Author: sanjay

Recognize your students’ hard work with these free printable science fair certificates—perfect for classroom showcases, school-wide science fairs, or homeschool-learning projects. With more than 40 unique award titles and a customizable blank version, it’s easy to celebrate every student’s effort, creativity, and discovery. We Are Teachers FREE PRINTABLE Science Fair Certificates Recognize every student’s creativity and discovery with these free science fair certificates! Fill out the form on this page to get yours. Inside the Free Science Fair Award Bundle Download our science fair certificates to make your classroom or school event extra special. Each certificate highlights a different aspect…

by Terry Heick Before the ideas, let me preface this by acknowledging that many of these–if not most–aren’t feasible in most classrooms and schools. I taught for years and tried to shoehorn ideas like this into my teaching, and it was rewarding but exhausting and ultimately resulted in my becoming a pariah in my own school/district. I didn’t intend on ‘not being a team player,’ but that’s exactly how ideas like these look to–well, to some people. I’ll leave it at that. (See also Teaching Disruptively.) Since I’m not going to explain how to accomplish these kinds of shifts (that’d…

Educational Technology Integration: Essential Digital Tools for Both Assessment and Strategic Planning in K-12 Education Education leaders want to help their students succeed, which is much easier with new software programs. Demonstrating transparency while achieving district goals is possible without confusing multiplatform usage. Administrators interested in strategic planning and execution tools for K-12 school districts should compare their options to determine the ideal platform. Criteria to Find the Best Planning Resources Comparing the many digital tools available for education leaders may feel overwhelming. Simplify the process by looking for leading factors that help people make their districts better places to…

Anyone who’s ever spent an afternoon in detention knows the drill: a silent classroom, a packet of work, and a teacher who would probably rather be anywhere else. At Morse High School in Bath, Maine, school counselor and Outing Club advisor Leslie Trundy wondered if there was a better way. What if, instead of sitting at a desk for three hours for detention, students could spend two hours walking through the woods with a trusted adult—still serving a consequence but also getting fresh air, reflection time, and connection? That question led to Morse High School’s detention hikes—a weekly option where…

Debate is one of the best ways to build high school students’ communication and critical thinking skills. High school debate topics can vary from lighthearted fun (Is a hot dog a sandwich?) to downright controversial (Should we abolish the death penalty?), but they all give students a chance to build real-world experience in thinking critically, speaking clearly, and disagreeing with respect. Our wide-ranging list of debate topics for high school students ranges from lighthearted and fun (perfect for new debaters) to complex and ethical (ideal for students with experience). The subjects cover ideas that really appeal to students this age,…

By the time you come home from a day with your classroom kids to an evening with your own little one, your checklist is probably overflowing. Making one more decision for the day? No, thank you. Thankfully, when it comes to premium baby products, you don’t have to put your mind to work—Hello Bello is there to make the choice easy. You spend enough time looking for classroom supplies, and when you add baby supplies, you add a world of options. Hello Bello aims simplify it all for parents and by offering diapers, wipes, training pants, and other essentials that…

Sometimes you just need a good laugh, and your students do too! Whether it’s a chuckle about classrooms, students, supplies, or teachers, these school jokes for kids are the perfect way to give students the giggles. Tip: Try sharing a joke of the day for kids to kick off each class! Jump to: FREE DOWNLOAD School Jokes for Kids Slides Get all the jokes you see here in a Google Slideshow that’s ready to share in your classroom! Just enter your information in the form on this page for immediate access. We Are Teachers Funny School Jokes for Kids Make…

contributed by Kim Lee One of the most pure and deeply inspirational relationships is that of a devoted teacher and a willing student. Almost everyone has a favorite teacher, and those we liked less. What causes us to still cherish these relationships and harbor powerful sentiments of respect and affection (and sometimes a shuddering dislike) for those individuals who were responsible for mentoring us? The answer is quite simple. It’s how the student teacher relationships were developed, nurtured, and given space to evolve. The ability to forge a positive, powerful relationship between a student and teacher may seem like a…

A Basic Framework For Teaching Critical Thinking In School by Terrell Heick In What Does Critical Thinking Mean?, we offered that ‘(c)ritical thinking is the suspension of judgment while identifying biases and underlying assumptions to draw accurate conclusions.’ Of course, there are different definitions of critical thinking. The American Philosophical Association defines it as, “Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas. It involves being active (rather than reactive) in your learning process, and it includes open-mindedness, inquisitiveness, and the ability to examine and evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view.” But…

Nearly one in five teachers say they definitely won’t or may not return to their classroom jobs next year. If you’re one of the many who’ve decided it’s time to move on, you may wonder what’s next. First up: Schedule a conversation with your principal or supervisor. Then, submit your letter of resignation. Fortunately, that part is easy! Find out what to include in your teacher resignation letter, plus see examples and get free templates you can customize in a flash. Jump to: FREE DOWNLOAD Teacher Resignation Letter Templates Simplify the resignation process with our free, fully editable Google Doc…