I'm tired of my students always picking the same friends when it comes to group work- so here are 8 different ideas for you (and me!) on how to group students in your classroom so that you can have cooperative learning and get some teaching done!
You can be the best teacher in the world, but if you don't have your students' attention, it doesn't really matter. So, how can you fix this? Here are 10 ways to get your students' attention.
Say goodbye to those teacher blues! Boost the morale in your school with this list of ideas that are sure to bring some smiles!
Virtual Classroom...what is that? Running an effective virtual classroom isn't as hard as you think. Don't worry, I'm here to help!
Introduction to Schoology: A learning management system allows you to run a virtual classroom while managing administrative tasks such as taking attendance, inputting, and recording grades. Choosing a learning management system is tough. In the past, I started out using Edmodo. It was ahead of current tech trends and allowed a constant relationship ... Read more
Many students are learning online during this unique school year. Here are some tips and tools to get started engaging students virtually!
Despite the joys of our profession (and there are so many!), there are also so many things which can drain our energies and motivations in the classroom. One
So the lesson finished earlier than you expected. And now you have ten minutes to fill. Ten. Minutes. For many teachers, the very thought can make them break out in hives. Because, even when you have a reliable activity you can pull out at ... Read more
Two different sized cards to send a note to your students letting them know you miss them and are thinking of them! There are also different options that you can print out and include for your students to write you back!I really do do do miss my friends and I'm sure you do too!
I am so excited to launch my first "series" of blog posts! It's making me feel all grown-up and blogger-like :)My first series is going to be on increasing student engagement in the classroom. Over
If you work with children, I can promise you that you will come across at least one student that has these difficult behaviors. Not only are they really stressful for the teacher but they impact the student’s life in many ways. Behaviors like disrespect and defiance can make classroom's chaotic.
As teachers, we're always on the hunt for easy ways to build positive relationships with students. That's because a strong connection with student can greatly increase their success in our classrooms. I'm sharing 15 ways to build relationships with students. I'm sure you already do so many of them....so I hope you find a new idea or two. Don't worry! I've put together all of these ideas in a printable set of cards. You can download all the ideas for FREE HERE. Make it a practice to send out a set number of postcards (or even emails) a week celebrating students that made positive contributions to class. TIP: Be sure to record your mailings in a communication log. Give a job that requires trust and responsibility to students that might be a bit more challenging. By doing so and explaining to them why you think they is the right one for the job, you’ll instill a sense of trust. TIP: Many students benefit from the feeling that you see them as responsible. One of the most effective ways to compliment a student is to do it when they are not there. For instance, when a student is absent or leaves the room, make a comment about something you really like about them. Other students in the room will totally tell the student what you said later in the day, and it models genuine love for your students in front of the rest of the class. On day one of a new school year, you will most likely get a sense of who might be a more challenging student in your classroom. So, if that more difficult student had a pretty good day, call home that night. Note specific things they did right in your classroom. By establishing positive contact right away, you make a bit of a deposit in the child’s “bank account.” Then, if something goes wrong on another day, you’ve already established a positive relationship. DOWNLOAD the CARDS HERE. Avoid embarrassing or making an example of a student at all costs. Be positive – always. Instead of “Bob get your packet out,” try complimenting the student next to Bob, “George, thanks for getting your packet out.” Highlight what you want to happen instead of embarrassing a student. Make a connection with your most challenging students. Find a way to genuinely compliment them in your class each day. Write kind notes on their paper. Make an effort to reach out to their parents with positive news (it’s like a bank deposit – fill the bank with as much good news as possible so that when you have to make a withdrawal your contact will be primarily positive). Be excited to see the student each school day. TIP: Even if you have to fake it, loving the hardest kid to love is so important. Sometimes you’ll make a wrong call. Sometimes you’ll overreact. Sometimes you’ll make a kid sad. When you make a mistake, say you’re sorry – publicly – in front of the whole class. Explain what happened, what you did wrong, how you’ll make amends (with an action), and how you’ll try to improve in the future. If this is what we expect from our students when they make mistakes, then it makes sense to model it for everyone to see. Students don’t want you to be perfect. They want you to be consistent, fair, and when you’re not those things, they’d love to hear you say sorry. Say a friendly hello and create a quick connection with students every day by standing at your door. This little gesture reminds them that you are there for them. It shows them that you are excited and engaged as well. TIP: Say goodbye to each of them, by name, at the end of each day, too. Some teachers successfully give nicknames to students. However, many students resent the nicknames that teachers give them. While they may accept it (because what else can they do?), many times the nickname embarrasses them or highlights something different about them. As you know, being different is often not a good feeling as a kid. That’s why it’s important to ask what a student would like to be called and stick with it. It’s human nature to connect with some people more than others. That’s true with students as well. However, it’s important to never pick favorites! If you’re the basketball coach don’t just engage with your athletes. If you tend to like the girls in the classroom more than the boys, don’t show favoritism. Kids struggle with teachers that play favorites. As humans, there will be students we just like more. Make a concerted effort to highlight and connect with those students that you’re not necessarily drawn too. One of the easiest ways to positively connect with students is by being consistent and fair. Students want to feel safe in their classrooms. They want to know that you have systems in place to help all students be successful. Stay consistent in your classroom management so that students can thrive in your loving, fun, and supportive classroom. Reflect on your own school experience growing up. Who was your favorite teacher? Why? (Does it have something to do with how that teacher made you feel?) TIP: Emulate your favorite teacher in your own classroom. Build connections with your students as they build connections with their peers. Intentionally plan activities that encourage students to get to know their classmates. While activities like positive pennant posters and team building games may seem to take away from instruction, they are actually powerful tools for creating a positive learning environment. Have you ever heard that the easiest way to get children to listen is to whisper your message within earshot of someone else? The same principle applies to students. They love to eavesdrop. So, why not brag about individual students to a colleague within earshot of them? Spreading the word about the great things kids are doing (in a whisper) is super powerful! Create homework and classwork with students’ names in the assignments. Make sure their names are associated with positive things and connected to activities and hobbies they care about. TIP: Personalizing assignments is not hard to do, but it helps students connect with you and their learning. Grab your set of cards here. _______________________________________ Thanks so much for checking out these ideas. I hope you've found at least one new way to connect with students. Talk soon, Mary Beth P.S. If you'd like a set of FREE positive notes to give to students, download them here.
Self-control is an important life skill. Here's 4 ways to teach self-control to children using modeling, stories, practice, and consequences.
How do you stop students from blurting out in the classroom? Do you have some processes in place to curb blurting, but they're just not working for you
Nearpod is a phenomenal student engagement platform that adds endless engagement and digital learning into your classroom!
Introduction to Schoology: A learning management system allows you to run a virtual classroom while managing administrative tasks such as taking attendance, inputting, and recording grades. Choosing a learning management system is tough. In the past, I started out using Edmodo. It was ahead of current tech trends and allowed a constant relationship ... Read more
If you’re a Google Slides newbie, this is the post for you! As soon as I discovered Google Slides, I started creating with Google Slides. I loved the versatility of creating my resources right on the internet, and the quick and easy ability to share those resources with my students in Google Classroom. I also […]
In this blog post you’ll learn three simple things you can do to get your students on the path to writing more descriptively!
Add these 6 angle activities to teach acute, right, straight, and obtuse angles to prepare your students to identify different types of angles.
I can’t remember where I first learned about hexagons in the classroom. But I’ve loved them ever since I started exploring the idea. If you’re already using hexagons, good on you.…
How many kids do you know that say they want to visit space? I'm sure there are a few out there! Space can be a really fun unit to learn about. As a teacher, adding
New Ideas for Upper Elementary Lessons. Organized Chaos. Tons of great lesson plans and ideas perfect for upper elementary and middle school general music.
The freebies have moved! Instead of having the freebies in a separate resource library, we have put all of our freebies in our shop. You can find the freebies by clicking right here!
Google Slides is my absolute FAVORITE G Suite tool! It is really the most versatile tool in the Google toolbox. So today, I'm giving you 12 Google Slides Resources That Will Make Your Day! Yes, I'm going to say it. Google Slides is like a Swiss Army Knife for your classroom. It is so much more than a presentation tool. Google Slides can help you transform your classroom assignments, give students room to stretch their creative legs, engage them in new ways, and make the learning more DYNAMIC!
These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back
I have plans to do a few sets of printable packs based on social concepts. I've already done two on feelings and emotions, but I wanted to get into other realms as well. So, to
Learn how to make a checklist in Google Sheets with these easy steps...plus bonus tips on how to create colorful checklists in Sheets!
Have you heard about Canva but still have no idea how to use Canva for Education? Keep reading below to learn about all the benefits of...
If you think I have the answers here, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I'm far from having any answers.
I am a Mindset and Manifestation teacher helping women use manifestation to create their dream reality.
Helping K-2 Teachers Like You Save Time, Grow Instructional Skills, and Teach With Confidence!
Salut! Hi everyone! If you teach French, you know how tough it can be to find resources for your classroom. Of course, I'm talking about QU...
