As we head into a new school year, I always reflect on what really worked last year (and what didn't). For the last few years, I've been working extra hard to create a positive classroom climate. It's always been important to me that my students feel safe and happy at school. Here are a few things that worked for me that you can try in your own classroom! Let students have a say in the rules. The first day of school, have students brainstorm the rules that are the most important to them. Not only does this tell you what they want your class to be like, it also helps them buy into the rules. Here are the rules my 4th graders came up with last year. You can see that we focused on the few that were most important to them, and they happen to be the most important to me too! Set a meeting time. Too often we make announcements when students are in la-la land. Maybe you need to talk to your class about their behavior in the cafeteria, or make an announcement a...
I just finished my 11th year of teaching and am beginning to plan and prepare myself for my 12th year. I finally feel like I have turned the corner from being a "new teacher" to a more experienced one. While I still have so much to learn as a teacher, I have recently started to reflect on how much I have grown during the past 11 years. There is so much that I have learned that I wish I would have known when I was just starting out. If you are a new teacher, or a more experienced one just needing a little boost, I hope that some of my experiences might open your eyes to some of the possibilities of teaching!! Here's what I have learned.... During my first few years of teaching, I thought my students needed to be perfectly quiet when the principal walked into the classroom. I believed it was a sign that my class was well managed and that that was what my principal wanted to see. It didn’t take me long to realize that very little collaboration, cooperation, and ...
It is very important to use engaging math centers during math workshop.  This math center is sure to be a hit, but be sure to use this lesson  after students have been introduced to fractions.  Students should understand what equal groups are (how to form and name each equal piece) and should be able to complete equal sharing problems.   You will find an introduction to fractions here . While organizing my math manipulatives, I found these centimeter cubes and thought they would be perfect to use during a fractions lesson.  I typed up a tri-fold where students can use the centimeter cubes to solve some 'math puzzles'.   On the first part of the tri-fold, students are given a fraction and need to build the whole.  This section is a great time to review the meaning of numerator and denominator.   For example, on problem one - students are given one-half of the whole.  The bottom number shows that there needs to be two of these sets in order to create the whole.  ...
In an era of high stakes testing, art is sometimes the first thing to go but we as teachers need to find ways to continue providing art experiences for our students. Not only is art just plain fun, and let's face it, kids do need fun, but it's much more than that. Art is beneficial in so many ways! Benefits of Art in Education: Helps children think creatively - outside of the box Increases critical thinking skills  Improves decision-making skills Helps kids express their feelings Builds confidence Allows kids who struggle academically to excel in another area and more! How Can We Incorporate Art Into an Already Busy Day? One of the ways I like to incorporate art is to tie it into the core subjects that I'm teaching. Art is a great way to add variety to the activities that you're doing in the classroom and it's also an easy way to motivate most of your students. It can also reinforce the concepts that you're teaching and sometimes it can...
It's JUNE! Many of you have been out of school for a week or two. Hopefully you're enjoying sleeping in, spontaneous bathroom breaks, and maybe even a drink or two by the pool. You probably also have a Pinterest board full of projects you planned on doing over the summer, as well as a pretty long to-do list of things you didn't have time for during the school year. Here's my list of the 5 best ways to stay productive over the summer! Choose a classroom theme Once school starts, decorating is always the last thing I have time for. I love decorating my classroom and like to mix up my themes every year. Choosing a classroom theme is a fun way to be productive over the summer. (Let's save the tedious assignments for during the school year. It i s summer break, after all!) It probably won't surprise you that I pick my themes from Jodi @ Clutter -Free Classroom's huge selection .  I'm torn between t ravel-themed and dog-themed .  Ch...
For me, being super organized at the end of the school year is a must and has to happen before I can enjoy my summer.  I understand EVERY teacher doesn't feel the same, but if I leave my classroom on the last day and don't feel ready for the next school year, I will worry about it most of the summer.  After writing my last blog post, "End of the School Year: 5 Things You Must Do!" , I realized that there is a part two, and this is it!  It's now time to actually ENJOY your summer vacation. Here are my top tips for relaxing and enjoying your summer vacation! 1. Definitely, make some time for the pool. It's summer, after all! What is more relaxing than soaking up the sun, eating some fresh fruit, and reading a good book?  You can try going early in the morning before it gets too hot and the pool gets too crowded. No matter how you do it, with a book or with your kids, be sure to do it! 2. On a budget? Plan a staycation.  Find a local resort or hotel and...