by mlicausi | Dec 20, 2015 | Assessment, Classroom Management, Common Core, Free Resources, goal setting, Grading, Learning Goals and Scales, Marzano Scales, Most Successful Teaching Strategies, Motivation
Okay, so you just finished the quarter a few days ago and planning your January lessons is the furthest thing from your mind! I thought the same thing for a minute, then I realized that when I’m relaxed, leisurely, and I don’t have to be planning anything,...
by mlicausi | Dec 7, 2015 | Classroom Management, Grading, Most Successful Teaching Strategies, Motivation
Does this look like a developmentally appropriate play area? It’s what I like to call an “organic” play area; it happens when kids are allowed to play freely without adult intervention (a.k.a. they have been inside for days and mom’s...
by mlicausi | Nov 9, 2015 | Behavior, Classroom Management, Cooperation, Grading, Learning Goals and Scales, Marzano Scales, Most Successful Teaching Strategies, Motivation
This is the time of year that I LOVE doing projects!! It can be a nice break from the constant demands of academic thinking, but it is also hard for me to justify the classroom time unless I can connect it to some other learning. I loved the classic...
by mlicausi | Sep 6, 2015 | Assessment, Common Core Math, Free Resources, Grading, Learning Goals and Scales, Marzano Scales, Most Successful Teaching Strategies, Motivation, Parent Communication, Portfolios, Professional Development, Teacher Evaluations
Do you get a bit frazzled preparing for conferences? Parents have a million questions and you have 10-15 minutes to explain 10-20 weeks of progress. I used to stress about where to begin the conversation. Then I figured out how to make it visual so I had less...
by mlicausi | Aug 11, 2015 | Behavior, Classroom Management, Common Core, Common Core Math, Gifted and Talented Resources, Math, Motivation
The first weeks of the school year always got me wondering how much my students learned from last year. I certainly didn’t have time to review all of their standardized test scores, and it’s hard to give a pretest in every subject that touches on skills...
by mlicausi | Jul 5, 2015 | Assessment, Common Core Math, Differentiation, Free Resources, Learning Goals and Scales, Marzano Scales, Math, Most Successful Teaching Strategies, Motivation
My husband and I spent our recent 5th Anniversary in Sedona, AZ. One of the most beautiful places I have ever been in the U.S., and the place he proposed to me. We wanted to enjoy the hiking, rock climbing, creek swimming, and our favorite winery, Oak Creek. We...