This post may contain affiliate links.We did a craft this week that was a build your own catapult. We made it from a catapult kit, and it involved placing pegs in holes and putting the pieces together. It would be a great activity for older kids to follow directions and work on putting together an...
This post may contain affiliate links.Cootie catchers are great fun for kids to play, and they lend themselves very well to the learning environment. I use them in order to have kids work on writing within small designated spaces, and they can be used to work on counting and review. I have re-vamped my cootie...
Register now for this fun event for kids at JCPenney! At JCPenney Kids Zone, kids have fun creating crafting projects, and on Saturday, June 8, the project is a "My Hero" frame for Father's Day!
This post may contain affiliate links.When you have kids that need a higher level of challenge for visual scanning, visual perception, and writing, it can be hard to find activities that are difficult enough for them to do and that give enough of a challenge. I want to work on visual scanning on the board...
One family used a practical tool to teach their child to be flexible and avoid a tantrum. Teaching flexibility is a valuable life skill!
"Everyone's kids are in a combat zone," is a poignant quote from Connor Boyack while we discuss his Tuttle Twins Books and other essential aspects of parenting in these trying times.
Use the The Pharisee and the Tax Collector True or False as a fun activity for your next children's sermon.
The Rand Show 2024, brings to you a thrilling journey where limitless fun and excitement are ready to greet you at every corner.
This post may contain affiliate links.When you have kids that need a higher level of challenge for visual scanning, visual perception, and writing, it can be hard to find activities that are difficult enough for them to do and that give enough of a challenge. I want to work on visual scanning on the board...
An InLinkz Link-up To get the ball rolling, here are my Top 10 Classroom Faves (in no particular order)! 1.) Interactive Science Notebooks: I use these DAILY! I started using them several years ago and it was a little rocky at first. Now, I feel like I've perfected them in my science classroom. In addition, I've gotten the 6th and 7th grade science teachers "on board", so by the time they get to me in 8th grade, they are almost pros themselves. I've started modifying almost everything to go into the notebooks. You can check out my Interactive Science Notebook products on Teachers Pay Teachers HERE. I've also written a few blog posts about them HERE. 2.) Parent Contact Cards: In the summer I print these out on 4"x6" notecards and pass them out at the beginning of the year. My middle schoolers take them home for their parents to fill out (I even have a Spanish version). The kiddos return them and I keep them together in alphabetical order, by class, with a binder ring. They are hanging on magnetic hooks behind my desk. I can quickly access a parent phone number or email address. It also has a place on the back of each card to quickly jot down the date that parent contact was made and the method used. This is the only method that has worked for me in my 13 years of teaching. In order for things like this to work for me, I need them to be easy and quick. You can find them HERE on my Teachers Pay Teachers site. 3.) While You Were Absent Forms: Next to my desk, I have a hanging file folder. I use one pocket for each of my 6 classes. When a student is absent, I immediately fill out one of these "While You Were Absent" forms and attach any handouts or items that were needed for that days lesson. (on days when I'm really busy, I wait until my conference period to do this or give this job to one of my "early finishers"). I write the absent student's name on it and file it in the correct class period folder. When the student returns the next day, he/she picks up this work and brings it to me to assign a due date and go over any important information. The student is responsible for keeping up with the "While You Were Absent" yellow cover sheet and any work that is due. With so many students being absent and work coming in at different times, I had to find a method that worked for me and was easy to keep track of. CLICK HERE for my editable While You Were Absent Forms. 4.) Remind101 App: I just started using this FREE app this past school year and I have to admit, it's amazing. My students and parents love it too! Here are some reasons why it is one of my classroom faves: I can send ALL of my students (and their parents) reminders - quickly and efficiently I can schedule a reminder to go out at a later date and/or time (I can set up my reminder texts at the beginning of the week and then not worry about it during the busy school week). Students don't know my cell phone number and I don't know theirs Students don't have the capability of responding to the texts so I don't have to worry about being bothered by my phone going off when I am trying to sleep or when I am trying to spend some valuable time with my family If a student has a phone, you KNOW they are on it and checking it constantly This helps students stay organized This has dramatically decreased the amount of late homework I am receiving because 95% of the time, students just forget to do it My students beg me to send out reminders - when I forget, trust me, they let me know the next day - and they are not happy (: The night before a test or quiz, I may send out a few review questions or extra hints on things they need to study. My students' parents have even told me that it gives them some topics to discuss at the dinner table. What an awesome, easy way to get parents involved in what is going on in your classroom. 5.) My Teacher Planner: One word: LIFESAVER. I started making my own Teacher Planner last year and I don't know how I survived without it for so many years. No longer do I have to carry around multiple binders or show up to a meeting unprepared...everything I need is in one place. I take it to faculty meetings, team meetings, collaborative planning meetings, home, literally everywhere. It has all of the calendars that I use (district, monthly 2-page spread, birthday, important dates, etc...), my bell schedules, state standards, lesson plans, class rosters, student checklists, seating charts, IEP checklist, and so much more. Check it out HERE on my Teachers Pay Teachers site. 6.) Spinzone Magnetic Whiteboard Spinners: This is priced for around $17 and includes 3 different magnetic spinners. I use these on my magnetic whiteboards to select partners (I use clock partners or Cell Pals). This year I am also going to use it to point to the method of learning for the day (many of you may have seen this idea on Pinterest). I can think of so many other things to do with these. For example, in 8th grade science, the students must be able to manipulate an equation with 3 different variables to solve for the unknown. Like speed = distance/time or Force = mass x acceleration, etc... Instead of the typical worksheet with practice problems, my 8th grade students could have 3 different spinners on the board. Two different students could spin 2 of the spinners (the distance spinner and the time spinner) and the class could solve for the unknown variable (speed). 7.) My Color-Coded Classroom: Everything in my classroom is color-coded. I teach 6 sections of science each day so I chose to use the 6 basic colors of red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Calloway House has many great classroom organizational items that already come in these 6 colors. I also made some Editable Rainbow Classroom Labels in these 6 basic colors that can be used for just about anything in your classroom. My students keep their Interactive Science Notebooks in colored milk crates. I use binder rings to clip a class period label to the front of each crate (just in case the color wasn't clue enough). I found these magnetic pockets at the Dollar Store. They were a yucky grey color, so I spray painted them with the 6 colors. Now they look great and I use them as a place for my students to place their Exit Tickets on their way out the door. 8.) Birthday Pixy Stix: I know that I teach middle school, but who doesn't like to feel special on their birthday? Not many teachers at my school do anything for student birthdays, and I know it's not much, but I like to be able to hand them a small gift on their special day. I purchased the container at Wal-Mart for about $4 in the clearance section. I spray painted it and tied A LOT of ribbons on the handles just to make it look more festive. This is one of my summer projects that I like to get done while vegging in front of the TV. I print the balloons on colored cardstock and cut them out while catching up on my Real Housewives, The Bachelorette and Big Brother episodes (I can't believe I admitted to the trash TV I watch!). I order the candy in bulk online and start glue gunning (not sure that's a word?) these puppies. For a 10% discount on candy from Candy Galaxy, click HERE. 9.) Clipart by Maree Truelove: Not much more to say, other than I love her stuff. Check out her products on Etsy HERE or her blog HERE. 10.) Tap and Glue Caps: I have these on every bottle of glue in my classroom. I hate using glue sticks for the Interactive Science Notebooks, but my only complaints about the liquid glue are that the kids use WAY too much and they sometimes carelessly throw it in a drawer when it's open and we have a lovely mess to clean up the next time the drawer is opened. These glue caps have taken all of that away. They make me a very happy teacher. To me, they were totally worth the investment. I ordered mine from School Specialty HERE.
Fun With Firsties, 1 2 3 magic, behaviour management
These 60 interesting facts about Spain will help you discover Spain! From history to geography and culture, there's a fact for everyone!
The Christmas list we all had in the 80s
Kids are filled with a sense of entitlement these days. Luckily, the answer is a simple solution you can read all about.
Planning a trip to Auckland with Kids? Top family travel blogger, Marcie in Mommyland, shares the most kid-friendly Auckland attractions. Click here now!!
With this board game students will talk about and discuss possible dangerous situations, animals and objects, what can happen and what to do in case this happens to you. - ESL worksheets
Another aspect that I have focused on is table manners. When you search through the web, you could find a lot of information about table manners as it is very important to be considered. It is etiquette about how to behave at the dining table. http://www.ehow.com/how_2311331_practice-good-table-manners.html Always be on time to the dinner table. Being late to dinner is not accepted in many cultures because it is considered to be rude. If you are late to dinner you may not have enough food to eat or there might be a spot for you at the table simply because you were late. However, things do happen and sometimes we have no choice but to be late. If you are late and can't help it, it's recommended that you call ahead so that the person fixing the dinner can make enough food for you and keep your spot at the table. Avoid chewing or talking with food in your mouth. Chewing or talking with food in your mouth is a horrible display of manners. If you are having a family dinner it would be pretty rude to be talking with food in your mouth and have food come out of your mouth. Also, your dinner mates may not want to see what's being tossed around in your mouth. It is recommended that you wait until you swallow your food then say what you need to say. Don't be obscene. Being obscene at the dinner table can cause your dinner mates to not want to eat around you anymore. You should practice shunning dinner obscenity by eliminating the following things: use of swearing words, arguing, making funny or ugly faces, and other common obscenities. If you are going to act in an obscene way, it is recommended that you excuse yourself from the dinner table, or wait until after dinner. It is noticeable that different countries have different cultures and therefore table manners may vary. It would be interesting to study on the etiquette and manner of other places, in another means, to avoid any embarrassing or offensive situation when visiting. I began by doing research focusing on Chinese dining etiquette as I am best familiar with it. In my development, I tried to illustrate Chinese etiquette images with Chinese ink and wash painting style. In Chinese, the character "禮" means manners/etiquette. It is a very crucial topic to learn about in Chinese tradition. You can see that Chinese dining etiquette could be very different from that of British. For example, Chinese used to seat in a rounded table and has special seating order and customs. From the above image, the line at the bottom is the door way, while the circle in red demonstrates the seat for the most important person of the group and should be sitting furthest away from the door.
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Got a talkative class? Check out these 5 ways to quiet the chatter!
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Last week I wrote about how to meet the needs of choleric children. This week I’ll continue the discussion of the temperaments with a consideration of the phlegmatic child. I’ve always found it easiest to think about the temperaments and how they relate to the four elements. While choleric is fire, the phlegmatic is all […]
This post has generated a lot of buzz in the past year and I am so excited for all the traffic it has brought to my blog. I never imagined that so many people would not only read my blog, but find …
