Growth Mindset: The Power of Yet Recently my 1st grade classroom has morphed into a K/1 combination classroom and then resulted in HUGE gaps (academically, socially, & emotionally) between my s…

Powerful and healing quotes for hard times.

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

Positive self affirmations are encouraging statements that you repeat to yourself through out the day. Here is a list of 100 positive affirmations.

Looking for motivation? Here are 500+ motivational quotes that'll brighten up your day and make you feel ready to take on anything.

85 of the best soothing words of encouragement for hard times to help you get through some of the toughest times in your life.

Tweet We are 7 weeks into the school year and gearing up for parent teacher conferences later this week. In our school, we try to schedule all conferences on a Thursday evening or Friday morning. This way if multiple folks need to be involved in the conference, we are all in the building at the same time. The evening hours also work much better for parents. As the math specialist I get invited to attend the difficult conferences. If a student is behind or in some cases very ahead of their peers, I will often be asked to join the conference. Classroom teachers also invite me when they know parents have specific concerns or when it is a student I have a lot of contact with. Sometimes I am asked to sit in on a conference because the parents are very difficult or have expressed opinions about their students math learning that do not show understanding of how or why we are teaching math as we do. Depending on the reason for the conference and what the concerns are, I have many approaches but here are a few things I always do in conference situations. - I like to start on a positive note by sharing a recent piece of student work that illustrates something they can do well or something that shows how far they have come. Because I do so much formative assessment, I have a lot of student work samples available to choose from and can always find something positive. - I then like to have parents share how they think their child is doing and any concerns they have. - I am all about data driven decision making so then I will share any assessments. For primary students this often includes individual interviews, especially if a student is behind. I go over the current assessment results and show their progress over time if applicable. - I show other student work and point out specifically how the work illustrates them progressing or not progressing toward meeting the standard. I also like to explain what the next steps are in terms of what we are working on next. - I prepare myself to answer the hard questions. Why are you teaching it this way instead of that way? These big questions parents have when they are new to my school or my way of thinking about math used to really challenge me. As I have become more experienced and read more research on math education I have been better prepared to answer these questions. I like to show parents that it isn't MY way of teaching that I am going for but rather what the research says works. - I focus on the big mathematical ideas for that grade. For each grade level I can think of 3-5 things that are the most important things kids have and understand in order for them to be successful in the next grade. If a student is behind, I focus the conference on the most important skills and make sure my discussion focuses on how to move a student forward with these big ideas. This year, in addition to my role as a math specialist (part interventionist and part coach), I have 2 groups of students that I am doing the primary math instruction for. This means that I will hopefully get to meet with the parents of kids in these groups because their classroom teachers don't see them for math. To help out with ones I might miss and to keep the classroom teachers up to speed on what their students are doing in math, I have been gathering data and putting together some things that can be shared with parents. One of the things I created for my fourth grade group was this quick reflection on their learning. I loved seeing their responses and it gave me great information about how they are feeling about math! Want to use this with your students? Click on the picture to get it from Google Drive.

Inspire students in upper elementary, middle, and high school to

How can we give encouragement to others? Discover 21 practical, free or frugal, and creative ways to encourage others today.

Expand your vocabulary with this list of positive words, A - Z. We think in words, and those words shape our lives. What are your words to live by?

Recognizing the work efforts of employees is important to keeping them happy and motivated. A message of appreciation is a great way to do so. Here are a few ideas of what you can say.

Help your Grandkids navigate the ups and downs of life with advice, encouragement, and love. Here are things Grandmas want them to know about life.

Discover 5 uplifting scriptures to write in a card at DaySpring. Encourage, inspire, and bring joy to loved ones today.

Here is some encouragement for the teenage girl who is hurting. Let me encourage you and help you see how smart and strong you really are.

Sometimes we all need a pick-me-up. A reminder that things will get better and that we are capable of getting through whatever life throws our...

What is your child's favorite toy? Encourage them to draw one of their favorite toys inside of the box.

Elevate your space with our Arch Decals, available in small, medium, and large sizes and a range of colours. Perfect as a standalone or in sets, they create a striking feature in walls, reading nooks, or play areas. Ideal for bedrooms and playrooms, these decals are both stylish and easy to apply.

The best badass women quotes to motivate & inspire you! These wise words from badass women will fire up your confidence and inner strength.

A list of fun English word games for kids! Fun vocabulary games to help improve their spelling, reading, vocabulary and conversation skills.

15 Encouraging scriptures to text to your husband. Send your husband encouragement throughout the day to build up your Christian marriage.

Looking for words of encouragement to use with your kids? Use these positive phrases to build them up and ignite their inner confidence!

These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back

50 powerful quotes from Keanu Reeves that capture his philosophy, kindness, and unique outlook on life.

Use the promises of God to pray with power! Take a look at how praying the promises of God will deepen your prayer life!

Frustrated when your child disobeys on purpose or pushes your buttons? Learn how to discipline a toddler who doesn’t listen or ignores you.

Enforcing logical consequences is a fabulous way for teachers to encourage good classroom behavior and parents to get kids to behave without yelling, and we're sharing 13 logical consequences that actually work!

Students circulate through the classroom and meet new friends! Here's a great team building activity I like to have on hand for the first week of school! Use "Find a Friend" for a quick structure to allow for student interaction, to model classroom expectations for movement in the room, and to review and practice classroom manners. With the recording sheet in hand, students circulate through the room to pair up with a new friend. Students greet each other and take turns to ask a question related to the grid. For example, student A will say say to student B, "Do you like to read?" Student B will reply, "Yes, I do like to read." Student B will then sign his name in the corresponding box on Student A's paper. (If the student replies with a "no", I encourage my first graders to try again and to ask about something else on the paper. After all, we have different likes and dislikes.) Before rotating, students thank each other. Students mix and pair again with a new partner to complete the grid as time allows. I do remind the children that they may only sign someone's paper one time. These activities promote positive interaction, movement, and community. It also allows for me to model (...again) how to stand up and carry the paper/pencil, how to find a partner quietly (by making eye contact), how to say "please" and "thank you", and how to speak using an inside voice. Click here to download this "Find a Friend" activity. link Here's One for Color Words. Click on the image below to download this "Find a Friend" activity. (Some children may need to have support with recognizing and reading the words.) Like Those? Here's one for number words, too! Click on the image below to download this "Find a Friend" activity. Happy Holiday Weekend!

Sometimes we all need a pick-me-up. A reminder that things will get better and that we are capable of getting through whatever life throws our...

It is a struggle for cancer patients to focus on the positives. These encouraging words for cancer patients would be welcoming during their cancer journey.

Why is the comfort zone dangerous? You're only half living! Gain back your confidence and adventure: get out of your comfort zone!

So much Twitter love from my post about my walls this year. Y’all know how to make a girl feel good! I don’t have my lesson plans ready, and am not entirely sure what I’m doing on…

Ever wonder how to improve your marriage?Take the time to ask these 5 questions to ask your spouse to immediately improve your marriage.

It's important that kids have positive self-esteem that encourages them to try new things, overcome challenges and be happy.

If you're struggling with loneliness, and are looking for comfort, here are 10 Bible verses for when you feel lonely.

It can be hard to know what to do or say to someone who has suffered a loss and is grieving the death of a loved one. If you're at a loss, you can offer these words of comfort to someone you know who is grieving.

These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back

These inspirational struggling marriage quotes will help to remind you that love isn't always simple and easy, but it is oh so worth it!

Perspective is the broad grid through which we look at life. Here are 7 Bible verses that help to put life in perspective.

Encourage your children to use super similes and marvellous metaphors in their writing with our resource pack. This includes a helpful topic guide, a reference mat, display banners and a wide range of classroom activities to explore!

These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back

Access 171 inspiring three word quotes today! Discover quotes that will inspire and motivate you fast. The topics? Life, happiness, motivation, peace, and more!