When working with kids, the phrase “That’s not fair!” echoes through classrooms everywhere. Whether it’s about who got to be line leader, who got a sticker, or who got a shorter assignment, fairness is a hot topic. And when it comes to explaining differentiation, accommodations and modifications to students, teachers face a real challenge. We […]
If you’ve ever walked into a classroom where students don’t have strong social skills, you know it can feel a little like stepping into a reality show—lots of drama, constant negotiations, and one or two kids trying to be the star of the episode. The truth is, teaching skills in the classroom isn’t just about
Planning Guide for Teaching Social Skills in the Classroom Read More »
The first day of school is always a mix of excitement, nerves, and “Wait…how should I fill all these hours with meaningful activities?” (Anyone else still have that dream where you show up with no plans and 27 pairs of eyes staring at you?…Just me?) At my school, we don’t have specials on the first
My First Day Lesson Plans for Upper Elementary Read More »
A new year and new start. The first week of school brings so many opportunities and in the midst of planning fun icebreakers and getting-to-know-you games, this is also your golden opportunity to set up the expectations, routines, and systems that will shape your classroom all year long. Students thrive when they know what to
First Week of School Routines, Procedures and Helpful Teacher Strategies Read More »
So, You’re New to the PYP? If this is your first year teaching the PYP, let me start by saying: you’ve got this. I’m genuinely excited for you—because while the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) can feel like a whirlwind of new acronyms, planning templates, and philosophical quotes from Dewey and Piaget, it’s also one
First Year Teaching the PYP: What I Wish I’d Known at the Start Read More »
Starting your first year of teaching is like stepping onto a rollercoaster that’s already moving. You’re excited, nervous, hopeful, overwhelmed—and somehow still eager to do it all perfectly. I’ve been there. I had just come out of a fantastic teacher prep program in university, ready to change lives… and then I stepped into my very
First Year of Teaching: 11 Practical Tips for a Smoother Start Read More »
The Joy (and Stress) of the Back-to-School Season It feels like summer break just started, and yet—somehow—you’re already staring down a to-do list a mile long to kick off a brand-new school year. It’s wild, right? A new year always brings excitement, possibility…and yes, a whole lot of pressure. That is where this Back-to-School Teacher
Your Back-to-School Teacher Checklist: Calm, Collected, and First-Day-Ready Read More »
Let’s be honest—handing over any part of unit planning to students sounds like a fast track to chaos. It sounds like one of those lofty, Pinterest-worthy goals that real teachers with real time laugh nervously at during staff meetings…That being said, I would like to share with you why having students help plan a unit
Students help Plan a Unit: How Real-World Skills Can Help Engage and Motivate Students Read More »
What do most 3rd graders know that most Ivy League grads don’t? (…or at least, for as long as the unit is being taught…) I was sitting in a teaching science methods class in university when my professor showed us a video of Harvard and Yale graduates being asked a very basic science question: “Why
Tackling Student Misconceptions Read More »
The Dizziness of Teaching Business Let’s be honest—teaching business to kids sounds intimidating. Like, am I suddenly supposed to have gotten an MBA alongside my teaching degree and be prepared to give a lesson on quarterly earnings. This was the anxiety I faced the first time I had to teach a business unit to 5th
Teaching Business to Kids: Unit Plans Read More »