About Elementary Education

Veterans Day Teaching Ideas

2009-11-03T04:39:07Z

Veterans Day (November 11th)� is more than just a day off school.

Teach your students the true meaning of honor, sacrifice, and love for one's country through these Veterans Day Teaching Ideas.� It's actually fun and easy to integrate an appreciation for our nation's veterans into almost every subject in the curriculum.

Veterans Day Teaching Ideas originally appeared on About.com Elementary Education on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009 at 04:39:07.

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Many School Jobs Were Saved by the Stimulus Package

2009-11-02T13:53:12Z

New data shows that education is the sector where the most jobs were saved from elimination due to the federal economic stimulus package. In fact, over 50% of all saved jobs were in education.

This resonates with me because I know of several teachers whose positions were saved from budget cuts at the last minute due to new access to funding.� Of course, the education system is still strapped for cash and many problems remain.� But isn't it good to know that education was somehow prioritized by the federal government's stimulus spending?

Many School Jobs Were Saved by the Stimulus Package originally appeared on About.com Elementary Education on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 13:53:12.

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How to Organize Your Files

2009-10-27T04:03:01Z

I dare anyone to name a profession with more piles of paperwork to manage than teaching.

Paper comes at us all day long, from all angles and yet, we must keep our classroom and desk area looking neat and tidy at all times. It often feels impossible!

Use these tips for How to Organize Your Files and you'll be on the path to winning the paper war.

What would you recommend to teachers with messy paper piles?

My #1 tip is to minimize the amount of incoming paper in the first place. Just say no to unnecessary paper!

How to Organize Your Files originally appeared on About.com Elementary Education on Tuesday, October 27th, 2009 at 04:03:01.

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Teacher Poll: Does Your School Allow Halloween Costumes?

2009-10-20T01:28:27Z

A new trend in elementary school education is to ban Halloween costumes from the campus - no exceptions. Many principals (and some teachers, too) feel that the costumes are an unnecessary distraction that make learning impossible for an entire school day.

On the other side of the issue, teachers and parents argue that children are only young once, and we shouldn't be taking away the fun rituals of childhood.

Does the policy of banning Halloween costumes break your heart or make you breathe a sigh of relief? And what is your school's policy?

Teacher Poll: Does Your School Allow Halloween Costumes? originally appeared on About.com Elementary Education on Tuesday, October 20th, 2009 at 01:28:27.

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Halloween Lesson Plans

2009-10-14T17:09:07Z

Have you been brainstorming how to celebrate Halloween in your classroom this month?� I have a few ideas for you from my collection of October holiday lesson plans.

Enjoy this eerie time with your students!� Mixing in holiday magic with standards-based learning� is one of the most magical parts of being an elementary school teacher.

Halloween Lesson Plans originally appeared on About.com Elementary Education on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009 at 17:09:07.

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Parent-Teacher Conference Tips

2009-10-13T02:01:41Z

Parent-Teacher Conferences is a key time for establishing a positive working relationship with the adults in your students' lives.� With proper care and preparation, you can set the stage for a productive partnership that will last all year long.

What's your fundamental strategy for successful Parent-Teacher Conferences?

Parent-Teacher Conference Tips originally appeared on About.com Elementary Education on Tuesday, October 13th, 2009 at 02:01:41.

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Comments of the Week: A Challenge to Non-Teachers to Try Walking in Our Shoes

2009-10-08T01:59:12Z

Last week, I asked the question, "Are teachers a bunch of whiners?"� You responded with passion, intelligence, and even dares - challenging non-teachers to try our jobs for even a week to see how hard it is.� Well, that would be interesting!

The comment that made the point best, in my opinion, came from Barbara who wrote:

"Any business person who is responsible for productivity and cannot hire or fire any of the employees, no matter what, and is accountable for that productivity-- this is a situation each teacher is faced with. I challenge any business person to work under those circumstances."

But you might want to check out what Mary, a former union employee who worked closely with teachers, had to say on the matter.� She concedes that it's true - "teachers can be a whiny bunch."

I wonder... how can we make any progress in educating our children when there appears to be such a chasm between how teachers feel about their circumstances and how outsiders seem to perceive our work?� How can we bridge the gap?

Comments of the Week: A Challenge to Non-Teachers to Try Walking in Our Shoes originally appeared on About.com Elementary Education on Thursday, October 8th, 2009 at 01:59:12.

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Halloween + Math = One of my Favorite Fun Learning Activities

2009-10-07T16:55:20Z

Wow, it's October already!� Time to start thinking about how we can bring the Halloween spirit into the classroom.

One of my favorite (and most effective) instructional strategies is to combine fun, high-interest topics with specific academic standards.� To that end, I'd like to share my favorite Halloween-math combo lesson that I use year after year with my students.� I call it Make a Witch's Brew and it can easily be adjusted for use with younger or older students.

So put this lesson on your radar and consider using it with your students this month in order to reinforce key math skills with a spooky touch.

Halloween + Math = One of my Favorite Fun Learning Activities originally appeared on About.com Elementary Education on Wednesday, October 7th, 2009 at 16:55:20.

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How to Start an After-School Club

2009-10-06T20:17:52Z

When I first entered the classroom, I organized an after-school Writers Club for the students at my school. The idea and momentum came from a pair of particularly enthusiastic students who loved to write short stories for fun at home. They heard I was a writer and the spark was lit!

The Writers Club became an extended Teachable Moment that inspired a small group of young students to take themselves seriously as writers. I hope that this experience gave them the motivation to maintain a lifelong passion for the written word.

So, I speak from experience when I tell you my tips for How to Start an After-School Club. The topic could be stamp collecting, music, chess, animated novels... whatever! The important thing is that you and your students work together to further your collective love for a given topic.

I'm curious... has anyone else successfully started an after-school club? What is your favorite tip for club success?

How to Start an After-School Club originally appeared on About.com Elementary Education on Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 20:17:52.

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Are Teachers a Bunch of Whiners?

2009-10-01T16:36:40Z

In response to last week's blog post about the challenges of teaching that non-educators could never understand, a commenter named Molli called me (and presumably other teachers) a whiner.

Although it's never ideal, in my opinion, to call someone a name over the internet without explanation or evidence to back it up, I can sense that many non-teachers do think that teachers whine and complain too much about their jobs.� In a way, this just speaks further to the point of my original article.� Yet I still feel the inclination to defend my colleagues in this challenging and often overwhelming profession.

Do you think teachers whine too much or without good reason?� Have been called a "whiner" from people in other professions who think you have it pretty darn good?� Now's your chance to weigh in on this touchy issue.

Are Teachers a Bunch of Whiners? originally appeared on About.com Elementary Education on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 16:36:40.

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