Happy Friday Reader, I just posted a brand-new Phases of the Moon resource, and it’s 50% off through Monday, Jan 12 at 6am! This lesson includes differentiated and scaffolded guided notes, 🌙 discussion prompts, and a full slide deck to support all students in learning about what causes the phases of the Moon. It was created with English learners, students with special needs, and developing readers and writers in mind. 🧠 If you’ve been curious about using guided notes in your classroom, this...

Hello Reader Last week I finished a Natural Hazards unit centered on the 2011 tsunami in Japan. As we wrapped up the unit, new events were unfolding - Hurricane Melissa, flash flooding in NYC, and Typhoon Fung-Wong in the Philippines. Incorporating those natural hazards in class helped students link the science to real-world systems and decision-making, including where responses were both effective and where they fell short. When natural hazards are in the news, consider the following as you...

Hello Reader, In my very first year of teaching, I did exactly what I thought I was “supposed” to do. I stood at the front of the room and lectured students on the rules. It was boring for them, boring for me, and ended up being my worst year for classroom management. Since then, I’ve learned a better way: creating classroom norms with students. In my new blog post, I share: Why collaborative classroom norms actually work How to guide students through the process step by step A ready-to-use...