I recently asked Imagine Learning‘s director of training to share some of the challenges educators encounter that prevent their students from getting as much from Imagine Learning English as they could. I thought it would be instructive to share some of her observations and offer some tips that can help you overcome these roadblocks if you’re experiencing them too.
The most common issue she hears is that scheduling frequently makes it difficult to give students enough time in the lab. Often it’s a tough decision of limiting the student’s exposure to another subject in favor of increasing their literacy or second language acquisition time. While it may be obvious to a student’s classroom teacher that more time spent using the program would be beneficial, if your school has specials teachers, more coordination between instructors may be needed to determine what will best serve the child.
So how have other teachers addressed this challenge? Let me share two suggestions that have worked for many schools using Imagine Learning English. Read more »
It’s that time again: the weather is getting warmer, the days are getting longer, and students and teachers alike are looking forward to summer vacation. Such an atmosphere might make it difficult to stay motivated, but there’s no reason to coast until the end of the year. In a child’s education, every week counts. So how can you make sure that these last few weeks count for your students? Read on for some tips for helping both teachers and students stay motivated through the end of the school year. Read more »
On March 11, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Japan, causing mass destruction and a tsunami that devastated the country. Thousands were killed in the disaster, with thousands still missing. Such a terrible event has caused people all over the world to unite in hope, prayer, and relief efforts for the Japanese people.
Here at Imagine Learning, we’ve been collecting donations from employees to benefit the victims of the disaster, as many people are doing worldwide. But adults aren’t the only ones who have been participating in relief efforts for Japan. Hundreds of elementary schools, high schools, and school districts have been showing support and sending relief in many ways, whether it’s by raising money through bake sales or folding paper cranes as a symbol of hope and support. Read more »
“If we learned how to walk and talk the way we are taught how to read and write, everybody would limp and stutter.” — Mark Twain
If you’ve ever met children who are naturally expressive, you’ve probably listened to them easily talk about their lives, share their opinions, and tell their favorite stories.
But if you’ve ever asked children to write down the thoughts they just shared with you, you may have noticed something strange: a pencil and a sheet of paper can cause even the most naturally expressive children to freeze up or close off.
Why does writing affect so many children (and adults) like this? I believe it is because many of us take the writing process too seriously. It’s as if the words we write are forever chiseled in stone the moment the lead or ink hits the paper.
Happy Presidents’ Day, everyone! We hope you are enjoying a lovely day off. And just in case you’re doing a little work over your holiday weekend, here are a few Presidents’ Day resources to help you plan fun lessons about our nation’s presidents, monuments, first pets, and more:
I recently asked Imagine Learning‘s director of training to share some of the challenges educators encounter that prevent their students from getting as much from Imagine Learning English as they could. I thought it would be instructive to share some of her observations and offer some tips that can help you overcome these roadblocks if you’re experiencing them too.
