Assets-Based IEPs / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 05/15/2018 · Last modified 11/25/2019
Most educators take one of two perspectives on students with disabilities, says Elizabeth Stein. They see them with deficits or with strengths and assets. In this resource-rich post, Stein makes the case for an assets-based approach to designing accommodations and the IEP.
Doug Robertson offers meaningful, practical advice on how to insure that having or being a student teacher benefits both sides. In addition to plentiful laughs, teacher-librarian and former mentor Rita Platt finds useful tips on many aspects of having a student teacher.
Relationships are built when children know that caring adults are on their side. If teachers team up with parents and families, they can help create success for even the most difficult students. Amber Chandler shares the strategies that work in her MS classroom.
Kids on the Cusp / Making Connections
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 05/05/2015 · Last modified 11/30/2019
Students’ success in making connections – whether listening, writing, or linking ideas with bits of yarn – is essential to learning. Mary Tarashuk sees those connections in her 4th graders’ notebooks and in their eyes. But can PARCC prompts capture them?
In “Grammar Matters,” Lynne Dorfman and Diane Dougherty make the case for embedding grammar in Writing Workshop and across the curriculum. Our reviewer recommends this hands-on exploration of mentor texts and engaging instruction and its many useful resources.
A week of sitting in a teaching seminar has left Sarah Cooper inspired but also thoughtful about how students experience daily classroom life. “I felt new empathy for having to follow teachers’ instructions all day long.” Read her 10 takeaways.
Nancy Akhavan builds her nonfiction strategies and routines into fully realized lessons to help students develop higher level comprehension across content areas, says reviewer Sandy Wisneski.
Reflecting on Our Teaching / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 06/15/2014 · Last modified 12/04/2019
Co-teaching? Take a moment to reflect about on the year just past. What action steps did you take to amplify learning for you and your students? Elizabeth Stein recalls her action steps and shares 5 questions to help co-teachers do summer planning.
The Co-Teaching Relationship / Two Teachers in the Room
by Elizabeth Stein · Published 06/01/2014 · Last modified 12/14/2019
Our Two Teachers in the Room blogger shares her expertise for an upcoming online course. How can teachers create and maintain a successful co-teaching relationship? Elizabeth Stein answers questions from learning consultant Barbara Flanagan.
Embracing Technology / Kids on the Cusp
by Mary Tarashuk · Published 02/19/2014 · Last modified 02/20/2014
“It’s hard to come to terms with the digital dinosaur in myself,” writes 5th grade teacher Mary Tarashuk, who’s been asked to help create online courses. “Technology benchmarks are a bit vague for this novice traveler on the Information Superhighway.”
