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Learn how teachers can respond to disruptive, threatening, or violent student behavior, document incidents, request support, and find help when administrators do not act.

There are plenty of things teachers are expected to take seriously. Standards. Assessments. Lesson objectives. Student progress. Behavior. Schedules. Data. But does learning itself always have to feel serious? Probably not. In fact, there is a growing body of research suggesting that adding elements of play, games, challenges, and friendly competition to learning can do more than simply make class more enjoyable. When used thoughtfully, these strategies can support st

Every school year seems to begin with a familiar mix of excitement, nerves, freshly sharpened pencils, and opinions. Why is the school supply list so long? Why does school end before the workday does? Why are parents being asked to send tissues, markers, or headphones? Why did the district decide on so many days off for students? Some of those frustrations are understandable. Families are juggling work schedules, childcare, rising costs, transportation, and a hundred other t

There are things I learned in teacher training that I used constantly in my classroom. There are other things I'm sure were very important at the time that I honestly couldn't tell you anything about today. And then there is one piece of advice I heard years ago that has somehow stayed with me ever since: Have a phrase ready. I heard this during a training seminar held by my school district when I was a third grade teacher. The presenter was a seasoned principal who had bee

As the new school year gets closer, it's easy to get caught up in bulletin boards, colorful bins, and the never-ending list of supplies. Creating a welcoming classroom is important, but one of the most powerful classroom management tools isn't a behavior chart or a reward system. It's the environment you create before your students ever arrive. The best classroom management often feels invisible. Students know where to go, what to do, and what to expect. The room quietly s

The first few weeks of school are exciting—but they can also feel overwhelming for children, parents, and teachers. The good news is that getting ready for a successful school year doesn't require expensive supplies or complicated routines. In fact, it's often the small habits at home that help children feel confident and ready to learn. Teachers see hundreds of students each year, and they often notice the same patterns. Children who arrive prepared, well-rested, and feeling

If you've been paying attention to education news over the last few years, you've probably noticed a growing trend: more families are choosing to homeschool their children. Recent data suggests that homeschooling remains significantly more popular than it was before 2020. Millions of students are now being educated primarily through homeschooling. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University and other organizations have found that homeschooling continues to grow even after the

A Practical Guide for Busy Elementary Teachers Sight words are one of the most important building blocks for early reading success. These high frequency words appear often in text but are not always easily decoded using phonics rules. Because of that, students need repeated exposure and meaningful practice to build automatic recognition. The challenge for many teachers is not whether to teach sight words. It is how to fit the practice into an already packed school day. The go