Kids love sandboxes! They provide a safe outdoor space for them to get messy and creative in. The best part is it will get them out of the house and offer them hours of entertainment with very little attention needed from you! When we built our sandbox a few years ago I thought to myself, this is Pinterest worthy! Since then I've had quite a few moms ask me about it, so I'd like to share how we did it! First I'd like to say that this is quite possibly one of the most expensive sandboxes ever cre
I often get asked how to make running easier. If you’ve just started out on your running journey, here are some surprising ways to make it more bearable!
Add a lean-to greenhouse to your garden without spending a fortune by following this cheap DIY greenhouse tutorial! I love my new greenhouse!
The Ultimate FM Transmitter (Long Range Spybug): Have you ever wanted to broadcast your own radio station within your neighborhood? Ever get curious on where people get those "Surveillance Bugs" from spy and action movies? This small and simple FM transmitter is the toy that geeks have always want…
I LOVE snowmen!!! I find them very sweet :) Maybe, my interest towards snowy things is increased because I live in Barcelona, where we hardly ever get some snow. I am 31 years old and as far as I r…
Build a Cheap Handcrafted CNC Mill : Ever since I knew what a CNC was, I've dreamed of having one. As a kid, my parents didn't take it seriously. They said it was too impractical to buy one, specially for my age. CNC and 3D printing services in our country were absent at that time. I w…
I often get asked how to make running easier. If you’ve just started out on your running journey, here are some surprising ways to make it more bearable!
You’ve probably tried all the commonly recommended ways to quiet a chatty class, only to be left frustrated by the lack of results. If you’re anything like me, you’ve tried everyt…
Unleash your potential with the Turkish Get-Up – the ultimate functional fitness exercise for strength, mobility, and a better-looking body.
By Christy | the Practicing Prowww.ScotiaSuzuki.orgYou can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE Have you heard any of these before?“Do I have to?” “I don’t want to.” “Are we done yet?” “How much longer?” “This is boring.” “This is too hard.” Is it ever hard to get your musician to start practicing? Then, Is it challenging to keep them engaged once you get started? Do they ever think a task should be shorter or do they seem bored or discouraged mid-task before getting to the end?I have seen over
Wondering how to be good with money? I made these changes to go from spender to saver and now I'm on the road to financial independence.
Get to Know Your Students with a Fun "Never Have I Ever" Icebreaker! Kick off the school year with some laughs and great conversations using my "Never Have I Ever" icebreaker, perfect for middle and high school students. This activity is designed to help students open up, get moving, and build a strong classroom community from day one. What’s Inside: 180 Fun Prompts: With a wide variety of prompts, you’ll have plenty to keep the conversation going all year long. Blank Slide Templates: Want to add your own twist? I've included blank templates so you can easily customize the prompts to fit your class. Eye-Catching Design: The slides are visually appealing to keep students engaged and excited. Google Slides Format: Easy to use and share, whether you're in the classroom or teaching online. Student and Teacher Instructions: Simple, clear instructions to help you get started quickly and easily. How to Use It: First Week Fun: Use it during the first week of school to help students get to know each other. Daily Prompts: Do a few prompts each day or one a day—enough to keep things interesting for the whole year! Movement and Interaction: Encourage students to move around as they respond and interact to discuss common ground, making this icebreaker not just fun, but also active and engaging. This "Never Have I Ever" icebreaker isn’t just an activity—it’s a way to create a welcoming and connected classroom. Your students will love sharing their stories and discovering new things about their classmates. Add this slide deck to your toolkit today. Ready to build a classroom community full of energy and connection? Download now and get started!
See my short list of what I would change if I built my home again. I hope this list helps you as you prepare to create your own dream home.
Classroom management is one of those things that can make or break a teaching career. It’s a bigger deal than I think I even realized when I first started teaching. The lack of it can steal your joy quicker than butter melts on hot toast. People who have it can make miracles happen with students...Read More »
After having our baby, I knew I wanted to work hard to gain my strength again and get back in shape. Fast forward to 6 months postpartum and not only am I back at my pre-pregnancy weight, but I'm stronger than ever! Today I'm sharing about how the best ever postnatal exercise plan (Glow Body PT) changed my life and an amazing discount code for the plan!
Want to have high self esteem? Here are 12 tips on how to exude confidence (even if you are feeling it just yet).
Have you ever wanted to give your old interior doors a facelift? I decided to give my 1970s hollow core doors a much-needed upgrade using a simple technique. Follow along to learn how to upgrade interior doors in your house too!
By Christy | the Practicing Prowww.ScotiaSuzuki.orgYou can also Watch / Listen to the Live HERE Have you heard any of these before?“Do I have to?” “I don’t want to.” “Are we done yet?” “How much longer?” “This is boring.” “This is too hard.” Is it ever hard to get your musician to start practicing? Then, Is it challenging to keep them engaged once you get started? Do they ever think a task should be shorter or do they seem bored or discouraged mid-task before getting to the end?I have seen over
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5 Steps for Effective Classroom Management in Middle School Have you ever felt like your classroom is out of control? Or, wondered how much better your lessons could be if you could just get those students to listen? I sure have! There have been times when I have wondered why those students won't listen or why those students won't follow the rules. Until I realized, those students don't set the tone for my classroom, I do. My classroom management needed some work. I know it is difficult for educators to admit we are not perfect, but since you can't change other people, the only thing left to do is to change you. Classroom management isn't just one thing. It's all the little things you do every day that keep your classroom running smoothly, your students engaged and learning. It's not some elusive little creature that you have to spend years searching for. It takes planning and effort, but all educators are capable of effective classroom management! Middle school students and classrooms are unique though. Many techniques that work at the elementary level, simply do not translate to middle school (think clip/color charts, etc). Here are 5 steps you can take to become more effective in your classroom management skills at the middle school level. 1. Relationships Hopefully, this is not the first time you have heard that building relationships is important in education. Your students truly will care more about what you are saying if they know that you care about them. I know it seems like a lot of middle school students walk around with a chip on their shoulder. They do this because life really is difficult for them. Middle school is HARD. Adolescence is HARD. The sooner you realize (or remember...you were in middle school once too) this, the better for you and your students. Spend time getting to know your students and let them get to know you too. Start the year off with interest inventories (grab your free copy here), games, and conversations with your students...not about school stuff! Continue this throughout the year. Try introducing a 3-5 minute share out time at the beginning of each class period, but try not to worry if those 5 minutes turn into 10. You WILL get that instructional time back as your classroom starts to run more effectively. 2. Expectations In the middle school classroom, you will get more "buy-in" from your students if you allow them some autonomy. Involving them in creating the classroom expectations will go a long way with middle schoolers. Each year, I allow my classes (5 sections of 7th grade social studies) to create their own classroom constitution. I begin by asking them, "What do you want our classroom to be like?" They will tell you they want to be treated with respect, kindness, etc. I usually probe and ask them to be more specific, to tell me what it looks or sounds like to be treated with respect. More often than not, they will come up with a list of expectations that is almost identical to the list I used to provide. Click here to get a free copy of this classroom constitution template 3. Procedures This is the stuff you get to decide; the everyday movement around your classroom. Do your students know what to do when they need a pencil or to go to the bathroom? What about when they are done with their work? Or when they have missed a day of class? Having well defined, and PRACTICED procedures will help your classroom run more efficiently. I like to begin the year (not day one...that's for getting to know your students) with signs up around the room to help students locate things and understand what they are for. I model how I expect these procedures to be completed and then we practice them. Sometimes it's fun to do it the wrong way and listen to your students correct you! 4. Clear and consistent consequences Your students will be more comfortable if they know how you are going to respond when one of the classroom expectations or procedures are not followed. If your response is always to yell, your students may have difficulty trusting you (remember how important relationship are!) However, if you don't react at all, you run the risk of losing control of your classroom. So, what should you do? This is the perfect opportunity to allow your middle schoolers some more autonomy! Involve them in creating the consequences for violating the expectations THEY put in place. Obviously, the students have no control over consequences for major offenses (violence, drugs, etc.), but they can have control over how to respond when someone in the class disrupts their learning environment or doesn't pull their weight during group work. For the time they are in your class together, they are a team or a family, and they need to figure out how to work together to create an optimal learning environment, for everyone. It is also important to have clear and consistent consequences when YOUR procedures (remember, these are the everyday movement around the classroom details) are not followed. Do you have a non-verbal response? A verbal response? A written response? What do you do if one student violates the same procedure multiple times during a class period? Your responses may vary depending on your school discipline system. However, they should always be consistent. So far, these have all been behavioral consequences, but can also be academic consequences when procedures aren't followed in your classroom. When students don't turn in work, when it's late, or when it's plagiarized. In these instances, you MUST make sure your procedures and consequences are in line with your building and district policies. I find it helpful to have these procedures and consequences in a document that all students (and parents) receive and are required to sign during the first week, or two, of school. That way, when you have a student or parent (that's right, I said when...it will happen) who disagrees with something you have done, you have documentation that they had been informed of, and agreed to, your procedures and consequences. 5. Relationships I know I already said relationships, but they REALLY are that important. Invest in your students, as much as you can, and you will see a difference in your classroom. Forget not smiling until after Christmas and enjoy the time you spend with your students! The Journal of Educational Studies published this - "student learning is influenced by building relationships, availability, and organisation of classroom resources, establishing classroom guidelines, and making the students feel safe and cared about in the classroom." - Christopher Barksdale, Michelle L. Peters & Antonio Corrales (2019) Middle school students’ perceptions of classroom climate and its relationship to achievement, Educational Studies, DOI: 10.1080/03055698.2019.1664411 There you have it, 5 tips for effective classroom management in middle school. I'd love to hear how things are going for you after you have implemented these strategies. Come back and comment to let me know! Also, if you have any other strategies you have had success with, please feel free to share them in the comments below!
Fun activities to help you get to know your students and build community at the beginning of a new school year.
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Have you ever felt like you should be doing more “push-in” therapy instead of resorting to the standard “pull-out” model? If you’ve ever felt this way…it’s okay to give yourself a break. Why? First of all, it’s probably not your fault. Scheduling can be a disaster. With the large caseloads we have, it can seem...
Periodization sounds complicated, and it can be. Here's a simple way to use this lifting philosophy to ensure you don’t reach sticking points.
