Are you guilty of any of these? If so, you can kiss your productivity goodbye.

All viral infographics start with a great idea. Here are 50+ infographic ideas & examples you can use to come up with truly memorable infographic!

They read the passage and complete the exercise: a true or false activity and then some reading comprehension questions. About a couple eating out while on holiday. - ESL worksheets

Improving posture and fixing slouched shoulders are important in today’s digital world. With many of us glued to our computers and cellphones, bad posture has become a major issue. Poor posture can develop from slouching,

Since I started this blog, I've been trying to figure out something that I could do that hasn't been done a thousand times before. All the advice I know has been given by far better bloggers than I and far better than I'm capable of. The Moments of the Week slowed to a boring crawl. I don't want to be the jerk who just talks about me. But you know what I've realized? I am really good at making lists. And between writing and years of playing tabletop games like Dungeons & Dragons, I've come to enjoy making characters and helping others make them. So why not continue making lists like the hobbies one to help other people with their character creation? Most likely, this won't be a long-running thing, as there are only so many lists needed for character and world building, but I guarantee, you'll be able to find it here. Today, we're looking at bad habits. No character is perfect. Everyone's got these little quirks that they know they should work on fixing. Pick one or two (or more!) for your characters to make them more well-rounded and maybe give them something to improve about themselves. Bad Habits Apologizing Arguing Biting pens/pencils Blaming others Bottling emotions Bragging Buying things and not using them Cheating Cheek or Lip biting/tearing Chewing Chewing tobacco Coveting others' things Cracking knuckles/joints Cutting corners/skimping Drinking / Getting drunk Eating junk food Eating late Eating out daily Eating with mouth open Fidgeting Forgetfulness Gambling Grinding teeth Hair chewing/sucking Hangnail pulling Hard drugs Holding grudges Impatience Impulse purchasing Inability to sit still Internet overuse Interrupting Jaywalking Judging others Kleptomania Leaving dirty clothes/dishes out Littering Losing temper Losing things Lying Making puns Nail biting/picking No self-control Not backing up data Not bathing Not brushing teeth Not caring for health when sick Not involving others in decisions that affect them Not knowing limits Not listening/ignoring others Not responding to messages Not trying new things Overeating Oversleeping Overspending Picking at skin/scabs Picking nose Playing with hair Pornography addiction Procrastinating Selfishness Sitting still for long periods Smoking Snooze button overuse Speaking in 3rd person Staring Starting projects without finishing Staying up late Stress/emotional eating Stubbornness Sucking thumbs Tapping fingers/feet Too much TV Tugging ears Unprotected sex Using cell phone/tablet in social situations Using other people's stuff Verbal tics ("like")

It seems like every day there is an endless stream of students reporting behaviors or incidents that happen in the classroom. On one hand, we want to help our students feel heard and validated so they know we are a safe person for them to talk to. On the other hand, we certainly don't want to feed into the tattle machine. It's a fine line to walk. So how do we handle tattling in our classrooms?

1. #TheQueuefortheQueen 2. The British royal family owns a not-so-nerdy stamp collection worth £100 million (The Royal Philatelic Collection also doubles as the family photo album). Queen Victoria’s son Prince Alfred started it all off with a pane of 6d stam

My district is one that is implementing Student Learning Objectives...which are basically large-scale goals for each student in class based on their ability levels. Teachers have to set target scores/learning outcomes for lower level learners to higher level learners. That means there has to be some sort of pre-assessment in order to determine the level of the students. I really have struggled in attempting to create pre-assessments for orchestra. It has been hard to wrap my head around giving a test to see what I know students don't know yet...since I haven't taught the skill, yet. Anyway, I am focusing my learning objective on rhythm. I want to be sure my students are fluent note-readers and rhythm readers. For my pre-test, I will use the 'I Got Rhythm' form that I created. This can be used many different ways and can be a useful tool in a variety of rhythm exercises. For my pre-assessment, I will perform the rhythm from one box on each line...and I will have students circle the rhythm that they think I played. This will help me see if students are already recognizing these rhythms. The rhythms get progressively more difficult as you move down the page, so I will be able to set some learning targets for individual students. Eventually of course, students will demonstrate the ability to perform these rhythms on their own - by the end of year 1. I can also use this form as a rhythm exercise...students can perform the rhythms across and down each line. They can cut them up to make flashcards. You can use the different rhythms for warm-ups and scales.

The terms psychopath and sociopath are often used interchangeably, but they aren't quite the same thing. So what's the difference, you ask?

Like vs. Love

If you think I have the answers here, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I'm far from having any answers.

When we create fictional characters, we want them to be realistic. Use this resource to explore 123 ideas for character flaws.

Even your best ideas mean nothing if no one listens to you. Julian Treasure is one of the TED conference's most popular speakers and is a branding and communications consultant who works with companies like Nokia and the Waldorf Astoria.

Many people know snooping on your partner is a terrible, dreadful, horrible, atrocious, no-good, bad idea. This is not news. But, from a psychological standpoint, why is that so? I think we all have within us a gut feeling about snooping — it makes…

Share Pin Tweet Email My family and I have been eating Paleo for two years now. I blog about new recipes I’ve created, helpful articles to get people on track, and how to raise healthy, Paleo kids. But, maybe, you’re reading this and you have heard this word, “Paleo”, pronounced “Pay – LE – O”, but …

Tight hips are the bane of pretty much all runners. As such hip stretches are an important part of a good running schedule.

Hi everyone! It's Naomi O'Brien from Read Like a Rock Star! I've noticed a lot of teachers heading back to school, and thought I'd share a few of the ideas I use to create a positive classroom culture. For years, my coworkers chalked my sweet and well behaved classes up to the "luck of the draw", but then they had to admit, it must have been something I was doing. We, the teachers, really are responsible for setting the tone in our classroom. Our children are always watching us and how we respond to situations teaches them a lot about how they should respond to us and each other. How I Create and Maintain a Positive Classroom Culture for K-2! I Tell them They Were Handpicked to be in My Class, but Shhhhhh, It's a Secret: On the first day of school, I always let my students know that I have a HUGE secret to share with them. The secret is that I asked for only the best students to be in my class. I let them know that I read information about them, talked to the principal and other teachers, and that I only allowed the best kids into my room. I tell them that this is a secret and that if the rest of the school knew, everyone would be trying to be in our class and then it would get too crowded and too crazy. I let them know they can tell their parents, but nobody else. During restorative conversations, I remind them that they are still the best, deserve to be in my class, and to never forget it. It's always really cute when we get a new student and my students are so excited to have someone new to share the secret with! I Let Them Take Over the Classroom: I give them a lot of opportunities to learn and share with each other. Sometimes it's hard to give up the reigns, but they learn to respect and listen to one another. Every now and then, I pretend to be the confused one, and have them help me learn a concept. They think it's hilarious and they come together for a good cause; to teach their teacher. I Take Time to Start Personal Conversations: Instead of walking around or sitting at my desk, I like to sit with my students and get to know them. I let them know I'm interested in who they are, not just what they can do. It's this relationship building that makes them naturally want to behave better for me. They know I care about them, and it makes them care about me too. I Give Them Plenty of Opportunities to Work Together: Team work makes the dream work! I make them discuss everything with each other, and collaborate often. Also, they are not allowed to tattle! Once they realize they need to work together without any help or conflict resolution from me, they learn to get along (slowly, but surely). I Don't Allow Tattling: I know I just mentioned that, but I wanted to bring it up again. Unless something serious happened, I ignore any and all tattles. Sometimes I say, "All you've done is let me know that you're a tattle-tale. Thank you." They learn very quickly that tattling won't get them very far and it forces them to talk to each other and work out their problems on their own. I always drive home the point that we have to look out for each other, not try to get each other in trouble. Instead of telling me that someone isn't working, they learn to nicely remind the friend to get back on task. This takes a few months to master, but it works out beautifully! I Teach Character Traits: I pick 6 traits that I think will help my students excel. I make sure to make time in our busy day to teach them about these traits; usually right after lunch/recess as a "cool down" activity. I chose Kindness, Ambition, Self-Confidence, Honesty, Thoughtfulness, and Respect last year. Think about the traits that are most important to you. Focus on the traits that you'd like to teach your students to possess. Find creative ways to encourage your students to take on these traits for themselves. I made badges for my students to earn to make sure they were aware of the traits and working on their own character. You can also post pictures of students that show a specific trait frequently in class, write positive notes about good or improved behavior you've noticed, practice acting the traits out in student led plays or skits, make class videos showing the traits, or read stories that exemplify characters that show good character traits. Make sure to point out the traits and have discussions about them. In order to create a positive classroom culture, you must truly be intentional about creating one. It's important to use your character trait vocabulary throughout the day too. I Teach the Art of Giving a Compliment: Compliment Plates were always a hit with my students! Give out plates, give out markers, have a good time! In the beginning of the year, with my first graders, we brainstormed nice compliments and I wrote them on the board for a writing support. They loved going around filling them out, and they loved reading what their friends had to say about them. This was always followed by "Thank you's" and "You're welcome's'" being called out across the room. Even hugs were often being given out for the kind words shared. I pick a Kid of the Day to be showered in compliments! I truly believe doing this daily is one of the most beneficial activities I have done for my students. I found that with my first graders, we had to first discuss how to give and receive a compliment. Outside of "You're my best friend", they really couldn't think of anything else to say. After a lot of discussions and practice, they were giving out compliments left and right, even when they thought I wasn't paying attention. I also had to teach them to accept the compliment with a "Thank you". Surprisingly, some of them would say something like, "No, I'm not pretty." and really had a hard time accepting nice things being said about them. We also had to discuss that simply saying, "I know I'm cute." wasn't acceptable either... I also have a Compliment Count on the board. It's quick and easy, and it gets their attention. (Side Benefit: It helps them count tally marks really well!) If ever anyone outside of our classroom gives us a compliment, they get a tally mark added to the Compliment Count. If the principal gives them a compliment, it counts for two tally marks! This promotes great behavior when they are walking in the hallways, at recess, at lunch, and at Specials. Whenever we reached 20 tally marks, they got some of my stash. I Make My Students Reflect on their Unsavory Behavior: When students act out it is important to give them consequences for their actions. I believe it is equally as important to follow up with the student through a reflection sheet. After the student has been given time to cool down, I take the time to fill this out with them, or have them fill it out themselves if they are able (only after a discussion to make sure they understand what they did wrong and what they can do differently in the future). My students so loved and responded to this that when they were sent to their seats or to a cool down area, some would ask, "Are we still going to talk about this later?" I think they appreciated being heard, forgiven, and accepted again. It's so easy to hold a grudge for the rest of the day, but we have to be the best example of forgiveness to that child and for the rest of the class to see. This is a resource that I made and used, but a quick TpT search will surely bring up a few freebies, if you don't have time to create one yourself! This is also great to make a copy of and keep data on students. It’s also a wonderful way to keep parents in the loop of what’s been going on in class. At Open House, I let my parents know that if they see one of these sheets it means their student has already had consequences, so they should just discuss their child’s plan to make better choices in the future. This helps to build a parent/teacher partnership. I Created An Outsider Looking In: Creating an outsider to notice your class is a great way to promote a positive classroom culture. In addition to our Compliment Count that I track on the board, I created an invisible fairy friend! Sylese, the kindness fairy, would stop by our classroom every once in a while leaving a note, treats, and glitter in her wake. She watches the class without them knowing because she's invisible. They never know when she's watching or when she's coming for a visit. You can have another teacher write the note so your students don't recognize your handwriting. This was basically another way for me to give them a compliment, make them feel proud of themselves, and strengthen our positive classroom culture. This was done once a month, or once every other month. I simply leave glitter on their desks, bring in a treat, like stickers, cookies, candy, a movie, popcorn, (really anything you’d like to reward them with) and post the note somewhere in the classroom. I would usually wait for them to find it, and act like I was just as surprised as they were. Whenever it had been a while, someone always says something like, “Guys, why do you think the fairy hasn’t been back? We need to do better!” You could use anything to keep an eye on your class that leaves notes and fun treats! I Focus on the Behavior I Like: While it can be so tempting to want to always address a disruptive child right every time at the exact moment of disruption, I've learned to ignore it and focus on the behavior I like. If I have 23 students and only 1 is acting out, I'd rather give my attention and energy to the 22 that are doing a great job. I'm sure they appreciate it too. I always let them know when they are doing something that makes me happy. Scratch-n-Stickers were always a quick and easy reward. I also made up some "Caught Ya" cards to reward this good behavior and would slip them onto their desks. They could turn these cards in to enter a weekly drawing. This was a great motivator, and usually got that one disruptive child to stop what they were doing. If not, I would pull them aside at a later time and address their behavior. Because of the way I handled those situations, even at 6 and 7 years old, the rest of my class learned to ignore those behaviors too. Some would even ask if they could help that student make good choices, which was just fine with me! When you've got students that care about themselves, each other, and you, you've got a well oiled machine that is bursting with positivity! I hope you enjoyed these ideas and are able to take some or all back into your classrooms this year. Believe me, you won't be disappointed. Grab this resource for your classroom from my TpT store! Don't forget to come back tomorrow, and for the rest of the month to check out all of the other amazing ideas offered from your friends at:

Little storytellers, take a trip to the beach with this fill-in-the-blanks story! Your young writer will practice her parts of speech to finish the story.

In fact, it'll totally help 'em.

Mindfulness can be immensely helpful for reducing stress and for stress relief. Learn actionable steps for how to apply it in your life.

I wasn’t going to write this post. I’ve always been very private with some aspects of my life. I have never talked bad about my place of employment and will continue to honor that....Even as Wednesday is my last day after 18 years in management for an organization!! Yep, you read right, I turned in my resignation 2 weeks ago and it feels sooooo Good! I could’ve titled this post “The Happiest Day of My Life,” but I’ll refrain a tad as of course there have been many happier days but guys, I’M FREAKIN EXCITED! However, ever since my excitement over leaving my job, a dark cloud arose along with a heavy sadness in my heart because I saw people’s true colors. Yes, the majority I told or found out we’re so sweet and congratulatory, and I know had nothing but well wishes and good in their hearts. These are the tried and true, that as our colleague population grew to 2,000, they were the ones who'd been there forever and had nothing but well wishes. However, there were a few that broke my heart or lack of heart I might say. Are you ready for this? I literally had one colleague who called me a loser for leaving the organization. Hello? If it makes me a loser for wanting to be happy in life then I will wear the biggest "L" on my forehead I can find! My sweet friend Kellyann found this last week on here calendar and it really resonated with me too. LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE!! People thought Oh she's resigning to blog more. Well, no, I already blog full time and yes, while I wish I knew how to make really good money and not just a little spending money from it, I'll admit I don't know how, so it'll stay a hobby and fun way to socialize with cool peeps such as yourselves. Like I said, I am a very private person so I decided not to divulge what I am doing in the next chapter. I know that helping people, not hurting them is in my DNA so I will be trying to spread smiles and make hearts happy. And I can tell you this Queenism came to life.... My dear friend and blogger Sierra from Beautifully Candid recently wrote a letter to herself entitled Dear Me. I’m going to quote some of the things she said because the words are so fitting for me with what is happening at this time in my life. She says “You were always taught to be kind and show love even when others don't. Some people have a hard time with seeing others happy—that's their fault, not yours. Let it go. Pray for them, and continue to invest your time in those that value your friendship, because you know those that are truly by your side have and always will be there for you.” Why oh why do people not rejoice when others are happy? I get plum giddy when a loved one or friend has something awesome happen in their lives. I truly am a person who gets excited about the little things in life. Sierra goes on to say “It's ok to get excited. There is nothing wrong with celebrating the small things. If you want to throw a breakfast party for no other reason than it being a Saturday, do it.” And then this bit of advice truly hit home “Let go of what others think. Don't hold back on sharing things if it's something that makes you happy. The sad part about putting yourself out there is others who can't relate tend to think you are doing things for show, even if you've always been that way but you just share more of it now. Keep doing what makes you happy.” Here I was in a job that was never even meant to be my career, how did 18 years go by of NOT doing what I wanted to do? It was not what I went to school for, never in my dreams, it just came along at a time it was needed and that was a good thing...just a lil too long and when the happiness faded....I needed to too! Below are some pictures of work in happier times, when I was on a social committee and we had a budget to throw awesome parties for our colleges. This was my favorite Holiday Tea where we coordinated aqua, silver and white, had amazing appetizers and gave away over 200 raffle prizes. Yep, you'll see my mama in this picture too, also on the committee..great group! and my first awards banquet...2001 The Devil is the thief of joy. He manifests himself in your surroundings, never, ever let him. Be grateful for the gifts God has given you and embrace each day as a treasure! Emily Bronte is a favorite author of mine and I think her quote rings true. As time moves on, life grows sweeter. Thank you for letting me vent. I am not going to let the untrue bring down my excitement for this new chapter in my life. And I have to give a BIG shout out to my man for working hard so I could banish my stress and live out my dreams. See, I wasn't going to write it because I was going to let it just be another chapter, one ending and one beginning in my book of life but after reading 13 Signs It's Time to Quit Your Job, and seeing what transpired because I just wanted to be happy, I decided I needed, wanted to tell a little about this point in my life because most of you get it! And I adore you for understanding. Be Back tomorrow for Tasty Tuesday with a scrumptious comfort food dish sure to please the masses...I think! LINKING-UP with Biana // Totally Terrific Tuesday // Inspire Me Monday // Inspire Me Tuesday // Lou Lou Girls Fabulous Party // Creative Monday's // Creative Muster Party // Wow Us Wednesdays // Wonderful Wednesday's Blog Hop // Feathered Nest Friday // Metamorphosis Monday // The Scoop xoxo The Hills are alive...yes, they are!!!

Use this fun brain break to get your kids up and moving throughout the school day! When your kids get restless, simply roll a die and then do the corresponding activity. Post the PDF graphic on the board or use the PowerPoint file that's included to display each activity after you roll the die. On the PowerPoint, when you touch a die image, it will move to the slide that displays that exercise so everyone can see it! Directions: Roll a 6-sided die (use a real die or a virtual die) See which exercise matches that number. Do the activity together! Repeat until your brain break time is up or you have done all of the tasks. This resource includes: Directions on how to use the powerpoint, a PowerPoint file with images of the six different activities (see preview video), and the original PDF that shows which activities match each dice roll. Exercises included: jumping jacks, sit-ups, hopping on one foot, push-ups, touch your toes, run in place I hope you and your students enjoy this resource! TERMS OF USE - © VA SOL Superstars This item is a paid digital download from my TpT store https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Va-Sol-Superstars As such, it is for use in one classroom only. This item is also bound by copyright laws. Redistributing, editing, selling, or posting this item (or any part thereof) on the Internet are all strictly prohibited without first gaining permission from the author. Violations are subject to the penalties of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Please contact me if you wish to be granted special permissions!

Self care isn't always easy. This list of self care ideas is perfect for both good and bad days so you can have better mental health in the long run!

Checkout these affirmations for bad asses to start becoming the most bad ass version of yourself and start killing it at life

Age-appropriate chores for young children (and older children) are so important - with or without a chore chart! They help raise children that work hard and are not spoiled. It's the reason that we use these Printable Chore Cards because they teach kids that they have to do their chores in order to have downtime.

Whether it's for a Halloween party or for cosplay, we've put together some costume ideas and tips on how to pull off your Good Place Costume!

You mean the silent treatment isn't healthy?

18-year-old Harry Hambley is the artist behind Ketnipz comics. The UK-based artist chose a simple fun style to present his ideas. The main character of his webcomics is a unique but still relatable pink bean-shaped persona.

Attitude of Gratitude: with a conscious effort you can change your attitude and perspective to gratitude one bad day at a time.

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Here are 22 of our favorite Pinterest quotes. Some are goofy, some are heartfelt, but all of them should be a reminder that you are awesome.

Teach responsibility in your classroom through the use of intentional activities. Continue refining what responsibility means to your students all year.