Earth Science and Climate Change Lesson Plans for Your Classroom

There’s more support for classroom discussions about climate change than you might think. According to a 2019 poll by NPR/Ipsos, over 80 percent of parents think climate change should be taught in schools. While 86 percent of teachers support that view, about half don’t teach it, with 65 percent saying ...

How to Create a Safe Classroom for Neurodiverse Students

Kids can be mean. They can exclude others for seemingly no reason and can say hurtful things to neurodiverse students. As a teacher, you do your best to prevent bullying, but it isn’t always easy. If you are worried that some of your neurodivergent students are getting left out (or worse, ...

Working Through Death and Grief With Social-Emotional Learning

A student no longer pays attention in class because their parent just died. This student who is usually filled with joy and eager to learn has had their world rocked. Basic tasks like math warm-ups seem impossible. They have a hard time communicating with their friends. As a teacher, you ...

Media Literacy, Elections and Voting Lesson Plans

If you have politically curious students, your classroom can quickly turn from a place of learning to a room full of hot debate. Students will yell ideas back and forth, often regurgitating what they hear on the news or from their parents. This can create a stressful classroom environment for ...

How to Support Parents of Children With Learning Disabilities

As you work with students with learning disabilities, you will encounter all types of parents. Many will have spent hours researching their child’s disability and are prepared to advocate for their needs. But you’ll also work with parents of newly-diagnosed children who are still trying to understand what this disability ...

How to Create a Positive Environment for English Language Learners

Students enter your classroom from a variety of backgrounds. You might meet some learners who only know a few English words and others who are nearly fluent but need help with writing and grammar. Whether you’re teaching an ELL class or general education class, it’s important to create a positive ...

Individualized Education Program: What Is It and How Can You Advocate for Your Child?

If your child has difficulty learning or participating in the classroom, they might have a learning disability. The school should be able to properly evaluate your child and develop a plan based on their needs. As your child grows, this plan should be adjusted based on their individual progress. Student needs ...

How To Teach Critical Thinking and Logic to K-12 Students

Rote memorization has its place: It’s important for students to know their multiplication tables. But they also need to be able to apply these concepts to other parts of the math curriculum. Students need critical thinking skills and logic to understand how something learned in one lesson can be applied ...

Teaching Respect: How To Celebrate Different Cultures and Ethnicities in Your Classroom

Today’s classroom is increasingly diverse. In addition to having varied home lives, learning styles and emotional needs, students come from different cultures and ethnicities. As a teacher, you can set up your classroom to celebrate and embrace all of these differences. While educators are well-meaning when it comes to promoting acceptance ...