Words of Wisdom and Practical Tools
Shared by teachers in classrooms like yours across the state. Learn from colleagues who have been in your shoes, as they share specific skills and strategies to improve engagement and learning in the classroom.
Download the 1-pg Quick Guides as a single PDF here. Individual Quick Guides can be found in the Accompanying Materials and Resources section of each video.
Latest Resources
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Counting in a Circle (Sparkle)
Learn the engaging “Counting in a Circle” or “Sparkle” activity from teacher leader Kara Holtzman. This versatile routine is perfect for practicing counting and can be adapted for all elementary
Did You Know That…?
Robin Walker, an educator from the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, shares the “Did You Know That..?” activity, a powerful tool for connecting with students from second grade to high school.
See, Mean, Matter
Chris Lewis, an educator at Mountain View High School in El Monte, introduces the “See, Mean, Matter” strategy for analyzing political cartoons. This approach guides students through three steps: understanding
Listening Word Games
Julie Kanel, a reading specialist, shares three interactive “Listening Word Games” for young learners, promoting phonemic awareness. These games, suitable for grades TK to 2, help improve students’ reading and
Sentence Stretchers
Kate Bowen, an experienced Elementary Consultant, shares an effective strategy called “Sentence Stretchers” to enhance students’ writing skills. Using four sentence strips labeled A, B, C, and D, students construct
Managing Classroom Noise Levels
Maria Montes Clemens, an elementary school Spanish teacher at Prospect Sierra, shares three classroom management strategies to help you create an orderly learning environment: the “Voice-O-Meter”, the “Give Me Five”,