teaching strategy

storytelling

Teaching Essential Life Skills Through Storytelling

Storytelling teaches your children essential life skills. Not only enjoyable and interactive, storytelling teaches skills that are used beyond the classroom. Continue reading →

emotional intelligence

What is Social Emotional Learning and Why Does it Matter?

“Oh, no!” you might say to yourself! SEL, another educational acronym or abbreviation to go along with ELA, AIS, PD, ESL, GRE, ADHD, ED, PTA, NCLB, SST, SAT, ERIC, GED and literally hundreds of others. The three-letters alone could be … Continue reading →

choice theory

What We Can Learn From Finland

What can we learn from Finland about how to create a high-quality educational system that works for students, educators, and parents? Continue reading →

choice theory

Giving “Tickets” for Appropriate Behavior

What happens when we give kids a reward for appropriate behavior? You may be surprised at what we are unwittingly teaching. Continue reading →

assessment method

Teacher Evaluation: Thoughts from Educators

As part of our ongoing series on new problems and ideas in teacher assessments, www.funderstanding.com has reached out to rank-and-file educators for their input. Through both direct sources and a far-reaching social media shout-out, we have spoken to dozens of … Continue reading →

Activities

TXT Me L8r!

FYI my little 1s (3rd g8rs) just did a unit re: how 2 rite a ltr. Like, a ltr ltr. Old skool, LOL. U haf 2 start w the d8 @ the top. Nxt rite ur address. Not ur email… like @ ur house. Then ur BFF’s address 2. U… Read More

Curriculum

You Majored in What?!

Graduation season is upon us, the time when we pause to celebrate the accomplishments of newly-minted degree-holders. Of course, in economic times such as these, there’s no guarantee that a new graduate, professionally green and facing unprecedented competition for jobs, will land solid employment just on the strength of a… Read More

Activities

Science Through Literature in Inner City Schools

It was very exciting – and a little intimidating – to be invited to spend a day at an inner-city high school in Los Angeles. I have spent over a decade developing and promoting an interdisciplinary approach to teaching core concepts in science and mathematics; throwing out the traditional text… Read More

Teaching Essential Life Skills Through Storytelling