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A Teacher’s Plea: Read with Your Kids
Published March 14, 2018 by Sheldon Soper

A Teacher’s Plea: Read with Your Kids

I have been teaching public school children for a decade. From first grade to eighth grade and all the grades in between, I have seen, first hand, students soar above their perceived potential. At the same time, I have seen others struggle to reach it.

I have heard all the rationales from socio-economic disparity to learning styles, from Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to a lack of interest-based learning, from ineffective schools and ill-trained educators to the lack of necessary educational resources. I will not disparage those factors as they do play a role in the social and academic growth of all children, however, I refuse to believe that they cannot be overcome.

In my career I have met with hundreds of families to discuss the successes and shortcomings of each their children’s academic efforts. By the very nature of the educational process, each child and each family presents the educator with a unique set of challenges and needs that must be accounted for. That being said, it is a flawed mentality (be it explicit or implicit) that the responsibility lies solely with the classroom educators to meet these academic needs.

Looking back over my ten years in the classroom, I can categorically say that there is, in fact, one panacea that has continually produced students that excel both academically and socially. Regardless of financial status, racial background, familial makeup, or special needs, there exists a common experience that has been present in the majority of my most successful students. It is simple and timeless, and any parent has the power to do it. Nevertheless, it stands as the four words I find myself wanting to yell from the mountaintops each year as a fresh crop of families enter into my classroom:

Read with your kids!

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The Implications of Grading Without Zeros
Published January 27, 2018 by Sheldon Soper

The Implications of Grading Without Zeros

From the Teach.com blog –January 16, 2018 by Sheldon Soper For most of us, grades were always a part of school. Work was assigned, it was completed, and we were given a…

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@SoperWritings Teach.com

assessment education policy executive function grades life skills parenting practical classroom tips teaching profession

The Constantly Evolving Role of the School Librarian
Published November 2, 2017 by Sheldon Soper

The Constantly Evolving Role of the School Librarian

From: The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Blog – Guest Post on behalf of Teach.com – July 5, 2017 – by Sheldon Soper The educational landscape is awash with initiatives…

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college applications differentiated instruction education policy executive function librarians life skills school climate teaching profession technology

Using Learning Styles to Reach Students
Published October 3, 2017 by Sheldon Soper

Using Learning Styles to Reach Students

HowToLearn.com GUEST COLUMN | by Sheldon Soper There has been plenty of pushback against the claims that learning styles are a sure bet when it comes to facilitating student understanding.…

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@SoperWritings Knowledge Roundtable

differentiated instruction education policy executive function life skills practical classroom tips teaching profession

A Fair Opportunity for Success
Published October 3, 2017 by Sheldon Soper

A Fair Opportunity for Success

Prevent technology gaps from creating achievement gaps. EdTech Digest GUEST COLUMN | by Sheldon Soper Technology-driven classroom workflows need analog components to ensure students without reliable access to technology outside…

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@SoperWritings Knowledge Roundtable

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