Friday, April 8, 2011

Teaching Supplies for Tutors

MANAMA, Bahrain (April 29, 2010) Gunner's Mate...

Do you have teaching supplies that help you to effectively teach the students that you tutor? When you are concentrating on certain skills to help students meet specific academic goals, the teaching supplies that you use can make a difference in how the student learns. Many times as teachers, tutors, and home school parents you are presented with an overwhelming selection of materials to use for instruction. How do you figure out what teaching supplies provide the best instruction and learning opportunities for your students? Here are some things to think about as you try to make your selections for your tutoring supplies.

Use what you have access to and supplement with similar materials - Research the program that the student is currently using in his or her classroom. Ask the student what materials they can borrow from the classroom to use during tutoring activities. If learning sight words is one of the student's goals, then buy index cards and write the words on the cards. Keep things simple and inexspensive. Maybe borrow some unifix cubes or other math manipulatives from the classroom to help with homework assignments and supplemental activities.

Use a variety of teacher resources - It is easy to find one publisher that you really love and continue to buy and use their books and products; however, you might be surprised by the ideas and lesson plans found in a different resource book. Ask your colleagues and friends for recommendations as you are searching for tutoring supplies. There are many great books designed specifically for tutoring.

Use what works best for the student - If flash cards are not helping a third grader learn her multiplication facts, try another strategy and find what does work. Even if you invest in some tutoring materials but find that they don't work for your particular student, chances are good that you can use them with another student. Organize your materials in a way that make sense to you. Hopefully you will be able to use these items for many years to come.

Great teachers and tutors add supplies and materials to their teaching toolbox all of the time. So the next time you are thinking about adding some supplies to yours, check out www.k12schoolsupplies.net!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Teacher School Supply Store - Spring

Garden with some tulips and narcissus

When you visit the teacher school supply store and buy back to school items in August, you are not normally purchasing teacher school supplies for Spring. Even when you try to plan ahead, Spring supplies are not at the top your list. Your favorite teacher school supply store will have everything that you need to decorate your classroom. Just a few simple items will brighten up your room. Here are a few simple ideas that are both inexpensive, yet fun.

Seasonal bulletin board sets with themes such as "The Life Cycles of Plants," "Weather," or "Creepy Crawlies" are terrific ways to bring theme activities into your room. Students of all ages enjoy these themes and there are countless ways to incorporate these themes across the curriculum.

Another idea is to purchase seasonal incentive pads, stickers, and pencils. While these items are small and simple, students really appreciate a recognition for a job well done. Stickers are fun anytime, and who wouldn't enjoy getting a new decorative pencil.

You can also find amazing teacher resources that will provide you with great arts and crafts projects, creative writing assignments, and other seasonal activities. As a teacher, you are always learning new strategies and techniques that will help you be a more confident, effective teacher. Part of learning is using the resources you have available.

You as well as your students will appreciate these small little changes in your learning environment. Think about some of the ways you change the decorations in your own house as the seasons change. Spring is a time for renewal. Have some fun and think about your interests as well as your students'.

After you decide what you are going to buy, visit www.k12schoolsupplies.net to find your favorite educational materials. We strive to provide you with a huge selection of engaging and quality class room supplies, specialty children products, books, and industrial strength toys and furniture. There are many more ways to brighten up your classroom, so check out us out today!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Home School Supplies

Postcard Basics

Home school supplies are in every room of my house. Sometimes they are organized, and other times they are everywhere. As a mom to two daughters, 3 and 5, I have literacy materials, math manipulatives, and arts and crafts supplies available for any play time activity. My three year old is currently very involved in making her own books, so I make various writing materials accessible. I have collected many of my home school supplies over time. While both girls attend a part-time preschool program, I am a teacher and want to offer fun learning activities at home. It does not matter if you are homeschooling full-time or wanting to supplement your child's schooling, some basic home school supplies can inspire learning and spark your child's imagination. What are some basic home school supplies every household with young children should have? Here are some of the top home school supplies on my list.

Paper - All kinds of paper! We have construction paper, copy paper, and tag board paper. What do we use it for? I don't think that I can even list all of the ways that we use paper. My girls design masterpieces by painting, coloring, and cutting. Reuse fliers, newspapers, and mail that you have around your house and then buy some special craft paper for special projects.

Paints, crayons, and other writing tools - Again, I believe that you can never have enough of these items. Watercolors, finger paints, and markers are available in so many bold, bright colors. Just grab some paper and get started. Get creative and let your imagination go wild!

Glue - Not every project requires glue, but you can make some amazing projects with glue. My kids love to cut and create bookmarks, paper dolls, and puzzles. They use glue for all of these activities. I personally prefer glue sticks, but there are many different types of adhesives.

Where can you get all of these supplies with out leaving your house, K12 school supplies! Stop by our site today.

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