Understanding what structured playtime is and when to plan those structured playtime activities into your child's day each day.
During the first day(s) of school I try to design activities to get to know my students and their parents, offer opportunities for them to get to know each other, build a safe, risk-free community,…
Crying at school drop-off got you down? Check out 12 simple yet effective tips to help kids cope with back to school anxiety for a stress-free school year!
Tout pleins d'idées pour les fêtes des parents et grands-parents, des bricolages, des cartes et des coloriages pour tout les ages.
Why do people write? These printables for your Pre-K Writing Center will help teach children the purposes for writing. People write to send messages on
These Back to School coloring pages are fun pages to get your little ones excited for their first day of school! Great for parents and teachers alike!
30 of the best Valentine’s Day games including great options for kids or adults! Everything from classroom party games to printable ones!
Every year, we dedicate the first Sunday of September to honor our grandparents and all that they do for us. Grandparent's Day is the perfect chance to
May Round Up No comments Directed Drawing, End of Year, Freebies, Monthly Round Up, Mother's Day Who's ready for a new monthly round up? This teacher is! May is always a busy month. It's not only the last full month of school, but it's also when I start looking ahead to see how I can get a head start on the upcoming school year. Directed drawings are awesome. They make the students really focus, listen, and to think before they do. Once the drawings are done, students can color them with crayon, oil pastels, or even paint them with watercolor paints. We've done several directed drawings this year, and they have been a hit with the parents. This got me thinking, why not have the students make a special drawing for their mom (aunt, grandma, whoever) for Mother's Day? To make this a little more gift worthy, we will frame the drawings using 8x10 frames from the dollar store. If you plan to frame your drawings, just be sure to trim the paper to match the size of the frames you purchase. I would recommend cutting your paper to size before the students do their drawing. To help cover the cost of the frames, I ask the students to send in one dollar. Even if some students don't contribute, it helps to cover the cost when you are buying so many frames. I like to use card stock when we do our drawings, especially if they paint them afterward. It just holds up a lot better than regular construction paper (and it's usually cheaper than investing in watercolor paper). To present the gifts, simply wrap the frame in colorful tissue paper and tie some yarn around it. You could also let your students make a card. You can grab the free step by step directions for this drawing HERE. May is research month in my classroom. More specifically, we research various American symbols and put together an impressive project. It gets sent home at the end of the month, and parents are always so impressed with the final product. I love that this project keeps us busy, but with meaningful learning material, addresses several of our social studies standards, as well as a few writing standards. It's high interest and the kids take a lot of pride in their work. You can read more about this project here. And, you can check out my Celebrating America unit here on TPT. The end of the year is a crazy time. The students get super distracted, challenging behaviors might become even more challenging, you're trying to teach those last few standards, and you're also likely thinking of the next school year. Wait, that isn't just me, is it? Ok, so let's talk next year, shall we? This time of year, my brain goes into serious "plan for next year" mode. I can't help it. I just always think if there is something I can do now to save myself some time when reporting back in late August, that I might as well do it. For example: Sharpen pencils for next year and store them in a zip top bag. I do this every year and it saves me a ton of time and hassle when I'm more worried about reconstructing my classroom that was dismantled when I checked out in June. Copy any and everything you know you will use. For example, I know that I will set out my Meet the Teacher letter at Meet and Greet. I also know that there are specific back to school forms I want/need parents to fill out. If I copy them now, I don't need to worry about fighting my way to a copier at the last minute next year. Laminate your nameplates and cut them out. This job is perfect for parent volunteers, and again, saves you precious time when you are worried about making your room presentable for meet and greet and attending various staff meetings at the same time. TIP: I laminate the nameplates now, and write the students' names on them with permanent marker in the fall. This has worked well for me over the years. Each week, choose one thing in your classroom to "spring clean." Go through things, get rid of what you don't need, consolidate what you can, and label things for easy reference next year. For example, tackle those math manipulatives in your storage closet. When I did this recently, I noticed that I had a bucket of tangrams. They weren't sorted into individual sets. Why and how did this ever happen? Who knows, but I had a parent bag them up and I found out I had enough sets for two classes and ended up sharing half of mine with another teacher. For even more end of year ideas and tips click here. Also, check out my End of Year Pinterest board for some fun classroom ideas! Thanks for stopping by today, friends! DON'T FORGET IT: PIN IT! Share It:
Communicate with parents about student behavior in a simple, yet clear way. These FREE classroom forms are so simple and effective!
Some of our little learners do not make it to the restroom on time. I like to send a parent letter home to request a change of clothing that will stay in the classroom. You never know when it might be needed! The beginning of the school year is especially hard for the little ones. Come on by to download your FREE letter in English and Spanish.
Remake of this pack [x] 4 couple poses Coffee [x] TOU x Don’t steal x Don’t edit x Don’t reupload Download: [SimFileShare]
Need ideas for first Father's Day quotes, wishes, or messages for your husband, son, sibling, friend, or yourself? This list will help!
I keep parents up-to-date with weekly newsletters! These are black and white and ink-friendly!
Love podcasts? Check out this post in the form of a podcast episode on The Classroom Commute Podcast :
Grandparents Day activities and ideas, including planning a special event having grandparents visit the classroom.
Are you looking for the perfect Mother's or Father's Day gift from kids that is simple enough for your little ones to make at school?! Try these adorable DIY tile coasters!
Are you looking to give a super cool surprise to your lovely granny? Worry not! We got you covered. Honour
This is a digital file. You will NOT receive anything by mail. Make the sweetest flowers ever with your little ones handprints (or footprints) for Grandparents Day! This is a digital download in 8.5x11. Handprints are not in downloaded file. This Grandparents Day printable is a project that allows kids to add their own handprints and/or footprints to the page. Makes a great keepsake for grandparents. Great for use at home or in a classroom! *I am a former childcare teacher turned stay at home mom of a toddler. I have 14 years of experience in writing lesson plans and planning activities for the toddler age range. These are the same activities I do at home with my daughter! Follow us on Instagram for tutorials and more toddler ideas! Search growing_upwith_grace. *This printable is for private use only either at home or in a classroom. NOT TO BE RESOLD.
Does your newborn have days and nights mixed up? Here's how to fix it in 3 days or less!
These Back to School coloring pages are fun pages to get your little ones excited for their first day of school! Great for parents and teachers alike!
Have you just stepped up (or been selected!) to be your child’s Class Room Parent and now wondering what you've gotten yourself into?You'll absolutely love this room parent guide filled with tips to not only help you get started in your new role, but also support you throughout the entire…
Get started with a preschool question of the day in your classroom! These fun questions will make your morning routine meaningful and fun!
Dreading the preschool drop off every day? Does your child have separation anxiety? Follow these 7 guidelines.
Looking for easy Father's Day crafts from the kids or from you? I rounded up 15 of the best homemade Father's Day crafts so you can get your DIY on.
Use this first day of preschool handprint craft and activity for your little ones to decorate the room and a keepsake for parents
Three ways to get your kids off the couch this summer.
School Picture-Day Tips
CNN passes over black employees and denies them on-the-job training, a producer claims in a new $500,000 racial discrimination lawsuit.
If you're looking for the perfect free printable father's day tie card, look no further than ours!
by Jarrett Lerner I’ve been wanting to make an activity book for years now. Something that could help kids – and kids-at-heart! – explore and develop their creativity, and turn to as a source for r…
Father’s Day is a great time to celebrate and honor the special men in students’ lives! With this cute questionnaire, students can answer questions about their dad, uncle, or grandpa and give it to them as a cute keepsake! If you will be out of school by Father’s Day, send it home for students to ... Read More about Free Father’s Day Activity – All About My Dad
Many parents and therapists alike can be perplexed by whether or not a child’s behaviors are resulting from sensory issues or behavior driven.
