Recent content by JaneBosch

I think this is one of those fights that maybe isn't worth fighting. Unless the tattoo is something inappropriate, I don't see the need to cover them up. It's just a form of expression. If it's really troublesome, I'd keep armbands to give to the student to cover up the arm tattoo. I'm not sure...

I think it depends on what book/movie it is. There are some books that are still educational even when adapted to movies. For instance, To Kill A Mockingbird is impactful and gets its point across in both versions. Of course, I think they should read the book too. With a book like Twilight, the...

That's a tough one. The parents definitely need to step up and get the child to school. But how can you make them do that? Parents aren't always the most responsible and sometimes are even abusive. You could fail the child, but that sort of feels like you're punishing the child for what may be...

I usually discover new books through the Goodreads community. I'm also the admin of an online book club and my members will occasionally recommend a book that sounds interesting. If I am wanting a certain genre, like fantasy, then I will look up "best fantasy books" on google and see what lists...

Give them something to read that they might actually find interesting. Try to find texts that the children might be able to relate to or emphasize with. The Diary of Anne Frank is popular because it's not difficult to understand and people can emphasize with the girl who wrote it. Find out what...

I hate memorizing the dates too. I had a college professor that tried to steer away from the dates and focus more on the significance of the historical events. Of course, she still included the dates in our tests but she gave us the option to either give the exact date or just the century in...

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is my favorite classic novel. It's one of the few novels I remember vividly and that I actually want to re-read. Although there are other classics I have deeply enjoyed as well that are close seconds. The Catcher in the Rye really captures the inner thoughts of a...

I do think students should be able to choose their own books. Students will have an easier time absorbing information they find interesting. They will also put more effort into something they enjoy. For instance, I hate reading poetry. I don't like or understand poetry. I will rush through the...

I'm iffy on this. I don't want students to feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. As someone who suffers from anxiety disorders, I can emphasize with kids who may have social anxiety. However, I feel like not calling on the shy kids might only continue to make them shy. If you avoid what you are...

I think banning those foods is beneficial to the children. Children tend to think they are invincible at that age. They don't fully realize how bad those foods are for them and what the long-term effects are. Sugar is also addictive. I wish I wouldn't have eaten so much junk food when I was...

I think it's better to assign groups instead of letting them work with their friends. Children can feel really heartbroken when they aren't picked by their classmates. Nobody gets their feelings hurt when the teacher is the one picking the groups. The students also get to talk to classmates they...

I think games can be a very effective way of teaching. Children learn by observing their environment, and playing is a large part of that. There is a really good article by the New York Times that discusses this called "Taking Playtime Seriously". Plus, children will be far more engaged in what...

You need a balance of both. If you are too friendly or too serious, the students won't take you seriously. Also, if you are too strict, it makes the children feel afraid of you. The children should be able to trust you but should also respect you.