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Tips and trending topics for the teacher who's always learning

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    Three Keys to Inspiring Student Creativity

    Learning Spaces

    Cultivating creativity by integrating a hands-on, constructivist approach to learning within classrooms or makerspaces is critical for students’ success. Here are the three basic elements teachers will need to get started. Tools and materials For students to become creators and innovators, they need raw materials to work with and tools to bring their vision […]

    Three Collaborative Learning Tips That Will Transform Your Classrooms

    Learning Spaces

    Communicating expectations, teaching students how to work together effectively, and designing classrooms with flexibility in mind are key starting points for implementing collaborative learning effectively. Here are three additional strategies for success. Be strategic in forming groups Students typically want to choose their own partners. For some activities, that’s perfectly fine. For others, it’s […]

    How Classroom Design Can Support or Hinder Student Collaboration

    Learning Spaces

    The design of the learning space is an important factor in whether collaborative learning succeeds. For students to work together effectively, they must be sitting in a group and facing each other, so they can interact and exchange ideas freely and easily. Teachers might want to vary the size and composition of student groups […]

    What Does High-Quality Student Collaboration Look Like

    Learning Spaces

    Successful student collaboration doesn’t just happen by accident. For this important learning strategy to be effective, teachers must be very intentional in how they set up their classrooms and lead collaborative learning activities. The American Institutes for Research (AIR) describes high-quality student collaboration as having the following characteristics: Group size and composition The best […]

    Four Key Features of Early Learning Environments

    Early Childhood

    As this blog post observes, the right kind of physical environment can help young children transition into learning at the start of the day — as well as move smoothly from one type of activity to another. Besides making children feel welcome and helping to ease transitions from home to school and from one […]

    10 Tips for Implementing Flexible Seating

    21st Century Learning

    Getting students up and out of their seats throughout the school day is an important strategy for boosting achievement. And flexible seating is a great way to do this. Who wants to sit in the same boring, uncomfortable chair all day? Giving students choices in where to sit, and encouraging them to move around […]

    Promoting Active Learning Through Smart Classroom Design

    21st Century Learning

    The design of a learning space plays a critical role in supporting—or hindering—active learning, which has been shown to improve student outcomes. Arranging student desks in traditional rows facing the front of the classroom isn’t conducive to active learning; instead, students need space to move around, and they need opportunities to interact and work […]

    This Simple Strategy Can Lead to Big Learning Gains

    21st Century Learning

    As this post shows, active learning strategies are more effective at promoting deeper learning and understanding than listening to a lecture, reading a textbook, or watching a video. But there’s another aspect of active learning that is critical as well: It gives students opportunities to move around during class, which leads to better health […]

    Carroll Bell Elementary: Case Study

    Learning Spaces

    Moving into a new building gave Carroll Bell Elementary School teachers the perfect opportunity to reimagine their classrooms. The new larger spaces, equipped with colorful and flexible furniture from School Specialty, support more active and engaging learning experiences for students—and students are learning more effectively as a result. “The students are more comfortable. They’re […]

    Tips for Students with Language & Communication Challenges

    Special Needs

    May is Better Hearing & Speech Month. For all ages and stages, the ability to effectively communicate and understand language is critical to a well-balanced life. Students with special needs may struggle with both expressive and receptive language skills. Some may have auditory processing issues so differentiating sounds like the “ch” in chore and […]