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TEACHER TIPS

NEA’s Back to School Guide By NEA Staff Editors Students may still be enjoying their summer vacations, but for educators, the beginning of the next school year is just around the corner. NEA editors have compiled a list of our best articles and K-12 resources to help you — whether new or veteran — get ready for the fall semester. READ MORE >

Building Positive Behavior Traits By Donna, Elementary School Educator Near the beginning of the school year, I introduce the concepts of trust, community, and character. I explain that starting a new year is like building a house: the “foundation” is the student; the “frame” is our relationships with each other and those in our school community; and, the “interior” is the classroom, the furniture, equipment, and supplies, etc. For the foundation I have the students make a concrete building block (grey construction paper shaped like a block with drawn in “holes”) with their name in one hole and an acrostic poem of their name in the other hole. They are instructed to use the letters of their name to write positive character traits. For example, John: Jumps at the chance to help others, Only works quietly, Honest, Nice to others. You get the picture. I use these to help students get to know each other and to “build” a foundation wall on a bulletin board that I use throughout the year to discuss positive character traits during morning meetings. This helps children internalize desired behaviors, understand how they affect others, and how to be responsible for changing their own behaviors, when necessary. READ MORE TIPS >

Five Games to Learn Student Names Shared by Tricia Roach, NEA edCommunities Facilitator No matter where you teach, learning your new students' names is a priority for every teacher. How do you successfully remember them all when you have 30 students, let alone 180 at some secondary schools? Check out these five strategies used by teachers across the country to help make this back-to-school task go smoothly. READ MORE > NOT AN EDCOMMUNITIES MEMBER?   SIGN UP FOR FREE! >

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK Student Choices We know that student motivation for learning increases when our kids are given the chance to make choices for themselves. Let us know your grade level and tell us what types of choices you provide for students in your classroom. SHARE YOUR SOLUTION OR SUBMIT A TIP >

FEATURED SCHOOL ME RESOURCE Podcast: Using Humor in the Classroom Featuring Dan Jordan, Elementary Teacher in Seattle We’ve all heard the old mantra about teachers never smiling before Christmas. Most of us ignore it...but just how can we effectively incorporate humor into our classrooms? What does it take to bring a smile to students’ faces and how does that benefit the learning environment? LISTEN TO THE PODCAST >

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FEATURED TOOLKIT Labor Day Curriculum Resources By NEA Staff Labor Day honors the American worker and acknowledges the value and dignity of work and its role in American life. The first Labor Day was celebrated on September 5, 1882, in New York. Through the years, the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. On June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday. Check out these K-12 Labor Day Resources to help you and your students learn more about our working men and women. READ MORE >

FEATURED WEBINAR Getting Started With Google Classroom Featuring Jerry Swiatek, Matthew Bergman, and Lori Squiers Saturday, August 17, 2019, 10 a.m. ET Google Classroom is a free online learning platform that can help to facilitate communication, collaboration, and workflow in your classroom. While Google Classroom is easy-to-use, as with any tool or technology, you will get the most out of it when it is set up and organized in a useful fashion — and when you have a better idea of how to get started. These three free sessions show you how to begin using this valuable tool, present 10 “hacks” to make things easier, and teach you how to handle assignments and student workflow. REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR >

FEATURED EDCOMMUNITIES GROUP Increasing Student Success Mentoring, after-school clubs, and non-academic activities are all ways to promote student success in school and in life. Learn how to utilize these tools to support students in their academic environment. Current topics include high school electives, mentoring tips, read-alouds, and relationship-building. READ MORE > NOT AN EDCOMMUNITIES MEMBER?   SIGN UP FOR FREE! >

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TEACHER TIPS

Six Ways To Support Students without Internet Access at Home By TeachThought staff It may seem strange to imagine young people without Internet access, but if you live or teach in a high poverty area, in a remote location far from electrical lines or where ISPs won’t provide service, or if you work with families who place restrictions on their children’s web access, it isn’t so far-fetched. In addition to the individual hurdles that students without internet access may face in their personal and professional lives as they grow older, this issue also seriously affects the country as a whole. How can teachers level the playing field for all students in this critical learning medium? READ MORE >

Recycling Books for Kids By Donna Jerden, Library Media Specialist in Tennessee If your community has a bookstore nearby that handles used books, you can put it to good use to benefit your students. I ask parents and grandparents to donate any books they are done with, then I bring these to my local used bookstore to trade them for store credit. I obtain paperbacks that my students or teachers have requested. Distributing and sharing these no-cost materials takes some time, but is a fabulous way to keep books in students’ hands. Sometimes the same family members who contributed the books are also willing to donate their time to make the exchange for me. It’s a great way to involve them in school life! READ MORE TIPS >

Bringing Podcasts into the Classroom Shared by Elizabeth Lovett, NEA edCommunities Facilitator In the last few years, podcasting has become a very popular communication medium for everything from tutorials to storytelling to historical events and news analysis. A podcast is simply an audio or video file of information that can be downloaded and played anywhere and anytime. Podcasts can be played on your phone, computer, or tablet. The collection included here provides links to podcasts that engage students or to help you improve your teaching practice. Learn how to utilize these free resources to bring life to any subject area. There are even instructions on how to help your students create their own podcasts! READ MORE > NOT AN EDCOMMUNITIES MEMBER?   SIGN UP FOR FREE! >

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK Advice for New Teachers You’ve just hired a beginning teacher for your grade level or subject area. The new school year is just around the corner. What advice do you share with your colleague to help them start the year on the right foot? SHARE YOUR SOLUTION OR SUBMIT A TIP >

FEATURED SCHOOL ME RESOURCE Dynamic Duos: Cultivating a Successful Teacher-Paraeducator Relationship Featuring Tricia Lucy and Whitney Barber from Middlebury, VT The benefits of having more than one adult to support learners in your classroom can’t be underestimated. What can you do to ensure a positive working relationship with your paraeducator to help create a dynamic learning environment for your students? LISTEN TO THE PODCAST >

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FEATURED TOOLKIT News & Media Literacy Offered by Common Sense Education In today's 24/7 digital world, we have instant access to all kinds of online information. Educators need strategies to equip students with the core skills they need to think critically about today's media. These free K-12 lessons and related teaching materials give students the essential skills to be smart, savvy media consumers and creators. READ MORE >

FEATURED STRATEGY Supporting Trans and Gender-Nonconforming Students with Pride Featuring Becca Mui and Vanessa Ford Transgender and gender-nonconforming students face more hostile school climates compared to other students in the LGBTQ community. In this ASCD webinar, GLSEN education manager Becca Mui and NCTE board member Vanessa Ford will provide current national research on LGBTQ students in schools, address the unique and intersectional needs of trans and GNC youth, discuss common language, and share best practices for creating supportive learning environments. Join this free (on-demand) webinar to learn more about how you can support all your students during Pride Month and beyond. REGISTER FOR THE WEBINAR >

FEATURED EDCOMMUNITIES GROUP New Educators: Success from the Start This group provides valuable resources to support you as a new educator, stimulating topics for discussion, and opportunities to share and collaborate. Current topics include classroom management ideas, preventing burnout, motivating students, and social-emotional learning.

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TEACHER TIPS

Best of Works4Me: End the School Year in Style From Educators Around the United States It can be the best of times or the worst of times. The end of the school year brings both challenges and inspiration as teachers and students wind down the semester and begin the transition to summer. Check out these tips to help you end the school year smoothly, productively, and happily. READ MORE >

Summer Reading Wish List By Jenn Chafin, Literacy Coach I try to make the rounds to classrooms during the final days of school and get students as excited to fill out their “To Be Read” lists for summer as they are about composing their Christmas list each year! I do book talks using new titles and recent releases, but also fit in some classic titles. This allows kids to look for books they might be more apt to find at libraries, bookstores, book swaps, and even thrift stores and yard sales. We talk about how and where to fit in reading minutes whenever they can. I share my summer reading plans, too. By talking with students about the many ways they can enjoy reading during vacation, it helps create an enthusiastic end to the school year! READ MORE TIPS >

No More Math Anxiety Shared by Beth McKenna, NEA edCommunities Facilitator We’ve all met students or other adults who experience panic, helplessness, paralysis, or mental disorganization when faced with a math problem they are required to solve. Where does this come from and how can teachers alleviate the anxiety to support students in moving forward? Check out these strategies that can turn things around for students whose past interactions with math have created fear instead of fun. READ MORE > NOT AN EDCOMMUNITIES MEMBER?   SIGN UP FOR FREE! >

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QUESTION OF THE WEEK End of the Year Chaos Begone! Classroom management is challenging year round. At the end of the school year, it can be doubly so, given how excited kids are to begin their summer vacation. What are your favorite ways to support students in staying focused on learning during these final weeks of school? SHARE YOUR SOLUTION OR SUBMIT A TIP >

FEATURED SCHOOL ME RESOURCE Podcast: The Virtue of Patience in the Classroom Featuring Erika Fehr, Elementary School Paraeducator in Montana Educators possess a special type of tranquility that is on display every day in the classroom. Why is it so important to children’s learning for the adults in their world to exhibit patience? LISTEN TO THE PODCAST >

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FEATURED TOOLKIT The Meaning Behind Memorial Day By Phil Nast, Retired Middle School Teacher Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, a day to honor American Civil War dead. Following World War I, Memorial Day became a day to honor soldiers killed in all wars. Honor the nation’s fallen military men and women with these K-12 lessons and activities. READ MORE >

FEATURED WEBINAR Owning It: Proven Strategies to Ace and Embrace Teaching Monday, May 13, 2019, 8 p.m. ET Join NEA, Solution Tree, and guest speaker Alex Kajitani as he uses humor, authenticity, and his passion for education to discuss practical strategies that you can immediately implement as a highly effective teacher who loves what you do. Learn how to: • Engage students with high-leverage strategies that have a big impact on learning. • Manage the classroom environment with confidence and creativity, so students learn in an atmosphere of positivity and safety. • Create a classroom culture where everyone thrives. REGISTER NOW >

FEATURED EDCOMMUNITIES GROUP Community Engagement Raising the next generation is a shared responsibility. When families, communities, and schools work together, students are more successful and the entire community benefits. This group provides resources and dialogue about what is needed to ensure all students have the chance to succeed. READ MORE > NOT AN EDCOMMUNITIES MEMBER?   SIGN UP FOR FREE! >

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