Friday, January 26, 2024

Be Who You Want to Be

It is so incredibly important for students to feel comfortable in their own skin. How can one possibly sit through 6 hours of school without feeling accepted, valued, and celebrated for who they are? It is critical that teachers educate themselves on trans-affirmative programming which promotes inclusivity and acceptance of trans and gender fluid students. The fact of the matter is that there are still strides to be made in order to see these changes come into fruition. I have seen it first hand in my placement schools. Teachers just are not equipped with the knowledge nor the resources to create trans-affirmative changes in schools in order to support 2SLGBTQI students. 

Real change requires a grassroots movement which starts at home. The hostile rhetoric which persists surrounding those who identify as 2SLGBTQI can only be reversed if families educate themselves and foster positive dialogue about respect, inclusivity, and empathy. I for one will always strive to show my students that we are all the same on the inside and we should always act with courage, kindness, and warmth. It is not enough to send out a module for teachers to complete. Rather,  there should be information sessions put in place where these topics can be discussed and explored at a human level. Real change can only be seen and felt if everyone in the school environment is open to such change. We are all human and we all deserve a place in this world regardless of our pronouns, what we wear, and who we love.


References 

Four Step Guide to Supporting 2SLGBTQI Students (2024). J. Masciarelli. Eagle.ca. Niagara University Ontario. 


Karishma@NU OTECA


Saturday, December 16, 2023

Numeracy Websites - Lisa Has Something for You

Here is a little something from one of our followers, Lisa:
There are lots of practical consumer math lessons and games for all ages. Lisa was very excited to share it with you! She thought it could help other students and families. She said the Shopping and Spending games were really fun! :) Will you include it on here for her?  

We really appreciate the help! And to pay it forward my student Lisa asked me to send you this collection money math games and practice sites:  



Check it out ... This site has lots of games to offer teachers and students. Thank you Lisa!

Anyone who has ever received incorrect change knows just how important math is when managing money. Calculators and cash registers are great tools, but they are only as useful as the numbers that are fed into them. Being able to quickly make changes in one's head can save students money and help them develop math skills that will help them for a lifetime.

In addition to understanding and applying basic addition and subtraction math skills to calculate costs and change, other money-centric concepts like planning, saving, and investing are also key elements to help students start to build their own healthy money habits down the road.

Whether you have elementary school students, high school students –or both– in your home, there are plenty of resources and online money games to incorporate and explain these ideas and help them apply what they are learning about math and money in real life. 


Courtesy of Tina@Harrison Park Community Center (Illinois, USA)

Friday, December 8, 2023

Differentiated Instruction




Differentiated instruction is a philosophy that acknowledges that students learn at different rates and in many different ways. This method benefits all learners because it promotes an environment in which learning differences are not just tolerated, they are valued. 

As an educator, turn your classroom into a learning environment by including these strategies:
  1. Make sure there are places in the room to work quietly and without distraction, as well as places that invite student collaboration;
  2. Providing materials that reflect a variety of cultures and home settings;
  3. Setting out clear guidelines for independent work that matches individual needs;
  4. Developing routines that allow students to get help when teachers are busy with other students and cannot help them immediately; and
  5. Helping students understand that some learners need to move around to learn, while others do better sitting quietly (Tomlinson, 1995, 1999; Winebrenner, 1992, 1996). 
                                                                                                                                                            
What are the Advantages of Implementing Differentiated Instruction?
Differentiated instruction proves advantageous as it enables educators to cater to diverse learning styles. Recognizing that not every student responds well to traditional lectures, this approach allows for alternatives such as games or videos, accommodating varying preferences. Some students may excel through reading, while others may prefer utilizing computers. Offering choices in learning methods empowers students to achieve learning objectives in the manner that suits them best.

In certain classroom settings, differentiation becomes essential, particularly for students with disabilities and those learning English as a second language. Through differentiated instruction, all students gain the opportunity to align with the pace of learning objectives.

Regardless of the subject matter, students exhibit differing levels of engagement and learning speeds. To enhance the resonance of the material with each student, differentiated instruction serves as a motivational tool. By tailoring the learning experience to individual interests and unique styles, it encourages students to grasp the material in ways that suit them best.

AshleyC@NU

A 5-Step Classroom Management Makeover

 EDUTOPIA Presents:

A 5-Step Classroom Management Makeover

If you’re experiencing behavioral issues with your students, here’s a strategy to try to get back on track for a successful year.

Want to look deeper at this? Click here >>>>> Behaviour

Brought to you by Friends@NUO2022

Thursday, December 7, 2023

Zones of Regulation

The Zones of Regulation 


Blue Zone: sad, bored, tired, sick


Green Zone: happy, focused, calm, proud


Yellow Zone: worried, frustrated, silly, excited


Red Zone: overjoyed/elated, panicked, angry, terrified


Reflecting on the 'Zones of Regulation' - GREEN FISH LEARNING

Zones of Regulation Emotions Sort | Zones of regulation, Emotions, Teaching  social skills


The four zones of regulation are Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red.  These zones help students identify which zone they are in by how they are feeling.  Each zone is identified by a colour which is easy for students to identify.  Zones help regulate students who need support with self-regulation.  This regulation concept can be used at any time of the day, during transitions, or when a student is dis-regulated. 


The book offers many activities and tools that can be introduced to individual students or the entire class.  Many tools can be used to help a student self-regulate and get them back on track in the green zone.  Zones of regulation are highly effective with many students and are used in many schools including my own. 


I would definitely recommend purchasing this book to use with students in your school.  Some activities the zones book offers are:

  • Identifying feelings by giving them a color

  • Monster feelings match up

  • Emotions scavenger hunt

  • Emotions sorting game

  • Calm-down sandwich

  • Behavior bingo

  • Practice impulse control with the version of candy land


AmandaL@NU

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Structured Literacy in the Early Years - Incorporating Technology into Classrooms

Kindergarten is a crucial time in a child's educational journey, laying the foundation for future academic success. One of the key components that significantly contributes to this success is structured literacy. Structured literacy in kindergarten is more than just teaching the ABCs; it involves a systematic and explicit approach to developing foundational literacy skills that are essential for proficient reading and writing. In this blog post, we will explore the importance of structured literacy in kindergarten and how it sets the stage for a lifetime of literacy mastery. Phonological Awareness, Systematic Phonics Instruction, Syllable Structure and Word Study, Morphology and Vocabulary Development, Syntax and Grammar are all important components of structured literacy.

Here are some great FREE websites you can use as an educator to use to support structured literacy in the classroom.

https://www.starfall.com/h/

https://www.getepic.com/

https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/about-reading/articles/structured-literacy-instruction-basics

https://www.teachyourmonster.org/

https://heggerty.org/

https://readtheory.org/

https://www.lexialearning.com/

https://www.raz-kids.com/

https://www.abcya.com/

https://ufli.education.ufl.edu/foundations/

This structured literacy approach helps build a strong foundation for literacy skills, fostering improved reading and writing abilities for individuals of all ages. By incorporating technology into the classroom as well while covering the topic of structured literacy, children can become more active and engaged in the learning that is happening and retain the information better. By playing games like ABCYA and Starfall, children are learning these important foundational literacy skills in a fun and engaging learning environment.. (very similar to the games John introduces to us in class! :))
MonikaP@NU




Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Feedback - How to give it better

 EDUTOPIA Article:

Research-Backed Ways to Improve Feedback for Teachers

New research shows that common methods of delivering feedback may not be the most effective.


Find out more info by clicking here >>>>> Feedback

Courtesy of S2023@OTU

Saturday, December 2, 2023

Literacy Video and Visual resources

As we are aware, literacy has changed in the Ontario curriculum, especially in kindergarten. This year, my school was introduced to UFLI Foundations, an expectation and system phonics program. An explicit and systematic program that teaches the necessary foundational skills to become proficient readers. We focus on one letter sound for one week. Throughout the week, students can share ideas for words that have that sound in them. As we watched different videos each day, that helped support that letter sound. As well, we have introduced a Sound Wall and a Vowel Valley. A Sound Wall is a visual reference system for students organized by phonemes, similar to a word wall, but not alphabetically. A Vowel Valley is meant to visually represent how the mouth changes and opens through the vowel sounds. As you move down through the vowel sounds in vowel valley, you will notice that your chin lowers as your mouth opens in more of a rounded position.

Here are some videos and Sound Wall and Vowel Vally that I found helpful with my students in my class that I would share with you.

Videos


ABCmouse https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlG8Y2sj2t1FJRB8BoCEITAEdA0blA6gL


Story box

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3guwWkqlaGc&list=PLD9908AF19A9D352A&index=2


Captain Seasalt and the ABC Pirates 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh1_24pGXWZLk_Crr3DTolayDxy3HE67J


Have fun Teaching 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBAuIzZttP4


Jack hartmann

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGZFmW3uPJE&list=PLQK2XiUY9C2iDCtoZQ9Jnkkk0Vkps9jQw


Sound Wall and Vowel Vally

 


https://natalielynnkindergarten.com/how-to-use-a-sound-wall-in-the-classroom/


MichelleG@NU 

Friday, December 1, 2023

Using Technology to Support Curriculum

With the advancements in technology, we as educators have the opportunity to use various tools to support student's academic achievement. There are many apps and websites that can be used within the learning environment to support the curriculum. Below are a few apps and websites educators can use with their students today.


1) Turtle Diary

Turtle Diary is a downloadable app and website that can be accessed for FREE. This website contains games, videos, quizzes, worksheets, and teaching tools for students in Kindergarten to Grade 5. The content on this website and app is both engaging and interactive. 

Link: https://www.turtlediary.com/ 


2) Tinytap

Tinytap is a downloadable app and website that contains various games that promote learning and curriculum understanding. Tinytap organizes its content according to educational subjects, grades, and/or age. I highly recommend this website and found it to be a hit in my classroom. 

Link: https://www.tinytap.com/content/


3) Education.com

Education.com is a website that contains worksheets, games, guided lessons, lesson plans, and more. This website is FREE and categorizes its games based on grade, subject, and/or strand (language and math). 

Link: https://www.education.com/games/CCSS/ 


4) Minecraft Education

Minecraft Education is a downloadable app and website that is used to engage students in learning through the use of a fun game. Minecraft Education promotes learning across the curriculum and supports creativity and inclusion. Students will navigate the Minecraft universe and identify different ways to take on new subjects and challenges.

Link: https://education.minecraft.net/en-us 


I hope these resources are helpful and can be used within your classrooms to support your students through their educational journey.


JefferyF@NU 

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Across Grade Levels, Should Learning Be a Lot More Playful?

 EDUTOPIA Article:

PLAY & RECESS

Across Grade Levels, Should Learning Be a Lot More Playful?

Denmark has fully embraced playful learning in its K–12 schools. We visited two schools to see the pedagogical approach in action.

Read more by clicking here >>>>> Fun Wow!

Saturday, November 18, 2023

Trauma Informed Lens

Trauma informed teaching isn't always easy, it requires a great deal of regulation from the educator and the ability to be mindful enough through various types of behaviours to understand the deeper meaning. 

When we meet children who are acting from an activated nervous system with empathy, understanding and make them feel safe we are able to co-regulate with them. The more we co-regulate and role model what that looks like, the more likely they are to demonstrate the ability to self-regulate on their own in the future. 

Here is a great little cheat sheet from Whole Hearted School Counselling (one of my favourite SEL resource go to's!) for you to keep in your back pocket that helps paint a picture of what various types of trauma responses can look like. 

I hope this resource serves you well in the important work you do everyday.


Kristen M@NUO-cohort18 

Friday, November 3, 2023

Mastering the Pace and Tone of Your Questions to Students

 EDUTOPIA article:

TEACHING STRATEGIES

Mastering the Pace and Tone of Your Questions to Students

Teaching students effectively means helping them advance through the moments of discomfort they experience when faced with challenging questions. 
Read more at: Getting Better
Courtesy of Friend@OISE

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Diversity Corner


 Diversity Corner


In our kindergarten classroom to display diversity, equity and inclusiveness the teaching team came up with the diversity corner that changes based on the cultural relevance of the students. At the beginning of the year, we were learning about self-autonomy. 


We read the story "The Name Jar" by Yangsook Choi. Each child then went home and spoke to parents about what their names meant and put them in a jar. Each week one two students would pick from the jar one name and we would explore what that students name means and display it on the wall. 


The children enjoyed it, made them feel special and were so excited to explain how their name described who they were. 

(((Click the image to read the story)))


Courtesy of Alysha@NUO

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Daily Affirmations

I believe in me 

I am brave

I am beautiful 

I am kind 

I am loved 

I am smart 

I am amazing 

I matter 


Children are incredible. We see it everyday as they never cease to amaze us. 

With daily affirmations we can continue to instill confidence in their greatness! 


Shona@NUO

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Creating Integrated Units - It's what teachers need to do!

 EDUTOPIA Presents:

INTEGRATED STUDIES

Designing Interdisciplinary Units in Elementary School

This eight-step framework can help teachers create units that integrate science and social studies with math and English language arts.
Want to know more? Click here >>> Integrating
Courtesy of Friends2020@NUO

Friday, October 27, 2023

Inclusion in the Classroom

PROMOTING INCLUSION IN THE CLASSROOM


When a child is included in the classroom, it means that they all have equal access to educational opportunities in a setting where all students feel secure, respected, and valued, regardless of their gender, race, religion, or ethnic heritage. In addition to actively addressing and working toward the eradication of negative stereotypes and attitudes based on gender, aptitude, learning style, race, ethnicity, or religion, or any other identifying factor, creating an inclusive classroom also entails addressing these issues. In the classroom, students who may have felt like the "other" are accepted and valued members of the community. Because it nurtures each child's sense of belonging, their sense of being seen and understood for who they are, and their intrinsic value as human beings, inclusion in the classroom is vitally important. Empowering inclusive classrooms.

HOW TO PROMOTE INCLUSION IN THE CLASSROOM IN 7 STEPS


Get to Know Your Students

Understand How Your Students Learn

Promote a Positive Learning Environment

Include A Variety of Learning Materials & Activities

Encourage Interaction Among Students

Offer Additional Support

Collaborate as a Community


Courtesy of Roya@NUO


Editor's note:
Promoting inclusion in a classroom requires providing a range of materials and activities that supports all students' learning styles, incorporates a variety of cultural backgrounds and perspectives, and fosters courageous thinking.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Changing our Labels

Here is a list of words that I came across at the perfect time to work on an assignment about one of my previous students. These words perfectly reflect some of the words that we may regularly use to describe a child within our care. 


By using a solution focused approach, we are showcasing the behaviours that we may find difficult to work with, in a way that positively describes the child. It is a more respectful, and impactful way to describe a child, similar to person-first language where you describe the individual before an exceptional difference.


These words are posted up in my classroom as a reminder that a child is always learning, and the words that we use to describe them can impact the view that they have of themselves.


Continue to build up the esteem of the children in your learning environments!


Courtesy of: SarahP@NUO

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Practice that Helps

 EDUTOPIA Presents:

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)

A Daily Practice That Students Can Use for Self-Regulation

Knowing what makes them feel grounded can help students—and teachers—regain their calm during times of extreme stress.
Want to read more? - Click here >>>>> Practice that Helps

Amanda@OISE21

Autumn Inquiry

In my kindergarten class, many students have been visiting farms and going apple picking. This sparked some questions in our class about how apples grow, why are apples different colours or why do leaves change colour? 

As a class, we investigated these questions and did some fun activities, like reading the book "Leaf Man" and making leaf creations. We also brought in some apples for apple stamping. 


Engage with this online reading of Leaf Man


Here are 2 read-alouds about apples:
 
The Biggest Apple Ever


How Do Apples Grow (read aloud)



Here's one last book for you - The Leaf Thief


Brought to you by: NatalieK@NU

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

eSchoolNews Article: Tips for New Teachers

 5 tips I’m excited to share with first-year teachers

Julie Cobb, Senior Manager, Professional Services, Nearpod
October 6, 2023

First-year teachers may feel overwhelmed, but a few tips can help calm their anxiety.

I’ll never forget my first day as a teacher. I was so excited to begin my career teaching kindergarten students who were deaf or hard of hearing. My enthusiasm petered out when I saw green paint spilled all over my classroom. Overwhelmed and flustered, I hadn’t accounted for mishaps like this to be part of my lesson plan and was quickly faced with the realization that there were many things that happened in the classroom that weren’t accounted for in my lesson. Thankfully, one of my fellow teachers reassured me in the aftermath by saying, “You clean it up and try again tomorrow. Now you know not to put as much paint in the cup next time.”

Throughout my 26 years of teaching, I’ve heard similar accounts from other first-year teachers anxious to get their footing in their new roles, but more than anything, they wanted to connect with their students and students’ families. They wanted to avoid cleaning up spilled paint, searching for the right lessons or managing repetitive tasks that took time away from their students.

Every educator has been the new kid on the block, and I can assure you, we’ve all spilled the metaphorical and literal paint. While your day or week may not perfectly mirror the lesson plan you so diligently created, I have five key tips to help first-year teachers feel more confident in their classrooms this year, so that the little messes don’t feel so big.

1. Seek out the support of your colleagues.

I had an amazing colleague when I worked in deaf education. I could visit her room and vent everything that went wrong to her, and she’d be there to encourage me. While the teachers’ lounge may feel like a daunting place, remember that we’ve all been the new teacher in a school at some point. Leverage your colleagues, seek out their experiences and expect to hear both positive and negative stories that helped shape who they are as an educator. Not only will you gain more confidence in knowing others have been in your shoes, but you’ll also gain the perspectives of those who can remind you that with every misstep, there’s a positive that comes from your day. Finding someone who can help you find those positives is key to ensuring your success in the classroom, as well as your students.

2. Narrow down the activities you “have to do.”

Teachers ask questions and make a lot of decisions as they prepare lessons. Are they grade-level appropriate and aligned to standards? Is all of the information up-to-date and accurate? Is the material I’ve created visually engaging to my students? Suddenly, you feel like you need to choose among 22 things and don’t know where to start.

If you can find high-quality resources that answer three or four of these questions simultaneously, you’ll feel less pressure. Find resources that streamline your ability to choose engaging lessons that support your teaching. Web-based platforms with lesson libraries of high-quality, standards-aligned interactive lessons, games and activities are especially useful, as are resources that let you upload your own slides, videos and PDFs. With all your materials in one place, you can spend less time hunting for resources and ensuring their credibility, and more time doing what you love—helping your students.

3. Be open to technology that supports your teaching.

I spent five years working as a technology coach where I helped teachers integrate digital learning into their classrooms. Pre-pandemic, I met educators who weren’t open to using technology as a tool because of the fear that it may take their place in the classroom. While no technology can ever replace the impact of a teacher, technology can support educators in managing repetitive tasks and gathering evidence of learning. We discovered the value of technology during the pandemic but also learned that technology’s impact can only extend so far without a teacher’s implementation and guidance.

4. Engage your students in new and different ways.

I’ve always told teachers: Decide what you want your students to learn first, and then figure out the appropriate tool to support their instruction. Children learn and absorb information differently and therefore need a variety of ways to take in and engage with the materials you have prepared. For example, you can reinforce concepts using interactive videos, games, and quizzes. Yet, it’s challenging to create digital resources from scratch—and even more challenging to adapt them to meet the needs of each student.

Utilizing technology that is standards-aligned and provides educators with options to leverage interactive videos or other formats of material allows for greater flexibility in the classroom and less stress on the teacher.

5. It’s all about balance.

Looking back, I put too much pressure on myself as a new teacher–something I’ve seen time and time again from others in the field. I learned to permit myself to tackle today’s unfinished work tomorrow, and practiced the same level of patience and grace I gave my students, with myself.  We all want what’s best for our students, but it’s essential to remind yourself regularly—you and your students are resilient. First-year teachers should always look for their successes and celebrate them regularly.

Key points:



Brought to you by: Friends@NUO2022