Teachers’ Cup of Coffee

Happy New Year!  Time to commit to an educational resolution.  We give you 15 quick choices, any of which will improve teaching and learning in your classroom!

One paragraph that can significantly improve learning in your classroom! (As well as train students to be empathetic, critical thinkers).

...One paragraph that can significantly improve learning in your classroom!

Who you hang out with at school can have a huge impact on your mood and energy.  This week we go into the vault to remind ourselves to find those marigolds!

Remembering what we teach is the kids' responsibility, right?  Actually, HOW we teach directly impacts whether learning can reach students' long term memory.  5 steps to make sure our teaching maximizes memory; don't forget to listen!

Starting to feel a little frustrated?  Losing the optimism that comes with the start of a new year?  Limping toward the 3-day weekend?  We have the cure: Hug a porcupine!

Flipping the classroom is way too hard.  It's not worth the frustration and time.  Kids aren't ready... unless we listen to today's guest: A middle school math teacher who has changed teaching and learning by successfully flipping her classroom!  Thanks for joining us, Melissa Hine.

We are back for School Year 2 and we are starting with 3 quick ideas on how to start your school year UNUSUAL!

Students are perceptive.  Very perceptive.  And it's the end of the year; no better time than now to ask them what worked and what didn't work in our classroom.  This week we hear from an 8th grade student reflecting on what type of instruction works for her.  We hope you're inspired to ask your students the same type of questions before they head off into summer!

It's May. Now is the time to experiment and try new things. How about reinventing homework so kids are motivated and their learning is multifaceted?  Give it a try!

Let's keep the innovative thinking going!  Genius Hour is a way to redefine teaching and learning in your classroom.  Here are some easy steps to get started.

Let's be honest, March is tough!  We're tired, on edge, and feeling lost in the abyss of the daily struggle of teaching and learning.  This week, we review an article that can help us all feel good again!

3 days of learning about learning at M.I.T. is boiled down to 10 minutes of ideas on how K-12 schools and classrooms can implement some of M.I.T.'s innovative practices.  And there is much to learn!

The story of TOMS shoes, TED Talks, and brain research all show that telling stories helps people engage in thinking.  How can we use this skill more consistently in the classroom to motivate students?  7 minutes is all we need!

Teaching students to be globally competent is no easy task.  In just 4 minutes, we review a simple and effective strategy for fostering global thinking in the classroom.  

When Everybody Writes, everyone is thinking!  Such a simple strategy, but it is one that can significantly change learning in your classroom. Got 5 minutes?

Students struggle to persevere through challenging academic work.  In just 4.5 minutes, this week we have ideas on teaching perseverance that both educators and parents will benefit from!

Some quick ideas for getting back to school and hitting the ground running, (as well as how to deal with that alarm in the morning)!

This week we summarize and review an excellent blog written by a teacher.  Just 7 minutes could change your practice in the classroom forever!

How can we incorporate movement and brain breaks into our classroom?  Our guest expert, a middle school physical education teacher, gives us a lot of cool ideas!  And he also discusses just how important these moments are for students' ability to learn.

Nothing is more important that having students motivated to learn.  Let's learn from Daniel Pink, one of the world's experts on motivation, and share ideas on what we can do to get students more motivated in our classrooms!

Let's take a look at a recent article which provides many cool ideas for increasing high order thinking in the classroom.  

Let's keep it simple.  A 5-minute collaboration challenge.  Are you up to improving your practice this week?

Sometimes we can learn the most from our students!  This week we interview a 4th grade student in an urban school to hear why she loves her teacher so much.  

Millennial workers are pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into working for startup companies.  What can we learn from the culture of these companies to improve how we run our classrooms?  This week we discuss an Edutopia blog with many great ideas!