I know I am not alone when I say that I struggle to sit through staff meetings without doodling on my paper, shifting in my seat, getting up to use the bathroom and occasionally whispering with my teacher friend next to me. Now, these are every other week, and only for an hour. Every time I leave, I […]
I’m not going to get into the nitty gritty of what ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is. If you are reading this post there is an excellent chance you already know what it is because you are dealing with it in your classroom. I’m also going to go out on a limb and assume that […]
Podcasts in the classroom are so fun and engaging! Have you jumped on the podcast train yet?! I have a great system for using podcasts in the classroom...
If there is one I have learned in my years of working with paraprofessionals, it is that paras are teachers too. My paraprofessional is my right hand and my left hand. She is the glue that keeps us together. I realize that sometimes it is our first instinct to give them passive work because their
Differentiation is a word that is used a lot in teaching. We know a good teacher uses differentiation strategies daily to meet the needs of…
These engaging strategies to incorporate movement in the classroom are perfect for the fidgety students & kinesthetic learners in your class!
Want to know how to help a child focus the easy way? We've got 9 simple strategies you can implement TODAY both at home and in the classroom!
5 innovative strategies for how to help a child focus in the classroom. #childfocus #notpayingattention #howtofocusonschool #kidsfocus #concentrationgamesforkids
There are times throughout the year when it seems like your classes just aren’t going right. You are working hard on your lessons, thinking of engaging applications, and even trying to add ch…
Exit tickets are valuable classroom tools. Here you'll read 7 reasons to use exit tickets in the classroom and...
Improve your child's focus, concentration, self-control, and overall behavior with these ADHD parenting tips and discipline strategies!
Have you used QR Codes in the classroom yet? Here are a few easy ideas that will get you started using QR Codes in your classroom.
How is school already around the corner? Summer has seriously flown by. I love having the kids at home, having no type of schedule and hanging out at the water park all week. However, I'm ready for a little more consistency in our life. I think my kids are ready for it as well. I
Are you looking for an easy way to get your students' attention? These attention getter and student call back cards are the secret to behavior management in the classroom!!The purpose of these cards is to say a quick one liner and have students react by calling back a response or doing an action. Th...
The ultimate list of classroom management strategies, organized into verbal and non-verbal strategies, parent communication tips,rewards and prizes, games, brain breaks, and visual strategies.
Developing empathy in children has never been more fun than with this collection of 19 simple empathy activities for kids!
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...
Learn how to teach children self-control the right way with this collection of fun yet powerful self-regulation strategies and activities for kids!
One of the best ways to stop attention seeking behavior is to share those expectations with your students and following these tips...
Try these fun brain break ideas to help active kids stay focused and learn at their best like yoga, Go Noodle, and printable cards.
With the success of my post about how to use google forms in the classroom I thought I would create a post for how to use Google Slides in the classroom. Google Slides is probably one of the most used Google tools in my classroom. I use Google Slides and Google Forms daily. Google Forms […]
An Elementary Teaching Blog with tips, ideas and freebies for your classroom. For new teachers and seasoned teachers alike!
Tutorial on how to effectively use Classdojo in your elementary classroom
Email is such a huge part of every teacher's workflow each day. Conquering the digital clutter in your inbox can lead to increased productivity! This post details GMAIL hacks that help teachers save time and work more efficiently in the classroom. **This post contains affiliate links that pay a small commission to keep this site
Learn how to create simple models and maps with early years students with this free geography printable!
Does the first week of Kindergarten have you shaking in your boots? You are not alone! I've been at this for a little while now so you would think it would get easier with time but I am here to tell you it does not! I still get anxious right before school starts. What will they be like? Will I remember what to do at line up time? What if I don't set things up right and I mess up the whole rest of the year? (sounds dramatic but that is really what goes through my head!) I sat down as soon as school got out and wrote down my first week of lesson plans to put my mind at ease. It has really helped with my worry so far! I wrote down the first five days, plans and procedures I need to introduce, brain breaks, classroom community building activities, easy morning work to get started with and even got my welcome back gifts ready. My mind is officially at ease. I want to make sure I have a lot of fun and a LOT of books planned for the first week too. Here are a couple of fun crafts to go with the books I have planned. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. You can't skip this book the first week of school! Our focus will be all about names the first week (or more!). I put together all of my favorite books with some crafts to help teach all of those back to school procedures like cutting, gluing, and of course following directions. The Wheels on the Bus This one is fun for a little first sound fun. The students change the words to match the first sound in their name. A My Name is Alice by Jane Bayer Alphabet books are the best the first few weeks of school. A My Name is Alice Jane Bayer is the best! This is a fun activity to do after we read the book and they will make really cute self portraits to hang in the hallway the first week of school. Not only did I plan out the activities for these books but for lots of other favorites like Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, Rosie Takes a Walk by Pat Hutchins, No David by David Shannon, and Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell. So now I don't have to feel guilty when I am floating in the pool this summer (just kidding, I never feel guilty doing that!) But honestly, I can relax knowing all I have to do is hit print when I get back to school. These plans can work for you too! Click here to see them in my store! Or if you are not ready to think about school yet pin this for later! P.S. Get a FREE ALPHABET ACTIVITY when you sign up for my newsletter HERE!
Struggling with difficult behaviors? These classroom management strategies will help transform your middle school classroom!
From developing fine motor skills, letter and number recognition, sight words, sorting, sequencing, reading, and math, these task boxes for autism tasks will help develop important life skills and beyond!
Dealing with oppositional defiant disorder at home or in the classroom? We've got 18 ODD discipline tips to help with problem behaviors in a positive way!
Setting up an IEP work bin system can feel overwhelming! Here are some easy ways to do it so that your students can quickly work on goals!
Use these fun games to help remember each other's names.
In my play based classroom there are 10 essential learning areas. I cannot do without them. The provocations and resources offered in these areas change throughout the year dependent on children's interests and the curriculum intent. The placement of these 10 areas within the classroom is thoughtf
Take a look at how you can use slides Google templates in your kindergarten or lower elementary classroom to make teaching easier and ...
Visual schedules are a great way to help students manage their school day and see what is coming next. Free flip schedule template only at Mrs. D's Corner.
A selection of fun team building activities for the classroom for teachers to use. If you have been on Think About Such Things you have probably seen my other team building posts. Even though I
Movement in the classroom is beneficial for many reasons. First and foremost, getting up to move in the classroom might help anxious students relieve stress.
If you're looking for dyslexia strategies for kids, these ideas will help you think outside the box and build on your child's strengths!
Check out these 5 No-Prep Reviews Games for any classroom or any subject! Click to see what no-prep review games you can add to your teacher toolbox!
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a super classroom!