Celebrating Juneteenth in the Classroom: Commemorating Freedom and Celebrating Resilience

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , ,
Leave a comment

Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still so much work to do. Barack Obama As educators, you have the honor of imparting knowledge … read more »


Effective Strategies for Supporting English Language Learners in Your Classroom

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , ,
Leave a comment

Rita Mae Brown’s quote demonstrates how learning a new language for English language learners (ELLs) is not just about communication but also about gaining insight into a new culture and way of life. Currently, ELLs are a growing population in U.S. public schools, with an average of 10 percent of students classified as ELLs nationwide … read more »


National Inventors Month: Five Engaging Activities to Inspire the Inventor’s Spirit in All Students

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , 1 Comment

Invention is a process: you don’t get there overnight Louis Foreman May is National Inventors Month, an excellent time to introduce your students to inventions and inventors and to discuss their character traits found, including perseverance, curiosity, and problem solving. Celebrating the spirit of inventors and the invention process is an engaging way for students … read more »


From Page to Stage: Hosting a Poetry Cafe for Poem in Your Pocket Day

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , 1 Comment

Poem in Your Pocket Day is celebrated annually as one of the culminating events of National Poetry Month. Observing this day is an excellent time to teach about and celebrate poetry. The premise is simple, carry a poem with you throughout the day and share your poem with others. This TeachersFirst collection of poetry resources … read more »


Unlock the Mystery of Intellectual Property for Middle School Students

| Posted:
Categories:
Digital Citizenship
| Tags: , , ,
Leave a comment

Teaching our students about intellectual property is essential to help them respect the rights of others as they create and understand the value of creative work. According to the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Intellectual Property (IP) is something you create. It is imagination made real. It includes trademarks, copyrights, patents, and trade secrets. … read more »


Empowering Autistic Students: Create Awareness and Inclusion for Autism Spectrum Disorder

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application, Let's Talk About
| Tags: , , , 1 Comment

“It takes a village to raise a child. It takes a child with autism to raise the consciousness of the village.” Elaine Hall April is Autism Awareness Month when individuals, organizations, and communities unite to increase awareness and acceptance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As educators, it’s essential to support and celebrate autistic students and … read more »


Let’s Talk About: Feedback

| Posted:
Categories:
Let's Talk About
| Tags:
Leave a comment

Teachers know how important it is to give students feedback on their work. Feedback can help students improve their skills, learn from their mistakes, and achieve their goals. Many articles, books, and workshops can help you as a teacher to learn to give constructive, specific, actionable, and respectful feedback. Here at TeachersFirst, we’ve looked at … read more »


Exploring Ideas Using the Six Thinking Hats Method

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , 1 Comment

Great ideas need landing gear as well as wings. C. D. Jackson Every March, International Ideas Month takes place. This observation recognizes the potential of ideas, even those that seem simple or unattainable. As educators, we both teach students about famous people who have formulated great ideas and inspire them to explore their own. Coming … read more »


Coming Soon to Netflix: Your Students’ Series about the Founding Fathers!

| Posted:
Categories:
Classroom Application
| Tags: , , ,
Leave a comment

James Madison is often called the Father of the Constitution for his role in writing the Federalist Papers and creating a new form of government following the Continental Congress. He and the rest of the founding fathers—George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay—led the revolution, brought independence to the … read more »