Follow these 8 steps for organizing your personal affairs before you die. Start today and get a plan in place for your family to follow.
Learn more about the many benefits of death doulas + end of life care services, plus a helpful list of death doula in San Diego.
Planning for estate & end of life arrangements will make a difficult time easier for your family. Get organized now with this free End-of-Life Checklist.
Here is a fun FREEBIE to challenge visual perceptual and fine motor skills - find and color marine life visual motor. Students need to find the marine life and color it according to the key on the activity page. Download a FREE copy of the Find and Color Marine Life visual motor activity page at the end of this post.
First Week Watercolor Portraits 7 comments Back to School, Bulletin Boards, Self Portraits, Tutorials Every year, my second graders paint a watercolor self-portrait. It is truly my most favorite first week activity of all time. After sharing this picture of this year's portraits on Facebook, a sweet reader asked if I had a blog post about them. Well, it dawned on me that while I have shared my annual self-portraits many times, I've never really shared them exclusively in a post. So, here goes! Every year, I have my students paint a self-portrait during the first week of school (an idea I learned while student teaching many moons ago). I hang these portraits in the room, for the entire year. They really brighten up our space and they are such a joy to look at (this is a picture of my students' portraits from last year). I am not an art teacher and I believe that kids should be encouraged to take risks, so when I task my students with painting their portraits, I pretty much let them "have at it." Don't worry, it isn't a total free for all. I do model the process and I also share examples from years past, like the ones shown below. I just make it very clear that I don't expect their paintings to look like an actual photograph. ;) I always begin by pointing out how much of their body/self they will be painting. I tell them to think about the pictures they see in their yearbooks and how those pictures only show people's heads and shoulders. I explain that they will include only their head and shoulders in their paintings. I then show them examples from previous years (sometimes students move and they get left behind, so I have a few on hand). Once the students understand what it is that they will be including in their portrait, I model the drawing process on the board. I discuss how large the head should be in relation to the paper and show them what this looks like. From there, I show them how I draw a neck and shoulders, hair, and facial features. I apologize that I don't have a photo of this, but essentially, I model and narrate the process, one step at a time. And, then...it's the students' turn. I give each student a piece of white card stock (8x10 inches) to work with. Card stock is brighter and thicker than construction paper, and it just seems to hold the paint better, in my opinion. Then, they start their drawing. Sometimes, I have them draw the outline of their pictures with a black crayon (see below). When I do this, there is NO pencil involved. This helps them to really slow down and visualize before they draw because they know that they can't erase. However, this year, I let them draw with pencil first and then they traced over their pencil lines with a Sharpie. Why did I do that? I have no idea, it was just what I decided to do when I was prepping the materials, but the end result was still fab! Once the students draw the outline of their portrait, they get to paint! Using watercolor is a tricky thing for many second graders. They have a hard time always gauging how much water to use, so a discussion about this (and a little modeling) ahead of time is a good idea. Tip: No matter how much explaining and modeling you do, you'll still have a student or two that uses too much water. Let them use a tissue to blot their paper if you notice this happening. I lay the portraits to dry on the floor, in an out of the way spot. They dry within minutes here in the desert. Once they are dry, I flatten them by stacking heavy teacher manuals on them overnight. I could iron them, but my iron and I do not get along. At all. The next morning, I hang them up and admire the sight before me...all year long. :) At the end of the year, it's always fun to repeat this process. You will be amazed at how much growth your students show. Here are a few examples from last year. Amazing, right? We always get lots of compliments on our portrait display, and the kids are always very proud of them. They love seeing if their parents can guess which one is theirs, and it's fun to see how many parents get it right! At the end of the school year, I send the portraits home as a keepsake. Many parents have commented how much they love them, and they are the perfect size for framing! First week self-portraits are a great way to encourage students to take risks, have fun, and learn to use materials. Beyond that, the students take great pride in their creations and enjoy them just as much as I do, and we have something truly magnificent (that they created!) to look at all year long. :) Share It:
Planning for estate & end of life arrangements will make a difficult time easier for your family. Get organized now with this free End-of-Life Checklist.
A couple of weeks ago, my 1st and 2nd grader did some work on 2D and 3D shapes. You might remember our shape assessment page. Today, I’m sharing some of the quadrilateral activity pages we did together. *This post contains affiliate links. **The free download can be found at the END of this post. Just look ... Read More about Quadrilateral Activity Pages {FREE!}
These compassionate hospice bible verses will bring peace and comfort to your family when everything is falling apart.
This blog post is more of a description of how Trello helps me manage my life. What My Life Looks Like For those of you who might be kinda new here, I have four kids. They are 8, 6, 4, and 2 years old. My husband Brian and I homeschool the first three (Emmett just […]
Do you little {or big} learners have a little trouble distinguishing between needs and wants? That’s why I created this Wants vs Needs Learning Pack! It’s great for any time of year, but especially before Christmas! *This post contains affiliate links. **The free printable link can be found towards the END of this post. Just click ... Read More about Wants vs Needs Learning Pack {FREE}
Print this free kindergarten assessment pack to use as end of the year testing for your kindergarten students. This is a great way to see where your students are at, and find any areas for development.
How to help a family in Hospice and give real support. Here are 14 ways people helped our family that made an incredible difference.
Planning for estate & end of life arrangements will make a difficult time easier for your family. Get organized now with this free End-of-Life Checklist.
As the year winds down and we've finished most of our "have to" curriculum, it's time to do some activities just for the fun of it, like a memory book.
45 free online classes you can take (and finish) by the end of this year
DNA Gene Bracelet for Kids, an easy STEAM Activity using beads to create pattern bracelets. DNA is also a pattern.
FREE End of Year Memory Book with 3 Student Writing Templates and a Free-Writing Page! Your students will love this end of year activity!
Planning for estate & end of life arrangements will make a difficult time easier for your family. Get organized now with this free End-of-Life Checklist.
Horchata is a delicious Latin American beverage that is perfect with Mexican food or as a refreshing treat when you want something special.
This Free Printable End of School Year Mini Memory Book is a way for students to reflect on their school year and document their current life
Use this template to remember what students looked like at the start of the school year and at the end of the school year. This resource downloads as an editable PowerPoint so the year can be changed.
Are your students struggling to complete their work? Up to your eyeballs in missing or unfinished work assignments? Then you might need to institute a “Catch-up and Pickles” routine in your classroom as a way to win the missing or incomplete work battle! This is seriously my favorite unfinished work routine! A few weeks ago, […]
Tips for starting out as a new school psychologist
Use these end of the year student awards to recognize your students and their successes this year, as well as celebrate the end of the school year. With these awards, you can praise each student for their growth, unique talents, and skills – academic, social, and life skills. With every single one of these awards, each of your students will feel important and recognized for their accomplishments and who they are. What a fun way to wrap up the school year! Fun bonus: Host an awards ceremony with your students! WHAT'S INCLUDED? Resource Guide Resource Walkthrough Printing Guidelines Preparation Student Awards – Printable PDF 40 Student Awards Available in Color Available in Black and White Quick and easy to print Student Awards – Editable on Google Slides 40 Student Awards All Editable Titles and Images 6 Blank Student Awards Available in Color Available in Black and White Can download the PowerPoint version from Google Slides LIST OF AWARDS Standing Ovation WOW Factor Heart of Gold Class Leader Star on the Walk of Fame Best Friend to All Super Hero Tech Squad Brighten the Day Bring on the Cheer Class Comedian Future World Leader Bright Scientist Making a Difference Yes I Can! Innovative Thinker Take Action Jedi in Training Captain of the Ship The Great Entertainer When You Wish Upon a Star Shimmering Sparkler All-Star Athlete Multi-Talented Our MVP Class Spotlight Gold Star Scholar Supreme Above and Beyond Exceptional Explorer The Zookeeper Artist at Work Class Imagineer Stylist of the Stars Incredibly Independent Musical Maestro Community Ambassador Glorious Gamer Practice Makes Perfect No Team Without Me You can email us at [email protected] if you have any feedback, questions, and/or requests for resources.
As the school year winds down, it can be hard to find fun and engaging activities for the last week of school. From outdoor games to creative projects, here are 15 ideas for activities that will make the last week of school enjoyable for everyone!
This is a great worksheet to practice writing. Students write a letter to their future self to read at the end of the school year. During the last year of school, you will look back to see how much the students have grown throughout the school year.
At the end of the year, we talk a lot about summer activities and what we will do while away from school. Many kids take trips with their families, go on cruises, and hit the beach. I like to give them a glimpse into the world of scuba diving with this fun Scuba Diver Craft.
On A Peach for the Teach on Facebook, I invited people to ask their most challenging behavior questions. We got some great questions, each of which really tied together. Dona asked, I have a student that comes to me from second grade (I teach 1st) for my entire reading block, who likes to shout out talk back and just shuts down when you ask him to do something. He then treats his 2nd teacher with severe disrespect when he goes back to class. Rebecca asked, I have a class of 25 this year. 1 student is below K level (I teach 1st grade), 2 are identified as ADHD, we are working towards another student getting identified as ADHD, and I have 2 students who have really disrespectful attitudes. I have tried talking with parents, I have changed their seating, I have tried encouraging them and pointing out the positive......nothing seems to be working. Ideas? Lindsay asked, I need motivation tips for kids who can do the work but basically refuse to... These are such common issues that teachers face daily. I think they all tie together and have similar interventions, which led me to write this blog post-- How to Help Calling Out and "Class Clown" Behavior. "If you put a kid in the position of choosing between looking bad or looking dumb, he will choose to look bad." - Rick Lavoie, Motivation Breakthrough When a student is performing at a level lower than his peers, he is often aware of that. That could be part of the reason for the acting out. Maybe the child is embarrassed and would rather be seen as a class clown than struggling. It allows the child a sense of control over a situation where he would otherwise feel out of control. Try giving him some control in a positive way. To intervene, start with an informal play meeting. Meet with the student individually when he is calm, to play a preferred, non-academic game at the beginning or end of the day. He may be more likely to open up honestly in that type of setting through informal conversations (e.g., favorite TV shows, games, etc.). Casually ask what he likes and doesn't like about school, and "admit" to him that you always had a hard time with [insert his least preferred subject]. Try not to make it obvious that this is the whole point of your conversation. He might give you some insight into what's causing this. It's also great for establishing rapport, which will help you to get the student on your side. Give him some sort of task with which he can be successful, and give him positive attention for completing it. Avoid patronizing him or making it obviously at a level lower than the other students. Instead, try non-academic leadership positions, like a class helper, teacher's assistant, etc. Maybe give him the opportunity to call on students with questions. "Class, today we are going to try something new." Next, set limits. Start by telling the whole class that today we are going to try something new. Starting today, the teacher will no longer answer any calling out. Explain that we need to practice raising our hands and not calling out. Demonstrate, practice, and ask for volunteers to show you what hand raising looks like. Establish a non-verbal cue (e.g., a cue card with an image of a hand, or simply hold up your hand), and completely ignore calling out. Instruct the class to also ignore calling out. Have students practice calling out while you ignore it. Explain why you're doing this, so the student knows it's not just him being ignored. Ignore the behavior, not the child. You might want to give one verbal cue, such as, "I'd be happy to answer you when you raise your hand." This is your new procedure that will happen every single time a student calls out. You could still say it in a positive tone of voice, but it's all you will say. Give a Little, Get a Little Use positive language to elicit positive language. If a student is using disrespectful language, being threatening will teach the child to talk back with threatening language. Think about your reaction when somebody confronts you with doing something wrong. You initially feel a little attacked, so you want to react. Give the student the opportunity to save face. For example, instead of, "How dare you speak to me that way?" try a, "Whoops, that sounded disrespectful. I know you could ask me using nicer words," and only respond when he uses nicer words. If he doesn't, say, "I'll be over here when you're ready to use nice words to ask me." Dodge the Power Struggle To nip disrespect in the bud, we need to avoid power struggles-- even when a student questions what we're doing. That's the part that really tricks even the most skilled behavior interventionists. We want students to believe in, trust, and respect us. When they question what we're doing, we want to tell them. Please don't. You don't need to justify yourself in this moment. You may be skilled with planned ignoring, but when the child asks, "Why are you ignoring me?" it's too tempting to reply with an explanation, but resist the urge. If you planned and practiced this procedure previously, the child already knows why you're ignoring him. He may try to get you to give him anything other than the ignoring. Stick to the ignoring, and he will eventually try using nice words to get you to reply. It may also be helpful to teach a lesson on the words "disrespect" vs. "respect." Teach the meaning, and explain situations and words that are unacceptable. Teach this with empathy, and practice it. If the child uses negative language in class, prompt with a, "Please use your nice words if you need me to respond to you." Completely ignore anything else. I know that using a firm prompt followed by planned ignoring sometimes feels like you aren't doing anything to stop the behavior, but that's the best thing about it-- doing "nothing" stops the behavior. It completely eliminates the power struggle and argument. The child will be forced to use kind words to get any type of reaction out of you and to gain access to his wants/needs. This also works with whining. I told my little ones that my ears can no longer hear whining, and they all stopped whining. Now if only I could use planned ignoring on messes to make my kitchen clean itself! Words of Caution Sometimes when implementing planned ignoring, the child may initially test the limits and engage in more attention-seeking behavior. This is typical and should pass when he sees that he won't get a reaction. I got a comment on this post that really made me think and add another word of caution about this strategy-- exercise caution when using this for students with bonding and/or attachment needs. We certainly do not want to intensify feelings of abandonment, and we want to be sure that we are responding to their needs. It is vitally important to make sure that we are ignoring the behavior, not the child. Give the child plenty of positive attention for positive behavior. Make giving positive attention during appropriate behavior part of your behavior protocol for this child. When the negative behavior ends and the child begins acting positively, give positive attention. No need for a lecture at that moment. After the Procedure is Learned Once you are sure that the student understands how he will appropriately gain access to wants/needs, you can begin to address the calling out caused by impulsivity and habit. Make a T-chart, and write the positive behavior on the left and negative on the right (e.g., "Called Out" and "Raised My Hand"). Instruct the student to tally when he does each. This alone is often enough to curb the negative behavior. Other times with more severe behavior, it helps if tallies are tied to reinforcement. For example, the student can earn [something preferred] if he has more positive than negative tallies at the end of each block. You could also set goals based on baselines. For example, if the student reduces his calling out by ___% or does not exceed ___% incidents of calling out, he can earn [something preferred]. Class Dojo is another fun way to track this! The teacher can track the behaviors throughout the day, or the students can self-monitor behaviors on their T-Charts and plug them into the Dojo at the end of the day. Establish a procedure that students must earn more green (i.e., "positive") than red (i.e., "needs work"), or a certain percentage of green, in order to earn a reinforcer, positive note home, etc. Another helpful strategy is bonus free time. It's often harder for a student with ADHD and/or behavior needs to attend to instruction for a given length of time, so plan three breaks in the day. I call them "five minute free time" to play with something fun, and I end each of my subjects with it. It gives me five minutes to clean up or correct work, and it gives the students five minutes to regroup. If you're strapped for time, you could have students complete exit tickets, assessments, etc., and give the student with ADHD the special free time. It also gives him something to word toward, as he has to earn the free time. If a student engages in negative behavior or work refusal, I ask if he is earning his free time or if he is to make up his work during free time. Never underestimate the power of a question instead of a demand. A simple, "Are you earning your free time?" is often enough to set the behavior back on track. An additional motivational tool is a task chart where students rank their tasks by preference. They earn little reinforcement for easy/preferred tasks and high reinforcement for non-preferred tasks. You can download that chart for free here. What are some ideas you use in your classroom to help calling out and "class clown" behavior? Do you have any questions about behavior challenges? Please share in the comments below! A Peach for the Teach
I am all done with parent conferences and it feels great! I had the most terrific year and I’m so happy to share my students’ progress with their parents. During parent conference time, I always love to have lots of student work to display. I absolutely love to incorporate student pictures into student work. This ... Read More about Silhouette Autobiographies and Read Across America
How to create an end-of-day routine that leaves your room spotless, every time!
Easy free printable end of year gift bubble tags! All you need to do is add bubbles! Perfect for the end of year student gift!
This modular sofa combines the durability of flexible polyurethane foam with the natural beauty of iroko wood. Its design integrates top-quality solutions and materials, especially conceived to withstand outdoor conditions without compromising warmth and comfort. Highlights Made in Spain Designed by: Jean-Marie Massaud Material: polyurethane 100% recyclable at the end of its life cycle Suitable for indoor and outdoor use Commercial and Residential Use
