Conquering Test Anxiety: Helping Students Find Calm on Exam Day

Tests are a normal part of teaching and learning, but that doesn’t make them easy. In fact, many students suffer from test-related stress and anxiety. This common condition can make it difficult for them to focus and perform well on tests, even if they know the material.  Fortunately, teachers can do ...

Why Are We Learning This? How Teaching Geometry Shapes Student Worldview

In this installment of our series on why learning matters, we explore the importance of geometry. From assisting with creative career paths to laying a foundation for viewing the world, geometry is used in ways many of us don’t even realize. Here’s why geometry is so important both for life ...

How to Design Compelling Lesson Plans That Meet State Standards

All teachers in the US are required to meet a set of state standards. While standards are an essential aspect of education, they can sometimes feel overwhelming.  Fortunately, taking time to reevaluate your teaching goals and responsibilities can ensure that you check all the boxes. Here’s how to work with state ...

Why Are We Learning This? Teaching Poetry Supports Cognitive Thinking and Empathy

This is part of our ongoing look at how subjects in school benefit students beyond the classroom. Our first post covered history; today we explore poetry. Explaining the relevance of your lessons can be especially important when teaching creative subjects like poetry, because it can help students find value and appreciation ...

20 Inspiring Educators to Follow on Twitter in 2019

Fellow educators are one of the greatest sources of information on teaching and learning. But when you’re seeking inspiration outside of your district, Twitter can connect you to resources both statewide and nationally. The following list highlights 20 of the most influential and inspiring educators on Twitter. Jay Billy Jay Billy ...

The Efficient Classroom: Tips and Tools to Maximize Teaching Time

It doesn’t matter if it’s a too-long transition or derailed lesson plan: wherever teachers lose time, it’s frustrating. And when that time is lost during the instructional period, it can be especially hard to get back in the right mindset and wrangle students into focus mode. Since so many teachers understand ...

Why Are We Learning This? Teaching History to Inspire Today’s Students

When your students ask the question, “Why are we learning this?” they may actually be on to something. Understanding the real-world context of lessons and stories not only makes them more meaningful, but it also makes the material easier to remember. Articulating the meaning of history lessons can be particularly ...

Inspiring Educators: 15 Teacher Vloggers to Follow on YouTube

When students have questions about the world or need a little homework help, YouTube is often one of the first places they look. For teachers, this process is no different. In fact, teacher bloggers and educators of all subjects have taken to YouTube to share their practices and pedagogies. Here ...

Professional Development Days: Exploring Methods of Growth for Teachers

Professional development days are important for teachers to continue learning and growing as educators. There are many different ways in which teachers and administrators across the country can engage in such development, from seminars on improving school climate and equality to in-depth Shakespeare pedagogy reviews for the high school English ...