Teaching Supplies at a Discount!
I was impressed with this bundle of books from Knowledge Box Central. It’s a bundle of teaching tools on Money and Math, a value of $35.00 on sale now for $8.99! There’s a great blog about How to Talk to Kids About Money. What I like about this bundle is the span of grades it covers,…
Read MoreDividing Fractions and Other Memory Tips
I found this clever video to help students remember the order of operations for dividing fractions. It uses the “Keep, Change, Flip” mnemonic to teach students how to divide fractions. Keep the first fraction the same. Change the division sign to multiplication. Flip the second fraction over, then solve it the same way as a…
Read MoreThought for the Day, 365 writing prompts for students
When I was teaching in the elementary grades, I used quotations and sayings as a writing prompt every day. I began each morning with a positive and challenging thought. After I retired, I wanted to share these writing prompts with teachers and parents, to use with their children. I organized them using a different character-building theme…
Read MoreFamily Card Games to Improve Math Skills
My family LOVES to play cards. I grew up playing games and so did my brother and sister and all of my cousins. We always say we have the “card gene.” As children, we had to know that 4 + 8 = 12 or 9 + 5 = 14 or we’d lose the game! Memorizing…
Read MoreChildren with Learning Disabilities Need Mnemonics
I know for a fact that mnemonics make a difference in children with learning disabilities. But when researchers like Scruggs and Mastropieri say it is a proven fact, we’d better sit up and take notice. Thomas E. Scruggs, PhD and Margo Mastropieri, PhD, (Professors of Special Education in the Department of Educational Studies, Purdue University)…
Read MoreMindfulness in a Device Distracted World
See more pictures of the book, Sidewalk Flowers. I subscribe to Brain Pickings Weekly which is an informative and inspirational email I receive each week. It is put out by Maria Popova, a well known writer, and this is what she says in her “about” page ” Brain Pickings is my one-woman labor of love…
Read MoreThe Marble Jar – Positive Classroom Management
Giving students rewards for good behavior far out-weighs the negative approach. The first year I taught, there was chaos in my classroom. I tried writing names on the board of those who were disruptive, and that didn’t work. I tried every classroom management trick I could think of but they were all negative and…
Read MoreUsing Comics to Visualize and Remember
Using Comics to Visualize and Remember I don’t know if you are like me but I love to learn new things. I’ve been reading some wonderful articles about the STEM and STEAM programs but when I have a lot to do (which is always), I begin to zone-out with all the educational jargon. Just give…
Read More10 Memory Techniques to Boost Students’ Learning
Today I am sharing ideas from an article I read in The Guardian, Teacher’s Network, by Jonathan Hancock*, world renown memory expert, author and teacher. Remembering information isn’t something that just “happens”, it is a technique. As teachers, we provide lots of hands-on methods to help children understand the concept, and yes, they get the…
Read MoreLearn How to Memorize Addition Facts!
I’m an avid user of Pinterest but I am shocked to see so many postings teaching children how to count on their fingers or use touch math. Whatever happened to teaching children to Memorize Addition facts? Maybe we should take a closer look at how to achieve this desired outcome. Once a person learns to…
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