Life Skills
From handshakes to interview questions and communications skills to leadership oppportunities, there are many ways to prepare students for the real world, no matter the grade level. How to connect …
Blame Game
Its easy to blame the pandemic for every current classroom challenge, but the reality is most of these challenges have been present for a long time. Becoming more deliberate in …
Student Surprises
As the adult in the room and subject matter experts, it’s easy to make teaching all about the teacher, but students surprise us every day with their insights, gifts and …
The Classroom of Noah’s Ark
Every teacher has a unique, go-to lesson or activity to capture the imagination of their students and many times it can involve animals or insects. Tapping into God’s creations can …
Talking About Writing
Practice makes perfect, but so does self and peer review. How to effectively use peer to peer reviews of student writing to help everyone improve.
Group Think
Assigning group work can be a recipe for disaster no matter the age of the kids. However, disciplined assignment of roles and responsibilities can successfully help students navigate this critical, …
Eyes vs. Thumbs
In a world dominated by social media and electronic communication, facilitating classroom discussion that includes peer to peer eye contact, active listening, and mutual respect can be a significant challenge …
Special Impact
Electives and specials can be few and far between for some Catholic schools, but there is a concerted effort to make specials a bigger priority to help elevate kids in …
To Homework or Not To Homework
This eternal question can be equally frustrating for teachers, students and parents alike as everyone has an opinion and perspective. Practice and repetition can certainly be helpful, but if you …
Rewards vs. Recognition
Reinforcing positive behavior is an exercise in creativity across ages and stages in every school. How to balance the stand-bys of food or prize rewards against the higher potential of …