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Category Archives: Instructional Planning
Structuring for Choice—The Teacher’s Role
In the last post, I wrote about the steps I took as I gradually gave students a greater stake in their learning. In my experience, giving students more choice requires a great deal of structure. Today I want to talk … Continue reading
Objectives and Inquiry
I don’t think directed, structured instruction has to look as if it is directed and structured. I believe in inquiry-based learning, learning where a problem is put out there and children dissect, investigate, observe, manipulate, explore, construct, test, analyze, evaluate, … Continue reading
Playful Learning with Classroom Museums
Classroom museums and research centers provide materials to set up classroom centers that allow students to study themes through exploration, manipulation, and inquiry, based on their curiosity and interests. Abstract concepts become more accessible by presenting them as concrete activities, objects, and … Continue reading
The Power of REAL
I learned about the power that REAL learning can have on motivating students during my Master’s Degree training and later experiences with my own students. I started my Master’s Degree in Special Education after I had been teaching elementary school … Continue reading
Land Regions of a State: Interest Groups
I am sharing some units and projects which I’ve used with groups of students of widely varying ability and achievement levels. Since I teach thematically (no matter what grade or type of class I may be working with), I tend to think … Continue reading
Posted in Classroom Publishing, How To..., Instructional Planning, Integrated Instruction, Language Arts, Literacy Activities, Natural Resources, Plants, Project Based Learning, Special Education, Thematic Teaching, Workshop Style Teaching, Writing
Tagged differentiation, inclusion, land regions, make a movie, photo essay, publish a myth, science, science projects, social studies
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Egypt: Lesson Accommodations
For the next few weeks I’m going to share some lessons which I’ve used with groups of students of widely varying ability and achievement levels. Since I teach thematically (no matter what grade or type of class I may be … Continue reading
Including All Students in General Education Classrooms
Inclusion of special needs children into classrooms of general education students seems to be a difficult area for many teachers. Throughout my career, I was involved in many conversations about how to accomplish this very worthwhile task while meeting everyone’s … Continue reading
Inclusion: Language at the Center
Language is the center of learning. In fact, it’s at the center of all we do. It’s how we express our needs, and work together. It’s not a strange idea that language should be the core of classroom life. Language … Continue reading
Interdisciplinary Teaching Impossible in US?
I was really surprised to read on another teacher’s blog: “standards and testing have made interdisciplinary teaching almost impossible in the US.” HUH? Interdisciplinary teaching just requires that all subjects be organized to correlate with and compliment each other. Today’s … Continue reading
An Ideal Learner’s Workshop
I love workshop style teaching, probably because it empowers children, and teachers, to learn in ways that best suit them. It is student-centered, can be self-directed, and is easy, easy, easy, to differentiate to meet the needs of everyone. A … Continue reading


