Posts tagged "teaching supplies"

Teacher Appreciation Day

Image via Wikipedia

Teacher Appreciation Day is May 3rd.  What are some of the different ways others have celebrated your dedication to teaching?  There are a variety of ways that students, parents, and community members show their appreciation for teachers.  Some of the ways include hosting a luncheon, buying special gifts, and donating classroom supplies.  As a teacher, it is extremely important to feel like your job is important and that you are making a difference.

I’m sure that you can remember the teachers that have made a difference in your life.  It is amazing how many teachers each person encounters in one lifetime.  From your beginning days of preschool to your college days and beyond, you are no doubt continuing to work with teachers almost daily.  Do you remember how you have showed your appreciation to your dedicated teachers in the past?  Some of the most meaningful gestures of appreciation in my teaching career have been both simple and heart felt.  I have had students create stepping stones, mugs, and picture frames.  I have also had families buy me gift certificates for my favorite coffee shops, restaurants, and book stores.  Some more memorable gifts include beautiful note cards, a pen and pencil set, and a quote of a day.  Classroom teaching supplies that I use everyday such as fun post-it notes, highlighters, and children’s books also top my list of the best Teacher Appreciation gifts that I have received.

Still don’t know what to get a dedicated teacher in your life?  You actually don’t need to buy anything.  Even if you just express your gratitude by writing a note or volunteering in their classroom, you are thanking them for their hard work.

Remember teachers are everywhere!  When you go to church, teachers are teaching Sunday school classes, at day cares, camps, schools, and libraries teachers are making a difference in the lives of children.  Stop and do something to appreciate them today!

Foreign Language Activities

Image by crackedmoon via Flickr

Are you a foreign language teacher wanting to add some new creative learning experiences to your lesson plans? When you are teaching a foreign language, it is important to consider the various learning styles of your learners.  The three learning styles include visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.  So, the teaching supplies that you should focus on purchasing for your foreign language students should provide a variety of experiences to help meet the needs of your learners.  Here are some suggestions:

Visual – The visual learner needs books, charts, and flash cards to help physically see the concepts being taught.  Students learning another language can use these learning tools as a class, individually, or as a small group.  You can also use props, labels, and pocket charts during instruction time to emphasize concepts that are being taught.  For example, a visual learner may write detailed notes as you are teaching.  The visual learner will benefit from the photographs and illustrations that you provide.

Auditory – The auditory learner needs to be able to hear everything clearly.  When learning a foreign language, audio tapes and partner conversations are great ways to meet the auditory learner’s needs.  While all of your students will be having conversations as part of your routine, the auditory learner may be especially focused in this area.

Kinesthetic – The kinesthetic learner needs to be an active participant in the foreign language activities.  Physical games and acting out vocabulary words and stories are some of the ways kinesthetic learners can learn a foreign language.  Props are a wonderful way to help teach concepts.

There are many great teaching supplies designed to help you have fun and teach all kinds of learners.  As you are planning your lessons this week, think about all of the different learning styles in your classroom and plan several lessons that will help everyone.

Don’t forget to check out www.k12schoolsupplies.net!