CLS Teacher Support

  How to Improve Your Memory for the Things That Matter A new book explains how our brains selectively remember and forget, and how to use that knowledge to our advantage. Have you ever forgotten a lunch date and stood up a good friend? This can be embarrassing and disconcerting, a potential sign that your memory just isn’t what it used to be. But, according to a new book by researcher Charan Ranganath,  Why We Remember , this kind of gaffe is less about a faulty memory and more an artifact of how memory works. “Although we tend to believe that we can and should remember anything we want, the reality is we are designed to forget,” he says. As Ranganath explains, our memory isn’t just a repository for everything that’s ever happened to us; it’s much more fluid than that, affected by the context of our past experiences as well as what’s happening in the present moment. Because our lives are full of incoming sensory information and our reactions to it, the laying down of a memory...

  ADHD Hyperfocus: The Secret Weapon to Unleashing Productivity and Creativity Think about the last time you were doing something you enjoyed, like reading a book or playing a musical instrument. Did the hours fly by, and your surroundings disappear? For those with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), this phenomenon is called hyperfocus. And it can happen pretty often. ADHD hyperfocus is a state of intense and prolonged concentration that some ADHDers experience. The individual can become so engaged in a particular activity that they become unaware of their surroundings and the passing of time. [1] This abundance of focus can be both a blessing and a curse – depending on how you channel it. It might help you  stay focused  on a task until you complete it. Or it could make it harder to manage the amount of time you spend on certain activities. But by implementing self-regulatory strategies, you can use the ability to hyperfocus to your advantage! Note:  T...

  How Nature Journaling Helps My Students Feel at Home A place-based educator in California invites his students to spend time in, observe, and document the wild nature around them. As temperatures cool and snow begins to grace the northern Sierra Nevada’s ridges and peaks, the “Mountain Kids” of Plumas County carry a simple but transformative tool in their backpacks: a nature journal. These journals capture each student’s experiences in pictures, words, and numbers, each page becoming a window into their weekly adventures. I have been a place-based educator for three decades. Place-based education is a pedagogical approach that centers instruction and learning in the locale where a child lives and attends school. Each place holds nature and culture simultaneously. Children in the primary and intermediate grades are in a developmental stage where the physical and temporal place in front of them and at their feet is the context for cognitive understanding. Place is a literal here an...

  ADHD Paralysis Is Real: Here Are 8 Ways to Overcome it You  really  need to get things done but just can’t seem to get the ball rolling. You’re overwhelmed, frozen in place, and can’t even think about what to do first. That’s exactly what ADHD paralysis feels like. But what is ADHD paralysis? Also known as analysis paralysis or ADHD shutdown, ADHD paralysis happens when a person with ADHD is overwhelmed by information, emotions, or their environment. As a result, they freeze and can’t think or function effectively. Adults who experience ADHD paralysis find it much more challenging to focus and complete their tasks. Because of this, they may struggle to keep up with their commitments and responsibilities at work, school, or home. Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to learn more.

Begin each day with a committed heart for God! Check out Josh McDowell’s Daily Devotions for Families and Youth. Launch yourself on an unforgettable adventure in making right choices. The daily readings and reflection questions may make you laugh or really think, and each will help you discover how to do the right thing during the ups and downs of daily life. Be challenged and inspired to live for God like never before! Note: The above comes directly from their website. Click here to read more.

  Our Mission To spark more “aha” moments for every teacher and student. We believe every little win in the classroom is a step towards a brighter future. That's why we’re here for the “aha” moments. When a student lights up because they have learned something new. The combined triumphs that bring joy, high-fives and inspire love for learning. Our curated library of teaching resources, classroom solutions, and educator apps gives K-6 teachers the tools and inspiration they need to design unique and impactful classroom experiences. Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to learn more.

  Path To Wellness Food Allergies Nov 10, 2020 In order to obtain health we must understand what health is.  Most dictionaries define health as the state of being free from illness or injury.  Is that all health really is, the absence of illness and injury? If you look good, feel good, and have no physical injury or illness then you are healthy, right? Unfortunately, many people view health in this manner. They fail to realize many of today’s illnesses take years to develop until they actually affect how you feel. You must take into consideration that it can be anywhere from 20 to even 30 years for your arteries to clog enough to lead to a heart attack. The cancerous cell that killed someone in their fifties could have been present in their twenties! I prefer the definition of health as stated by the World Health Organization, “A state of optimal physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.  This definition makes it clea...

  How to Successfully Implement a Daily Journaling Routine in Your Classroom You and I both know all the  benefits of student journaling . A chance to reflect, to simply express, to experiment, to refine skills, etc. The list can go on, but how you implement journaling in your classroom can make a difference in the results you may be seeking. Setting Expectations ‍Before you begin your first day of journal writing, be sure to introduce the concept of journaling to your students if they’re unfamiliar with it, and share with them why you’re doing it and how you think it will help them. ‍Determine clear-cut expectations, and then lay them out to your students. It’s important for them to understand ahead of time what you will consider as “journaling.” Review the following questions to determine what constitutes journaling and what doesn’t: > – Will you allow simply words or phrases? > – Will you expect full sentences and paragraphs? > – Are poems or song lyrics okay? >...

What Just 10 Minutes of Daily Journaling Can Do for Student Writing As you have probably already experienced at some point in your teaching career, it can be a major challenge to have your students quietly find their seats and have their materials out, let alone have them complete a warm-up exercise. ‍With seemingly less and less time and more curriculum to cover in class, it’s important to maximize these first few minutes, and that’s why journaling for just 10 minutes at the start of class every day can both eliminate wasted class time and (more importantly) create thinkers and writers. Benefits of Daily Journaling ‍Daily journaling is an excellent chance for students to conduct a “mental warmup” as well as an opportunity to become reflective and introspective thinkers. Not only does daily journaling eliminate wasted time at the beginning of class, but it also gets students thinking before they even arrive to class. Knowing ahead of time that they’ll have to produce some piece of writ...

  Keep an Eye on Your Child's Vision Vision screenings and eye exams As your child grows, their eyes can change quickly. Your child's pediatrician will likely screen your child's vision as part of their regular checkups. If they find signs of a vision problem, they may recommend an eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam. A  vision screening  is an exam used to identify the children in need for additional eye care. It can be done by a family doctor, pediatrician, school nurse, or other health care professional. A  comprehensive eye exam  is a thorough exam done by an eye doctor—a specialist called an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The eye doctor can diagnose your child's medical or vision problem and provide treatment. If you have any concerns about your child's vision, ask their pediatrician to help you find an eye doctor.  Early detection and treatment  are key to protecting your child's vision. Note:  The above comes directly from their  ...

  Since 2002, ReadWriteThink.org has provided literacy educators with access to an ever-growing collection of free educational materials. This includes hundreds of lesson plans, calendar resources, prints, and interactive tools. The site has consistently been one of the most information-rich literacy resources on the internet. Every lesson plan on ReadWriteThink has always been aligned to the IRA/NCTE Standards for the English Language Arts, showing how theory feeds into practice. ReadWriteThink has always had a focus on professional development — helping educators recharge their teaching, learn new techniques and strategies, and connect with other literacy professionals through both online and offline opportunities. ReadWriteThink is able to offer all of this great content because of the literacy experts who write and review for us and are committed to providing our users with the highest quality practices in reading and language arts instruction. Note: The above comes directly fr...

  5 Smartphone Safety Features That Take Less Than 5 Minutes to Activate Calls, texts, and social media are typically top of mind when we dive into our smartphones — but these little devices also have the ability to protect our health and even our lives. Though it may sound like a hassle to set up safety features on your cell phone (particularly when that Instagram feed refresh is calling your name), taking the time to prepare for the worst could massively pay off when you need it the most. “One of the big issues in personal preparedness and disaster preparedness is that most people don’t feel threatened until it’s too late,” Dr. Thomas Kirsch, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Refugee and Disaster Response, told  John Hopkins Medicine . So to help you get started, we rounded up five iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel safety features that will have your back in case of an emergency. The best part? They all take five minutes or less to set up. Note:  The above...

  About Us Welcome to Biblionasium! We are dedicated to the critical belief that all kids can fall in love with reading. Consistent support and just the right book can ignite the spark. The Story Behind Biblionasium As a parent to two young readers, Biblionasium founder Marjan Ghara was spending a great deal of time trying to make sure her kids were reading good books, developing good reading habits, and learning to love books. With her co-founders, Nader Granmayeh and Leyli Granmayeh, they came up with the idea for Biblionasium out of personal need.  Forever trying to find the next great book to read, they turned to friends, librarians and teachers for recommendations. As enthusiastic suggestions poured in, Marjan and her kids realized they needed a digital solution to organize the information, keep track of their own favorite books and connect a new generation of digital kids. As a result of direct input from a stellar group of educators, librarians and classroom teachers, t...

  Made  by teachers,  for teaching. Zearn created Zearn Math, the top-rated math learning platform used by 1 in 4 elementary-school students and by more than 1 million middle-school students nationwide. Zearn Math supports teachers with research-backed curriculum and dynamic digital lessons. Proving together that math is  for everyone. With millions of students solving billions of math problems on our platform, we have a large data set that gives unique insights into trends in math teaching and learning. As a nonprofit, Zearn is committed to sharing data insights to support the pursuit of numeracy for all. Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to learn more.

  Scratch is the world’s largest coding community for children and a coding language with a simple visual interface that allows young people to create digital stories, games, and animations. Scratch is designed, developed, and moderated by the Scratch Foundation , a nonprofit organization. Scratch promotes computational thinking and problem solving skills; creative teaching and learning; self-expression and collaboration; and equity in computing. Scratch is always free and is available in more than 70 languages. Note: The above comes directly from their website. Click here to read more.

  Everybody makes mistakes No, “irregardless” is not a word: Terms often used incorrectly Credit: cottonbro studio Surely, we’ve all made grammatical mistakes that still haunt us. But that doesn’t mean our eyes are safe from twitching when we hear words like "irregardless."  A dozen popular mistakes  have spread and infiltrated the vocabulary of many, much to the dismay of word lovers. Let’s explore some of these and hope we aren’t among the ones committing them! Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to read more.

  A History Inspired By Impact Founded by teachers for teachers, BetterLesson began in 2008 with a single mission—to provide a simple way for educators to connect and share high-quality lesson plans. Today, BetterLesson has over 1.4 million registered members and offers over a million lessons from our community and our Master Teachers, a highly selective group of the nation’s best educators. We’ve grown to offer a full suite of professional development tools and services to schools, districts, and organizations. We’ve worked with thousands of educators through the BL Lab , Workshops , 1:1 Coaching , and Learning Walks to support their development of the next generation of students both in school and beyond. Lesson Plans from Our Master Teachers The Master Teacher Project is committed to building a body of knowledge around authentic instructional practice. We recruit and select high-performing teachers across the country to share their rich, comprehensive lessons and effective stra...

  Funbrain promotes itself as being a helpful tool for students to use when they finish an assignment, or for teachers to use as a fill-in activity for students who have time for more practice -- and students could certainly kill some time on the site. Teachers could show some of the videos to the whole class or use the books as a read-aloud displayed on the screen. If you do choose to use the site in class, you'll want to create a way to track students' progress. It’s unfortunate that there isn't a teacher dashboard on the site -- such an addition could help teachers know exactly where, and how well, their students are practicing. Funbrain is a free resource that includes books, games, and videos for students. Students can browse content by grade level (pre-K to 8) or content (games, videos, reading, playground, and math zone). The home page also features the most popular games and activities as well as those newly added. Many of the games overlap mul...

  Storybird lets anyone make visual stories in seconds. We curate artwork from illustrators around the world and inspire writers of any age to turn those images into original stories. It's a simple idea that has attracted millions of writers, readers, and artists to our platform. Families and friends, teachers and students, and amateurs and professionals have created more than 30 million stories—making Storybird one of the world's largest storytelling communities. Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to learn more.

  While National Geographic Kids isn't well organized for teachers, it's a fantastic resource for students to use to explore their interests and follow their curiosity. Though it isn't a comprehensive site and has some gaps in the animals and countries it covers, its offerings keep expanding. The site would be a great way to introduce the diversity of life on Earth: Encourage students to learn about new animals, watch the various science and geography series, or explore the U.S. states or countries of the world. The Homework Help section can provide additional assistance with light research papers or projects. Teachers can also search for resources that match topics they're working on in the classroom. Teachers of younger students will find this educational tool a great way to increase engagement and add extension activities for science and social studies lessons. There are also closed captions on videos for accessibility purposes. Note: Though the site content is free,...

  Our Story 826 Digital was launched by 826 National in 2017 with the goal to make the 826 approach to teaching writing accessible to every student, everywhere. Our team is made up of educators who are passionate about expanding student access to quality writing instruction. Our lessons are often designed and field-tested by staff and educators across the 826 Network, ensuring that lessons are engaging and effective. They are then adapted for 826 Digital so that educators beyond our chapters can use them too. Today, 826 Digital is accessed by tens of thousands of educators across every grade level, hailing from all fifty states across the U.S. and sixty countries around the world, reaching hundreds of thousands of students worldwide. We remain committed to our mission to make quality writing resources accessible to all. In 2021, 826 National worked with the American Foundation for the Blind to improve the accessibility of 826 Digital, implementing recommendations to the best of our...

  Our Mission Science Buddies mission is to  inspire and educate  students of all ages with hands-on STEM explorations that reflect their unique personal interests. By providing highly personalized educational experiences, we drive student  discovery, engagement, and learning in STEM subjects . Our vision is to develop  high-quality scientist-authored explorations  covering all key areas of STEM, from the classics to the cutting edge, in formats tailored for the needs of the audiences having the greatest potential to impact student STEM learning, students themselves, classroom teachers, informal educators, and parents.  Free and open to everyone, we level the playing field , making STEM learning possible for students of all demographics. Note:  The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to learn more.