Brain Ninjas

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The Sweetest Way to Teach Self-Assessment

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A set of cupcake posters hangs on a bulletin board in a classroom. Teach students to self-assess with this rubric that helps take the burden of feedback off your teacher shoulders and helps students truly understand the quality of their work.

Here’s the truth: students don’t always know what “good work” looks like.

They turn in an assignment, you hand it back with feedback, and you can see the confusion in their eyes. “But I thought it was done?” they say. Or worse, they’re genuinely proud of work that’s only halfway there, completely unaware that there’s so much more they could do to make it shine.

Sound familiar?

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15 Ways to Use Sticky Notes in the Classroom

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Are you looking for ways to use sticky notes in your classroom? We put together a list of some of the ways we use sticky notes because we love to use them. They are so easy to use, kids love them and there are endless possibilities. Come read!

Sticky notes are a versatile tool that can be used in a variety of ways to enhance classroom learning. It’s no secret that most teachers love sticky notes because they come in a variety of styles, sizes and colours. There are so many different ways to use them whether they have lines or are blank. We’ve collected our favourite ways to use sticky notes in the classroom and felt we had to share them with you.

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How to Give Student Feedback That’s Amazing

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We try to give students feedback that makes them do the thinking. It's more than a judgment call. Come learn how to take feedback off your teaching plate, but still give students valuable suggestions to improve their work.

How much thinking do you do before you give student feedback?

When I was in grade four I had a teacher tell me that I would have to work very hard if I wanted to be a writer when I grew up because my writing wasn’t very good.

That tiny sentence said in passing one day after I’d shared a story I wrote on my own, has stuck with me for all these years. When you give a student feedback, it sticks with them, even when you don’t think it will. You need to make sure your feedback helps them become better students and guides them without being ultra-judgy and destroying their self-esteem.

This can be a challenging task (especially when we’re overwhelmed with things to get done). Keep reading to find out how you can master the art of giving students feedback.

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