The vast majority of students hate it.  Teachers find it overwhelming to keep homework assignments relevant and updated.  Parents find it difficult to fit homework into an already stuffed after-school/evening schedule.  In some schools, homework has actually been eliminated.  So, is homework really necessary?  Are the benefits worth the difficulty? While homework can be difficult and painful for most involved, it actually has great benefits that can benefit students for life.  Some of those benefits include better retention of material, taking advantage of altern ..read more

For as long as we put children in large groups together, bullying will almost always be a problem that needs attention.  But sometimes inspiring our students to do the right thing can be a challenge, even when they want to do the right thing.   Many times, students are actually so unnerved by what they are seeing or experiencing that they are unable to figure out exactly what they should do. These writing prompts will help students to think about some great action steps they can take to help combat bullying, whether in the classroom, on the playground, in the lunch room, or eve ..read more

Professional Development (PD) is an incredibly important program in school systems today.  But unfortunately, it can be very difficult to implement in the way it is being introduced and executed in many schools today.  Often, schools don’t feel like they have the time or resources to fully train teachers and staff.  They incorporate sessions and Power Point presentations into the school schedule, hoping that it will be enough for teachers/staff to pick up the necessary concepts and then be able to run with it in their classrooms/respective areas in the school.  Additionall ..read more

Discipline in school settings has been a difficult issue to tackle for many years, usually swinging from one extreme to the other.  Corporal punishment led to leniency and an inability to enforce discipline.  Then zero tolerance policies tried to rein things back in, but with many casualties and not much success overall.  But now there is a very promising way to tackle discipline, not only in the classroom, but in every school setting.  And not only does this method solve many pernicious discipline problems, it helps to grow a healthy community filled with social emotional ..read more

Reading comprehension is a critical skill in all of life–whether in school, at work, in the community, and even in the home.  It is critical to our ability to communicate effectively with others.  Sometimes students know all of the rules of reading fluently, but they are not able to effectively comprehend what they are reading.  Because they are able to read the words with ease, teachers and parents may sometimes miss that their student is not really comprehending what he or she is reading. So, what are some of the best ways to help students who struggle with reading comprehens ..read more

Many teachers love to put true or false questions on tests because they are easier to formulate when making up tests.  Many students prefer them to having to fill in the blank or essay questions, mostly because they are quicker and less risky.  It seems to be almost universally preferred.  But whether they are really a beneficial part of test-taking is an issue worth looking into. So then, the ultimate question is SHOULD teachers be using true or false questions on their quizzes and tests?  The short answer is that it should certainly not constitute the majority of a test ..read more

Finding the best books for early readers can be quite an undertaking.  Literally thousands of new books are published monthly, and most of them are truly good books.  Thousands more books are being self published on a daily basis.  And with that knowledge, I have always felt like there are way too many books in the world and not nearly enough time in my life to read them. So how do we pick the best books for early readers?  Choosing the best quality books, is, of course, top priority. Next, choose books that you know your early readers will be captivated by but will also t ..read more

This Fall Harvest Pumpkin Coloring Book is sure to be a family favorite!  The pictures will be perfect for framing and displaying throughout the Autumn season.  They are also perfect for school, clubs, youth groups, reading clubs, or virtually any social gatherings. Pumpkins are a most endearing symbol of the arrival of Autumn. What better way to relax and lift your spirits than to color a wide array of pumpkin scenes, mandalas, wreaths, baskets, florals, and many more beautiful and intricate designs. Snuggle up with a blanket and a cup of tea by the fire and enjoy this most peacef ..read more

Some kids love to do homework.  But most do not.  They spend the whole day in school.  They get home hungry, tired of sitting, studying, and being quiet, and ready to go play with the neighbors or chill and hang out around the house.  Unfortunately, though, homework has become an essential part of life for most students in America, even in elementary school. So then, if homework is so universal, the next question becomes, how much homework should a 4th grader have?  According to research from multiple sources, the National Education Association and the National PTA bo ..read more

Teachers do so much for their students.  The vast majority of teachers work tirelessly into the night to prepare for an engaging educational experience for our children the next day.  And then the next and the next.  The vast majority of us have no idea the amount of work that goes into a typical school day. And then you have those teachers that somehow knock it out of the ballpark for their students.  Every. Single. Day.  So how do we show those teachers (and really, all teachers) how much we love what they do for our kids? This inspirational t-shirt hits us right wh ..read more