and places as long as she or he stays on task. 2. Allow the child to chew gum to reduce anxiety if needed. 3. Allow the child to stand or walk with a clipboard (if possible) as long as she or he remains on task. 4. Allow the child to use learning aides, computers, and calculators (for different parts of the task). 5. Allow the student to manipulate an object, doodle, squeeze a ball, bend a pipe cleaner or paper clip, or handle another non-distracting item as long as she or he attends and is on task. 6. Assign a capable "study buddy" who can remind and assist the active or disorganized child. 7. Assign another child to be a "support buddy" who works with the distractible student, and provides one-to-one attention to assist in completing tasks. 8. Assign duties that require self-control (e.g., line leader, materials distributor, etc.). Prepare the student for the duty, encourage the student, and reinforce the student during and after that activity/task. 9. Assign the child to a seat that best allows him or her to observe you while avoiding distractions (e.g., away from doors, windows, pencil sharpeners, etc.). 10. Assign the test grade based on performance on different aspects of the assessment (i.e., organization, writing mechanics, penmanship, subject knowledge displayed, etc.). ==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management to Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism 11. Be sure you have the student's attention before you start. 12. Develop good rapport with the child. Aspergers and HFA students are more likely to respond to emotional connections than contingent consequences. 13. Devise interesting activities. 14. Eliminate excessive noise. 15. Eliminate excessive visual stimuli and clutter that might distract the student. 16. Employ study carrels or seat the child in the area of the class with the least distractions, and/or face the desk toward the wall. However, do not isolate the student for long periods of time because it may stigmatize the student. Allow the child to engage in group work too. 17. Encourage moms and dads to build physical activity into the student's out-of-school schedule. 18. Ensure that your style of presentation is enthusiastic and interesting. 19. Give a general overview first. Let the child know what will be learned and why it is important in life. 20. Give your attention to appropriate behaviors. 21. Have another child place carbon paper under the Aspergers and HFA student’s paper while writing down homework assignments. Give the carbon copy to the child to take home. 22. Have the child progress through the following steps while learning: See it, say it, write it, and do it. 23. Have the child underline or highlight directions. 24. If social rewards/reinforcement is insufficient to bring about the desired behavior, pair social recognition with earned activities or tangible reinforcers. 25. If you get a lot of defiant behavior, review how often you say negative things and give commands to the student. Children who hear too many negatives and commands will shut off the teacher they come from. Get positive, encourage the student, and focus on progress, however small. 26. Ignore as much of the negative behavior as possible. 27. In a multi-part task, provide visual cues that are written on the child's desk or on the chalkboard for each part. The child then engages in that next step. 28. In cooperation with the child, create a "secret cue" (e.g., tugging on your ear lobe, clicking your tongue, saying an odd word such as "huckleberry") that reminds the student to attend. 29. Incorporate movement into lessons. 30. Involve the child's interests into assignments. 31. Keep directions and commentary short and to the point. Avoid "overloading" the child with too much verbiage. 32. Keep unstructured time to a minimum. 33. Make a tube that the child uses as a telescope, keeping you in view and blocking out other distractions. 34. Motivate the student by having him or her "race against the clock" to finish the task (or part of it). 35. Move nearer to the child when she or he becomes restless. Offer verbal encouragement or touch. When misbehavior occurs (or threatens to occur), move closer and soften your voice. 36. Place instructions on an audio tape that can be replayed by the child as needed. 37. Play soft background music without lyrics. 38. Present the assignment in parts (e.g., 5 math problems at a time). Give reinforcement for each completed part before giving the next segment of the task, or have the student mark off his or her progress on a chart. 39. Provide "do now" activities for other children while you focus the child. ==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management to Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism 40. Provide a "squeeze ball" for the child to manipulate if he or she becomes frustrated. 41. Provide a bouncy inflatable seat cushion. The child may put his or her energy into squirming on it, but he or she will stay in the seat. 42. Provide a grown-up to whom the child reports at the beginning and end of the day to organize his or her work and assure assignments are in-hand. 43. Provide a laptop computer to children who lose papers (but not books). 44. Provide a second set of textbooks for the forgetful child to use at home. 45. Provide a special "transition object" (e.g., puppet, small stuffed animal, etc.) that accompanies the child to other classrooms, providing a sense of consistency and support. 46. Provide an individualized written schedule to which the child can refer. 47. Provide extended time to finish. 48. Provide opportunities for physical movement (e.g., erasing the blackboard, running errands, distributing and collecting materials, etc.), and build physical activities into the daily schedule. 49. Provide some choice or variation in assignments to maintain the child's attention. 50. Reduce the length of assignments so that child does not lose interest. 51. Repeat and simplify the directions. 52. Seat the child next to appropriate models. 53. Set expectations for behavior BEFORE an activity or event. 54. Set up routines that prepare the student for upcoming transitions. 55. Teach memory techniques and study strategies. 56. To block out distractions on a page, create a "window" in a piece of card board that exposes only one or two lines of print. 57. To ensure understanding, have the child repeat the directions in his or her own words. 58. To gain the attention of younger kids on the spectrum, give directions through a puppet. 59. To increase reflection and concentration, have the child identify the correct answer AND cross out incorrect answers on multiple choice tests. Inform the child that there may be more than one correct answer. 60. Use a clock to remind the impatient student that the next activity must wait until a certain time. 61. Use alert cues to get the child's attention before giving directions. 62. Use color and highlighting to accentuate certain important words or phrases on worksheets. 63. Use concrete objects to assist in keeping the child's attention. 64. Use examples that capitalize on the child's interests. 65. Use game formats to teach and/or reinforce concepts and material. 66. Use more than one modality when giving directions. Supplement verbal instructions with visual ones. 67. Use oral testing if that format will keep the child's attention and better assess his or her knowledge. 68. Use pantomime to capture the attention of the child to give instructions. 69. Use performance testing. Have the child do something or make something. 70. Use progress charts and other visual records of behavior to encourage more appropriate behavior. Use colorful charts and cards to motivate the student and recognize effort. ==> The Complete Guide to Teaching Students with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism More resources for parents of children and teens with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's: ==> How To Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums In Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's ==> Parenting System that Significantly Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism ==> Launching Adult Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance ==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management to Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism ==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Comprehensive Handbook ==> Unraveling The Mystery Behind Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book ==> Parenting System that Reduces Problematic Behavior in Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism
Plus five questions you should ask during an interview and a free printable of the questions.
Make worksheets using programs you probably already have! These 6 steps will get you started creating your own resources today!
Teacher Burnout Explained in Two Pie Graphs This is a non-scientific (but probably pretty accurate) graphic I have created using my experience as a teacher. Another title for this chart could be "Teacher Burnout Explained
Read about five TED Talks that are perfect for teachers trying to make a difference!
Playing games provides a wonderful opportunity for your ESL/ELL students to practice speaking in a fun and exciting way. Here you will find 3 lively speaking games that are sure to get your students talking.
No, I don't have an Amazon Prime addiction ... why do you ask? 🙈
In this post, you will find 27 Formative Assessment Tools for Your Classroom! Formative assessment is such an essential part of the learning process and student success, and many digital tools can help support this process.This list has a wide variety of features and options to help you solidify your formative assessment strategies! Many of the tools below are great for both formative and summative assessments.
Teaching job interviews can be intimidating and many struggle with them. These 8 teacher interview questions and answers will help you practice.
Teaching Materials and lessons for English teachers. Easy to teach lessons from ESL Teacher 365. Teaching tips and advice.
22 strategies for how to teach online for home learning. Apply these methods when distance teaching or even trying a flipped classroom model.
Effective classroom management is the key to success in any elementary classroom. These teacher-tested phrases will help to give your classroom management!
This preposition poster serves as a great visual for students who are learning about prepositions. Shrink it and they can glue it right into their notebooks! I personally hang mine up on a skill focus wall. Enjoy!
Every English language arts teacher needs a variety of successful, student led discussion strategies that will provide opportunities for student learning.
