April 2017 - Mary Kienstra

Eight Great Ways to Learn the Coordinate Plane

By: Mary Kienstra on: April 18, 2017  in: coordinate grid, dance, Engagement, Uncategorized

When kids live the coordinate plane they actually remember it.  Try these eight great ways to get kids to understand and remember the coordinate plane. 1. LIVE IT: Arrange the classroom on the coordinate grid.  Attach tape to the floor and arrange the desks with “addresses” that represent the plane.  As students come in, they pick […] Read more


One Book One School: Generating Reading Excitement

By: Mary Kienstra on: April 14, 2017  in: #tlap, Engagement, reading

Every teacher in every school is looking for ways to generate reading excitement.  How do we get kids more excited to read?  How do we motivate them?  How do we make reading fun for everyone?  This year was our first One Book One School.  It was a huge success. We started with the idea that […] Read more


Book Madness 2017: Reading in the Brackets

By: Mary Kienstra on: April 2, 2017  in: #tlap, creating, Engagement, reading

Filling out a bracket for March Madness is always exciting.  Which team will be this year’s “Cinderella?”  How will my favorite team do?  Which team will win it all?   A few years ago I decided to capitalize on this excitement.  In my classroom, it’s Book Madness 2017: Reading in the Brackets!  If the brackets […] Read more