Tired of the name game and classroom bingo? Here are some awesome classroom icebreakers sure to get your students excited about each other, and their new class! Elementary school activities Deserted Island Share-Out Seat students in a circle. Tell the class to imagine that they’re stuck on a deserted island. To make it visual, project… Read More

The start of the school year can trigger some serious anxiety for students — and teachers. Through the use of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) strategies, educators can help students cope with back-to-school anxiety to truly thrive in class. Here’s how to recognize the signs of student distress and ways to guide students through anxiety. And,… Read More

The new school year is rapidly approaching, so it’s time to get your classroom ready! Here’s a totally doable 6-step classroom checklist, and some awesome products to get your learning space school-year ready! Step 1: Clean up! Every year, a classroom goes through a lot of wear and tear. After the summer, and while it’s… Read More

How often do you or your students think about agriculture? Where your food comes from? How it grows? Who grows it? What decisions go into how it is grown? Maybe you think about it a lot. But maybe your answer is closer to never. Well, if you are a STEAM educator you are missing out… Read More

Finding a way to reach at-risk students who are struggling in various ways can be difficult, but social-emotional learning can open doors.  Copious research has shown that the impact of social-emotional learning (SEL) runs deep. SEL programs are shown to increase academic achievement and positive social interactions, and decrease negative outcomes later in life. SEL… Read More

Almost a decade ago, on the first day of my first year teaching, I sat and stared at a circle of high school students. On my desk was a lesson plan that I’d spent weeks preparing. I’d decorated my classroom to perfection. It was a veritable Pinterest board of beauty and inspiration. I’d carefully arranged… Read More

If you’re ready to foster your students’ curiosity by creating a makerspace on a budget, we’ve got you covered! Learning should remain authentically connected to the real world, and the Maker Movement exemplifies that while encouraging creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Progressive New York City educator Angelo Patri said, “The substitution of direct experiences for… Read More

Summer is when teachers have more breathing room for professional development. While many attend conferences and take classes in person during the summer, there are tons of online opportunities — and many are free! Here are some stay-at-home professional learning resources for summer that you can check out in your pajamas or by the pool…. Read More

Have you wondered what it would be like to work with students at the college level? If you’re a K-12 teacher who is thinking of transitioning to higher education, we’re here to shed some light on the subject. And to do that, we spoke with three of our highly knowledgeable Cavaliers. Brad Davis has been… Read More

The United States is facing a literacy crisis. According to ProLiteracy, more than 36 million adults in the United States cannot read, write, or do basic math above a third grade level. The One World Literacy Foundation has found that two thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of 4th grade will… Read More

Hand a toddler an iPhone, and chances are that child knows precisely what to do with it. Increasing screen time, over-testing in schools, and a national rise in students medicated for attention issues have contributed to the outdoor education movement. This movement gets students out of their seats and into nature. The call for an… Read More

Many of the challenging behaviors we see in classrooms stem from stress or trauma in our students’ lives. Explicitly teaching our students about stress responses and resilience can help them better recognize their emotions, cope with stress, and reach out for help before they act out. Social-emotional learning tools can have a profound and long-term… Read More

It’s summer! You made it! Take a well-deserved break. Finally, there’s a little breathing room to catch up on all the amazing books and content out there. Our Cavaliers (MEd and EdD students and alums) are big on learning from and being inspired by the best, so they contributed to this great list of what… Read More

It can be difficult for educators, who are so often over-tasked and under-resourced, to prioritize self-care. But doing so is incredibly important and beneficial, both for educators and their students, especially when it comes to supporting students affected by trauma. Teaching is emotional labor, so here are some ways for trauma-informed educators to cope, care… Read More