Here is the newest addition to your classroom management routine! Download the *FREEBIE* I'm Done! Now What? early finished tasks! Includes 13 different activities that you can choose for students to do if they finish work early. Thank you! :) Be sure to check out other resources in my store!

Have you given in to the temptation that is...wallpaper? If not, maybe I can convince you to take a walk on the wild side. The good news? This ain't your mama's (or grandma's) plastered-on stuff. Even the "permanent" is pretty easily removed these days. Let me show you what I've got in my home, my

Today I'm sharing one of my favourite tasks for building community in the classroom. Students are able to share an important aspect of themselves (the story of their name) with the class and with me, their teacher. Through this task we are also working on important skills, like reading comprehension, writing, and reflection. Day 1 To begin, I asked my students to write any name they wish they had on a sticky note. They then placed it in a mason jar. I read my class the story "The Name Jar" by Yansook Choi. We stopped at several points in the story to predict, make connections, infer, and ask questions. At one point, we paused in the story so that students could journal about the name they wrote down on the sticky note earlier: - Did they choose their own name? Or another? - Why? - If you chose another name, where did you hear that name before? Day 2 At the end of Day 1, students were given homework. (Stick around to the bottom of this post for a chance to get your own copy of this sheet.) I make it very clear, that while names all have meanings, your family may not have chosen your name for that reason. They might not know the meaning, and you can choose to look it up with your family if you wish. I also focus a lot on nicknames and your own feelings about your name. While I've never taught a student in foster care, or one who was adopted, I do think it's important to mention that this could be a touchy task in those situations, so be sure to know your students first, and modify as needed. Students use the homework task, and the journal write from the previous day, to write "The Story of their Name". Some possible options to include are: - who you are named after - the meaning of your name - a name you'd rather have - your feelings toward your name - nicknames you may have - the person (or people) who chose your name - how your name was chosen This piece of writing is then self, peer, and teacher edited, and a "good" copy is made. Day 3 I found this excellent step-by-step self-portrait from "Art Projects for Kids". I modified the task so that instead of drawing the left or right side of their face, they would draw the top half. Students find that folding their page into quadrants as she suggests is very helpful. Under the document camera I demonstrate each step, and students copy, adapting to their own facial features. Each student gets a mirror to look in to help them personalize. The final pieces are put on a bulletin board for display. Students also coloured in a bubble letter version of their names to complete the display. (I used the font KG Red Hands Outline for this.) Day 4 Once we've completed the task, the last job is to reflect on our work. I pulled some elements from our Arts Education curriculum (very relevant regardless of where you teach) for students to self-assess on. I've used the proficiency scale language our school has moved to for all reporting. A few students found it helpful to complete their reflection while looking at the finished product on their bulletin board, but most didn't need this. Want a copy of both my homework and reflection pages? Follow the image or button below to grab your copy. Take Me to the Free Download Pin this post.

"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

Using positive classroom management is important in establishing a safe environment in which students can learn, collaborate, and create.

The hottest new way to update your kitchen cabinets is here - It's time to try this! In my last house, I painted my kitchen white and shared a tutorial on the best way to paint kitchen cabinets. And I still stand by that tutorial! But, I've also found an

Hey everyone! So as I've been prepping for my classroom this summer-- I've absolutely fallen in love with succulents! Not the cacti type-- but the fat, round, and colorful type. As a result every piece of decor I've been making lately has a shiplap and succulent theme! Take a look below: Most of the items pictured above can be found in my TPT store-- you can find them by clicking here. Now on to to the real reason you're here. Paper succulents. I'm not going to lie to you-- it is time consuming. And if you have a cutting machine like a Cricut or Silhouette-- you can save yourself some serious time (plus you can make larger sized plants). So here we go! Here are the supplies you need: Cardstock (I bought 2 packs of green cardstock from Walmart for $5 each), scissors, pencil (if tracing), and hot glue. Each larger succulent took about three 12x12 pieces of cardstock, and the smaller ones took two 8.5x11" pieces. This first succulent was made from a template I found online for free. I didn't really follow their directions-- so you can make them either way. First, I printed the 2 pages onto the color of cardstock I wanted. Next, I cut out the pieces. I laid the largest piece aside as a base. Next, I cut all the other pieces in half (and I also cut an extra piece of the smallest size). Cutting them in half let me make a small slit along the bottom-- where I used a small dot of hot glue to press the flaps together (giving them more of a standing look). You can see my process below... After that I began assembling my succulent: I tried to make sure the petals were overlapping in each layer as I glued the pieces together. The very middle is the hardest to explain because I usually played it by ear-- bending and gluing the smallest pieces (sometimes even trimming them) until I was satisfied. Succulents 2 & 3 were created using my Cricut-- but I was able to trace a template for any lovers of the "trace and cut" method. If you want to make them larger-- you could always set the largest piece down on some paper and trace a larger figure around it. Basically for succulent #2, I used the largest piece as the base and bent all the other pieces upward at the petals. Then you glue and stack, glue and stack-- and make sure the petals alternate (so you should see the previous layer in between). Here is my finished result with my original: The last succulent is my personal favorite! Also the easiest (in my opinion). It's the same process as above: Cut out shapes, bend the petals, and stack and glue the layers. Here is my original and the new one side by side: Hope that helped inspire you in your paper succulent making quest! If you have any questions or suggestions please leave them in the comments below-- and I will try my hardest answer them ASAP. Hope you have a blessed day!

Sweet Sounds - Quality Kodaly Resources for Elementary Music Educators

MHK Architecture crafted a dreamy lake house, blending mountain views with lakeside living at The Cliffs at Keowee Vineyards, South Carolina.

The ultimate wedding planning tips to better organise your wedding day and have a stress-free wedding, by Cotswolds wedding photographer.

.... Honestly I never ever ever thought I would be writing this. EVER!! but here I am sitting here at my computer typing to you that... WE ARE PAINTING OUR FLOORS. Holy hannah it feels good. Ok, I have a lot of explaining to do. Ok, where do I start? Let's start way back into 2016 when we decided to put wide plank pine boards throughout our house for our flooring. When we moved in the house we started ripping up the old carpet & flooring & discovered the old 1800's floor underneath. Most rooms were in horrible shape &

In my home staging consultations, I’m often asked how to choose the ideal size art for above the bed. We've compiled some general guide...

Your child will be entertained for hours with these free pretend play printables.

.... Honestly I never ever ever thought I would be writing this. EVER!! but here I am sitting here at my computer typing to you that... WE ARE PAINTING OUR FLOORS. Holy hannah it feels good. Ok, I have a lot of explaining to do. Ok, where do I start? Let's start way back into 2016 when we decided to put wide plank pine boards throughout our house for our flooring. When we moved in the house we started ripping up the old carpet & flooring & discovered the old 1800's floor underneath. Most rooms were in horrible shape &

I finally have a quilt design wall in my new house and I'm so excited! There really is nothing like being able to step back and see an entire quilt like this! And I'm going to show you (in excruciating detail) how I built mine - including the specific materials I used. I'll also show

The best "icebreaker" activity for high school students (who hate icebreaker activities). Get a jump start on creating a bond with your students.

It's funny sitting down to write this post, because after spending a couple of weeks in Helsinki last year I kept saying how jealous I am of Finland's ultra hip yet somehow also totally laidback

Figuring out the layout for wall moulding in our hallway and stairway. The challenges with desiging in these spaces and my process for how I figured it out.

Theme-based learning is widely adopted in preschools and strongly supported by researches on the brain and how humans learn and here's why...

Student shoutouts are a simple, effective way to build classroom community. Click to see how you can start using them with your students!

Hi! I’m Lisa and I am so happy to celebrate The Family Proclamation. On my blog Pebbles & Piggytails, I talk about making life meaningful. I believe in treasuring time with our familie…

2-Piece Deco / under Toys 3t4 Conversion Original Mesh @emysimss Download

I tried out ChatGPT, and I’m sharing my thoughts on how it can help interior designers and architects with marketing and copywriting for design business. Check it out!

During pregnancy after loss, give yourself permission to do what you need to do. See 9 things I’m NOT doing during my pregnancy after loss.

I love math. It's my favorite time of day and my favorite to teach. Mostly because it seems like every year, my kids come to me and hate m...

Hey friends! I've got a picture-heavy post for you today, so grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and settle in.So, for years... basically since I started my career, I've been teaching

This suncatcher sheet was designed with pure joy, children and ice cream shops in mind. I wanted to create colorful sprinkles in bright fun colors that cast rainbows - and here we are! A window covered in scattered sprinkles is perfect for any room that needs a little whimsy and joy. I hope these sprinkle suncatchers bring a smile to your face, remind you to have fun and to do things that make you smile, too. You can add these suncatchers to your East-facing window to catch rainbows as you start your day with your morning cup of coffee or tea, a West-facing window to catch them with the setting sun, or a South-facing window to have lovely rainbows dance across your floor all day long. Add one to your window at home, at work, a classroom, in your studio, a bedroom or to your car! DETAILS Removable & Reusable Suncatcher 18 Sprinkles per sheet Each Sprinkle is ~5.5 cm x 1.75 cm Simply affix to a clean window that gets direct sunlight, and watch the rainbows fill your home. If it is cold out (below 60° F) please spritz your suncatcher with water before moving it to ensure the screen-printed design does not flake. For extra tips to ensure a smooth application of your suncatcher, please read my tips here. Designed in Seattle Made in California

Happy December, Y'all! This is Chandra from Teaching with Crayons and Curls! This year my firsties have LOVED LOVED LOVED spending the day with a stuffed animal. Our class uses a classroom economy similar to this one from True Life I'm a Teacher and they use their money to purchase coupons. The 'Furry Friend' (spending a day with a stuffed animal) coupon is one of their favorites, so I knew I had to use this to my advantage! Meet our class Behavior Buddies- Listening Lion, Happy Hippo and Positive Pig! Aren't they adorable!? Students earn these Behavior Buddies when they are showing positive behavior! I usually choose one student per day to spend the day with each stuffed animal. Usually, they are chosen at the end of the day and they get to spend the next school day with that Behavior Buddy. The furry friend stays with them throughout the day in OUR classroom. They don't go to recess, specials, or lunch. Just makes things a little easier (and cleaner!). We've been using them for a few weeks now, and my students have started nominating each other to spend the day with a Behavior Buddy! I mean, how adorable and KIND is that!? It all started with one sweet little firstie saying, "Mrs. Dills, I think Sarah should get Listening Lion because she has been such a great listener today!" Yep, I made a HUGE deal about that! When students earn a Behavior Buddy for showing positive behavior, I also want to make sure that this is communicated to their families! So, I created certificates that the student can bring home to show their family! It's a great way to build that positive school-to-home relationship! I ordered all of my furry friends off Amazon. But, you can grab stuffed animals anywhere! Wal-Mart, Target, and the Dollar Store. There are many different animal options in my pack! Since it's so close to Christmas, I thought it would be fun to introduce holiday themed Behavior Buddies. You can grab this pack for FREE in my Teachers Pay Teachers store! Just click here or on the image below! I hope these cute little friends help promote positive behavior in YOUR classroom!

This sewing 101 article will help point you in the right direction and get you sewing with ease in no time.

I know I have said it before but...... Making Memories Month by Month is one of my favorite books published by Creative Teaching Press. T...