Jeff Fessler

According to a 2021 study (Lindemann-Matthies, et al) my classroom is on the mark! "A classroom conducive to learning should feel natural and fresh, not cramped and stuffy. Students reported less stress and were more focused in classrooms with more natural window views.”

Forward-thinking on public education (vs. book bans, vouchers, & bathroom wars).

Tallinn, Estonia's Dome School (center) which started in 1319 for children of nobility. It closed, reopened, & was rebuilt several times, but closed for good in 1939 after 620 years!. In 2011 it was reopened & continues today. #edchat #teaching #teachertwitter #academictwitter

Found a great example of nonviolent protest in Riga, Latvia today I'll share with my students. Riga renamed the street where the Russian Embassy sits. It's now called "Ukrainian Independence Street!" #edchat #teaching #k12 #teachertwitter #education #academictwitter #learning

Using drama games to promote mindfulness. edutopia.org/article/games-… #artsintegration #edchat #teaching #k12 #teachertwitter #education #academictwitter #learning

Going to kick off 24-25 w/ Andy Warhol theme in my classroom: AW-style portraits & class belief posters, 2 AW read-alouds w/ story dramatization, analyzing AW art. Stretching & exploring thinking! #edchat #teaching #k12 #teachertwitter #education #academictwitter #learning

A play about ethical chocolate--students chose topic, then researched, wrote, & performed it. Giving students agency empowers them to become self-directed learners! #edchat #teaching #k12 #teachertwitter #education #academictwitter #learning

Students attending 3 culturally enriching field trips in 1 school year had fewer behavioral infractions, and higher school attendance, test scores, & course grades. Erickson et al. 2023 #edchat #teaching #k12 #teachertwitter #education #academictwitter #learning #fieldtrip

A 2014 metastudy found that active learning is more effective for every kind of student in every discipline than traditional lecture mode or question-and-answer guided discussion. Apkarian et al. (2020) #edchat #teaching #k12 #teachertwitter #education #academictwitter #learning

Bring the book to life! Research shows story dramatization builds language development, story recall, comprehension, & engagement. #artsintegration #edchat #teaching #literacy #k12 #learning #teachertwitter #education #litchat #drama #academictwitter

Experiential learning in math = deeper understanding & improved retention (more fun, too!). #edchat #teaching #k12 #learning #teachertwitter #mathteacher #mathtwitter #elemchat #education #AcademicTwitter #teacher #elementary #elementaryteacher

Great beginning of school year activity: self portrait made from sentences about you (face traced from iPhone pic projected by LCD). #artsintegration #k12 #education #teachertwitter #education #AcademicTwitter #teacher #elementaryteacher #elementaryschool #portraits

How about making "finding text evidence" artsy and fun? My Gr4s illustrated the protagonist's planet from the novel "Forgotten Door" using only text details (& a spatter-paint lesson). #artsintegration #edchat #literacy #k12 #teachertwitter #litchat #education #AcademicTwitter

Read about sound waves or BECOME sound waves -which would you remember most? Drama sparks kid’s motivation & enriches science learning. #Elementaryscience #scienceteacher #teachingscience #science #elementaryteacher #elementaryschool #academictwitter #k12 #teachertwitter

Drama-based pedagogy has a significant positive effect on achievement, attitudes, 21st century skills, & motivation outcomes in literacy (Lee et al, 2020). My Gr4s also say it's fun! #artsintegration #edchat #literacy #k12 #teachertwitter #education #litchat #academictwitter

Analyzing an L.S. Lowry painting in science class to kick off our exploration of sound waves...art informs science! #Elementaryscience #scienceteacher #teachingscience #science #elementaryteacher #elementaryschool #teacher #academictwitter #k12 #teachertwitter #edchat

Don't just read a book...BE the book! Interviewing my Gr4s--as characters from our class novel--on our faux talk show "Books Rev My Engine." #artsintegration #edchat #teaching #literacy #k12 #learning #teachertwitter #education #litchat #drama #academictwitter

Blackout poetry engaged my Gr4s & made them more open to writing--they were less intimidated by blacking out words vs. writing new ones! #artsintegration #edchat #teaching #literacy #k12 #learning #teachertwitter #education #litchat #blackoutpoetry #poetry #teacher

Drama-based instruction has been found to be more effective instruction than traditional reading instruction for increasing reading comprehension skills (Güngör, 2008). #artsintegration #edchat #teaching #literacy #k12 #learning #teachertwitter #education #litchat #drama #teach

We studied the science behind the eclipse, then represented it thru visual art. Science informs art, & vice versa! #Elementaryscience #scienceteacher #teachingscience #science #elementaryteacher #elementaryschool #teacher #artsintegration #k12 #edchat #teachertwitter