Tip of the Week
Charlie Boeyink
Charlie Boeyink has been a Physical Therapist for over twelve years. He currently works with Arrowhead Physical Therapy in Glendale, AZ.
He strives to improve the health of all people and is with us today to share his thoughts on exercising and healthy living in general.
~~~
Stretch opposite
As teachers, especially those who work with little ones, you are often looking downward at students. In addition you are likely looking down at textbooks, grading papers etc.
Take 1-2 minutes and stretch the opposite direction. For instance, pinching your shoulder blades together and looking up toward the ceiling. It gives your spine and muscles a break and helps prevent pain and poor posture.
Do this 10 repetitions and fit it in 3-4 times a day.
Homework Tips and Tricks–Jopy Weiss
Joy Weiss
Joy Weiss is the 2010 Arizona Teacher of the Year. She teaches first grade in the Balsz School District at Balsz Elementary where she has been for 11 years.
Her teaching philosophy lies strongly in the belief that she is there to facilitate learning by guiding, instructing, and releasing responsibility for them to make their own choices and be constructors of their own knowledge.
When she’s not teaching, she’s enjoying working out, reading, and spending time with family, friends and her school community
Homework Tips and Tricks
The start of a school year is in full swing for many of us out there. While the start of the new year brings happiness for parents and students alike, it also creates anxieties about homework.
Homework is a ritual of schools and education in general. Teachers hold many views on homework, but they all agree that building capacity for study skills and time management are the cornerstones of any homework routine.
For the very young child, homework is exciting and thrilling. They enjoy being able to bring school home with them and partake in additional learning with their parents. The typical child in grades Kindergarten through Second grade will have about 20 to 30 minutes of homework each night, including reading time. Setting a special place aside for these children is very important and shows them the importance of completing their homework and begins their journey into time management and study skills. This special place should be in a quiet area of the house, free from distraction, but in view of an adult. Provide support for your child, but encourage them to give the homework their best effort. Don’t ignore the value of the reading portion. Parents sometimes feel that they can make up for the reading another night or don’t worry at all. Research continues to show that the more engaged very young children are in reading, the better readers they become.
For those students who are entering the later primary years, grades 3rd through 6th, their homework is increasing in complexity and length. A typical time for homework should be about 10 minutes for every grade. This means that a 3rd grader might have about 30 minutes of homework, where a 6th grader may have 60 minutes of homework. For these students to be successful they need to learn time management and study techniques. Encourage them to find a quiet place in the house and break their homework into chunks. Our brains need to take rests in between learning too, so don’t forget to have them take quick little breaks in between assignments. These breaks can be as simple as walking around the room once to grabbing a snack. Reading continues to play a critical role for these students too.
Now we move to those students entering middle school and high school. It is extremely important that they realize the significance of study skills and time management during these years. Teachers are building capacity for these students to enter the college arena and work place. Students in these grades need to be critical thinkers, creative, collaborators and committed. These skills are difficult without the already complex nature of those teen years. Continued encouragement and communication with your child can ease the homework blues and provide a strong support system for them to be successful both in the classroom and out.
Yes, homework is important and provides different skills and strategies for children, but do not forget the importance of breaks, play time and down time. Our brains need rest and exercise too. Students who spend too much time on homework without proper rest and exercise lose their advantage. Take time to enjoy this new beginning and fresh start without becoming overwhelmed by the homework curse!
Tip of the Week
Theresa Bundgaard
Theresa Bundgaard taught in the Alhambra School District and Deer Valley Unified School District for a combined 7 years. With an emphasis in math and science, she quickly learned that hands-on lessons take students from the abstract to concrete
She currently works for Teaching Stuff as a buyer and Professional Development Specialist.
~~~
Teachers, are you getting prepared for your poetry unit? Introduce haiku poems using Andrew Clements, Dogku. It’s a sweet story of a stray dog finding a home, but the whole story is written using haiku poems. After reading the story, see if any of your children noticed any pattern. Encourage them to write their own story using only haiku poems. Early finishers can illustrate their stories as well.
Happy Friday
Happy Friday! We hope you’ve had a GREAT week.
Share in the comments section ONE good thing that’s happened with you this past week, and you’ll be entered in a drawing to win FOUR, $5.00 off coupons that are valid at any of our LOCAL Arizona retail stores!
So, share the great things happening in your life and maybe you’ll win.
You can enter through Midnight, Monday September 20th. The winner will be announced on the blog Tuesday the 21st , so be sure to check back to this post some time Tuesday to see if you won!
Rules: One entry per person. Coupons only valid in one of our six Arizona locations.
Tip of the Week
Theresa Bundgaard
Theresa Bundgaard taught in the Alhambra School District and Deer Valley Unified School District for a combined 7 years. With an emphasis in math and science, she quickly learned that hands-on lessons take students from the abstract to concrete
She currently works for Teaching Stuff as a buyer and Professional Development Specialist.
~~~
When teaching linear measurement in math, give students a visual that will be with them at anytime! A yard is roughly the equivalent of both arms stretched out to the sides (like a wingspan), a foot is about the distance between your wrist and elbow, an inch is close to the amount of space between the tip of your thumb to the first knuckle, and a millimeter is about the width of a pinkie finger nail. This will come in handy when making measurement estimations.
Teacher Tote-All
Teachers have a lot on their hands, so this Teachers cart is designed to help. Perfect for toting books and supplies between car and classroom.
Features lightweight construction, extendable handle, and smooth-running tires, not to mention an attractive duo tone color! Folds flat for easy storage.
Through September 15th, when you purchase one of these totes, you’ll get 25% off your entire purchase!
**In store special only**
So, hurry in while supplies last!
Secret Schooling
Kat Heckenbach
Kat Heckenbach is a freelance writer, aspiring novelist, and homeschool mom.
A magna cum laude graduate in Biology from the University of Tampa.
Her interests span the gamut of science/math to art/writing. Enter her world at: www.findingangel.com or www.kat-findingangel.blogspot.com.
~~~
Secret Schooling
by Kat Heckenbach
When I tell my kids it’s “school time,” I generally mean it’s time to sit down with our workbooks. Therefore, they associate the word “school” with paper and pencil, sitting at the table, reading and answering questions. Often those two words—school time—are followed by groans. Then when the lessons are complete, they race away, thinking the school day is done.
But little do they know, school keeps going…and it’s by their own design. Watching those animated videos they love, about Thomas Edison and George Washington: school. Looking through the microscope when they’ve found a dead bug or an interesting leaf: school. Playing the computer game that uses problem solving and math skills, and requires them to read instructions to solve the mystery: school.
Oh, and there’s that bookcase full of reference books my son scours to read about his favorite animals. And the way my daughter stops to sound out words on signs she sees when we’re out to eat or shopping. Not to mention passing the calculator back and forth in the back seat of the car, “checking” to see which one gets the most problems right.
If I told them they were schooling themselves at those times, I wonder if I’d get the same groans? Hm, I think I’ll keep it my little secret just in case.
Tip of the Week
Charlie Boeyink
Charlie Boeyink has been a Physical Therapist for over twelve years. He currently works with Arrowhead Physical Therapy in Glendale, AZ.
He strives to improve the health of all people and is with us today to share some simple health tips to get you started on a healthy lifestyle.
~~~
Trying to get healthier? You may consider getting a body composition test. This is actually a better indicator of your health than pure body weight.
A body composition test will tell you how much of your body is lean, i.e. muscle, and how much is fat.
Studies show that a high percentage of fatty tissue in your body will lead to disease such as heart disease and diabetes. Don’t be fooled, either, I know a lot of thin-looking people who have a high body fat content.
So, here’s to getting healthy so you can stay active with your students and children. Thanks for all you do!
Happy Labor Day Weekend
Response to Intervention
The September and October classes–Classroom Management and Six Traits–are full! The seats go fast, so hurry over and sign up for November’s class:
Response to Intervention, presented by Theresa Bundgaard
A gold mine of practical, easy-to-use teaching methods to help teachers differentiate the curriculum in all subject areas to meet the needs of all learners, including those labeled as remedial, LD, students of poverty, ELL, and others who struggle to learn.
~~~
Theresa Bundgaard
Theresa Bundgaard’s dynamic teaching style is catching on. She’s opened up the professional development offered by Teaching Stuff to monthly classes at our Glendale store as well as taking it into the schools!
She taught in the Alhambra School District and Deer Valley Unified School District for a combined 7 years.
With an emphasis in math and science, she quickly learned that hands-on lessons take students from the abstract to concrete
She currently works for Teaching Stuff as a buyer and Professional Development Specialist.
She can come to your school. CLICK HERE for details.
~~~
