I’ve posted before about my teacher binder. As an organizationally-challenged person, I had to find that one thing that would hold me together as a teacher… and my binder is it. I love this thing. It’s within an arm’s reach at any given moment (home or school) and keeps me sane. And honestly? Creating it was simple. Unfortunately, my teacher binder had seen better days, so it was time to perform a little overhaul. While I’m working on my own, I thought I’d share 5 steps to creating your own teaching binder! 1. Plan first. For me, the easiest way to do this was to gather all the papers I thought I wanted in my binder, and split them into piles. This will help you know how many dividers and what size of binder to buy. Don’t forget that you can use the space in front of and behind the dividers! 2. Get the supplies. Pick a binder you LOVE (for me, color is huge) and splurge for the heavy duty one. Believe me- you’ll be using this thing a lot. I also picked dividers that had pockets and were easy to write on (and erase, if I change my mind later). A friend gave me Vera Bradley binder clips, and I use this one to pin my lesson plans to the cover so that the 2-page spread opens instantly when I open the binder. This binder clip also adds just enough “cute” to make me smile whenever I look at my binder! It sounds silly (seriously who has designer binder clips) but I probably see it 20 times each day. Worth it. 3. Think about the covers. What are the things you constantly need to reference? For me, a cute cover with my name on it would be okay- but really, I need my class list, my current Post-It list, and the weekly newsletter (with spelling & vocab. words, academic focuses, etc.). Normally, this would have a class list, which I didn’t show for obvious reasons, and there’s usually a Post-It list or two. Still… I like how clean and neat my binder looks on my desk! (Plus, the color stands out if it does find its way into a pile.) 4. Think about order. What papers do you need access to the most often? My lesson plan pages go in the front because I reference them throughout every day, and my calendar goes next. (I love Google Calendar, but a written one works best for me. I printed this one for free from The Twinery Blog.) I put any lists for quick reference (computer logins, school schedules, curriculum maps, policies, etc.) in the reference tab. My Student Info tab holds my data (so useful when I plan my small groups at home!), but also copies of anything like IEP’s, ILP’s, RTI plans, and documentation. The back includes things I might need to look up once a week while planning, but not daily, like my standards lists and my archive of planning pages/ meeting notes. Once you’ve decided, write on the dividers. (I used a skinny Sharpie- on most surfaces, nail polish remover will take it right off if I ever change my mind!) 4. Hole punch everything and try it out! This is the perfect time of year to give this baby a trial run and give you plenty of time to tweak it for next year! I found out that having a “meeting notes” section was just not enough for me, so I added some extra subsections. You’ll find what works for you! I plan my teacher binder as something that I will take to every meeting, take home every night, and use constantly throughout my day. It means that whether I’m at home, in my classroom, or somewhere in the school, I have everything I need to stay organized and up-to-date! There are plenty of other guides out there to making a teacher binder, but it’s my hope that this can help you make the one that’s right for you. Yes, it takes a bit of time… but I put mine together in about an hour (minus shopping) and it has saved me so much more than that!

The one night that is most stressful for me is definitely Meet-the-Teacher Night, but I have learned through the years that it can also be...

Mastering multiplication facts is such an important skill for 3rd grade students. As a former 4th grade teacher, I fully understand how crippling it can

If you ask me (and I am pretending that you did), third grade is the BEST grade to teach! Third graders are still young enough to love school, love their teacher and get excited over simple things like coloring. However, they are old enough to be independent workers and thinkers. Most third graders know how to read

Ready to "cook up" a great first day of school? It's easy with this recipe for a successful start to the school year! PREP: ➤ Think about how you will set the tone for your classroom on the first day of school. ➤ Plan to keep students engaged and active. ➤ Prepare to build a positive rapport with students from the first instant that they become a part of the classroom community. INGREDIENTS: ➤ Warm-Up Activity ➤ Get-to-Know-You Activity ➤ Game that gets students out of their seats ➤ Get-to-Know-the-Teacher Activity ➤ Writing Prompt ➤ Extension Activity Once you've gathered your ingredients, you can get "cooking!" (CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE RECIPE!) PROCEDURE: STEP 1: Begin with a warm-up activity. Place an activity on students' desks that they can complete independently. You might try a simple survey or poster. An All About Me poster is a quick way to learn about students. You can even gather them together for an awesome classroom display. Or, a survey is a wonderful way to collect information about students. You might include questions about where students like to sit, their favorite way to learn, and activities that they enjoy so that you can start connecting with students. Another awesome warm-up activity is an "All About You" name tag. Students answer questions about themselves while coloring in a name tag based on their responses. Then, students can place the name tag on their desks to help you learn your students' names. This activity is particularly awesome if you have multiple sets of students. You can collect the name tags and re-distribute them each day during each class while you learn names. Oh, and as a bonus, you can gather them together and leave them with substitute teachers throughout the year! If you'd like to check out ready-made Back to School Warm-Ups, just click here for the poster, here for the survey, and here for the name tags. STEP 2: Mix in a get-to-know-you activity. Give students a chance to share about themselves and learn about their classmates with an engaging get-to-know-you activity. One of my favorites is a doodle-inspired mini-book. Students transform a single sheet of paper into a doodley mini-book all about themselves. After students make the mini-book it's fun to hang them on a clothesline. Then, as students finish their work during the first days of school, you can encourage fast-finishers to grab a classmate's mini-book and learn about him or her. Check out the doodle mini-book HERE. Or, you could have students create this 3-D About Me Activity. Students create an infographic-style book about themselves. After answering some simple questions, they do a little cutting and gluing to create a 3-D "About Me" display. These are especially fun because students can set them on their desks and then everyone can tour around the classroom and learn about their peers. (These are awesome for Open House too!) Learn more HERE. STEP 3: Scatter in an activity that gets students moving. Since students crave opportunities to get up and out of their seats, plan to get your class moving on the first day of school. You might have students complete a scavenger hunt or even play a learning game that requires students to move around. I'm a huge fan of this simple get-to-know-you activity that gets students moving (and you can download it for FREE here.) First, students make paper airplanes. They write their name and 3 interview questions on the wings. Then, students line up shoulder-to-shoulder and launch the planes. Next, they pick up a classmate's plane, find him or her, and ask the interview questions. You can repeat the airplane launch as often as you'd like! Find everything you need to do this activity in this FREEBIE. If you'd like to combine movement and learning on the first day of school, then you and your students will love this Back to School Doodle Infographic. First students fill in the infographic with facts about school. There are 21 facts and you can hide them around the room to get students moving. Then, they put together the infographic to make a fun and doodle-y poster! Check it out HERE. STEP 4: Sprinkle in a chance for students to get-to-know-you (their teacher). On the first day of school, students are very curious about you. They want to learn about you, so you'll want to be sure to share about yourself. You can give a simple biography of yourself, or you might try these easy and engaging activities: Create a teacher interview question along with 4 or 5 prize cards for each student in your class. Then, tape the questions and the prize cards under students' seats before class begins. During class, explain to students that they all have something under their chairs. It might be a question and it might be a prize. If they get a prize card, have students keep it quiet. Then, call on students. They can either read a question for you to answer or reveal that they won a prize. If they won, you might give them a pencil, piece of candy, or a homework pass. You can find all my favorite questions HERE. Or, you might have students complete a "Teacher Guess" about you. First, they predict the answers to questions about you. Then, as you reveal the answers, they earn points for every correct prediction. It's a fun activity that students truly enjoy! You can check it out HERE. STEP 5: Add a fun writing prompt to your back to school activities. A writing prompt is a great way to gather a baseline for students' writing on the first day of school. You might give students a simple prompt about their summer or goals for the new school year. However, I love to add a fun creative writing prompt into the mix. For example, with this writing prompt students select a setting, character, problem, and 3 random objects. Then, they need to work them all into a story. It's fun, engaging, and a great way to see where your students are starting the school year. Find this writing prompt HERE or check out this collection of 10 creative writing activities. STEP 6: Top it off with a review of tomorrow's warm-up. Set students up for success during your next day of school by quickly reviewing what they will need to do when they arrive to class. If you're planning to have students work through warm-ups like these This or That ELA warm-ups where students choose to do the "this" or the "that" activity, then you might quickly review what will be waiting on their desks when they arrive. Taking the time to preview tomorrow's warm-up is a great way to set expectations for students! If you're looking for some daily warm-ups, you might want to check out these This or That ELA warm-ups or these This or That Writing warm-ups! STEP 7: Don't forget to have an extension activity just in case your lesson ends early. I love playing games like "Move If You..." which you can find for FREE HERE. While you may never get to the extension activity, it's a lifesaver if you need it! TIPS: When you're following this recipe for a great first day of school, you might want to: ➤ Greet students at the door and answer these questions for students right away: ➨ Where do I sit? ➨ Am I in the right classroom? ➨ What should I be doing right now? ➤ Also, be prepared to manage students' behavior on the first day of school. Ensure that you have a positive classroom management system in place and ready to use if you need it! Well, there you have it, my recipe for a great first day of school. Be sure to download all the ideas with links AND the FREE airplane activity HERE! CHECK THIS OUT! I've put together a 100+ page guide for back to school for teachers. It includes tips, tools, and printables for classroom décor, classroom organization, lesson planning, community building, and planning the first day of school. It's absolutely FREE! Just click here to sign up. When you sign up, you'll get access to 6 mini-courses that cover everything Back to School including classroom design, organization, curriculum planning, and ways to build a positive classroom community. There's also a TON of exclusive freebies, bonuses, and videos! If you'd like to learn more and sign up, just click HERE. Thanks so much for stopping by, Mary Beth P.S. If you'd like MORE free resources for your classroom, be sure to join the Brain Waves Instruction club!

These "quiet critters" are amazingly effective!

"End the year with a fun art and writing activity that you and your kiddos will LOVE! I hang these in my hallway, and I can't tell you how many compliments I receive. They are SO DARN CUTE! My students loved doing them, and I loved reading them...and seeing them (of course). " Included, you will find: ★Project templates ★Detailed project instructions ★Writing prompts for both primary and intermediate kiddos

These are 8 simple tips for beginning substitute teachers and even those who are seasoned guest teachers. Make your day easier with these tips!

Geometric Art

Back to school, back to school! I recently came across a few darling fonts that I think would be PERFECT for teachers. I’m a huge fan of Kimberly Geswein fonts – soooo cute – and …

Here’s a few classroom procedures that have worked well for me – and a couple awesome ideas I’ve run across since I’ve stepped out of the classroom...

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I love using interactive lapbooks in the classroom. They are fun to create, engaging and can be used throughout the year to review skills taught. I finally completely my Lapbook Bundle and I am happy to share the lapbooks included with you. Whether you think your learners will enjoy creating all of the lapbooks, if you

The second in the series already? That means this year is flying by! Last month I talked about being ready for a sub and having a sub tub. This time I'm talking about restocking your sub tub. With the flu going around many places, you may have already been out since I last posted. Make sure that after a sub has used your sub tub, you replenish your sub tub. Or make sure that switch things up with new papers. I subbed for a teacher a week or so ago that has a ton of back up papers in her binder, but it was tricky to know if the kids had already used them this year or not. Thankfully I picked one that hadn't been done. So if it's been used, pull it out to save for next year or a later date. You don't want your kids getting bored doing the same work again! I have another freebie(s) for you. I've pulled another page from my Reading Activities for Any Book, made a Valentine's word activity (it is February after all), and a math number page. If you ever need some freebies to help replenish your tub/binder, don't forget to check out Teaching Blog Addict's Freebie page! Just click on one of the days and you'll see other bloggers' links and posts to their freebies, right at your fingertips!

I recently developed a slight obsession with Shrinky Dinks. It was one of my favorite crafting activities as a child, and now as a mom, my daughter is having fun with it too. If you’ve never used it, it’s basically thin sheets of plastic that you can cut and color and then bake in the oven, […]

I teach reading at an elementary school. I love what I do! I wanted to share some "ways to praise" that we use in my classroom. These aren't my own ideas just the ones my students love. And here's how it looks: { I look FABULOUS! } Click HERE for printable. =) In what ways do YOU praise?

I can't believe this school year is almost over! I have only 5 days of school left, Friday is our last day. I will miss my kiddos dearly but am super excited to start my summer vacation. Next school year will bring so many changes for me~~new partner teacher (SUPER excited!!), best friend coming back to teach at my school (YAHOO!!), my baby girl is starting 8th grade at another school (BOO HOO!), and 3rd grade will switch classes next year (SCARED!!)!! I will need the summer to get ready for my 27+ new students next year. I love planning over the summer and will need this summer to prepare for switching classes. Switching won't be so bad, I will teach religion to 2 classes. I am really happy about not teaching science and social studies too!! I always have a hard time fitting these 2 subjects in on a daily basis. My students have been really busy these last 2 weeks doing my favorite all-time writing assignment~~~My Favorite Summer Vacation! I just love this writing and really LOVE how the finished essays turn out. Check them out below. You can click (HERE) to download the sunglasses template. You need to make 2 copies and tape them together. See below!! This year I decided to give out Candy Awards. I literally ran all over town looking for each type of candy. I even had my honey helping me (He was so cute going from store to store!)! I had the hardest time finding Lifesavers (Who would believe that?!). You can download your own set of Candy Awards from Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits. I found these awards during the summer and have been saving them all year. Check them out below! I can't wait to share them with my students tomorrow!!! Here is just a taste of what the awards look like! They are precious!!!! Here is a fun project I did with my class last week. I found this idea on Pinterest and just HAD to try it with my class! Look at the pictures below and try to see the shape! I am in LOVE with this!!

I love teaching a split-grade class. I know this may not be a popular opinion in teaching, but there it is. In reality, many of us teach split-grade

If you want to keep your students engaged try to mix things up when you can. We’re going to give you a few homeschool routine ideas to help!

I was out for the two days prior to Spring Break for a trip to Disney World. My two youngest kids had never been, so who could say no? Anyway, I was thinking about a fun activity for my substitiute to do while I was out. I have seen other teachers do similar activities and...

What goals do you have for yourself and your students?

You can use this back-to-school backpack writing craft with almost any of your lessons that involve back-to-school! Kids love the option to design their own backpack, but there are also ready-to-print back-to-school backpack designs that they can choose to only color instead! What is Included? Design Your Own Backpacks: A fun and creative way for students to express themselves and feel welcomed. Ready to Color Designs: Choose this option to save some time or for students who aren't feeling very "crafty!" About Me Page: Helps students share who they are, building classroom community from day one. 4 Adjectives to Describe Me Page: Encourages self-reflection and positive self-esteem. Would You Rather Page: An engaging activity that gets students thinking and interacting with their peers. Goal Setting Activity: A great way to help students set academic and personal goals for the year. Time Capsule Sheet: Capture memories and look back on progress at the end of the year. Hand Print Page: A personal keepsake for students and families. Blank Template: Customize the craft to pair with any back-to-school book you read! Invitation to our exclusive Facebook group, so you can get & share inspiration and tips! We're here for you! Benefits for You: Ease Transition: Smoothly transition your students into the school year with structured, engaging activities. Build Community: Foster a sense of belonging and connection among your students. Save Time: Ready-to-use templates make planning easy and efficient. Flexibility: Adaptable to various classroom needs and compatible with any back-to-school theme or book. CONTACT Important - If you are having trouble downloading or opening the Back to School Craft & Writing Template files, please be sure to unzip all files (if needed) before reaching out. You may be required to manually right-click and unzip some files. If you are still needing assistance, please send a message to the TPT tech team for amazing, responsive service! [email protected] Copyright© Stephanie Nash All rights reserved by the author. Permission to copy for single classroom use only. Electronic distribution is limited to single classroom use only.;

Fonts play a big role in creating classroom worksheets, activities and many teachers love making their own! Here are 42 free fonts that were created by teachers and will help make your classroom activities bright, whimsical and add just the right touch.

If you're tired of digging into your own pockets to find ways to motivate your students, you need to check out these FREE reward coupons. You can even use the editable option to add your own coupons.

Get your students reading and writing this summer with these fun and engaging enrichment activities for elementary grades.

These lessons are included in our Oceanography Unit Study. Discover Oceanography in this in-depth, engaging nature study by Jacqueline Marr of Books and Willows. This study includes four modules: Module 1: Seashell Creatures Learn where seashells come from and the creatures behind the most common shells found on the beach; gastropods and bivalves. Discover the role of seashells in coastal ecosystems. Play a game of Seashell Class Sort, then design your own shell home. Extend your learning with an ocean acidification experiment. Module 2: Seaweed Learn the difference between a plant and seaweed. Record your results in a Venn diagram. Discover why seaweed is important. Be amazed at the different uses of seaweed, and go on a seaweed scavenger hunt around your home! Extend your learning with seaweed prints or a watercolor art invitation. Module 3: Tidal Pools Learn what life is like in a tidal pool. Discover the creatures that live in each tidal zone. Create your own tidal pool habitat with a diorama model. Extend your learning with a tidal pool food chain lesson and craft. Module 4: Sea Turtles Learn about sea turtle adaptations, anatomy, and lifecycle, and record what you have learned with our worksheets and crafts. Discover how you can become a sea turtle protector and celebrate how you can make a difference with your new rock turtle friends. Experiment with shapes to see which is the most streamlined. Extend your learning by tracking leatherback turtles in the wild. This study may be completed over the course of one month with one module per week, or more quickly or slowly depending on personal preference. This is a digital download and files will be delivered via email upon purchase. Enjoy discovering the ocean!

93K views, 833 likes, 35 comments, 397 shares, Facebook Reels from Teachers Trendz: This is the cutest way to line my firsties up. They LOVE it!!!✨❤️🎥Credit : deshauntreyes 🍎Like our page Teachers...

All set? You bet! Looking for funny attention-getters for your class? Look no further – here you’ll find brilliant class attention-getters that kids will love.

Giving students an easy, independent activity to start as soon as they arrive on the first day of school is a great way to calm their nerves. It also allows you to focus on greeting new students and getting supplies organized and put away. Here is a great first day of school printable that students ... Read More about Read & Find – First Day of School Printable

FUN End of the Year Art Projects- It's the end of the year-go out having FUN! I know how it goes at the end of the year-your tired, the kids are tired...EVERYONE is ready for summer break! Go out with a bang with these super fun end of the year art projects!

Setting up a kindergarten classroom at the beginning of the year can be an exciting, yet overwhelming. Whether you are a student teacher, or this is your last year teaching elementary school, I'm here to share

This resource is designed to encourage your students to carry out classroom expectations using a fun, visual representation. Please watch the video in our preview if you want to see and in-depth, step by step explanation :). You can change any of the goals for your students using the EDITABLE template. You could also use the print-and-go option we use in our classes, which focuses on multiple goals at a time (quiet transitions, on task, following directions, clean area). There are options for full class, and individual/small groups. There are over 100 rewards that are typed up for you to use for this system. They are all free options except one that reads, "treat". There is also an editable version for this so you can make rewards that fit your classroom's needs. UPDATED 9/15/19: ADDED A POWERPOINT LESSON AND WORKSHEET. This is to help present the game rules to students and break down how to earn each puzzle piece. This lesson is completely editable! Want to know more? Click here for a blog post. Thank you and enjoy! Want to see other helpful classroom management resources? Copy and paste this into your internet browser –OR- click on the link below: Tinyurl.com/blabbattle Tinyurl.com/transitionrace Tinyurl.com/hothomework Tinyurl.com/firstimust Tinyurl.com/studentledplanner Tinyurl.com/bookbinfairy Tinyurl.com/librarybookshelfmarker

Learn About the 7 Continents! Exploring the 7 Continents has never been more exciting! It’s a Small World Continent Study is filled with over 35 activities to help your students gain a greater understanding of the seven continents. This 130+ page unit is filled with great resources, posters, printables, activities, and projects that will open […]

Early finishers need activities so you are not scrambling to find something meaningful for students to work on when they complete work.

Get to know your students at the beginning of the year with this fun Create-A-Croc activity! This resources is perfect for the first week of school. I know myself and my students LOVE these shoes, so encourage them to design their own based on a survey about them.What's Included?● Digital Version (G...

The post Google Drive Teacher Planner appeared first on A Modern Teacher.

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!