Randolph Caldecott, born on March 22, marks an opportune occasion for celebrating the world of children’s literature! What better way to honor his legacy than by engaging in captivating classroom activities centered around award-winning children’s books? Incorporating these books and their respective award celebrations into your classroom is a powerful way to inspire a lifelong … read more »
After seeing all of the Read Across America posts this past week, I decided to focus my post this month on reading. I want to share some ideas on using technology to support reading instruction in ways that follow strategies and the science of reading framework. The science of reading framework includes the latest research … read more »
Music enhances the education of our children by helping them to make connections and broadening the depth with which they think and feel. If we are to hope for a society of culturally literate people, music must be a vital part of our children’s education. ~Yo-Yo Ma Music in Our Schools Month, celebrated each March, … read more »
TeachersFirst offers many helpful free resources created and curated for educators by educators. Are you familiar with our OK2Ask workshops that cover timely topics to contribute to your professional learning goals? Do you use the TeachersFirst calendar to find resources for upcoming holidays and events? Have you discovered our special topics collections that save time … read more »
Makerspace activities excite and engage students and offer them a multitude of academic and mental health benefits! Cost should never be a barrier to implementation of makerspace activities in your classroom. Low-cost/no-cost makerspace activities are as engaging and exciting for students as higher priced activities. You can easily obtain low-cost or no-cost makerspace materials! You … read more »
On December 23, 1867, in Delta, Louisiana, Sara Breedlove was born, and she became a remarkable changemaker better known as Madam C.J. Walker. Her transformative contributions revolutionized African-American women’s hair care and cosmetic industries while establishing her as the first American woman to amass a million dollars. Modern-day changemakers such as Ketanji Brown Jackson and … read more »
If you don’t like to read, you haven’t found the right book. J. K. Rowling Read a New Book Month (December) offers a great chance to increase students’ enthusiasm about reading. Let’s explore three cool tools you can use to help students choose a book that will fit their interests and suggest some ways they … read more »
What is the Science of Reading? The Science of Reading refers to years of research in many fields, including brain science, that indicate effective strategies for teaching students to read. It is not a singular program, a simple recipe for teaching reading or phonics. And it is for every student, regardless of age or grade! … read more »
As we approach Book Lovers Day, an occasion to celebrate our shared passion for literature, it’s the perfect time to ignite the love for books in our students. In this digital age, where distractions are aplenty, let’s take this opportunity to unplug and immerse ourselves in the world of literature. Here are five ideas on … read more »
Nonfiction reading has something for everyone! Even your most reluctant readers will find a nonfiction book about a topic they are interested in. Reading nonfiction can help students learn about and make connections to their world and history, think critically about topics, learn new vocabulary, increase comprehension, motivate further reading about their own interests, and … read more »