Back in March, I lost a wonderful friend who also happened to be the co-founder of the Caring Classrooms Community. Francie Kugelman and I started the Caring Classrooms giving page on DonorsChoose o...
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April is National Poetry Month! When you saw those words, what was your first reaction? You might have been thinking, "Yay! I love poetry, and now I have an excuse to teach it!" But more likely yo...
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Guest blog post by Francie Kugelman Do you remember the thrill of dropping a marble into a maze and watching it roll, spin, and finally end at the bottom of your run? Having your students create a ...
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Francie Kugelman and I founded the Caring Classrooms Community in 2013, and we spent the next 10 years collaborating on ways to spread the word about DonorsChoose and to help teachers get their clas...
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Do you remember the last time you and your friends had a great discussion? I’ll bet you didn’t take turns around the table with each person speaking for 30 seconds or a minute! Instead, it was pro...
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Happy November! Is there a better time to write about all the things we are thankful for? This writing topic might seem may seem trite and overdone, but we can never overdo the message of showing appr...
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Did you know that October 5th is Do Something Nice Day? Google it and you'll see! What a great time to teach your kids how to be a good citizen and learn to consider the needs of others! To help y...
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How much time do you spend each week on spelling instruction? If you’re an upper elementary teacher, the answer is probably “not enough.” While you might recognize the importance of phonemic awa...
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Each year on September 11th, we reflect on a series of horrific events that changed the course of history. As a teacher, you might be struggling with whether or not you should discuss 9/11 with your s...
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Imagine yourself as a student in a new classroom during the first week of school. Unless your teacher starts off with at least a few getting-to-know you activities, it might be weeks before you feel...
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Years ago, I searched everywhere to find the perfect calendar to use with my students, but I couldn't find one that worked. I wanted one with 8 1/2 x 11 inch portrait-style pages that would fit in a...
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Getting the school year off to a great start is essential, which means that what you do the first week of school can make all the difference! A few years ago I presented a popular webinar called How t...
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