Snap Back to Reality, Part Who Knows…

Well, Dear Readers,

I am back at work. Since I have a co-teacher (I’ll explain in a later post), I was able to set up my classroom in one day. I forgot the lettering at home, so I just need to put up the lettering and the posters at the top of the room. I packed so much into today and this summer. Usually I’m a big, fat slacker in the summer. But, I was determined to make the most of this summer & I did. I spent so much time with my children, I finished 1/2 of my final classes. I decided on a topic for my Literature review (Inclusion) and I read many of the books for my summer reading list. I had such a good summer. I’m sad to see it end so early, but it was good while it lasted. Now, I will see you later. I’m off to LACMA’s Friday night jazz.

Bye for now!

Best of…

Works4Me is a free weekly e-newsletter, showcasing practical classroom tips written by the readers themselves. For over 10 years we have been gathering great ideas from the real experts, educators like you.

Here they present you 21 of the best back-to-school-themed teaching tips we’ve gathered over the years.

Learning About Each Other

1. Learning About Each Other
   With this get-to-know-you activity, Ms. Herbert’s fourth-grade students practice their conversational skills, learn proper etiquette, and discover just about everything they ever wanted to know about their new teacher.
2. Ten Questions to Start the Year
   Ms. Skid, a retired high school teacher, suggests excellent conversation starters that will engage students and elicit great responses to help the class learn more about each other.
3. Teacher Test
   Ms. La Masa helps her students learn more about her with a pop quiz on the first day. Questions detail her personal interests, and students make guesses before she reveals the answers.
4. Math Autobiography
   In order to learn more about her budding mathematicians, Marybeth L. asks her new students each year to write about their experiences in math classes: the good, the bad, the ugly.

Building Community