Vocabulary has the power to make or break a students’ reading comprehension skills. Of course, we don’t have the resources or the time to teach students every vocabulary word they’ll ever encounter in their reading. Plus, drilling vocabulary words and asking students to memorize long lists is an ineffective approach. So, what can we do to boost vocabulary and reading…
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Avoid the pitfalls that lead to false growth mindset If you’re an educator, you’ve most definitely heard the term “growth mindset.” In fact, the concept has spread far beyond classrooms and schools. It’s even implemented at some companies to foster creativity and productivity. Although the concept is wildly popular, it’s also widely misunderstood. Teachers strongly believe in growth mindset, but…
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This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure here. Learning high level vocabulary is essential for success in school—and it’s helpful for life success, too. Teaching vocabulary is important because it: boosts reading comprehension improves communication and thinking skills builds academic and social confidence has been linked to occupational success But to reap these benefits, you can’t merely…
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The Benefits of Teaching Figurative Language When we think about teaching reading and writing to children, we might first consider phonics, parts of speech, spelling, and grammar. But we can’t forget to add some color and spice by teaching figurative language, too! What is figurative language? Figurative language is phrasing that goes beyond the literal meaning of words to convey…
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In many ways, you feel ready for the first week of school. You have lesson plans mapped out, your intentions are set, and you feel fairly confident. Outside of the curriculum, you may have lingering questions or doubts about how you can seamlessly infuse growth mindset instruction into your daily plans. Get a few steps ahead by choosing one or…
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Emotional intelligence is one of the top predictors of quality of life, relationships, and health. When it comes to predicting life success, research shows that a person’s emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) is far more significant than their intelligence quotient (IQ). Children with high EQs perform better in school, stay in school, and are more likely to avoid risky behaviors. They…
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