Today, I am talking about how I DESIGN my classroom, before I even get to step into it for the new year! I know what you are thinking, “ALREADY?”… I am the first one to tell you to take the time to RELAX, have FUN with family and friends, and take time to yourself and […]

First, a *big* congrats to the two winners of my Bloglovin' Giveaway: Andrea K. & Cathy P.! Check your email, ladies, and you get the choice of any two products from my store :) Now, onto something I am sososo excited about! I came across a fantastic idea on Pinterest from Sugar Blossoms and had to share it with you all as soon as I could! Click the image above to be taken to T.J.'s super-cute site Sugar Blossoms T.J. at Sugar Blossoms not only came up with the greatest set of classroom cheers, she also made reminder cards and videos to show each one- yahoo! As soon as I saw these, I immediately thought of using them as alternatives to our class' 10-Finger Woo! You can read all about that HERE, but the short of it is that anytime a student volunteers/shares an answer/does something awesome in my class, I'll say, "Let's give so-and-so a 10-Finger Woo!" and we'll all wave our fingers at that person and give a short "Woo!". It's a lot of fun :) I'm loving these great alternatives to spice it up throughout our school year- I think my initial favorites are the Firework Cheer, Raise the Roof, and Snap & Cheer. I cannot wait to try them out with next year's class! For more in-depth description of each cheer, as well as a video of each, be sure to head to Sugar Blossoms! Do you use similar cheers in your class? What are some of your favorites?

Using the Gallery Walk instructional strategy to teach important classroom routines & structures Teaching Duration: 1-3 class periods What is a GALLERY WALK? A gallery walk is a kinesthetic strategy that help students learn information. It closely resembles the idea of a jig

On the first day of school, things can be pretty chaotic! You have a class of new students who are coming in with a range of emotions and a backpack full of supplies that need to be organized, all while chatting with parents and trying to help the kids find their place and get settled. […]

Explore how blending tactical and strategic thinking can enhance decision-making, optimize resources and drive business success.

Maybe you’ve been asked to lead a grade level team. Maybe you’re on a grade level team that has no appointed leadership and you’re ready to take the reins. No matter how you arrived at this moment and this blog post, you’re probably wondering where to start and what exactly your role should be. As y

Teaching ESL/ELL students of different proficiency levels in one classroom can be tricky. Here are a few tips and strategies that will help you be organized and effective.

Tuckman's Team & Group Development Model is fascinating because it helps with understanding the 4 stages of development ANY team or group goes through.

To take quality notes, students need to be taught how. This fantastic station-rotation lesson gets the job done, and it can be used with all kinds of other content as well.

Teaching to the Australian Curriculum does not need to be stressful! Use these high quality flowchart posters to support the Civics and Citizenship content of the Year 6 Australian HASS curriculum and have your students understanding how Australia's government makes new laws in no time.

Thanks so much! Your free download is on it way to you. (If you don’t see the email, please check spam or Promotions folder.) Imagine having a done-for-you comprehensive classroom management plan that you can start implementing today! Are you struggling with managing your classroom and frustrated with trying countless techniques that just never quite […]

Whether you're fresh out of college or a veteran teaching who needs a change, it always feels good to be prepared for an upcoming interview. This list of 58 - and growing! - interview questions for special ed teachers will help you feel prepared and confident for your upcoming interview. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.

Check it out! Check it out! Check it out! Check it out! Check it out! Check it out! Check it out! Check it out! Check it out! Check it out! Check it out! Check it out! Check out Lessons4Now on Pint…

I am linking up with Jennifer for her Tell Me Something Good Linky! Something Good At School : I am finally in a nice routine at s...

Women wear several hats everyday and in a society where time is money, learning to be more efficient could be exactly what you need to become more organized, sleep better, and be a ROCK star in you…

The NOISE analysis is an alternative to SWOT. NOISE is a planning technique of looking at what is working and determining areas to improve.

Everything you need to know about teaching 5th grade categorized and organized by topic for easy reference.

Writing a dissertation is likely to be the biggest piece of work you’re going to tackle on your university course. To do your dissertation justice means spendin

These brain breaks can act as a great, little addition to your classroom routine. They provide students with an opportunity to refocus, it gives them an outlet for their “wriggles” and can be used as a wonderful transitioning tool. Each brain break can be performed in 60 seconds or under which means that students can get back to work quickly. Depending on how “wriggly” your class is, you may like to complete a few brain breaks at a time. This pack includes 48 different brain breaks. They come in both a color and black & white version. Simply print, laminate and cut them out. All you need is some popsicle sticks! You may also like the DIGITAL version here: Digital Brain Breaks ♥♥♥ Follow me to be the first to hear about FREEBIES and updates ♥♥♥ ♥♥♥ Earn TPT Credits when you leave feedback ♥♥♥ I welcome and appreciate any feedback, comments or suggestions. You may also contact me on [email protected]

A visual that helps you to imagine what a lesson would look like if you eliminated all barriers to student learning. This tool is your map for growth.

**UPDATE: Want to make these into a bookmark for a student desk reference? Click the photo below to be taken to a tutorial** Do any of you use Everyday Math as your math curriculum? I piloted it this year in my building and I really liked it- our old math curriculum was pretty archaic and I love how EM makes kids much more nimble with numbers! I especially loved how they set up their assessments. At the beginning of each, there is a self-assessment and I actually make several copies of this to use throughout the unit. We will fill one out at the beginning and then touch base with it after lessons that cover one of the major topics listed. I was making some posters of these great doodles when I came across Alison's blog, Eberopolis. She has a great anchor chart posted and I loved the titles she gave to each of the levels: These titles were the missing pieces that I needed to help make it all come together! Plus, I liked her "Novice" category- at the beginning of some units, students have never heard of the concept, so it was very fitting. I decided to make some posters to hang in the classroom and extend this concept past math class. Here's the result: I am really liking this new format and hope you do, too! Want to get your own copy? Click the image above or HERE to get yours for free!

After recess or lunch can be one of the toughest times to transition back into instruction.

Heading into my 19th year as an urban elementary school counselor, I was thinking the other day about what it would be like to be a novice...

A few years ago, our school implemented "voice levels" as a way to help at assemblies, in hallways, and within our classrooms. This has really helped with consistency across the grade levels and made the first few weeks of school even easier when introducing these concepts. In our school, if a teacher needs to get students' attention, he/she will hold up our hand in the shape of a zero. If kids are working in small groups and are getting a little noisy, I would hold up two fingers to remind them it was "Voice Level 2". When we create presentation rubrics, we always include "Voice Level 3" as an area to focus on. In the beginning of the year, when we are making our Daily 5 Anchor Charts around expectations, Voice Levels 0, 1, and 2 always make an appearance. I have loved thinking of Voice Level 1 (whisper) as "Spy Talk"! In the past, I have used the fingers-on-the-voicebox trick~ if it vibrates, it's not Voice Level 1~ but the idea of talking like a spy is soooooo much more fun! This year, I ask my Teacher's Assistant to help be my Voice Level Monitor. If they feel it is getting too noisy, they will assist me in showing the appropriate voice level with our finger(s). Here is the file for the poster (I recently changed over my font, so it looks slightly different). **UPDATE: If you like this idea, you will love my new Voice Levels Management Pack available on TpT! Be sure to download the Preview to see everything that's included and read my updated post HERE for more info! Enjoy!

There are three aspects of the health triangle that contribute to overall wellness. Are you familiar with all three and how they affect your health.

Congrats! You just got a new job, but before you say "goodbye" to your old one, there are a few things you need to do first.

Whether you're fresh out of college or a veteran teaching who needs a change, it always feels good to be prepared for an upcoming interview. This list of 58 - and growing! - interview questions for special ed teachers will help you feel prepared and confident for your upcoming interview. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.

Learn how to teach all the phonemic awareness strategies for early readers by using these daily phonemic awareness lesson plans.

So, how are you surviving the beginning of the year? Class set up? Schedule set (does it ever really get finalized??). At this point in the series, we are ready to move on to the second part of the behavior support plan--the teaching parts. If you haven't seen the post on the format of a behavior support plan, check here. There is a freebie, so go ahead and check it out and I'll wait.

Executive functioning skills are some of the most foundational elements for academic and social success. They are the skills that help us to plan, stay organized, pay attention to important information, use strategies to get us back on track when we veer off course, be flexible when things don't go

Classroom management is as much about instructional design and relationships as it is rules and discipline.

This week we focused on organization in both reading and writing. Students practiced retelling stories with beginning, middle and end (with details!). Some of the books we read include:  Caps For Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina The Paperboy by Dav Pilkey and Daisy Comes Home by Jan Brett During Writer's Workshop we focused on writing a story with a beginning, middle, end and what the characteristics of each are. On Monday we used a graphic organizer to plan our story that we would write during the week. On Tuesday we ONLY wrote the beginning of our story and shared it with our shoulder partners. On Wednesday, we added the middle of our story and we wrote our ending on Thursday. My kiddos helped me create this anchor chart as the week progressed (Tuesday- Thursday) and I was pretty impressed with their thinking. I have seen some great ideas on Pinterest to help students identify common language that writers use at various points in their stories. I can not wait to expand our learning next week using some of those ideas! How do you teach beginning, middle and end to your students?

Are you ready for a challenge?  We got you!We all can use a 30 day challenge to reset and refocus on our priorities in life, especially in this crazy world we live in. Inspiration and bringing the joy every day in life takes commitment and focus to have great intentions through out the day. We all have harder days than others, but focusing on the grateful moments in life helps bring the inspiration you need. Taking any bad situation and trying to find the positive is so important, it will help you persevere through it. Focusing on all the good in the world and eliminating what causes you stress will help. If you can be a better version of yourself than the day before then you are making huge strides, to be the best version of yourself! Believe me it takes a lot of work but with intention comes results. Bringing good vibes your way!  Take the challenge!The 30 day inspiration will be a life learning experience for everyone to enjoy.  Now offering the guide as an Instant Digital Download!After you have been through checkout and paid, you will be able to download your files through the email you will receive or at checkout.Digital eBooks – You will be able to download directly to your device – mobile, tablet etc.

List of insanely useful websites for college students. Thankfully, there are tons of apps and college student websites that make the process easier. And guess what...we've simplified things even further, consolidating 50 of the best websites for college students into one giant list you can access any time, any place.

Subscribe to the Teach 4 the Heart Podcast.If you’ve never tried flipping your class before, you need to. It’s easier than you may think, and you and your students will be amazed at the benefits.In case you’re not familiar with flipping, here’s the basic idea: In a traditional classroom, you lectu

When it comes to meltdowns, babies get all the excuses: "She's hungry." "He's overtired." "She needs a change." Reclaim your right to throw a fit at any age with this expressive pad, while maintaining your reputation for professionalism and maturity.  Why be direct? Passive-aggressive notes get your point across slyly. Equally effective as a full-blown hissy fit! 4 x 5.25 inches, 50 sheets

This listing is for a physical poster that will be carefully rolled and shipped to your home or location of choice. The poster is a "Notice to All Students" that is perfect for any teacher who wants to present rules in a more unique way. You may select the following sizes: 12x16 16x20 24x36 The shipping price is included in the listing, so the price listed is what you get. Like what you see, but want some things changed, or want a different proportion? Just ask! Thank you for visiting my shop! I have lots of other classroom decor aimed at benefitting students and making your life easier. Check them out! I can also customize any posters to suit your needs. Just ask! Shop Home https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSourKraus Classroom Decor https://etsy.me/2vn804E If you'd like a digital printable version, please check out that listing here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/463410518/classroom-rules-poster-notice-to-all

Do your students need a fun refresher on classroom expectations? This whole class incentive is the perfect amount of friendly competition to get them excited about practicing - even when spring fever starts to hit! Read about how I implement this in my classroom here: Beat the Teacher: A Whole Class Incentive! Students will work towards earning magnets in their ten frame when they are showing a given expectation. If they are not, the teacher gets a magnet! When the class has more magnets than the teacher, they get an X on the chart. When the chart is full, they get to vote on a prize! Printable ten frames and circles are also included in case you need them! I have included an editable prize page (you will need PowerPoint to edit it. Just add text boxes where you want them). For the multi-colored words, I changed each letter's color individually using the text fill tab in powerpoint. I made the layered black outline on the colored text by typing the word again and making the fill color "no fill" and the outline black. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to ask! Find more products to liven up your classroom here: Alphabet Charts with Real Photographs Book Bin Labels | Classroom Library Labels with Real Photographs Colorful Classroom Decor with Real Photographs Bundle