About Elizabeth Peterson

Elizabeth Peterson has devoted her life to education and to reaching out to other teachers who want to remain inspired. Mrs. Peterson teaches fourth grade in Amesbury, Massachusetts and is the host of www.theinspiredclassroom.com. She holds an M.Ed. in Education, “Arts and Learning” and is currently enrolled in a C.A.G.S. program through Plymouth State University with a focus in “Arts Leadership and Learning.” Elizabeth is author of Inspired by Listening, a teacher resource book that includes a method of music integration she has developed and implemented into her own teaching. She teaches workshops and courses on the integration of the arts into the curriculum, leads an arts integration PLC (PLaiC) and is adjunct faculty for PSU. Mrs. Peterson believes there is a love of active, integrated learning in all children and from their enthusiasm, teachers can shape great opportunities to learn.
Website: http://www.theinspiredclassroom.com
Elizabeth Peterson has written 288 articles so far, you can find them below.

Announcing: 2012 Teacher Art Retreat!

Filed under Arts Education and Integration by Elizabeth Peterson on May 15, 2012 at 5:20 am {no comments}

It’s time!  It’s time! Oh yes it is… Time to officially announce the line up for the 2012 Teacher Art Retreat!   I am so happy to post the information many of you have been waiting for – the second annual Teacher Art Retreat is on for August 13-15 (8am-3pm at the Amesbury, MA cultural [...]

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Successful Teaching Strategies and Tips

Filed under Classroom Stories, General Education Topics by Elizabeth Peterson on May 10, 2012 at 8:56 am {no comments}

It’s always great to hear successful stories from other teachers.  It keeps us motivated knowing that we are all working hard to reach our students.  Today, Iris Yuan brings us successful teaching strategies and tips from two great educators.  We hope you are enjoying your Teacher Appreciation Week! ~EMP Teachers face a wide number of [...]

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Be Proud of What You Do – Wear Blue

Filed under General Education Topics by Elizabeth Peterson on May 8, 2012 at 6:54 am {no comments}

Today is National Teacher Day. With so many mixed feelings about our profession, a day like this is important to remember and even take a little seriously.  Our job is not easy; there are many obstacles and challenges.  From the struggling students we yearn to reach to the occational parent that doesn’t do their part, from the testing [...]

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4 Positive Effects of Dance and Movement for K-12 Students

Filed under Arts Education and Integration by Elizabeth Peterson on May 4, 2012 at 5:29 am {no comments}

Anyone who knows me, know I love dance!  And I bring movement into my classroom any chance I can – which can be difficult to do sometimes.  Here is this week’s guest blogger, Lauren Bailey to discuss some of the great things dance and movement can do.  Hopefully this will motivate you to do more [...]

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The Magic of One Drum

Filed under Arts Education and Integration, Classroom Stories by Elizabeth Peterson on May 1, 2012 at 6:19 am {no comments}

I bring them to the large room My students sit to wait They’re talking and they’re anxious To start up from their break.   I take a hold of one small drum Caress it with my hands, And as I beat so softly They seem to understand.   Doom, ckick-a chick; Doom doom chick Doom, [...]

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Put a Poem in Your Pocket

Filed under Arts Education and Integration, General Education Topics by Elizabeth Peterson on April 24, 2012 at 7:23 am {one comment}

This Thursday, April 26th, is Poem in Your Pocket Day. This is such a fun way to celebrate poetry during National Poetry Month. For this day, you find a poem or write a poem and keep it handy (in your pocket) so that you can read it to anyone and everyone you come in contact [...]

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Where I’m From – Poetry Activity

Filed under Arts Education and Integration by Elizabeth Peterson on April 17, 2012 at 5:30 am {2 comments}

Studying this poem and then creating a sort of copy-cat poem from it is a great activity for your students (and YOU) to do. This poem, Where I’m From written by George Ella Lyon, is a touching one that gives insight to the person who wrote it through the senses and visualization.  From family sayings [...]

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Teacher Poetry

Filed under Arts Education and Integration by Elizabeth Peterson on April 10, 2012 at 11:28 am {2 comments}

Teachers love poetry too!  We should be reading and creating it as much as we want our students to. Last night was a fun 4th grade chat ( #4thchat) on Twitter with other 4th grade teachers.  The topic was poetry and one teacher, Nancy Carroll ‏ @ncarroll24 asked: Does anyone write poems alongside their students?” [...]

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4+1 Reasons to Get Poetry into Your Classroom

Filed under Arts Education and Integration by Elizabeth Peterson on April 3, 2012 at 6:12 am {one comment}

Poetry is great!  ‘Come on, don’t you agree?  Poetry can be sweet and rhyme-y or in-your-face  and raw.  It contains so much passion, so many illusions.  It can tell a story, describe an emotion, explain a situation or throw down the truth.  But how much time do we actually commit to poetry in our classrooms?  [...]

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