Teachers’ Cup of Coffee

Let's ask a student!

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!

Rethink Homework

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!

Genius Hour

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.

Find your marigolds

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!

Learning from M.I.T.

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!

Tell a Story - and then they'll engage

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!

"3 Why's" for global students

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.  

Everybody Writes

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?

Teaching perseverance

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!

Dreading tomorrow? We can help!

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)!