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This Month From Instructor
Instructor Magazine March / April 2008 cover Second Grade Again?
When social promotion or retention is the question, there’s no easy answer.
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Teaching Ideas for July
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New Teacher Helpline Featured Helpline Question
author Ruth Manna
Q: I just finished my first year of teaching at the junior high level, teaching Literature & Reading for grades 7-8. I have seen that there is a 1st and 2nd grade teaching position open and want to teach that grade level, but I don't want to leave my students behind in 7-8 grades. I love what I am doing at the junior high level but I think that I have my teaching place in the lower grades. How, and hopefully with your help or advice, can I solve this dilemma?

A: Thanks for writing. If I understand you correctly, you have have applied for or have a job offer to teach the lower grades. Your concern is, after building relationships with your middle school students, you'd have to leave them behind. Here's my opinion … More ….
Have a teaching question? Ruth Manna, classroom teacher of 20 years, provides you with quick and personalized answers to your most frequently asked questions.
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Kechia Williams
Kechia Williams		 Mentor Tip of the Month
Reviewing the 5-Paragraph Essay
“We reviewed the different types of essays and correlating prompts: narrative, expository, persuasive/point of view, and descriptive essay. Then, I would type up various prompts, cut them into strips and place in box. Then I pull the prompt from the box and let the class identify key words in the prompt and determine what kind of prompt it is.” –Kechia Williams, Grade 6-8 Teacher Advisor

Read Kechia's blog for more tips.
Andrea Spillett
Andrea Spillett		 Teaching English Language Learners
10:2 – 10 Minutes of Instruction and 2 Minutes Discussion
“It is extremely difficult for English language learners to grasp a lot of information in a short amount of time. In order to check for understanding I ask questions about the material that was just presented to them.” –Andrea Spillett, ELL advisor

Read Andrea's blog for more tips.
 

Best Practices to Help You Succeed Every Day

Comic Books Make the Grade
Here’s how to use comics and graphic novels to teach kids reading.

Saying Goodbye at Year’s End
End-of-the year good-byes can be difficult! Here’s how to help children make and maintain lasting friendships.

Bridging the Summer Reading Gap
A break from books can mean big losses for at-risk readers, but when schools find ways to get students books, it can help keep pages turning and minds sharp.

Exchange Winning Ideas
See teaching tips from real teachers selected as winners in our monthly contest!
Top 5 Ways for Wrapping Up the School Year

This month's question:
Best of the Year Winning Ideas
See the classroom-proven ideas for each of the topics that were selected as Winning Ideas from our monthly contests in the 2007-2008 school year.