Becky Boer

Monthly Archives:

June 2014

Teaching

Classroom Rules

Last year, I adapted a set of classroom rules. These rules are based loosely on the idea of Whole Brain Teaching, and are influenced by a few teachers that I know. There are only five rules, and they are fairly simple and easy to remember. 1. Listen when the teacher is talking. This is always on my class rules, no matter how many times I change them. I try to make sure that I’m concise and succinct when I’m talking to my kids, because their attention spans only last for about  ...

Continue Reading

Teaching

Reference Binder (Or “Realizing Just How Nerdy I Am”)

About a week ago, I got an idea. My sister had been in Staples and found that they had binders on sale for some ridiculously low price, so she bought me 12. Twelve binders. Normal people might’ve been like, “What in the world am I supposed to do with twelve binders?” but not me. I was thrilled. (They’re also pink and green and super cute.) I’ve already moved the contents of most of my binders into these new ones. But I do have some left over, and while trying  ...

Continue Reading

Teaching

Goodbyes

Today I said goodbye to my fifth graders. Most teachers can send their students off at the end of the year with a pat on the back and a “Have a good summer; see you next year!” But not fifth grade teachers. Our students are moving on, not only from our grade level but from our school. They’re leaving elementary school and becoming middle schoolers, and they’re excited to begin the journey. Somewhere in there, they know they’ll miss their fifth grade teachers,  ...

Continue Reading