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Elementary Education: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Lesson Plan Template
Use this blank 8-part lesson plan template every time that you need to write a lesson plan for elementary school teaching.
Classroom Set Up Tips
Step-by-step instructions for how best to set up your elementary school classroom for the first day of school.
Interview Questions
Before you show up for your job interview, use these common interview questions to prepare your answers and calm your nerves.
Write an Effective Lesson Plan
The perfect lesson plan includes 8 parts - Objective, Anticipatory Set, Direct Instruction, Guided Practice, Closure, Independent Practice, Required Materials, and Assessment/Follow-Up.
Educational Philosophy
Design an educational philosophy to guide your decision-making and to help remind you why you entered teaching in the first place.
Impromptu Speech Topics
A list of speech topics that can be assigned for impromptu oral presentations in the elementary school classroom. These speech topics are fun for your students to write and present to the class.
Sample Behavior Contract
Use this sample behavior contract to work on improving student discipline for your most challenging students. The sample behavior contract can be modified for use in your classroom.
Common Teaching Mistakes
Are you committing a teacher faux pas? Review these must-not-do rules and make sure you're not going astray.
Creating Behavior Contracts
Challenging students require customized behavior contracts to help them comply with your classroom discipline plan. Here's how to create behavior contracts for challenging students.
Lesson Plan Objectives
Setting lesson plan objectives is the first step in writing lesson plans. Learn how to write clearly-defined objectives and goals.
Sample Classroom Rules
Are you having trouble thinking of a comprehensive set of behavior rules for your elementary school classroom? Here's a set of sample classroom rules.
Teaching Reading Comprehension
Teaching Reading Comprehension with Mosaic of Thought and Reader's Workshop
Writing A Lesson Plan
Lesson plans are the bread and butter of good elementary school teaching. Here are some quick tips for writing a solid and clear lesson plan.
Back To School Ice Breakers
Help your students break the ice and get to know each other with this quick and easy selection of First Day of School ice breakers for elementary school classrooms. Perfect for Back to School.
Start Tutoring From Home
Have you ever considered starting a tutoring business? Tutoring can be a lucrative and personally rewarding venture that combines the best of teaching with the convenience of designing your own schedule.
Bloom's Taxonomy
Use Bloom's Taxonomy To Move Your Students Through The Learning Process.
Classroom Jobs
Classroom jobs are an easy and fun way to teach kids about responsibility.
Teaching Writing
Strategies for Teaching Writing in the Elementary School classroom. Teaching Writing is one of the most important parts of the Elementary curriculum.
The Essential 55 by Ron Clark
A discussion of how to use Ron Clark's book The Essential 55 in the elementary classroom. The Essential 55 describes the top 55 rules for being a student in Ron Clark's classroom.
Behavior Management Hub
Every teacher must enter the classroom armed with comprehensive and well-though-out rules in order to have an orderly and effective school year. Here's everything you need to know to strategically design and enforce the classroom rules that will work for you all year long.
Anticipatory Sets
Anticipatory sets are the part of lesson plans that activate background knowledge for your students as you begin a lesson plan and get ready to enter the direct instruction. Anticipatory Sets are the second step of a well-written 8-step lesson plan.
Classroom Jobs List
Use this list of classroom jobs to assign jobs to your students in the elementary school classroom.
ProperAttire
Even though "clothing doesn't make the man," every profession has attire guidelines and teaching is no exception - even when the standards aren't explicitly written down.
Teaching the Scientific Method
Through teaching the Scientific Method, students learn how to address a problem methodically. Teaching the Scientific Method is key for introducing critical analysis skills.
What Makes A Great Lesson?
What Does a Great Lesson Look Like? For elementary school educators.
Quiet Classroom Strategies
Do you want to teach in a quiet classroom? Use these student discipline strategies to get a quiet classroom without losing your voice or repeating yourself all day long.
Find A Teaching Job
Use these tips and tools to find a teaching job as quickly as possible. Includes help with resumes, potential interview questions, and more!
Scientific Method Worksheet
Using this Scientific Method worksheet, students learn how to address a problem methodically. The Scientific Method worksheet is easy and effective for almost any science lesson plan.
Direction Instruction
Direct Instruction is the meat and potatoes of a well-written lesson plan. Here, you'll find the definition of Direct Instruction and how you can write this section of a lesson plan effectively.
Guided Practice
Guided Practice is the fourth step in writing an effective and strong lesson plan for the elementary school classroom. In Guided Practice, you give the students a chance to practice the skills they've acquired.
Journal Writing Program
Journal Writing is a fun and effective way to teach your students good writing habits. Journal Writing is also fairly easy to implement in you elementary classroom.
Merit Pay Pros and Cons
The issue of Merit Pay for teachers is one of the most controversial issues in the field of education. Elementary Educators have a lot to get off their chests when it comes to this issue. Here are the main pros and cons so that you can educate yourself and join the discussion, too.
Journal Prompts for Students
Journal Prompts offer focus and structure to your Journal Writing Program. These Journal Prompts are perfect for your elementary school students to use during writing time.
Tutoring Business Plan
Once you've planned to start a tutoring business, it's then time to implement a tutoring business plan and start meeting with clients.
Math Story Books
Math lesson plans don't have to be boring and dry! With these math story books, students will be further down the path towards true comprehension of various math concepts.
Classroom Rewards
Don't spend your hard-earned money buying little material rewards for your students. See how you can spend nothing and get a whole lot of great behavior in return!
Scaffolding Instruction
Techniques for scaffolding instruction to support student learning in the classroom.
Independent Practice
Independent Practice is the sixth step in writing an effective lesson plan for the elementary classroom. In Independent Practice, you let the students work independently so that you can assess their progress in meeting the learning objectives.
Lesson Plans
WHAT ARE IDIOMS? Grades 4-6 Language Arts Lesson Plan
self_reflection
Why should teachers pause engage themselves in self-reflection on the successes and shortcomings of the past? Simply because it improves their teaching and is a key part of a strong professional development strategy for growth.
Elementary Educators - Online Project Center - Transportation - from About.com
Online Project Center for Elementary Educators, from your About.com Guide.
Scaffolding
A definition of the education glossary term Scaffolding.
Lesson Plan Headquarters
A Science lesson plan using The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. Teach your students a science lesson plan using children's literature by Eric Carle.
Organizing Messy Student Desks
Teach your students these positive, proactive habits and their student desks will go from messy to organized in no time.
Weekly Newsletters
By writing a weekly newsletter with your students, you offer a high quality Guided Writing lesson while saving yourself the time and hassle of putting together a newsletter each week.
Human Scavenger Hunt Game
Use this Human Scavenger Hunt as a fun Ice Breaker activity for the first day of school.
How To Substitute Teach
How to have a pleasant, productive day as a substitute teacher and be asked to return.
8understand
While teaching is a rich and rewarding profession, there are some unique challenges involved that non-educators could never comprehend. Here, a real classroom teacher confesses some of the aspects of the job that make her wonder if summer vacations are really worth it after all.
6 Traits of Successful Teacher
Successful teachers share these 5 key traits. Cultivate these attributes in yourself to maximize your effectiveness in the classroom.
How To Make a Professional Portfolio
a simple how to on making a professional portfolio. just for elementary school teachers.
Top Seven Reasons To Teach
Are you thinking about becoming a teacher? Here are the top seven reasons to become a teacher.
What to Do on the Last Day of School
What to Do on the Last Day of School. For elementary school educators.
Assessment
The Assessment and Follow-up section is the eighth part of writing an effective lesson plan. During Assessment, you measure to what degree your students have met the lesson plan's learning objectives.
Teaching Fractions
A Delicious Way to Teach Fractions. For elementary school educators.
Map Skills Lesson Plan
Teach your students Map Skills with this Geography Lesson Plan. Map Skills are an important skill for your students to learn.
Lesson Plan Closure
Closure is the fifth step in writing an effective lesson plan for the elementary school classroom. Closure provides a conclusion and context for the learning achieved during the lesson.
Story Starting Ideas
Teaching Tips for Helping Your Students to Begin Their Writing in a Strong and Effective Way
Kick It Up a Notch
How to guide your K-6 students' creative writing from ho-hum to wow!
Same and Different Game
Use this Same and Different game as a fun Ice Breaker activity for the first day of school.
Organize Classroom Files
Tips to help you organize your classroom files into proper categories, specifically Elementary School teachers.
Green Classroom Tips
Elementary school classrooms can be major hogs of environmental resources, if teachers are not organized, motivated, and diligent. Here are the top tips for setting up a green classroom that minimizes the environmental impact of daily teaching realities.
Journal Writing Checklist
A Journal Writing Checklist is a list of qualities that you hope to see in your students' creative writing. Use a Journal Writing Checklist to Assess Writing Progress.
Class Meetings
By holding regular class meetings, you can help maintain a safe and friendly environment for your elementary school students. Class meetings can also be called Community Circle and they really help with student discipline.
Elementary Education - QuickTips
An index of QuickTips for the Elementary Education guide site.
Clearing the Clutter
Ask yourself these questions to clear out your cluttered, counterproductive classroom. You'll love the peace of mind that comes with an organized classroom.
Character Counts Lesson
Use this Character Education lesson plan to teach your students how to be better citizens of the school and the world. Character Education is an important part of producing well-rounded, respectful young students.
The Excellent 11
A book review of "The Excellent 11," Ron Clark's follow-up to his wildly popular "Essential 55."
Classroom Job Application - How to Assign Classroom Jobs with a Job Application
Classroom jobs are an easy and fun way to teach kids about responsibility.
Bingo Across the Curriculum
Bingo for teachers - Here's how Bingo for teachers can work across the curriculum to assist your students in learning a wide variety of skills, vocabulary, and material.
Two Truths and a Lie Game
Play the Ice Breaker game called Two Truths and a Lie on the first day of school to thaw the Back to School jitters.
Language Arts Lesson Plans (K-6)
Your Headquarters for Free Lesson Plans for Elementary Educators.
Sample Biography Poem
Biography Poems are a fun and novel way for your students to tell their life stories. Have them illustrate their poems, too, and you'll have an easy bulletin board for Back to School Night.
Avoiding Teaching Burnout
Teacher Burnout is a major problem in the field of education, often resulting in a high turnover rate for new teachers. Address teacher burnout issue with these stress management tips.
Create Rubrics
Step-by-step instructions to help you create a rubric for assessing your students' work.
Miss Nelson Is Missing
Use the book Miss Nelson Is Missing to teach your students a Language Arts lesson. Miss Nelson Is Missing was written by by Harry Allard and James Marshall.
Biography Poems Lesson Plan
Biography Poems are a fun and easy way to ease your elementary students into poetry. This activity is especially great for the first few days of school.
Tongue-Twisters
A Tongue-Twisting Language Arts Lesson for teaching creative writing.
Sentence Circle Game
Use this Sentence Circle game as a fun Ice Breaker activity for the first day of school.
Early Childhood Education
Definition of the education glossary term Early Childhood Education.
Teacher's Lounge Success Tips
Make sure your interactions in the teacher's lounge are geared toward achieving the same success you create behind your classroom walls.
Averages and Medians
A quick and easy worksheet that helps students practice their skills at figuring out the averages and medians of a given set of numbers.
Motivating Students
Motivating students can be a challenge. But it doesn't have to cost any money. Use these free rewards for motivating students without spending a cent.
Trail Mix Math
Trail Mix Math is a fun way to teach your students how to do math. Use Trail Mix Math to count, classify, and graph.
Back to School
Use the web to jump start your back to school preparations. For elementary school teachers.
Trivia Shuffle Game
Use this Trivia Card Shuffle game as a fun Ice Breaker activity for the first day of school.
Easing First Day Jitters
Tips for how teachers can help anxious young students deal with their first day of school jitters.
Elementary Educators - Online Project Center - Passport to the World - from About.com
Passport to the World, a lesson plan for Elementary Educators, written by Debbie Nelson. from your About.com Guide.
Elementary Education - Articles
An index of articles for the Elementary Education guide site.
Lesson Plans Hub
Are you in the market for free and easy elementary lesson plans? This article shows you how inspiration, structure, and ideas are right at your fingerprints when you know the right place to look for Elementary Lesson Plans!
How to Plan Fun Field Trips Online
How to Plan Fun Field Trips Online. For elementary school educators.
Classroom Rights
If you're looking for a quick and easy way to sum up a productive and respectful tone in your classroom, the following Classroom "Bill of Rights" will be useful.
Tax Deductions for Teachers
While the rest of the country agonizes about taxes each Spring, teachers can't afford the luxury of forgetting about taxes even for one day! Here's how to save your receipts and make the most of the deductions that are allowed to classroom teachers.
Bio Poems
A definition of the teaching term Bio Poems, from your About.com Guide to Elementary Education.
Rubric
What is a rubric? A definition for teachers interested in assessing student performance with a rubric.
Starting an After School Club
Tips for starting an after school club for elementary school children. How to enhance the school experience for your students.
Free Lesson Plans
Free Lesson Plans for Teachers! How to find them fast. For elementary school teachers.
Intrinsic Motivation
A definition of the teaching term Intrinsic Motivation.
Parent Teacher Conference Tips
Teacher Do's and Don'ts for Parent Teacher Conferences. How to make the most of our meeting with parents.
Getting Student Attention
Getting your students' attention is a key first step to meeting your lesson's learning objectives. I recommend using a simple deck of cards to get and keep your students' attention.
Finding A Teaching Job
If you need to find a teaching job in elementary education, use these specific helpful tips to get on the right track toward employment.
How To Write a Lesson Plan
A simple How to on Writing Lesson Plans.
Extrinsic Motivation
A definition of the teaching term Extrinsic Motivation.
Pen Pals - The Incredible Teaching Tool
Pen Pals are a great way to teach Language Arts, Social Studies, and much more in your classroom! For elementary school teachers.
The Sounds of Great Writing
The use of Sound Effects to help students add power and punch to their creative writing.
Parent Conference Preparation
How to Prepare for Effective Parent Teacher Conferences
Ban Words in Creative Writing
It's easy to improve your students' creative writing in one easy step. Ban boring, overused words and watch your students' creative writing skills soar.
NCLB - No Child Left Behind
Definition of the education glossary term No Child Left Behind.
Problem Principals
If you sense growing tension with a problem administrator, you must be proactive. Here's how to do it...
Making Time for Success
Making time for success, especially for K-6 Educators.
Standardized Testing Pressure
A look at the enormous pressure mounting for teachers when it comes to Standardized Testing.
Descriptive Writing Questions
It's not enough just to tell students, "Write down detail. Be creative and specific!" They're just learning how to write, so we need to show them what exactly to think about and write down. Here are some inspiring questions that get to the heart of descriptive, detailed writing.
Lesson Plan Required Materials
Required Materials is the seventh step of writing an effective lesson plan for the elementary school classroom. Make sure you have the required materials for your lesson plan before you get started.
Oral Presentations: A New Twist on Sharing
Oral Presentations: A New Twist on Sharing. Especially for elementary school teachers.
Design a Pen Pal Program
How to Design a Kids Pen Pal Program for the elementary school classroom.
Resources for Future Teachers
Are you thinking of joining the teaching profession? If so, check out this list of resources hand-picked to support your goals.
Goodbye Do Re Mi. Hello Elvis!
A Music Education Lesson Plan for elementary school teachers who want to help their students appreciate good, clean, wholesome music with a modern twist.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Links, ideas, and lesson plans related to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr holiday.
Activating Prior Knowledge
Definition of Activate Prior Knowledge as a teaching strategy.
Design an Online Scavenger Hunt!
internet scavenger hunt web surfing skills word processing program curricular focus bookmark folder: Design an Online Scavenger Hunt!
Motivating Students - Using Whole Group Rewards for Motivating Students
Motivating students by rewarding them with whole group rewards.
Topographic Maps Lesson
Use this Topographic Maps Lesson Plan to teach your students about geography and maps. A Topographic Maps Lesson Plan is part of your Social Studies curriculum in elementary school.
Scientific Method
The Scientific Method defined. Teach the Scientific Method in your elementary school classroom.
Postcards From Pluto Lesson
Your students will love learning about the planets when the information comes bundled up in colorful and engaging children's literature.
Elementary Educators - Online Project Center - Bubble, Bubble, Oh How They Bubble - from About.com
Bubble, Bubble, Oh How They Bubble, a lesson plan for Elementary Educators, written by Janice McNair. from your About.com Guide.
Extremely Messy Desks
If you have a student with an extremely messy desk, the standard strategies won't be enough to turn the situation around. Use these hardcore techniques with your most egregious offenders.
Simple Tips to Help Children Decode Text
How to Get Your Students' Undivided Attention. For elementarty school educators.
"I Have a Dream" Speech
Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream Speech
Answering Questions Lesson
Students sometimes need instruction and practice in how best to answer questions in complete sentences. This set of questions give you an opportunity to train them.
Tools for Teachers
Tools for Teachers are great online tools picked especially for Elementary School Teachers.
Halloween Word List
Use this Halloween Vocabulary Word Bank for all types of activities and crafts in the elementary school classroom.
Creative Writing: How to Kick It Up a Notch!
How to guide your K-6 students' creative writing from ho-hum to wow!
Zone of Proximal Development
Definition of the education glossary term Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD).
Helping Substitute Teachers
If you're a classroom teacher, use these top tips to help substitute teachers enjoy a productive and happy day with your students.
Field Trip Tips and Ideas
If there's a field trip in your future, use these tips for maximize fun, learning, safety, and overall success.
How To Manage Your Time
A simple How to on Managing Your Time.
Teachable Moment
What is a teachable moment in the classroom? Here is the definition of a teachable moment in education.
Elementary Education - HowTos
An index of HowTos for the Elementary Education guide site.
Caldecott Medal Winners
A complete list of the Caldecott Medal Winners from 1938 to present. Caldecott Medal Winners are recognized for excellence in children's picture books.
Cooperative Learning
Definition of the education glossary term Cooperative Learning. Cooperative Learning is a method of active learning for your students.
Spread a Multicultural Message Every Day
Spread a Multicultural Message Every Day. A look at multicultural education in K-6 classrooms.
Someday Poems Lesson
For young poets, a set format really makes poetry more fun and accessible. It's kind of like poetry training wheels. This "Someday Poem" format gets you and your students off to a great start.
Christmas Tongue Twisters Less
Teach your students about alliteration and they'll have a blast creating their own Christmas Tongue Twisters.
Manipulative
Definition of the Education glossary term Manipulative.
How To Find Free Lesson Plans
a simple how to on finding free lesson plans. for elementary school teachers.
Student-Centered Learning: Community Circle
Journal Writing in the Classroom. Ideas, tips, story starters, and more!
Homogeneous Groups
A definition of the education glossary term Homogeneous Groups.
Checklist for Hosting a Sub
Use this handy substitute preparation checklist to help you give an incoming sub everything he or she needs in order to have a successful day taking over the reins in your classroom.
Teacher Tools of the Week
Teacher Tools of the Week are great online tools picked especially for Elementary School Teachers.
Simple Rewards, Amazing Results
You don't need to break the bank in order to incent and reward your students. Read about simple, free rewards that your kids will love!
"I Remember" Poems
Using a set structure for poems is an effective way to offer poetry "training wheels" to your young students. Budding poets will enjoy expressing their creativity through the structure you offer them.

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