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Category: Great Ideas in Teaching

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    Women’s History Month: Women Making a Dif...

    Officially established within the United States in March 1987, Women’s History Month is an important time to honor the outstanding accomplishments of women both historically and in our current times (Women’s History Month, n.d.). One area where women have made significant strides is the field of education, where they have played a key role in […]

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    4 Ways to Help Build Students Self-Esteem

    Self-esteem is critical when it comes to our sense of wellbeing and our ability to take action and ownership of our lives. As an educator, you can play a key role in helping students develop a healthy level of self-esteem and a positive self-image by modeling behaviors and guiding activities. The classroom has the potential […]

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    How to Encourage Student Self-Reflection As We ...

    The beginning of a new year provides an excellent opportunity for students to reflect on their performance to date as well as their goals for the future. Although students might find it intimidating at first, self-reflection can strengthen learning and success both inside and outside of the classroom. Getting students into the practice of contemplation […]

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    New Year, New Ideas from PLS Classes Instructors

    Did you know our instructors at PLS Classes are also K-12 educators? Many are working teachers and others have retired. We recently asked a few of our working instructors to share some insight with us about what is going on in their classrooms, how to support student learning, and new ideas to help kick off […]

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    Holiday Classroom Idea: 12 Days of Visitors

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year! As excitement bubbles into your classroom this holiday season, why not sprinkle in some more fun? Today, we’re featuring a holiday activity idea that came to us from Western New York teacher, Allissa Wery. To help spread holiday cheer and change things up in her classroom before […]

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    Spooktacular Classroom Halloween Party Guide Pr...

    Disclaimer: Use this guide if you DARE! Calling all ghosts and ghouls! Halloween is around the corner and we’re here to help you brew up a fun classroom celebration for your students. From BOO-ks, monstrous movies, and wicked worksheets to terrifying tunes and spooky snacks, this free printable shares tips, tricks, and treats to make […]

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    How to Build a Better Lunchbox: Ideas to Help F...

    What are you having for lunch today? Between planning classes, grading assignments, and taking care of your own family, finding the time to pack yourself a nutritious and delicious lunch can sometimes take a back seat, leaving you to grab a few things on your way out the door or order out. The good news […]

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    Back to School Discussion Prompts Printable

    The first couple of weeks of school can be filled with anxiety and uncertainty. As a teacher, it is important to create a comfortable environment where you get to know your students and they get to know you and each other. Implementing discussion activities into your mornings may help break the ice, develop relationships, and […]

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    The Benefits of Walking

    Teachers and students spend the school day exercising their minds, but it can be easy to forget how important it is to move and strengthen our bodies as well. Even creating time for a short walk each day can lead to a range of lifelong health benefits, improve learning and comprehension, and enhance your quality […]

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    Back-to-School Supplies Steals & Deals Pri...

    Looking to get a head start on school supply shopping for the new school year? We’re here to help! This free school supply printable shares the best deals and steals this year as well as a handful of teacher discounts to look out for. Disclaimer: PLS Classes is not affiliated with any of the retailers […]

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    Summer Reading Recommendations from PLS Instruc...

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Summer break is here. There are finally some extra hours in the day to spend doing the things that you like to do. One of the things we love most at PLS Classes is relaxing and getting lost in a good book. Today we’re sharing some summer […]

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    Portrait of a Graduate. Giving Students the Too...

    The word congratulations rings through the air like a clear peal of a bell, and suddenly the sky is filled with colorful caps reaching skyward. You look around and see the students whose academic, emotional, and social development you have been helping to sculpt, wildly grinning as they watch their graduation caps float and fall […]

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    Teaching Empathy to Students

    Empathy is defined by A Very Well Mind as, “the ability to emotionally understand what other people feel, see things from their point of view, and imagine yourself in their place” (Cherry, 2020). Many studies have been published asking if humans are born with empathy or if it’s something that is learned. In a recent […]

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    Understanding the Rotational Model of Learning

    Are you looking for a new teaching technique you can add to your arsenal to help your students maximize their understanding of core concepts? The rotational learning model has been proven successful as a technique to support concept reinforcement and practical application for students of any age. If you’ve heard the term but haven’t experienced […]

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    Top Ten Teacher Instagram Accounts

    Our team at PLS has been busy filling our Instagram feed full of accounts that make us feel JOY and teach us something new! Today we’re sharing that joy with you by showcasing our top 10 favorite teacher instagram accounts. Happy scrolling! 1. @PrimaryPunch Deana Kahlenberg, M.S. is a blogger, mom, teacher, and speech-language pathologist. […]

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    Reflecting on 2020 and Looking Ahead with Hope

    By Susan Corrie School leaders spend a large percentage of time during each school year planning and preparing for the next school year. As a rookie principal, I remember a veteran colleague sharing that “being a building principal is like trying to change the tires on a speeding semi.” Daily tasks and emergencies are intertwined […]

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    Create a Classroom Culture that Empowers Your S...

    Giving students more autonomy over their education and creating climates that foster student expression are growing priorities in K–12 education. The trend results from the intersection of personalized learning plans tailored to offer individualized experiences for optimal outcomes, and student-centered learning movements, which prioritize student needs over institutional goals. Regardless of its impetus, the goal […]

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    Introducing Beyond the Classroom—A New Original...

    We are excited to share a new original series that we’re calling Beyond the Classroom. The series was inspired by a Western New York teacher who is thinking outside the box when it comes to creating meaningful connections with her students beyond the typical school day. This teacher is Julie Perna. Ms. Perna is the […]

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    Five Ways to Teach Your Students to Appreciate ...

    “We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” ― Maya Angelou The classroom is a great place to stimulate discussions of various perspectives and help young people to grow up appreciating and […]

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    SMART Goal Setting for the New Year

    What was your New Year’s resolution last year? Did you keep it? If not, how long did you stick to your resolution before reverting to your previous habits, deciding that the resolution was too lofty? Or did you simply forget that you made it? Rather than focusing on a New Year’s resolution—a decision to change […]

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    Teaching Students Lessons of Kindness

    Dr. Wayne Dyer famously wrote, “If you have a choice between being right and being kind, choose kind.” Since we know that acts of bullying have detrimental effect on young people’s self-esteem, it’s more important than ever before to teach children how to be kind, and why it’s so important. Much of what children learn […]

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    10 Ways Teachers Can Earn Extra Income During S...

    For some teachers, summer break is a time for maximum rest and a total hiatus from work. And the break is well deserved! After a few weeks of R&R, you might be wanting to find ways to keep your creative edge, hone in on your educational focus, or find new ways to help the next […]

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    Five Benefits of the Arts in Education

    There is a concerning reality impacting the creative development of our young people. According to a 2014 report by U.S. News and World Report, more than 80 percent of U.S. school districts have had to cut funds since 2008. The same report states that the first programs to be eliminated as a result of funding […]

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    3 Ways to Incorporate Black History Month into ...

    “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.” These words, spoken by Thurgood Marshall, the first African American U.S. Supreme Court member, aptly summarize a critical reason for all Americans to recognize, embrace, and learn about Black History Month every year. As a teacher responsible for illuminating young minds […]

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    The Top Five Habits of Highly Effective Teachers

    What do highly effective teachers have in common? If asked to recall the teacher that had the most impact on your academic development, you would likely be able to quickly name someone who made you feel excited about learning. You probably remember feeling that he or she cared for you and your success as a […]

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    How Your Body Language Impacts Your Teaching Su...

    It’s not what you say; it’s how you say it. This truism is particularly relevant for teachers who spend their days standing in front of a group of young people helping them learn critical life skills and academic concepts. Throughout a school year, your students will become familiar with many intricacies of your body language […]

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