Here are the top 5 Common Core Tips of the 2012–2013 school year:

1. 10 Principles for Effective Vocabulary Instruction (Infographic)
2. 5 Methods for Developing Problem-Solving Skills (Infographic)
3. 6 Key Strategies to Align Your Writer's Workshop with the Common Core
4. Six Traits for Identifying Complex Texts
5. How to Select Complex Texts to Increase Rigor

Here are the top 5 Math & Science Tips of the 2012–2013 school year:

1. Seven Must-Have Centers for Math Class
2. Hungry Frog
3. How Much Should I Get Paid?
4. 5 Strategies to Enhance Mathematics Instruction
5. Eight Steps to Support Math Dialogue in the Classroom

Here are the top 5 Literacy Tips of the 2012–2013 school year:

1. 14 Reading Comprehension Strategies for Explicit Instruction
2. How to Create a Visually Stimulating Classroom Environment for Learning Literacy (Infographic)
3. Four Categories of Words that can Comprise Vocabulary Instruction
4. Increasing Complexity Through Vocabulary Instruction
5. Four Ways to Recognize a Declarative Sentence

Here are the top 5 Annette Breaux Poems & Tips of the 2012–2013 school year:

1. Dress Like a Professional
2. Same Old, Same Old
3. Devise a Teacher Report Card
4. Remind Yourself Why You Became A Teacher
5. Maintain Your Composure

Here are the top 5 Teaching & Learning Tips of the 2012–2013 school year:

1. Applying Bloom's Taxonomy in Your Classroom
2. Concrete Reminders
3. 7 Qualities to Maximize the Impact of Your Lessons
4. 8 Ways to Make Your Teaching Sparkle
5. How to Become a Distinguished/Highly Qualified ("4") Teacher

The Common Core Grammar Toolkit: Using Mentor Texts to Teach the Language Standards in Grades 3-5 by Sean Ruday helps you show students how grammar rules are simply tools that will help them become better writers and enjoy the writing process. This tip address the use of punctuation and outlines a give step process to help students apply their knowledge of punctuation.

Common Core Language Standard 5.2 addresses the use of punctuation as part of a broader statement that students should “Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling while writing” (Common Core Standards, 2010).

The fact is that many people spend most of their time focusing on things they simply cannot change. As teachers, we must learn to place 100% of our energies on things we can do something about. And we can absolutely do something about the teaching and learning that takes place in our classrooms every day...

The following guest post was written by Rebekah Stathakis, author of A Good Start:147 Warm-Up Activities for Spanish Class. This is the last in a three-part series on game playing in the classroom. .

This post is the last in a three-part series. In the first part, I shared my top five reasons why I believe games are a powerful instructional tool. The second part included some common concerns with games and how I respond to those concerns. Here are seven tips for developing and utilizing games in the classroom.

Assessing Critical Thinking in Elementary Schools: Meeting the Common Core and Assessing Critical Thinking in Middle and High Schools: Meeting the Common Core, by Rebecca Stobaugh, are practical, effective resources to help teachers and curriculum leaders develop the skills to design instructional tasks and assessments that engage students in higher-level critical thinking, as recommended by the Common Core State Standards. This tip, and the accompanying video clip, focus on one of those higher-level critical thinking skills: Critquing.

Without practice, students often rank choices based completely on personal preferences instead of developing logical criteria, thus making poor conclusions and decisions. Failing to build Critiquing skills leaves students unable to grapple with the complexities of life or to reasonably select the best option.

In Authentic Learning Experiences: A Real-World Approach to Project-Based Learning, Dayna Laur provides step-by-step instructions on how to create authentiv learning experiences to engage students in critical thinking, teach important skills such as research and collaboration, and improve student learning. In this tip, she outlines the process of taking the first steps to designing an Authentic Learning Experience.

To begin a Project-Based or Authentic Learning Experience, you must start with a way in which to engage your students. If you truly want to make this an Authentic Learning Experience, you have to move beyond mock letters written by a pretend interested party. Remember, if this experience is going to be authentic, you have to make the start of the experience real!

The following poem and tip were written by Annette Breaux and featured in her book with Eye On Education: 101 "Answers" for New Teachers and Their Mentors: Effective Teaching Tips for Daily Classroom Use, 2nd Ed.

I once heard a teacher announce to her class, “Look, I’m having a bad day. I’ve been up all night with a sick child, so I’m not in a good mood. I’m going to try to concentrate on my teaching, but I’m tired. Also, we’ve fallen way behind in the textbook, so we’re going to have to move fast today. Stay in your seats, and don’t mess with me!”

100 Games and Activities for the Introductory Foreign Language Classroom by Thierry Boucquey et al. is filled with stimulating, engaging, and effective games and activities to offer students alternatives to learning by rote or performing drills. This activity, Train Tour, is designed to help students learn and remember travel vocabulary, geography, and iconic regional monuments.