Include culture in your classroom and curriculum!
This may seem like common sense, but I'm going to write it anyway. Include culture in your classroom and curriculum! Click the button below to read an article about how one teacher included culture in her curriculum. This story might give you ideas!
Are we using assessment correctly?
This is an article that describes how assessment data can be improved in order for our students to get the most out of it.
Crafts instead of Parties!!!
Instead of a party day right before winter/Christmas break, do two craft days! Look up crafts on Pinterest or a craft website and put together a list of materials. The materials can be included on the list of things the students will need to bring at the beginning of the year or you can ask parents to bring those materials later. The purpose of having 2 days is for any painting, gluing, etc. to dry before they take their projects/crafts home. This idea gives them something to do that does not involve consuming sugar and helps them on skills such as: following directions, possibly working together, fine motor skills, cutting, gluing, coloring in the lines, speaking and listening, etc. The crafts they create will mean something to them since they created them and can be gifts for family members!
Weekly Parent Newsletters
Send a newsletter home to each child's parent/guardian every week letting them know how their child(ren) is/are doing in your classroom. This does not need to be detailed at all, but it will keep each students' parents/guardians involved in their child's/children's schooling and there will be no surprises during parent/teacher conferences because the parents/guardians will already know how their child/children is/are doing.
Use blocks to practice reading!
This is a great idea for younger students through kindergarten and first grade as an educational activity students can enjoy when they have 'free time.' A large block contains a word while smaller blocks contain letters, blends, digraphs, and phonemes. The letters on the large block have enough spaces to combine and attach letters, blends, digraphs, and phonemes from the smaller blocks to match the word. Students can also combine the larger blocks to create structures that tell a story! This employs the use of manipulatives, increases fine motor skills, promotes blending and phonics, and this can be a great activity for a child with autism.
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