How to Grade Student Participation: A Fair Approach
Student participation is critical in the classroom and literally in every age range. Teachers need it to be able to help gauge how well students are grasping the material they…
Should Teachers Be Using True or False Questions on Tests?
Many teachers love to put true or false questions on tests because they are easier to formulate when making up tests. Many students prefer them to having to fill in…
Are Open-Book Exams a Closed Case? The Pros and Cons
When I was in school, open book tests were my jam. I had a pretty photographic memory. I studied for tests by remembering where things were located in the books…
10 Great Tips to Make Homework Fun for 4th Graders
Every teacher and parent knows that after students have spent the day at school, the last thing they want is to go home and do a bunch of homework.Over the…
“Did My Student Copy and Paste?” Here’s How to Find Out
There is so much written word in the world, it would seem almost insurmountable to figure out if your student copied and pasted their assignment.Back in the day, it would…
9 Fun Games to Teach Long Vowel Sounds
I have a really awesome list of 9 fun games to teach long vowel sounds. At least that's what my kids indicate when they beg me to play them. Learning…
How to Teach Students to Summarize the Right Way
It is very common for middle school students to have difficulty summarizing what they have read or heard. They are just getting their feet wet with writing. So concepts that…
When Should a Child Be Able to Read in Their Head?
Although I have not taught younger elementary school classes, I did teach all eight of my children to read. And generally speaking, although everybody learns at their own pace, most…
Does Listening to Music Help Students Focus?
There is a never-ending question in schools and homes with school-age children everywhere: does listening to music help students focus? Years ago, when my younger kids were doing their homework,…
How to Write CLEAR Test Instructions (With 6 Examples)
Without writing clear instructions on a test, students cannot do their absolute best on that test, regardless of how much they have studied and mastered the material. But different people…