I snapped a few pics over the last couple of days of things we've been doing in our classroom and thought I'd post them all in one random po...

So, if you have been reading for a while, you have seen pictures of my daughter, my house, my dogs...but do you know what I do all day? I th...

Have you ever tried random reward as a classroom management tool? When used correctly, it's an incredible motivator for students and will bring results!

Hi friends! I am SO excited for February! It's one of my favorite times of the year!! I definitely try to spend this time of year focusing ...

It's about time, teachers, ... to wrap up Using Poetry in the Classroom.  As promised, today I'm posting my random thoughts about poetry centers. Many, many teachers like to use composition books for student anthologies.  They describe having the students paste the poem under study into the book and then use the facing page to write responses.  I prefer to use 3 ring binders because no matter how many times you tell your students that "a dot is a lot," they still get glue on the pages. Carefully tearing the pages apart for them is not my favorite activity and it's way too time consuming. But, you object, then the students can't write a response on the facing page.  Au contraire!  I have my pupils punch holes on the right margin of the poem.  For many of the poetry responses, I use a Poetry Recording Sheet. Other times, I have the students insert notebook paper.  Either way, the kiddos now have the poem on the left and response paper on the right.   Earlier on this blog, I referred to supplies you may wish to have at a poetry center. Although I recommended markers, crayons, scissors, etc., I usually place only colored pencils at the center.  I call them "Poets' Pencils," which makes them more special to the children.  I love the metaphor that "Poets' Pencils" create colorful, figurative language.   Colored pencils are also preferable for highlighting and underlining words on the poem because they don't bleed through the paper, as markers can.  Moreover, they are erasable, if need be. By making colored pencils specific to our poetry center, I am also avoiding confusion (and arguments) over whether the markers and/or crayons are part of the center or belong to one of the students.  Poetry can be used in so many ways to enhance your teaching.  It need not be saved for April, National Poetry Month.   It need not only be used for studying the elements of poetry.  Poems bring rainbows into your classroom.  Visit the land of poems often. You'll be glad you did. For more ideas for using poetry in your teaching, check out these resources:

I love to have my kids work in small groups…not all the time of course, but often, frequently…okay, almost every day for some task or another. I think it’s so beneficial for kids to learn to work together, to communicate ideas, to problem-solve with one another, that sometimes, the “working together” part is almost as […]

I am SO excited that it’s February!! It’s probably my favorite month…I LOVE teaching my little ones all about treating each other with kindness. It’s the perfect time of year […]

Make kindness a priority in your classroom with the help of resource like this Tree of Kindness Display Pack. Made by teachers for those who teach.

Five lamination hacks for teachers that will blow your mind and save you time. Read to learn more or watch the video! Only at Mrs. D's Corner.

Enhance the welcoming feeling as students come through the classroom door! This door decorating kit features images of the berry best produce, honey and jams ...

Lily , Spy Classroom

Spy Kyoushitsu episode 2