By: Mary Kienstra on: July 27, 2017 in: algebra, Engagement, Marcy Cook math, Math, algebra, engagement, math
The best games in the classroom have kids totally engaged and learning while they think they are playing. With games, kids can practice a variety of skills as well as strategic thinking. The idea is to give kids eight great ways to learn Algebra. With games. And this is before they ever see an equation with […] Read more
By: Mary Kienstra on: September 8, 2016 in: #tlap, beginning of the year, Engagement, engagement
In the beginning of the school year, the main focus iin my classroom is “getting to know you.” I’ve done all the regular things that teachers do, but this year, I tried something different. In the spirit of the picture book, Who is Melvin Bubble? students introduced themselves to the class from the perspective of someone […] Read more
By: Mary Kienstra on: June 24, 2016 in: #tlap, differentiation, Engagement, differentiation, engagement
This is the time when teachers make those summer resolutions. They’re not unlike New Year Resolutions, except they have a summer spin. Every summer my list includes read more, exercise more, and organize my house. The actual projects might vary, but the ideas are the same every summer. Working on my “exercise more” resolution, I realized that […] Read more
By: Mary Kienstra on: June 23, 2016 in: #tlap, author, Engagement, author, engagement, experts
Why is it that our students will sit and listen to total strangers in a way that they would never listen to their teacher? When we invite the experts to our classrooms, our students learn from primary sources. They hear real information and listen in a new way. Last year, I invited experts of all kinds […] Read more
By: Mary Kienstra on: June 20, 2016 in: assessment, authentic audience, characters, Engagement, assessment, characters, engagement
Don’t ever tell fourth or fifth graders that they will be speed dating during class. They would giggle nervously and then complain that they don’t want to do that. But, if you have them dress up as their favorite character from a book and bring a few things to talk about, they will love it. […] Read more
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