The ultimate list of classroom management strategies, organized into verbal and non-verbal strategies, parent communication tips,rewards and prizes, games, brain breaks, and visual strategies.
I did the research so that you don't have to! Here is a list of 10 free resources that are perfect for distance learning in Kindergarten.
How do you start your morning each day? Do you walk into your classroom, drop your bags, and make a beeline for the copy machine so you can get your
FREE Call Backs and attention getters for the kindergarten classroom! Great classroom management tool!
Five classroom layout seating ideas that will transform your lessons today! These classroom seating options are perfect for any activity!
Using classroom money can be highly motivating to students and help students practice important math skills. This blog post explains how I got started with classroom money.
Classroom/behavior management is one of the most important things to master in your classroom. Having solid behavior management helps maintain a positive classroom environment, while enabling teachers and students to accomplish LEARNING! Here are TEN tips and tricks for behavior management I use in my classroom: Greeting Students at the Door The way you start
All summer I think about it. My empty room back at the school.... Nothing fun on the walls, all of the books have been packed away, and somehow, someway you have to put it all back. Whether you have to pack everything up, you get to leave it as is, or if it is just your very first year, no worries! I have some helpful tips to share with you that I have learned the HARD way. Tip #1- Have a plan Duh right? Seriously though, have a plan and write it down. I love that my Erin Condren LifePlanner has the dotted pages in the back so I can jot down what I want to arrange before I get there. It is also SUPER helpful to take a friend that doesn't mind moving furniture 2 or 3 or 100 times on the day you want to arrange furniture. Also have a plan in place to take that friend to lunch. Tip #2- What are your MUST HAVES on the first day? Do you need to have your cubbies labeled? Are you assigning jobs the first day? What do you need to have access to in order to set up your classroom routines and procedures? Those are what you should be focusing on. NOT the cute border in the hallway. Sorry, I said that way too loud! But honestly, I have wasted so much valuable time making something cute out in the hallway that was inviting, yes, but necessary, no. I am giving you permission to skip the cute and go for the necessary. Some of my must haves for the first day: labeled cubbies nametags on pencil boxes (these stay in our assigned seats to start so it helps us find our spot) nametags for students job chart water bottles (I label mine and they keep them all year) homework folders ready for the first day calendar space/ morning meeting space designated and set up turn in box with a designated space focus wall for objectives (I'm required to have a spot for this) IB Interactive Wall (also a requirement for me) I have highlighted any of the items that have a freebie attached or I have written another blog post on if you are interested in checking them out! If I have all of these things in place then I am ready for the first day of school. The rest will fall into place. That bulletin board in the hallway? I cover it with name activities that we do on the second day of school. It is totally blank on the first day of school when my families roll in. Once I hang up those names it and stays up ALL year long! Tip #3 Decorate with the things you need I do a lot of "decorating" in my classroom but you won't find any unnecessary objects floating around my room just because they go with my "theme". Of course all of my posters match but I would hardly call that a theme. If you NEED that to make your classroom a happy place, go for it! If you are only decorating in shabby chic because your neighbor down the hall is then just STOP! It doesn't have to be that difficult! Here are a couple examples of sets I have used over the years. I print out everything I need, laminate it, and then start hanging it up. Once I get a welcome banner and an alphabet up on the wall BAM! Instant classroom decorations. These have everything I need for a functional classroom. Calendar, job chart, alphabet, numbers, and labels for all of the stuff. Having a "theme" helps pull everything together but I don't spend my summers at Target and TJ Maxx looking for the perfect items for my thematic classroom. Want a theme? Lots of my friends have also so I have created a few different fun ones for them. These serve the same purpose though, print and go and done! Click on any of the pictures to see them in my TPT store. Thanks for stopping by today. Here is your FREE SET OF ALPHABET POSTERS to get you started on a stress free decorating session. Want to save this for later? Pin it here! P.S. Get a FREE ALPHABET ACTIVITY when you sign up for my newsletter HERE!
Are you classroom teacher looking for engaging ways to teach your students to comprehend stories? Read this post for primary ideas on how to get children to learn to visualize and build reading comprehension.
A few years ago, I decided to implement a few NEW things in my daily classroom routine. Morning tubs was at the top of this list and I'm glad I did it! My
I absolutely LOVE IKEA and even though the closest one to me is about 3 hours away, I always make a point to go a couple of times a year. A few years ago, I did a post on items from IKEA that teachers can use in their classrooms. You can check out that post HERE (most of those things are still available!). Below are some of my finds from my most recent trip... There are tons of alternative seating options at IKEA. Most of the office type chairs are sold in two parts... the seat and then the base. The seat part is a great floor seat.. similar to the rocker chairs people are using. Here are just a couple of the options that I thought looked the most comfortable and affordable... If you need some basic stools for your students to sit on while they work... IKEA has some awesome cheap rugs. The rugs I bought for less than $5 over 5 years ago are still holding up and look great (even after 180 days of use a year by primary students). I use rugs for silent reading but also for my low table where students sit on the ground. These are a few of the rug options... I grabbed up two of these larger circle rugs... my kiddos will love them! Two students can fit on them for partner reading. I loved this green dot rug.. look at the price! You can't really tell the size but this would be a great rug in a small area where 3 or 4 kiddos could sit and play a game together. This would be a great addition to any classroom. IKEA has tons of deals like this! They also have a TON of chair pads.. the ones with the strings that you tie to the back of the chair. these would also be great for your floor kiddos. I picked up these round versions that go on stools... they have rubbery grippers on the back that will prevent them from sliding on hard floors. If you are looking for "spots" to keep your students in one place while sitting on the rug these could be an option... they are actually placemats! They have a rubbery backing so they won't slip on laminate flooring and are just the right size for primary kiddos. This is a longer cushion pad... two kiddos would fit perfect on this for partner read! I wish I had about 12 of these! If you want to go kind of big and you are looking for a couch, this is so cute. I almost grabbed this up but couldn't decide on a color... It comes in yellow or a dark gray. These stools are so cute... they would be great at a tall table. The don't wobble and are sturdy. They have a ton of other stool options. I love stools because they can be stacked or pushed under tables so easily! Here are some lower stool options. They will work on regular height tables. If you are brave enough for pillows (I always tell my kids no heads on the pillows....if you get my drift) they have a ton of cheap options. This dish rack would be perfect for organizing tablets! Just slide the tablets into the slots and place any iPods into the silverware holder portion. I purchased this shelving unit (in white) to transform my fluency station... These picture frames are perfect for displaying learning objectives at small groups.... If you can screw into walls and cabinets these would be perfect for so many purposes... displaying student work, displaying pics from the year or I think they would be great for hanging headphones. Just slip the headphone over the wire and you are good to go! This is my dream item at IKEA...I would love to have two of these to hold my differentiated tubs for literacy and math rotations. It holds 12 drawers (3 drawers for each group) that can hold different leveled materials. If you want to whimsically figure up your data this calculator is super cute...I would love for my principal to come in while I am punching in numbers on this ridiculous thing... I have never seen this section in IKEA before (maybe it's new or I am just blind) but they have cute party favor type decor. I often use the tissue balls in my classroom. I love these options! This section also had these number paperclips and quotation paper clips. These would be a fun little teacher gift! I also grabbed up this cheap tub to store rugs and pillows. Finally what my kiddos will be most excited about BEADS (for fun friday). These are super cheap! IKEA also has these rolls of paper (should have grabbed a dozen for my artsy kiddos!) for super cheap! What items do you use from IKEA in your classroom? If you have any questions make sure to leave them in the comment section!
I'm teaming up with my good friend Jen over at Sparkling in Second to share three of my favorite first grade teacher tips.
I did the research so that you don't have to! Here is a list of 10 free resources that are perfect for distance learning in Kindergarten.
Integrate math and art with these symmetrical pattern coloring cards. This is a great math art project that kids love doing!
A new school year usually means a new teacher, new expectations, and new routines, so our students sometimes don't respond as we'd hoped when we try to get
The best ideas in classroom organization including organizing bookshelves, creating a teacher cart, plus create the perfect teacher space!
Get helpful tips for how to manage data folders in the primary classroom. Download the free student data folders kit to get started!
9 Meaningful Time Fillers for the Primary Classroom No comments Back to School, Classroom Ideas, Classroom Management, Teaching Ideas, Time Fillers I know it can be rare to find yourself with a few extra minutes in the school day, but it does happen. And, when it does, it's definitely a good idea to have a variety of time fillers to quickly choose from. This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase through one of my links, which allows me to buy more books for my classroom. :) For more information about my Disclosure Policy, please visit this link. Time fillers can give you the opportunity to add a bit of whole group fun to your day. They allow you to provide engagement in a different capacity. And, they can be used to foster community and/or quickly reinforce a variety of important skills. I've decided to compile a list of my all time favorite time fillers that I rely on throughout the year. With each filler, I've identified about how much time it will fill. In many cases, the filler can be used for as long as you'd like, but can also be used when you only have a few minutes. And, I'm sharing them in no particular order, so be sure to work your way down the list. :) Brain Quest I just love, love, love Brain Quest. If you aren't familiar with Brain Quest, it's basically a question and answer game. Each set is packed with content related questions, as well as other stuff that kids should (and need to) know. Students are challenged to put their thinking to the test. Duration: 5-15 minutes Mad Libs Junior Mad Libs are so fun! My second grade teacher used to do one with us everyday before lunch. I have many fond memories of our daily Mad Lib time. Every year, I share Mad Libs with my own second graders, and I have yet to meet a group of students who doesn't love them. I can reinforce basic parts of speech, and we all get in a good laugh (laughter is good for the soul). I prefer to use Mad Libs Junior with my students. I know the content is always going to be safe that way. ;) Duration: 5-10 minutes (depending upon your pacing and/or how many you do) Mad Libs Junior Sports Star Mad Libs Junior Under the Sea Super Silly Mad Libs, Junior Summer Fun Mad Libs Junior Whiteboard Review If your students love using their personal whiteboards, then pull them out when you've got some time to spare. We all know this tool is super versatile, so use it to fill the time and review things that you're currently working on in class. I often have my students spell words using a new spelling pattern, or solve multi-digit addition and subtraction problems. I also use them to play a quick game of true/false. To do this, I say something like, "There are 24 hours in a day." The students then respond by writing True or False (or "T" for True and "F" for False) on their board. Duration: 5-10 minutes Q's Race to the Top (On the Go) Q's Race to the Top is a Q&A game that is great for discussing topics related to social skills and fostering emotional intelligence. It's actually a set of question and action cards, and not so much a game where you race to the top. There is a board game version of this, but the "on the go" version is just a set of cards (see below). But, they are great for the classroom. There are three different kinds of cards. The Q cards are scenario cards. They share a scenario that involves Q, the monkey pictured on the lid. Students then reflect on the scenario and relate it to their own life or experiences. The You cards also ask a question. These questions lead to opportunities for meaningful discussion. Then, there are the Do cards. Students follow the directions on the card to perform some kind of action. Quite truthfully, they are not connected to the question cards, but they are a great way to get your students up and moving, if only for a few minutes. Duration: 5-15 minutes (just depends on how many cards you go through and how much time you have to discuss each card) Go Noodle Speaking of moving, Go Noodle is perfect for getting kids up and moving! Students move to song or dance, in most cases. There are so many different options. The goofy Koo Koo Kanagroo guys are always a favorite for jumping around and being silly. And, Maximo is a favorite when it comes to slower paced movements (I like that they require some concentration and focus). Duration: 1-5 minutes (it just depends on the video you pick) Read Aloud Anytime is a good time for a read aloud, if you ask me. Keep a variety of books on hand that give you some flexibility to use a read aloud as a time filler. The Mercy Watson series is perfect for this! The chapters are super short, and super high interest. Your students will laugh out loud. Duration: 5-6 minutes per chapter Read a Poem Poetry is always another time effective read aloud option, and since kids don't hear them as often, they are usually a captive audience. Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends is my favorite. This is another time filler I remember my own second grade teacher using back in the day. His poems are so silly and fun to share. For even more excitement, let your students listen to Shel tell his poems. It is always entertaining. Sometimes, I pop in the CD shown above (which is no longer available, for a reasonable price, on Amazon). I'm not sure if these recordings are available in other formats or not, but it's worth a quick Google search. Duration: 2-10 minutes (depending upon which, and how many, poems you read) I Have, Who Has Once your students know how to play this game, it can become a great time filler. Plus, your students will practice important skills at the same time! You can grab this plural noun I Have, Who Has here (it's free!). Duration: 10-15 minutes Whiteboard Doodles I'm all about reinforcing skills and sharing literature whenever I can, but sometimes, you and your students need a short break from each other. Sometimes, students need some time to just unwind. This is where whiteboard doodling comes in handy. Let your students take out their personal whiteboards and doodle away. Let them draw or write whatever they want on those boards. They don't always get to use their boards for fun, so when they do, they are happy campers. Let them get lost in their own creations for a few minutes. It will keep them on task, allow them to empty their mind of any ideas floating around in there, and to refresh their brain for the next lesson. Duration: 5-15 minutes Do you have a favorite time filler? Comment below and tell us your favorite way to fill the time. :) DON'T FORGET IT, PIN IT! Share It:
Explore these fun and informative ideas to build a strong classroom community in primary grades! From student jobs to team building activities, foster a sense of belonging in kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade. These classroom community lessons to build friendship, respect, and kindness will help you create a learning environment where students thrive. Grab the FREE classroom community activities and respect scenario role play task cards to get you started!
14 Brilliant Ways to Quiet a Noisy Class! Check out these behavior management strategies for classroom management!
Explore shapes, lines, colors, balance and composition with kids in this collage art lesson inspired by Mondrian. Perfect for elementary-aged kids!
Let's talk about how using podcasts in your K-2 classroom can take your student's learning to a whole new level! Engagement is about to go through the roof!WHY PODCASTS IN THE CLASS?So WHY podcasts? Why should I use podcasts in my room and what if I don't have 1:1 technology? That answer is simple. Podcasts provide a wide variety of topics for students to choose from and listen to. They provide students with the opportunity to practice listening skills, critical thinking, and they are engag
Students need to get their wiggles out after sitting even for a short period of time! These 12 FREE Brain Breaks will give you some fun ideas to try in your 1st - 5th grade classroom.
Lesson and helps for LDS Primary 2 Lesson 33: I Can Pay Tithing
I have to share with you something that I absolutely love: The WOW board! This beautiful piece of poster board was introduced to me by my friend and colleague. I used it throughout the year but found it especially helpful near the end of the school year.
Let’s be real: we all need to get the wiggles out at certain times of the day. Think about the last time you were immersed in a big project or studying for an
In my play based classroom there are 10 essential learning areas. I cannot do without them. The provocations and resources offered in these areas change throughout the year dependent on children's interests and the curriculum intent. The placement of these 10 areas within the classroom is thoughtf
If you are anything like me, the first 10 days are a struggle. You have so many new ideas for the new year, so many things you want to implement, and you feel pressure to start on the very first day. Here’s my number one tip: DON’T. Just don’t. In special education, and more specifically […]
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!
Hey, friends! I’m teaming up with my good friend Elyse from Proud to be Primary to bring you a whole slew of classroom management tips and tricks… plus, a bunch of classroom management freebies! This
I did the research so that you don't have to! Here is a list of 10 free resources that are perfect for distance learning in Kindergarten.
These "quiet critters" are amazingly effective!
Today I'll be sharing why I think substitute binders are so important and what information you should include in your "sub tub."
Having students color in posters with their names is a great first day activity that provides yearlong decoration for the classroom!
So you have survived the first computer lesson with your Kindergarten class and now you want to teach them how to login for themselves. It will depend of course, on how usernames and passwords have been set at your school as to how you approach this. At the school where I teach computers, the Kinder classes have a class username and password. For simplicity, the username and password are the same. Before the lesson, I made some color coded login cards. While in the classroom, the little learners practiced 'typing' on their login cards. We discussed the colors and order of the letters. We talked about uppercase and lowercase letters, said the sound and the letter names. We showed our partners how we could type our username and password. The little learners even searched for the letters in their own name. Who knew there was so much learning to be had with logins? When we arrived at the computer lab, the little learners were ready to try typing their username and password on a real keyboard. After I demonstrated typing the username and password (and made a few mistakes accidentally-on purpose to introduce backspace), the little learners took their login cards to their computer. I'm going to be honest here. This color coded login card is not a miracle worker. It did take three adults 30 minutes to guide the class in this process. I did learn that next time I introduce a Kinder class to computers, I will spend more time on light and quick finger touches on the keyboard! But I will say that each little learner did login that day, and a month on the login cards continue to support the little learners as they become independent loggerinerers (that's totally a word, right?). Best of all is the smile on their faces when they have done it all by themselves for the first time! Priceless! Want to make your own color coded keyboards? Click HERE or the image above to grab your copy!
Kids need to practice handwriting, but finding the right kind of paper aint easy. We wanna make sure they got the right size and type, so their writing improves.
Setting up a kindergarten classroom at the beginning of the year can be an exciting, yet overwhelming. Whether you are a student teacher, or this is your last year teaching elementary school, I'm here to share
I'm so excited to share with you my newest TPT product! I'll be teaching a human body class this upcoming semester at our local co-op. I needed a human body project for kids in my class that will allow them to organize and store the information we learn. I came up with this file folder
Build social responsibility and encourage good behavior by creating a classroom contract. Helpful anchor chart idea and FREE printable included!
Check out these gorgeous Romero Britto inspired art activities...
