As seen in The First Six Weeks of School, 2nd edition! “Peanut Butter, Grape Jelly” Peanut butter, grape jelly, peanut butter, jam Peanut butter, grape jelly, peanut butter, jam Peanut butter, grape jelly, peanut butter, jam I like peanut butter, yes, yes ma’am [Optional: repeat the lines above, substituting student-suggested words for “grape jelly”] Read More »
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SEP
10
2021
A Successful Start to the Year – One School’s Story of Adults Making a Difference by Working Together
In the first week of my teaching career, I had a colleague say to me, “You get only one chance to start the year off in a good place – if…
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MAY
04
2021
Responding to Learning Loss
In June 2020, the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company released “COVID-19 and Student Learning in the United States” a report that outlined the alarming potential impact of school closures on learning.…
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APR
17
2015
Looking Ahead to Next Year: The First Day of School
As the school year draws to a close, you’re probably thinking about ways to keep students engaged in their learning during the last weeks of school. But now is also a good…
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SEP
01
2011
Back to School with Children’s Books
Reading aloud can be a powerful way to build community and shared understanding at the beginning of the school year. My classes and I used to laugh and talk all year about…
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AUG
30
2011
A New Teacher’s First Day
I was so nervous as I prepared for my first year of teaching! I worried that the kids wouldn't listen, their parents would think I was too young to teach, and the…
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AUG
22
2011
First Day Memories
I never loved the first day of school. My teaching depended so much upon knowing my students, and until I got to know them, I never felt entirely comfortable.Having said that, I do…
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AUG
18
2011
On the First Day, Less Is More
When I started teaching, I always planned way too much for the first days of school. It took me a while to learn to make the first day of school a comfortable,…
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AUG
16
2010
Read-Alouds for the First Day of School
The other day Jen Audley sent me a link to a blog entry about the first day of school that really got me thinking about the children who come to our classes…
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AUG
18
2009
New Teacher’s Toolkit: First Days
From the day school starts, you'll probably have about a three day grace period when most children are going to be on their best behavior. After that they'll start to relax, and…
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AUG
01
2007
Learning Names At the Start of the Year
Caltha Crowe retired in June after 35 years of teaching. Most recently, she taught third graders at King’s Highway Elementary School in Westport, Connecticut. She is a certified Responsive Classroom consulting teacher.
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APR
01
2005
Looking Ahead to Next Year
For students, teachers, and parents alike, few events bring more hope and nervousness than the start of a new school year. As the summer winds down, many teachers begin to have conflicting…
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JUL
31
2004
Opening Soon!
An exciting way to introduce classroom materials and learning areas slowly, safely, and with a sense of ownership and fun As eager kindergarten students enter the classroom on the first day of…
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