Teaching Resource Center

Stressing Over an Exam? Follow These Tips!

Guest Author — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

You don’t have to be in grade school to utilize test taking tips. Whether you are in high school, college, or even graduate school, it will benefit you to know how to properly take a test. Follow these tips and get ready to ace your next exam! 1. Understand the Question After you write your [...]

From Science to Shakespeare – Educational Tours in London

Guest Author — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

For many students, a trip abroad is the highlight of their year – and rightly so. It’s a chance to learn hands-on about different cultures and explore the world with friends and enthusiastic educators. Organize one of your senior class trips in London and center it around the great museums and landmarks of the city, [...]

5 Tips for Preventing Cyberbullying

Guest Author — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:00:00 +0000

These days, bullying is getting a lot of attention on the media, and it is a major problem in the schools. But today’s bullying is not like the bullying of the past, with Spike waiting in the schoolyard for his milk money. No, today’s bullying encompasses a completely new frontier: technology. Technology has opened up [...]

Groundhog Day Fun for the Classroom

Kelly Wilson — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Groundhog Day occurs each year on February 2nd! If you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend a viewing of Groundhog Day with Bill Murray. At times confused, depressed, philosophical and joyful, Bill Murray portrays a man stuck forever in the same day with hilarious excellence. While Groundhog Day isn’t a national holiday, I make this [...]

6 Fun Ways Children Can Improve Their Coordination

Guest Author — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

As your kids start to reach the ages of three and four, their minds are being constantly stimulated by everything around them. They’ve developed some coordination and motor skills that they are starting to experiment with more. You should encourage activities that sell themselves. Encourage Them To Draw You Pictures By now, you’ve probably figured [...]

Tips to Making a Homework Plan

Guest Author — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Getting your homework done doesn’t have to be as difficult as finding the cure for cancer. Most students struggle because they procrastinate their homework until the last minute. I guarantee you that most professors don’t appreciate reading through a hundred essays that were thrown together at the last minute. Scheduling out your time is an [...]

5 Fantastic New Books for Your Kids’ Library

Guest Author — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Whether you are a primary school teacher, a parent, grandparent or indeed a librarian, you are probably always on the lookout for new books that will inspire, excite and intrigue your little ones. I’m the same and devour every single mention of new books so I can add them to the collection in my classroom. [...]

Five Test Preparation Tips for the Classroom

Kelly Wilson — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:38:50 +0000

It’s that time of year! The end of January in our school district marks the beginning of the official testing window. Whether we like it or not, our kids will spend valuable hours navigating through state-mandated standardized reading and math tests here in Oregon. While the purpose of assessment in the classroom is to figure [...]

How to Encourage Good Eating Habits in Your Kids

Guest Author — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Good eating habits don’t just miraculously develop in a child’s life, they have to be shown the way by demonstration and repetition. As with most habits, it is very important that the proper eating guidelines are taught as early as possible, so that there is more chance they will be followed as the years go [...]

Happy Chinese New Year!

Kelly Wilson — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:39:23 +0000

Are you looking for a last-minute way to celebrate Chinese New Year in your classroom? Check out these Chinese New Year reading and writing activities that include printable zodiac symbols, as well as these simple Chinese New Year crafts to help your students celebrate this cultural holiday!

Easy Chinese New Year Crafts for the Classroom

Kelly Wilson — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:45:27 +0000

For 2012, Chinese New Year is celebrated on Monday, January 23rd. The significance of this holiday and simple activities to help your kids learn about Chinese New Year can be found here, but fun, educational, and simple craft ideas are included below. Chinese Yo Yo This is one of the easiest crafts to make in [...]

Begin Celebrating Chinese New Year in the Classroom

Kelly Wilson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Chinese New Year is a great excuse to practice important skills while celebrating an important part of Chinese culture. When is Chinese New Year? Chinese New Year is based on the Chinese Lunar Calendar, which is 2,640 years older than our calendar, and can begin on any date between Janaury 21st and February 18th each [...]

10 Ways to Write Better Essays

Kelly Wilson — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

It doesn’t matter if you’re in elementary school or college, it’s important to know how to write an essay. As a fourth-grade teacher with state writing tests looming each spring, I have taught kids the general and finer points of constructing a basic essay. This guest post reveals helpful tips for kids of all ages [...]

W-I-N-T-E-R Acrostic Poetry in the Classroom

Kelly Wilson — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:56:03 +0000

Around our fair region (the Pacific Northwest) this week, we’ve had some snow flurries, resulting in as much as 4 inches of snow in some areas of higher elevation! This resulted in non-stop news coverage of what I lovingly term, “The Snowpocalypse.” Yes, I said 4 inches. My colleagues in the Midwest, commence the eye-rolling [...]

Tips for Battling Child Obesity

Guest Author — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

American children spend too much time inside and on the couch, and it shows. The reason for this is subject for much debate. Are video games that much more fun than they were 20 years ago? Do parents’ fears regarding children’s safety and the desire to keep them within arm’s reach discourage an active lifestyle? [...]

Snowball Math Lesson Plan

Kelly Wilson — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:56:35 +0000

Celebrate the crisp, cold winter snow with this fun math lesson plan for younger kids. These three snow-themed math activities are simple to plan and fit in with any winter-based classroom units. Snowball Math Materials For these three math activities, gather together the following materials: dark or light blue construction paper, cut into 8 1/2″ [...]

Martin Luther King Jr. Easy Classroom Activities

Kelly Wilson — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:30:00 +0000

Martin Luther King, Jr’s Day is on Monday, 1/16/12, which is coming up fast. Here are fun and educational last-minute ideas and activities to use with the kids in your classroom to celebrate this great man in history. What Do Your Kids Know About Martin Luther King, Jr? This is a valuable question, and one [...]

10 Study Tips Every Student Should Know

Guest Author — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Studying is one of the most important contributors to scholastic success. Through studying, you reinforce the things you’ve learned in the classroom and prepare yourself for tests on the material. This material is often the foundation for future learning. To help you get the most out of studying, the following are 10 study tips every [...]

Science Fair Project Facts

Guest Author — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Science fairs, the bane of students everywhere. At first they seem only like an imaginary threat, but as students progress from grade to grade the threat materializes with a simple phrase uttered by a teacher, “You’re going to complete a science fair project.” The horror! What Is a Science Fair Project? A science fair project [...]

How to Enhance Your Children’s Learning with a Better Night’s Sleep

Kelly Wilson — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

As a parent, you do all you can to give your child a good night’s sleep. The mattress is comfortable, the room is warm and the decor is soothing. Parents know that rested kids are happy kids, but did you also know that making sure your child gets enough sleep could actually enhance their ability [...]

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Children

Guest Author — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000

For mums with young children, nothing could mean more than a gift on Mother’s Day made by the fair hands of their little ones. Dads may well lend a hand ordering some chocolates or flowers, but teaming up with the kids to make something or come up with a personalised present can help make the [...]

How to Integrate Social Media in the Classroom

Guest Author — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Today’s students are constantly connected. They have their own laptops and smartphones and tablets that give them access to the web at all times. They have various social networking accounts, such as Facebook and Twitter. They’re more likely to send a text or an email or post a comment than make a phone call. They [...]

Teaching Young Children to Count with Games

Guest Author — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

The essence of who we are today largely depends on how we were educated as youngsters. Because early educational development is the precursor to our more advanced education, it is vital that parents take an active participation in helping to form the cognitive functions of their child’s minds. One of the most critical skills that [...]

Teaching Children Lasting Study Skills

Guest Author — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Your children will spend a long time in school – possibly decades. Therefore, it is of utmost importance that they learn good study skills, and as early on as possible. Study skills are a systematic approach to learning and applying information, and are the make or break factor when it comes to success in school. [...]

Safe Social Networks for Kids

Guest Author — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Social media and social networking has become more and more popular on account of Facebook and MySpace. Social networking sites have many different uses based on the interests of the user. Although Facebook and MySpace started out for friends to connect, users are now able to create groups to connect of those with similar interests [...]