Category Archives: Best Practices

Articles that gives ideas or suggestions for best teaching practices.

A child’s memory of Martin Luther King

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Today’s national celebration of the birthday of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., offers teachers an excellent opportunity to share the story of this prominent figure in America’s history. The holiday provides an opportunity to guide young people in their reflection on what lessons about life this great leader’s life can offer us.

As a young child myself in the 1960’s, I can remember avidly watching the “I Have a Dream” speech on television that hot August night in 1963. I was eight years old then, and impressionable. I’m all grown up now, but throughout the five and a half decades since that historic March on Washington, whenever I watch video of that historic speech, I am impressed all over again. I am impressed by the possibility that the world we share could, and should, be a better place. I am reminded by the fact that no matter how young—or old—I am, I can take action, even if it’s small, that would make such improvement come about. This is one of the most important lessons MLK has taught us all, not only then, but most especially now.

The video of King’s historic speech is below. To learn more about this amazing man, click on MLK Biography. To examine the website of the MLK Center for Nonviolent Change, click on King Center.

Elementary teacher Kathy Pitt developed technique to reduce alienation and bullying

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Elementary school teacher Kathy Pitt has developed a technique to reduce alienation and bullying among her students.

Recently I read a fascinating article about an elementary school teacher who developed a great strategy for reducing bullying and feelings of alienation in her classroom. The teacher is Kathy Pitt, a retired fifth grade teacher from Sea Gate Elementary School in Naples, Florida.

Every Friday, Kathy gave each of her students an index card. She asked the students to write down who they would like to sit with the next week. And she invited the students to nominate one of their classmates they thought was “exceptional.”

After collecting the note cards, Kathy placed them in front of her on her desk and study them. She analyzed which students received the fewest nominations, and she looked for the patterns. Who never got requested by others as a seat partner? Who never got noticed enough to get nominated as “exceptional”? Who had tons of friends last week, but none this week? Who never gets noticed enough to be nominated? She also looked to see which students were unwilling or unable to nominate others. In this way, Kathy discovered clues to social issues that weren’t always visible to her as she moved through her daily curriculum.

The teacher was looking for lonely children, kids who were alienated and struggling to connect. She was identifying the youngsters who were falling through the cracks. The next week she would make a special effort to connect with those kids. Kathy was also able to detect which kids were being bullied and who was doing the bullying. Then she took steps to resolve those conflicts.

The innovative educator once revealed she developed the technique after the school shooting at Columbine. She had been using it every single Friday since that 1999 event. It was just her way of attempting to helping students feel less lonely, less alienated, and to help students get along with each other better.

To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this blog post found on Lifestyle.

Five New Year’s Resolutions for teachers

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With the coming of 2020, many educators are giving thought about making New Year’s resolutions that will help them be better teachers. If this describes you, here are six suggestions for constructive resolutions you may consider.

First, establish a positive attitude. Approaching the next semester with a cheerful and upbeat attitude will be of great benefit to you, and it will also encourage your students to do the same. Teachers know how powerful modeling can be. Model a positive attitude for your kids.

Second, get your classroom organized. Clean up your desk and storage areas. Design an extra lesson that can be used independently of your regular curriculum, to be prepared just in case something unexpected happens such as a lock-down. Think of ways you can delegate classroom jobs to your students. Create an emergency substitute teacher plan and make it easy to find.

Third, think of ways you can reduce the amount of work you take home with you. Click on this link to read an article about ways to reduce your paper load: 12 Time-Saving Assessment Strategies.

Fourth, design a lesson for your students that will encourage healthy living habits.  Present a lesson on good eating habits or the benefits of physical fitness. Consider incorporating some sort of movement in your classroom activities.

Fifth, experiment with new instructional technique or updated technology. Studies show that the human brain craves novelty. Changing things up a bit will be stimulating for you, and for your students, too.

Last, take good care of yourself. Create balance between your work and your personal life. And be sure to get plenty of rest. Taking care of yourself is one of the best ways to take care of your students.

Have a wonderful Winter Break, and a successful second semester! And Happy New Year to you all of you!