*This post contains affiliate links via Amazon* On a personal level, Thanksgiving is my most favorite holiday. The parades. The family. The FOOD!!!! And when the weather cooperates, it's one of the most magical days of the year (for me, anway). So it should come as no surprise that I would feel the same about celebrating Thanksgiving in the classroom, too. Well, any holiday, really ;) Here are a few things I've done with my Kindergarten and First Graders through the years during the month of November. Of course, I don't have time for everything you see every single year, so depending on the dynamic and abilities of my students, I ... Read More
Spider Week
Last week we chatted all about BAT WEEK, so I figured it was only fitting to follow-up with some ideas for Spider Week! As I've said before, teaching foundational concepts and skills using these two creatures as the thematic vehicle for instruction is so very fitting for this time of the year. Especially on campuses where any talk of Halloween is forbidden. Bats and spiders are a little "spooky"...which fits right in with Halloween...but not scary (depending on your phobias ;) I'm always asked about how I'm able to incorporate thematic teaching this time of the year while being sensitive to the understanding that Halloween just isn't ... Read More
Bat Week
Ahhh. It's October. This time of the year lends itself to SO many themes we can use to teach different skills and concepts. Candy, the skeletal system, pumpkins, and Fall. And SO many more! Two of my most favorite thematic units of study this time of the year are bats and spiders. I typically start the month of October using these two themes the first couple of weeks. Today I wanted to take a minute to share with you what the first couple of weeks of October might look like in my classroom. Today we'll start with bats! Tune-in tomorrow for Spider Week activities and ideas! I always start out bat week using a schema ... Read More
Audio CVC Centers
One of the most challenging tasks at the beginning of any school year is the daunting feat of teaching a classroom full of 5 -7 year olds to function independently...and effectively!!...in centers/stations. From organizing independent groups to setting up differentiated learning centers, fast finisher activities, and planning for small group, it's a challenge to say the least! #andalltheteacherssaidamen Something I hear from teachers quite frequently is, "they always forget what they're supposed to do! I end up losing so much of my small group instructional time trying to redirect confused learners and fan out small flames." Does that ... Read More
Fitting It All In
I often get asked how I'm able to fit things into my day and I'm hoping this helps give you an idea of how that looks. Let's go ahead and start with the plans. I'm fortunate enough to be able to help teachers plan for their days while pushing in to assist and mentor. We talk a lot about "fitting it all in" and I hope this helps you to see what that looks like. I tend to OVERplan because I'd rather have more than enough to get through the day(s). You can download them HERE for a closer look. Whew. Now let's break it all down. MORNING WARM-UP Most kids are still filtering in during this time, so I like to give my kids something ... Read More
Back To School Printables
It's back to school season...my FAVORITE time of the year! While it's an exciting time for our kids, I know our teachers are just as excited, too. As a parent, I love to start the school year with a few teacher appreciation gifts. And while I might not "know" my child's teacher(s), I truly appreciate them. I appreciate the time they've spent all summer readying their classrooms to pour into their students. I appreciate the time they've spent away from their own families to prep for their new classroom family. I appreciate everything they WILL DO for my child...and every other child...throughout the year. I appreciate everything about ... Read More
Boast Board – Bulletin Board Idea
Back to school is one of my most favorite "seasons" of the year. The excitement and anticipation of a new year is palpable. The new backpacks & lunchkits, fresh supplies, & chance to start over. I love it ALL. This back-to-school season I had the opportunity to help one of my favorite campuses prep for the school year by creating a special board for the front office. Administration came up with the most AMAZING idea. We see staff shout-out boards decorate teacher's lounges & office hallways everywhere. This is similar in concept, but instead of teachers and staff recognizing their co-workers, this board is intended to ... Read More
Help Wanted: Classroom Jobs!
Encouraging students to be responsible learners can oftentimes be a challenging task. It's wonderful when our students come to us with experience in responsibility (like doing chores at home!), but oftentimes that just isn't our reality. So it's our job, as teachers, to TEACH our students HOW to be responsible. Teach them what it means. What it looks like and what it doesn't look like. Model responsibility. Encourage it. Most of all...provide them with opportunities to be responsible!!! One of the most effective ways to instill within our students a sense of responsibility is by trusting them with a specific job. A task for which ... Read More
Managing Parent Communication
Prior to the start of the new school year, I always like to reflect on my relationships with my parents from the previous years. What could I have done better? How can I improve? How can I deepen my relationships with both parents AND students? These aren't always comfortable questions to ask myself because at some point they lead me back to my mistakes and weaknesses and confronting my shortcomings isn't always easy. However, being willing to recognize and admit my areas of weakness always leads to change and improvement and that's ALWAYS a good thing!!! While I think my parent relationship game is pretty strong, I will admittedly tell ... Read More
Math Fun For Our Little Ones
There are so many things to anticipate with the start of a new school year. Organization...classroom management...centers....small group...and everything in between! I love trying new things and making learning hands-on and engaging for my kids. I think that's the key to creating lasting connections that kids can refer back to when trying to recall and apply new information. When our kids can get their hands "dirty" so to speak, they're more engaged in what they're learning. I think that's pretty much common sense, but so often we get bogged down with SO many other responsibilities and obligations that the path of least resistance seems ... Read More
