We (teachers) are not mental health counselors. Nor are we psychiatrists, social workers, physicians, or nutritionists. Too often — far too often — we are asked to take on these roles to support our kids. And I get why. We spend a ton of time with our students. It’s inevitable that we notice odd bruises, … Continued
Happy March! Y’all! Spring is here! The temperatures are getting warmer, and the grass is getting greener! We were in Kentucky last week for Spring Break, and we came back last night. All of the trees and flowers are budding, and Jonathan mowed our grass….I love this time of year because it is filled with...
This week was our first week back and, boy am I tired! My class is great though...very inquisitive and eager to learn. They take their work seriously and are actively working most of the day. Who could ask for more?? We did quite a few things this week, but I want to share with you one "get to know you" project we did that really came out great. I seriously can't stop staring at it! I saw this pin on Pinterest. I love how it looks and thought it would make a great welcome sign. Now, on the pin, the hands seemed to be just colored in. I wanted something a bit more. So we started with creating Circle Maps about ourselves. What made us special? What are some things that have shaped us? Where did you go in your life? etc....Most of the kids finished these Circle Maps in class on the first day of school. I then asked the students to trace their hands and arms on a piece of 11 x 17" piece of paper. They then had to draw, write, decorate, etc...the traced in hand with items from the Circle Map. The goal was to teach their fellow classmates about themselves in a visual way, without giving away too much information (ie: I didn't want them to write paragraphs.) That is pretty much how far we got in class. So, the first homework assignment the students had to finish the project at home. I gave them this sheet so that they could be a bit more focused on their project and add a bit if they wanted. (but if you are going copy-less, just forgo this. They can write the information on a sheet of paper instead.) The next day, the hands came back to school...and they were great! I had the kids get into groups and share what they decided to put on their hands and why. The kids learned a lot about each other in that 15 minute session! You can see some of them used words as well as pictures to tell about themselves. I love the one directly in the center of this picture! Others just used pictures, like the one in the middle here. When I went to put them around a piece of poster board, like in the original pin, they didn't fit :( I think if I had used a smaller piece of paper to trace their hands to begin with they might have. Oh well! I decided to put them up as if the hands were all in a line, raising up.....and it came out great! I overlapped the hands, so I was able to get 5 or 6 on one piece of large construction paper. I then mounted them on my wall. I love it! All in all, this was a fun little project that served as a great way for the kids to get to know each other and make a nice display! What is something you do during the first week of school to help the kids get to know each other and for you to learn a little about them? Follow me on Snapchat for even more teaching ideas!
I love walking into Paddy’s bedroom, more so than Stella’s so maybe that means Stella’s needs something (food for thought) or maybe the primary colours in Paddy’s room are just more up my alley. It may also be because, by-the-book, Paddy gets up every morning, and makes his bed perfectly (and turns off his ceiling fan) before […]
While we still aren't quite sure what the new school year is going to hold, many teachers are beginning to prepare for situations where they and their
Make these fun & simple DIY paper bugs with your kiddos. You only need a few supplies & your kids can get creative with creating different bugs with different colors.
These little Mummy Jam Jar Lanterns are perfect for Halloween and are sooo super simple, that children of all ages can get involved.
Introduce your students to Keith Haring's colorful pop art with these printable Keith Haring for kids resources.
Help pupils to create artwork that has the wow factor with these simple yet inspirational KS2 art ideas and projects from fellow teachers...
This trendy and retro playing card print features a BLACK Ace of Spades card. The phrase "always bet on yourself, kid" is also featured on the card. Hang this print in any room of your choice, such as a bedroom, kids room, dorm room, or living room. This print can serve as a daily affirmation for you and the residents of your home. Once purchased Etsy will guide you to where you can download your files. There will be 4 JPG files in a high quality 300 DPI (highest print quality available) ready for you to download. Each file is a different sized ratio as specified in their file name. Files can be resized to your preferred dimensions (within their ratios of course) and printed wherever you wish. *This artwork has been digitally arranged by me and only me using elements from Canva* BEWARE: These files are solely for decorative purposes and not for commercial use. Please be kind :)
Learn how to draw Snoopy as the Flying Ace from The Peanuts Movie. When Snoopy is the Flying Ace he is pretending to fly on his dog house.
The summer break is upon us and right now parents and teachers are taking a much-deserved deep breath before jumping into the new school year. One of the programs Echo provides each summer is the salary point Trauma-Informed Compassionate Classrooms training to help educators meet their professional development requirements and to give them the space to think about the classroom environment they would optimally like to create while not yet inundated with the day-to- day demands of the school...
Self Control Counseling Lesson - This self control classroom counseling lesson plan will help students in grades 1-2 understand what self control is and what self control looks like, sounds like, and feels like. Students learn ways of demonstrating self control and then practice during a yoga movement break and partner turn taking activity. What's included: Detailed, scripted lesson plan (color and BW) Visual aid (color and BW) Whole class sorting activity (color and BW) Individual student fortune teller handout (color and BW, blank and pre-filled) FAQS: Q: Do I need extra materials? A: You'll need your favorite self control read-aloud, like Clark the Shark or What If Everybody Did That? You'll also need scissors, writing utensils, and coloring utensils. Q: How long will this take? A: I did this lesson in a 45-minute block with my first grade students. All students are different. Q: Can I use this in small groups or with an individual student? A: Absolutely! Find more self control resources here!
This pack of print and go worksheet activities make a great addition to your science unit on the four seasons and seasonal changes. You can have your students work through each of the activities or choose the ones that compliment your instruction. These activities are perfect for your Kindergarte...
5 Easy Art Projects for Kids. We love creating art with our children here at Paging Fun Mums! The children were just home for a two week holiday which had us revisiting some of our favourite art projects.
I am in love with stained glass. I would sign up in a heartbeat for a glass class if I had the time and money. Alas, I have neither, so I searched out a DIY version. This was really, really fun. And so open-ended. And cheap, too! First step, buy a frame from Dollar Tree. For $1. Next, find a coloring page. I originally wanted to do a mandala, but settled for something simple for my first try. Here is a sampling. Third, follow the steps in this tute. With glue and paint and stuff. I had helpers. I went back over the top with the black paint/glue I love it! Brightens up my kitchen window!
I’ve been teaching art for over 15 years and have taught every grade, K-12. In those years I have made resources and handouts helpful for the art room, contained classrooms, or homeschool parents. …
O'Keeffe's paintings make great inspiration for kids' art projects, so let's check out 10 of the best Georgia O'Keeffe projects for kids!
Teach kids weaving with a simple wall hanging project! Easy, fun, and perfect for beginners. Get creative and start weaving today.
If you are wondering how to help your child overcome fear, here is a 4 step process to help them manage and overcome feelings of worry and fear.
16 Make-Ahead Cold Lunch Ideas to Prep for Work This Week - Try prepping these awesome cold lunch ideas when you can't reheat your lunch!
Trauma is a response to an intensely stressful event(s). While the after-effects can be difficult to manage, healing is possible.
How does a therapist use play to reach kids and help them recover from trauma? They ask them to lead it. At least, that’s what happens when a therapist—or anyone working towards a trauma-informed environment around kids—is using the Hand in Hand approach. We call the play tool “Playlistening.” To do it, the therapist allocates […]
Read Resilience Kit by Big Life Journal on Issuu and browse thousands of other publications on our platform. Start here!
This fall season give your kindergarteners some additional counting practice with these free counting worksheets.
