Our social-emotional curriculum, Second Step, teaches students about a series of steps (using the acronym S.T.E.P.) for solving problems (whether they be interpersonal, personal, or group problems). I have found that, after explicitly teaching about each of the steps, using these steps with the class has been helpful in solving problems together. With enough practice…
A long-held tradition among Quakers is silent meeting. During this time, community members come together and settle into a shared silence. During the silence, everyone tries to connect with their innermost best self and enjoys a shared sense of fellowship. If someone is moved to speak to the group, they may do so and the…
My class is currently composing the second edition of the Chicago Friends School newsletter. This is an entirely kid-generated project, with the entire project proposed and then planned by my students, with only very light editing imposed by me on the final product. The concept was first brought up by a student over a month…
When it comes to learning, the content of what we learn is usually emphasized. However, how and where we learn is equally important. As a teacher, I’m constantly looking for new ways to motivate my students to learn, whether it’s including more hands-on activities, adding technology, or changing the space in which we learn. Understanding how our students enjoy…
There are so many reasons that small group instruction is a good format for learning. I had always known that teaching small groups was better for differentiating instruction, but the more small group instruction I do this year, the more benefits I discover. Small groups are good for targeted instruction. When students in a small…
Last week and this, one group in my class is learning about lines, rays, and measuring angles in math. One of the interesting things about this unit is that it begins from ideas that students this age understand intuitively, on a level that was taught to them years ago — lines and corners and points…