Who's ready for the Olympic games?? This freebie is from my I'm An Olympian! Back to School Pack, just in time for the 2020/21 Olympics! Get to know your students the first week of school while celebrating the Olympics! Included: -My Athlete Profile -"If I Were in the Olympics" writing prompt For more Olympics resources, check out: I'm An Olympian! Back to School Pack Olympic Medal Literacy Centers Olympics Bundle
Now, before we get started I have a disclaimer. I am by no means the guru of all things kinder. However, I have gained a lot of self taught experience through trial and error. I have taught Kindergarten for 5 years and would love to share with you what it has taught me! **All images for resources are clickable. They will take your directly to the free product. Background As a student teacher I fell in LOVE with teaching 5th grade. Loved the age range, the content and the possibilities. After student teaching I wanted nothing more than to be teaching in a 3rd-5th grade classroom. Well, that is not what God had planned for me! 2-3 weeks before the start of the school year, I was hired to teach Kindergarten in a Catholic school! WHAT!?! I know NOTHING about this age range! I was so nervous! To make matters less appealing, I also did not have a grade partner to bounce ideas off of. The previous teacher was not much help (she changed grades). Nor, did I know about the magic Facebook groups. More or less, I was on my own. The First Year Nope. Not going there. Long story short - it was rough. I had an extremely difficult class and my lack of understanding of strong behavior management did not add to the issues. It was a long year with a lot tears. So many times I wanted to quit. Yet, some how I managed to survive. Transition Years So I stayed teaching Kindergarten. Mostly because I did not get offered an other positions. But, I also wanted some stability. The next few years I grew so much as an educator. Starting in year 3 I had an aide and she was a Godsend. It was nice to have another adult in the room to bounce ideas off of. And quite frankly, Kindergarten should have an aide! During years 3-5 this was the time I was finally getting into my stride. I by no means want to worry any new teacher. But, become confident and exceptional at what you do takes time. There is failure and success. Each year is a new class which means you might need to change how your room is structured. It doesn't mean I wasn't a good teacher as I began my career. But I was learning. Sure we got all the content covered, but that does not make a good teacher. As I completed my 5th year of Kindergarten I felt amazing. I was on my way to being one of those great teachers! I still have hopes of teaching older grades. But I fully believe in giving everything I have. And that is what I did for my kinders, because our students deserve it. Learn From Me! Okay, So my first year - no good. But that doesn't mean yours can't be!! I feel that the most important time of the school year is the first few days/weeks. This is when you will set the foundation for your classroom. Listen to your professors from college. Be tough those first weeks. Seriously, you need to set the expectations for your students behavior or they will walk all over you. Now don't laugh - but it took me 4 years to finally put together a structured binder of first week activities. Yes, the first week is so important that it needs it's own binder. Get Up and Move! Kindergarteners love to sing and dance! Yes Gonoodle is awesome but so are Jack Hartman and Harry Kindergarten! The Learning Station is another one of my favorites. Your class will learn so much from singing and moving. Use that! Especially during the first week they are going to struggle with sitting for "long" periods of time. Be prepared by having fun songs they can interact with. My aide was awesome at making up her own songs to use. I, unfortunately, lack that particular skill. First Week Activities Can we just quickly pause to appreciate how awesome Educlips is?! So what exactly should you do for the first week? There are a few things that are super important. The most important is transportation! You will probably have a meet the teacher night before school starts. This is where you will have the parents fill out how their child will be going home. But guess what, it changes. Some parents will take off of work just so they can pick up their child from school. Check this and double check this! BUT even with all of that checking you may still send a child home the wrong way. (hand raise!) I have! It's hard especially when there are grandparents involved in picking up a child or the parents do not live together. Remember that it is okay! Mistakes happen. If you send them on the bus - the bus will bring them back. Put them in the car rider line by mistake? A parent can be called. It will be okay. Bathroom breaks - take many of these. And dancing breaks, those are awesome too. They are kids! And just like you, they are nervous. Have fun! I plan my first week of school around read alouds. I do this because There are some great books to talk about first day feelings and expectations. You can incorporate so much with a read aloud! So let me break it down for you what I did and where I got the resources. Plus, my aide for the past two years was a retired kindergarten teacher and read most of the same books. There is a pattern here people! First Day - Read The Kissing Hand **The day of tears Brace yourself: your students will cry. Their parents will cry. You will probably want to cry. (It's okay if you actually do cry). This is real life lol. But remember - it will all be okay! You will be awesome! Just have fun! I have a coloring page waiting for my class when they come in. Some will color it, some will just sit and cry. Could be a good opportunity to introduce book buddies (stuffed animals) that they can hold if they didn’t bring something with them. I have changed my page every year but here are some I’ve used: Click on the images to go to the free resources! I love doing the tour of the school with my kiddos as a little scavenger hunt - they get so excited. The clues lead them around the school and they get to meet a few other grownups they will see frequently. During the hunt they are trying to find Chester. At the end they are back in the classroom were Chester leaves them some goodies. This might be good to do after AM snack when they have opened up a bit (if you are full day). I used this format to help me: I would suggest purchasing little heart stickers to use with this book as well. Drawing/writing to go with the book: These stations are something that I had prepared but did not get to finish. Which is fine! I would much rather have too much to do than not enough. **There are more books about Chester that would be great to read to your students as well. Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten Miss Bindergarten is another fun character to bring into your classroom. There are a series of books that star her and her kindergarten class. How fun for your students to compare themselves. I like this book for the first week because they can learn about their teacher too! Day Two - Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! Obviously you have to read this in Kindergarten. It's an ABC book! You kids most likely know this one as well so have them help you read! Be sure to check out Pinterest or search for more blogs like Mrs. Lee's Kinders. I made this cute craft with them. You can make it easier on yourself and print the pieces on colored paper or have your students color! My first year I had my students make these. Now, I made the mistake of having them find the letters. Learn from my mistake. Sort your letter stickers by students and have them ready to go in a plastic bag. We can't all get it right the first time. ;) How cute is this directed drawing!? Day Three - Brown Bear Brown Bear This will be another book your students are familiar with. Have a blast retelling this story throughout the day! Then have your students go home and retell it with their parents! I also made a retelling bag with my students. Spend the day working with colors! Day Four - Chrysanthemum By now your students are probably feeling more comfortable. Now is the time, if you didn't start year, that I would begin building those expectations. To me, the most important part of my job is prodcing kind and caring students that will help others. The academics will come. But you are the start of it all! This is the time to truly teach them right from wrong and how to treat each other. Social skills are something you will work all year in Kindergarten. I read this story to my class and later in the day we also watch the animated version of it from Scholastic. I shrunk these puppets down to have them fit on a Popsicle stick. Let your students retell the story with a friend! Nancy has some great ideas for the first week of school and how to expand on your student's understanding of how Chrysanthemum felt. AND First Grade Blue Skies has an adorable freebie for you! This book is just seriously amazing and needs to be read! Find Jennifer's ideas here. Splat the Cat I love splat! He is another of my favorite book characters for Kindergarten Fill A Bucket In my class we discussed a lot about filling buckets. The kind things we do fill a bucket. But also some actions can dip into a friend's bucket and make them feel bad. If You Take A Mouse To School Again - a great character to bring into your classroom. Along with his friends! Smitten in First has a free template to make this cute guy! I would have your students tell you their answer and write it on a post it for them to copy. School Behavior/ Expectations No, David is a fun book to read to your class. Have them talk about the choices that they should make in school. The lunchroom is definitely important to discuss with your class as well. I would suggest a craft similar to this, perhaps where they draw the way they should behave in the lunchroom. Building A Positive Classroom Community This is so crucial to me! As a teacher my goal is to foster a community where my students are will to take risks and try new things. Where they respect their classmates for who they are. Where they respect adults and authority. I also want my students to realize how unique and special they are. I read a book such as the one below and then we create self-portraits! I personally think it should be required for every school to purchase multicultural crayons and paints. Because let's face it, the 24 crayola box of crayons does not include all of the skin tones that represent our students. I strongly suggest that your purchase a few packs of the crayons to keep in your classroom! The cost about $1 a pack, but add so much to your room! More Ideas How cute would this lap book be?! I think it would be fun to work on during the first week with your students. Practice identifying their name! This is a cute activity and how fun would it be to complete it with rainbow writing!? PHEW! That was a jam packed post! I truly hope that these ideas can be of some use for you and your students. That's the whole reason I blog and create for TPT, to help your students. If there is anything I can do to help you, please let me know! Remember, you go this!
Too many classroom icebreakers require students to take big social risks with people they barely know. Or they don't really help students get to know each other. Or they are just plain cheesy.
Teaching procedures and rules the first weeks of school is so important! This back to school resource contains tips, activities, and printables to help you introduce, teach, and reinforce your classroom rules and procedures. Note: The back to school activities are now available in digital versions as well! See pages 3-4 of the PDF for the details and links. Click here to see all of my Back to School resources. This back-to-school resource includes the following printables and activities for teaching rules and procedures: General Information and Tips for Creating Rules and Procedures List of Suggested Classroom Procedures to Teach General Steps for Introducing and Teaching Procedures Link to Editable Classroom Procedures Task Cards Looks Like/Sounds Like: Use this T-Chart to have the students take a classroom rule or procedure and list some ideas of how this rule looks and sounds like. This is a powerful tool in helping them understand how to follow the rule or procedures. Do’s and Don’ts: This is very similar to the above activity. Use the T Chart to have the students describe what you DO to follow the rule or procedure and what you DON’T do. iPhone Apps: This is a fun and creative way to have the students think of the class rules. The students create an iPhone app for each class rule. They design a button and a title for each rule. I have included a bulletin board poster if you would like to make a display of this. **Printable Only Scenarios: 22 different classroom scenarios involving rules and procedures. Each scenario also has guiding questions for the students to answer. Teaching the Procedures: Cut out each square and give each pair or group a procedure to teach the rest of the class. I have included a blank grid so you can include additional procedures to fit your needs. Teaching Special Procedures: A printable for students to record drill procedures. Class Rules Book: Template to have your students make a simple book containing the rules of the classroom. Have the students write the rule, then rewrite it in their words, then illustrate the rule. Good Choice or Poor Choice: You Decide!: This can be done whole group, with small groups, or with partners. The students cut out the behavior cards, read them, decide if the circumstance is showing a good choice or poor choice, and then sort them correctly. I have also included a blank page for the students to create their own behavior cards. Write About It!: A writing prompt about a day without rules and directions. Read About It! A paired story set for discussing what school would be like without procedures. One story depicts a day in a classroom without procedures and one depicts a day in a classroom with procedures. About the Digital Rules and Procedures Activities •The digital rules and procedures activities are also included for use with Google Slides. Click here for a step-by-step guide for assigning Google Slides in Google Classroom. *The checklist is in Google Sheets. *The content for the digital activities is the SAME as the printable activities. It has been modified for optimal digital use and engagement. •Check out the video preview to see the digital rules and procedures activities. More Back to School Resources 5th Grade Back to School Math Printables (Reviews 4th Grade Math) 4th Grade Back to School Math Printables (Reviews 3rd Grade Math) 5th Grade Back to School Math Centers (Reviews 4th Grade Math) 4th Grade Back to School Math Centers (Reviews 3rd Grade Math) Back to School Writing Prompts
Free printable PDF math templates for algebra, algebra 2 and even geometry, some of which will work great in middle school math. I LOVE math templates. It makes life so much easier to know my warm up is all set to go. When I first wrote this post, I had only made 4 Algebra and Algebra 2 templates. Since then, I've added a whole bunch more.
Voici un ensemble d'activités stimulantes pour les premiers jours de l'année scolaire. Cet ensemble contient plusieurs activités pour vivre une rentrée scolaire réussie!: Cet ensemble d’activités contient: - 24 étiquettes mots - des fiches d’activités à imprimer - des situations d’écriture - des livrets de lecture pour lecteurs émergents. - des modèles de cartes d’anniversaires - un modèle de banderole à remplir - une banderole de bienvenue - une activité de bricolage - un jeu de BINGO - un jeu de domino - Le jeu de l’alphabet - La roulette de discussion Key words: rentrée, back to school, french, français, vocabulaire, école, vocabulary Comment obtenir des produits GRATUITS sur TpT? Accumulez des crédits lors de vos prochains achats sur TpT en laissant vos commentaires sur chacun des produits achetés. Quand vous serez prêts à échanger vos crédits, aller sur my TpT et sélectionner TpT Credit Balance. Autres produits de la même série Si vous aimez ce produit, vous aimerez sans doute: Jeux d'étude de mots de la rentrée Ensemble d'ateliers de littératie Ensemble de francisation Nouveautés Suivez-moi! Cliquez sur Follow me Pinterest Droits d'auteurs La personne qui télécharge ce document est autorisée à copier à des fins d’utilisation personnelle ou avec ses élèves. Si vous n’avez pas directement téléchargé ce document, prière de vous rendre à ma boutique pour télécharger votre copie. La redistribution, l'édition, la vente ou l'affichage de cet ouvrage en tout ou en partie sur Internet sont strictement interdites. Les infractions sont passibles des sanctions de la Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Pour des questions ou des commentaires, écrivez-moi à [email protected]
The best back to school games for your classroom including Minute to Win It, printable word search and charades and pictionary clues.
On a normal, middle-of-the-year day, I want my students to come into my room in the morning knowing it is a calm place, a cooperative pla...
Note: This blog post contains resources from our TpT store and our Amazon Associate store. --------------------------------------------- Grab Your Free Vocabulary Word Search for the book, If You Take a Mouse to School! Before we jump into these exciting activities, make sure to download the free vocabulary word search that pairs perfectly with If You Take a Mouse to School! It’s an excellent way to help your students reinforce key words from the story while having fun. Download it here and watch your students engage with the text in a whole new way! --------------------------------------------- Now, let’s explore some creative activities that will make If You Take a Mouse to School a memorable experience in your classroom. These ideas are no-prep, easy to implement, and designed to keep your students engaged and excited! 1. Decorate a Shoe Box as a Lunch Box Let your students get creative by decorating their own shoe boxes as lunch boxes, just like the mouse in the story. They can fill them with drawings or cutouts of their favorite school snacks. 2. Yo-Yo Fun Bring some yo-yos into the classroom and let the students try their hand at this classic toy, just like the mouse does in the book. It’s a great way to build hand-eye coordination and have some fun! 3. Chalkboard Writing Set up a mini chalkboard station where students can practice writing just like the mouse. You can have them write letters, numbers, or even draw pictures related to the story. 4. Simple Science Experiment Replicate the mouse’s science experiment in class! Choose a simple and safe experiment, such as mixing baking soda and vinegar to create a fun fizzy reaction. The students will love it, and it ties directly into the story. 5. Build a Block House Provide students with building blocks and challenge them to build a house just like the mouse does in the book. They can work individually or in groups to create their masterpieces. 6. Write Your Own Story Have your students write their own version of the story. What would happen if they took their favorite animal to school? Encourage them to be creative and illustrate their stories, too! 7. Read Aloud to a Friend Pair up your students and have them read If You Take a Mouse to School to each other. This is a great way to build reading fluency and confidence. 8. Play a Game of Soccer Take the lesson outside for some physical activity. Just like the mouse, your students can kick around a soccer ball and enjoy a bit of recess. It’s a fun way to tie in the story with some movement. 9. Shoot Some Hoops Set up a mini basketball hoop in your classroom or gym and let the students try shooting baskets, just like the mouse. It’s another fun way to bring the book to life! 10. Snack Time! Host a snack time in class where students can enjoy a small treat. Discuss what snacks the mouse might have brought to school and why they chose their own snacks. 11. DIY Mouse Puppet Create simple mouse puppets using paper bags or socks. Once the puppets are done, students can use them to act out scenes from the book or create new adventures for the mouse. 12. Paper Plate Mouse Craft Turn a plain paper plate into a cute mouse face! Students can use markers, construction paper, and googly eyes to bring their mouse to life. It’s a fun and easy craft that ties back to the story. 13. Dress Up as the Mouse Why not dress up as the mouse for a day? You can wear gray clothes and even make a simple mouse ear headband. Encourage your students to dress up too, and make it a fun classroom event. 14. Review School Rules Use the story as a springboard to review school rules. Have students complete sentences like, “If you take a child to school, they should ___________.” It’s a great way to reinforce positive behavior. 15. Classroom Print Walk As you read the book, have students look for and point out words and numbers in the illustrations. Afterward, go on a print walk around the classroom to find real-life examples of print in their environment. Before you scroll on down to watch some great videos, don't forget to grab your free activity HERE. --------------------------------------------- You may also like these videos: An animated read aloud of If You Take a Mouse to School by Laura Numeroff. Reader's Theater Mouse Puppet Paper Plate Mouse (Alter the Easter Bunny LOL) DIY Mouse Costume Perhaps you could show up to school as a mouse? Wear gray pants and a gray jacket :) Mouse Trap Online Game Mouse Trap From our Amazon Affiliate store: If You Take a Mouse to School If You Take A Mouse To School Puppet & Props U-Build Mouse Trap Game You may also like this blog post: Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find great resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!
It’s that time of year again…you’ve had a bit of a break and now your mind is going wild with ideas for the new school year. To keep your time and efforts focused (and your stre…
FREE Call Backs and attention getters for the kindergarten classroom! Great classroom management tool!
So, are you itching for winter break to get here or what?!? I am drowning here, people! Between report cards, conferences (for my students and my own kids!), shopping, baking, parties, wrapping... DROWNING!Don't get me
So, I invented a new game today. It was completely necessary at the moment. It requires zero prep and zero materials (other than a class list). It. Works. Like. Magic! The name of the game is 'Last Kid Standing'. How
Gain some ideas for how to use small group instruction in the middle and high school classroom. Learn more in this blog post.
Innovative creativity from PaperArtsy. Paint, stencils, and techniques galore for any mixed media enthusiast to enjoy.
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!
Why I don't review the syllabus on the first day of class in high school and what I do instead. Fun first day of school activities and icebreakers!
The pencils are sharpened, your classroom is clean and the bell rings…gulp…here they come! My feelings on the first week of school are conflicted. On one hand, it’s one of the most important weeks. Explaining and practicing the class procedures and expectations sets the tone for the rest of the school year. Success is vital. On the other hand, I’m so excited to start teaching my historical content that waiting until all the expectations are explained requires a lot of patience! Every teacher has their own plan of action for that pivotal time. Here are 5 things I can’t live without during the first week of school: One: An Icebreaker. I aim to try and make kids feel comfortable in my classroom on day one. One of my favorite little activities is Fact or Fiction. Each student receives a small slip of paper and they’re instructed to write one fact and two fictions. Then each person (including myself!) introduces themselves and we all try to guess which statement is the fact! It’s a great way to quickly learn about each other. Two: Classroom Information and Expectations. This is every teacher’s staple, I know, but it had to go on the list because it’s a must-have! When you’re making your own, spell everything out – from the obvious grading procedures and late work policy to how to pass back papers and when to sharpen pencils and go to the bathroom. Trust me, leave no stone unturned. Your classroom will function much better if you set the tone from day one. (Oh, and don’t forget a seating chart!) Three: Fun and Games. On the second day of school, I love to start class with a little game. It’s a great way for the kids to start practicing our classroom procedures and expectations while getting familiar with their teacher and classmates. Here are some of my favorite games that I use during the first week of school: (P.S. Some of these activities can be found in my Back to School Activities resources! Click the grade level you’re teaching to check them out: Sixth, Seventh, Eighth) InstaFriend: This activity gets students moving around the room and interviewing fellow classmates! Their InstaFriend paper has a series of descriptions and characteristics. When they find a student who matches the description, they write their name in the box. Each name can only be used once! Right or Wrong: I love skits. LOVE THEM. I like to introduce students to the idea of skits during the first week by allowing them to create their own based on our class expectations. I first divide students into small groups of 2-3. Each group then randomly receives one of our class procedures or expectations. As a group, they have to work together to create two mini skits – one showing the RIGHT way to follow the expectation, the other showing the WRONG way. They get to be silly and I get to reinforce my class expectations. After each skit I happily point out all the positive behaviors as well as each time a class policy was violated. It’s a light-hearted way to grab their attention and create a positive atmosphere all while practicing the laws of the land. Classmate Bingo: I love to play this game at the end of the first week. I give each student a blank bingo board with a large selection of personal characteristics, hobbies, etc. at the bottom. The students choose 16 off the list and create their customized board. Then, I randomly select characteristics from the list. If a student has that characteristic on their board, they have to write down a student’s name that matches the characteristic – but no cheating! They have to use what they’ve learned about others during their first week of school to try and win the game. Four: A Pre Test. After a few days of class information and fun, it’s time to start getting down to business. Each year, I make a short pre-test on the information they’ll learn about that year. It gives me a chance to see what the kids already know and gives them a feel for what subject matter they’ll be learning about in the coming weeks. FYI: Your pre-test probably won’t take the whole class period. Make sure to have plans for other activities, too, on the day you give your pre-test! Five: A Writing Activity. True fact: when I tell kids they’re going to do a writing activity, they groan every time. It’s a signal that the “real work” is about to begin. Luckily, they’re always relieved when I assure them that this activity will require very little research because it’s about a subject they’re experts in – themselves! I have a few different activities to choose from each year. Here are some suggestions: Student Survey: What are your strengths? Weaknesses? What do you hope to learn in this class? These are just some of the questions I ask students in the survey. The more I know about my students, the better I can help them achieve success in my class. Write Away: A staple of many: write a letter to a future you! I ask students to write goals for the year, dreams they wish to see realized, and questions they want to ask their “End of the Year” self. I tuck these letters away and revisit them during the last week of school. I’m Ready: Like every middle school history class, we do a lot of writing and students always have to back up their reasons, statements, etc. with evidence to support their claim. In this writing activity, students have to identify which class rule or expectation they believe is most important and provide evidence to support their claim. This activity both reinforces my classroom policies and secretly gives me a preview of their writing proficiency. Have I left anything out? If you have any fun plans for the first week of school, share them in the comments. I’m always looking for new ideas for my classroom!
Olympics Inspired Art Project - inspired by the 2016 Rio Olympics, this colourful multi media art project uses simple, easy to find materials and is suitable to preschoolers to middle school | you clever monkey
Nearly 400 teachers weighed in on their favorite back-to-school activities and ice breakers - and here are their top picks! The most popular, practical, and unique back-to-school activities loved by teachers around the world!
Teachers like starting the school year feeling well-prepared and confident. Read about 5 Strategies for a Solid Start to Your School Year
Very cute, hands-on craftivity just right for back to school! Learn all about your new students and the math in their lives! Makes a very cute display and covers a variety of standards! Inside this pack there are 4 different Math about Me pages (ranging from easy to more difficult) and 9 different kids to choose from. As always, you can get yours RIGHT HERE!!! Here are a few pics for you! Enjoy!!
Back to School Photo Props 9 comments Back to School I have a fun freebie to share with you today! Last year I took first day of school photos of my second graders (and own child). It was really fun printing up the images and sending them home. I think a lot of parents are so rushed on the first day, that many of them don't even think about taking a picture of their children. I definitely plan on taking photos again this year, so I made a set of printable First and Last Day of School signs. The set includes signs for Pre-K through 6th grade. There is also a "generic" sign that reads "First Day of School." I printed out these sample pages as I plan on using both. (By the way, I would love to figure out how to take a decent photo indoors....this was taken with the indoors setting!) I hope you enjoy this freebie! Click HERE to download your copy. :) Toodles! Share It:
Brag tags transform the culture of your classroom. Read on for 7 tips to get this classroom management system up and running successfully.
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You will love these Olympic-themed party ideas, from food to backyard games and lots of kid-friendly crafts! Who else is super excited about the Olympics starting? We cannot wait! Especially since it's now been 3 years since the last Olympic games. As a family, we decided that we're going to have an Olympic-themed party for the opening ceremonies, and my kids are already brainstorming ideas. There are so many fun ideas that we found, we just had to share with you guys. Which one of these ideas is sticking out to you? I want to make them all! This isn't
Olympics Inspired Art Project - inspired by the 2016 Rio Olympics, this colourful multi media art project uses simple, easy to find materials and is suitable to preschoolers to middle school | you clever monkey
Y'all. I realized recently that I never shared the finished product of our Todd Parr inspired It's Okay to be Different mural. Which wasn't an accident. It's been on my To-Do list to finish this beast (there are still 140 more selfies that will flank the sides of this bad boy) and when I exhaustedly sighed to my buddy the custodian this evening that I really should stick around and do it, he said, "Eh. Go home and put your feet up. Do it tomorrow." He's a super smart dude so I decided to take his advice and work on it later...but share it with y'all today! When you walk out of my art room door, this is the first thing you see, these silly, happy and different faces! I went through the process of just how the kids, kindergarten through fourth grade, created these painted and collaged pieces in this post so be sure to take a peak! Our inspo was this fun and colorful book. This book is short and sweet and perfect for my various age groups. It also packs a powerful message: it's okay to be different! I try my hardest to stress this, self-importance and uniqueness in my art room. All our lives, we are told to fit in, follow along, do whatever it is that Susie is doing that gets her oodles of praise from her teacher. But just how boring would life be if we were all Susies? You're YOU and nobody else...and that's simply wonderful! Not to mention totes adorbs. As the kids finished off their selfies, I started collecting them and laying them out on a huge roll of paper. We happen to have this 12' wide roll of paper at my school which I've pretty much claimed as Art Room Property. I love using it for murals like these so I can just start hot gluing these guys down. We've done several murals at my school (full list with links below) and I've been asked by a handful of art teacherin' types if the kids are ever sad that they don't often get their pieces returned to them. I explain to them at the start of the project that their handwork will be enjoyed by many for a long time (this piece will probably stay up until the start of the new school year and possibly beyond. I really love it!). I also snapped photos of them to eventually pop up onto ArtSonia so the kids will have the chance to share with family in their online gallery. However...I do have this wild and crazy idea. Once I [finally] get all of the pieces hung, I want to snap a couple of high resolution pics and have their work made into fabric on Spoonflower! AND THEN make a dress from it. Oh, but that's a secret. Don't tell los kiddos. Especially not the dude on the top right. He looks like he's having a bad day already. Big Ole School-Wide Collaboratives and Murals are super fun but, not gonna lie, a whole lotta work. I've shared many of mine in the past. Here's a lil list if you wanna take a look-see: Dot Day Collaboratives (a project for each grade level!) Henri Rousseau-inspired Mural Chalked Ceiling Tile Collaborative Magritte Mural The Johnson Elementary Legacy piece Our School Has Heart Mural Gallery of Gratitude Winter Program Collaborative Monet-Inspired Mural Wishful Winterwonderland Mural Warhol Soup Can Mural Heather Galler-Inspired Mural by first grade Whew! And if you just wanna read more about school-wide collaboratives, get yerself here, kids. And when your done clickin' on all them linky-loos, pop over here, check out these awesome blogs and throw a sympathy vote my way, would ya? Until next time, just remember, IT'S OKAY TO BE DIFFRENT*, er, DIFFERNT ;) [diffrent: when you pay a different rent then you and your landlord agreed upon. "C'mon, man. I told you the rent was $50 a night, not $45. Don't be pullin' no diffrent action!"]
This is an old blog post from January 31, 2016 on the benefits of movement and various sensory exercises to improve focus and attention. We’ve updated this article as of January 22, 2024 to include more resources and strategies to support attention. Exercises for focus and attention depend on the individual’s unique needs, but there ... Read more
Spending the first week of school teaching classroom expectations and procedures is essential for a successful year. Glue is a tricky school supply for many little learners and there definitely needs to be instruction dedicated to teaching learners how to use this tool.Glue BottlesWhen learners are not taught how to use their glue correctly things
Zacchaeus is a real-life example of the power that Jesus has to change our hearts. The goal in this lesson is for the children to feel the darkness and ugliness of sin, and then experience the joy and miracle of forgiveness when Zacchaeus meets Jesus! Bible Truth: Jesus has the power to forgives my sin. Bible Story: Jesus changes Zacchaeus' heart. Bible Study: Luke 19:1-10; I Corinthians 5:7 teach cha-ching! To tell the story of Zacchaeus "hands-on" style gather up these items: children's picture Bible, or flannel graph scenery and characters a small bag or coin pouch loose change a cut-out of a black heart and a white heart Peak your class's interest in your lesson by shaking the bag, and letting them guess what is inside. They will probably easily guess that you have money in your bag! Pass out a coin for each child to hold throughout the lesson. (Remind them that they should never put coins in their mouths!) Read the story of Zacchaeus from a children's picture Bible, or tell it in your own words with visuals, such as flannel graph. Introduce Zacchaeus as a short man, who was a tax collector. His job was to collect money that people had to pay to the king. But Zacchaeus took more money from people than he was supposed to. If someone was supposed to pay one coin to the king, Zaccahaeus made them pay two coins, and he would keep one of the coins for himself. That is called stealing. Zacchaeus was rich and had lots of money, but nobody wanted to be his friend because he stole money from them. He had a dark sinful heart. Hold up the dark heart as you describe Zacchaeus' dark and sinful heart. Go on to tell the rest of the story of Zacchaeus meeting Jesus, as you show pictures from the children's Bible or manipulate flannel graph characters. At the conclusion of the story, talk about how amazing it is that Jesus changed Zacchaeus' heart! He used to be a man that stole people's money, but now he gives his money away to people! Jesus did a miracle! Only Jesus has the power to take a dirty, sinful heart and give us a new clean heart! Zacchaeus repented, he turned away from his sin, and followed Jesus! Hold up the white heart as you describe how Jesus changed Zacchaeus' heart. Lead the class in a prayer, asking Jesus to forgive their sin, and change their hearts so they can follow Jesus like Zacchaeus. After you pray, collect the coins from the children. Tell them that they are giving the money back just like Zacchaeus did after he repented. sing Zacchaeus (was a wee little man) is a Sunday School classic, and the perfect song to reinforce the story they just heard. Be sure to do some actions with the song! The Repent Song is the same song we learned along with the story of John the Baptist, so it's great review and repetition. Follow the link for the lyrics and actions. The Bath Song is a great song about how Jesus washes away our sin with "super soap." The "call back" format makes it really easy to sing along! craft color & paste Here is a coloring sheet from Sermons 4 Kids of Jesus talking to Zacchaeus in the tree. Cut pieces of green paper, or green tissue paper into leaves for the children to glue onto the tree. zacchaeus meets Jesus A good craft is one that helps children retell the story that they learned. This craft does exactly that! You will need: this print out in (black & white) or (color) card stock scissors hole punch yarn green tissue paper glue clear tape crayons (optional) To prepare, print the print out page onto card stock. Cut on the dotted line, and cut out Zacchaeus. Punch a hole at the top and bottom of the tree. Cut out approximately 1" x 1" squares of green tissue paper. Cut yarn into 16" lengths. In class, provide glue for the children to attach the squares of tissue paper to the tree as leaves. Lace the yarn throught the holes and tie it behind the tree. If using the black and white version, provide crayons for the children to color Jesus and Zacchaeus. Tip: Tie the yarn near the top of the page, and attach Zacchaeus to the bottom of the page. It is easier for the kids, if you let them glue on the leaves before you add the yarn. Use clear tape to attach Zacchaeus to the yarn. Tip: Set the clear tape under the yarn, sticky side up, and then press Zacchaeus onto the tape. Move Zacchaeus up and down the tree to retell the story! up and down the tree For this craft you will need: this tree pattern this Zacchaeus pattern green construction paper jumbo craft sticks yarn scissors hole punch crayons glue tape To prepare, cut out the top, leaf portion of the tree pattern, and use it to trace onto green construction paper. Cut out tree and Zacchaeus figures. Punch a hole near the top of the trees. Cut yarn into approximately 7" lengths. In class, provide crayons for the children to color Zacchaeus, and the jumbo craft stick. Help them attach the tree to the craft stick with glue. Tape Zacchaeus to the yarn, thread the yarn through the hole in the tree, and tie the yarn off in the back to move Zacchaeus up and down the tree. Find more ideas and for teaching your child at home about Zacchaeus and his encounter with Jesus, here!
