I went to a teacher workshop recently called Using Praise? Change Your Ways! It was about using praise vs. encouragement. I was really surprised by what I learned.
I think most teachers were trained to use praise to encourage behaviors. I don’t know how often I say things like, I like how Tom is sitting on the carpet. Or, I like how Isabelle is doing her work at the table quietly. Continue Reading
At Our Lady of Grace Catholic Academy, preschoolers dream BIG. Pachyderm big, that is!! And we did something about it!
Here’s the story: Last January during Catholic Schools Week, the preschoolers insisted they wanted to go into the community and do service just like the big kids. That’s a little tough on our schedule (many are half-day), and given our need for naps, snacks and jumping around, though. 🙂
I have never thought learning shouldn’t be fun. In fact, I think if learning ISN’T fun, it’s not actually working! That is, kids who aren’t engaged and enjoying their classroom experience probably aren’t learning much. (Or at least aren’t learning what you wish they were.) Continue Reading
Mornings are always fun in preschool … and even more fun this year with our Smart Board! It really gets the kids up and moving while they learn. No desks for us!!
We received our Smart Board last fall. It looks – and acts – like a giant touch-screen tablet mounted on the wall, and it can do everything but tie the kids’ shoes. (Okay, that’s a bit of an overstatement. But it is amazing!) Continue Reading
I did not realize until Holy Thursday just how stressed I have been. Between the flood in my classroom and the multiple tasks we teachers face this time of the year, I’ve been a little … tense!! Continue Reading
I love teaching in a Catholic school religion class on Holy Thursday more than any other day of the year. It’s a moving, holy day for us all. Continue Reading
Technology really has changed the way we teach … or at least the tools we use to teach with. In my classroom, the flood has changed the technology as well. Continue Reading
We’ve been preparing for Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday. We begin with the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem for Passover from my children’s Bible. People waved palm branches at him … and we still use palms today to mark that event. Continue Reading
We’ve been learning about Kites. What fun!
First, though, I had to remake my Kite Centers because they – like so much else last week – had been destroyed in the flood. Thank God for my Sisters! They helped me cut, glue and laminate like crazy, and together we got the centers done in time! Continue Reading
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