I've done a lot of reading about habits that lead to wealth and success. Without a doubt, the number-one recommendation is to become proactive. Here's how.

The first few weeks of school is critical for school counselors for setting up their…

We need to come back in balance with nature and can do this by noticing the rhythms of the sky.

I am a list-maker. BIG TIME. This is a list for teachers of eight things that should be on their to-do list at the beginning of the year.

Pin It! I had the wonderful pleasure of visiting Ghana over the New Year and loved my time there! I’ve always wanted to get a little closer to my roots, and I feel that in addition to learning a lot about a part of my history, I learned a lot about myself. Ghana is a

You can make the overdue book return process fun! Get ready for some simple tips for collecting library books at the end of the year!

We read the answers to the disciple’s questions , “What will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age, and when will the temple be destroyed?” in the Olivet Discourse,…

A beautiful timeline of the Land of Israel. One drawing that tells 3,000 years of history

Don't miss out on the best coliving spaces in the world! The best coliving companies include Nine Coliving, Sun and Co, Outsite, Selina...

Pin It! I had the wonderful pleasure of visiting Ghana over the New Year and loved my time there! I’ve always wanted to get a little closer to my roots, and I feel that in addition to learning a lot about a part of my history, I learned a lot about myself. Ghana is a

This Take 5 Breathing Exercise for kids is perfect for helping children learn to calm down and manage big emotions. Complete with free printable poster.

I'm joining in with The First Grade Parade's Favorite Pins Friday. I love pinning all the creative ideas out there....makes me realize how artistic people are! Here are my favorites: Love this idea by Teacher Bits & Bobs. I have tons of cabinets and not much wall or bulletin board space so this will work perfectly! I love this quick view of how kids are doing. They can keep it close to their hearts so no one else can see. Thanks DifferKinder! This idea is by Fun Science Project Ideas. I love this for introducing inferring! I love this idea because it gives your students ownership. We decorate and organize at the beginning of the year without even knowing them. I love giving them a part of the room that is all for them. This idea is from Classroom DIY. Now on to home stuff! I moved in with my boyfriend in May and I've been working hard to make this house a home. This idea is from Lolalina. I love the simplicity of it. I love this door. I REALLY want it for our bathroom! This is a great blog I found this week and I am obsessed! Check out In My Own Style! So we definitely need to attack our garage! My boyfriend is a bit of a collector....*sigh*. I would love this and plan on doing it this summer. This is by diy Design Fanatic. What are your favorite pins from the week?

This is a fantastic list of Family Night lessons, also known as Family Home Evening. There's 52, one for every week of the year!

Improve speed, control, technique and teamwork. Great entertainment and competitive fun.

KNOW YOUR NATIVE (INDIAN TRIBE) The distinctly peculiar characteristics of indigenous Indian Tribal communities have

While I loved working on the official Queen’s Thief character lineup, I worked on it over a year and a half ago, so as Return of the Thief’s release drew closer, I knew I wanted to do a newer piece t…

Seesaw is an amazing app that can be used in the classroom or for distance learning! Included in this resource are 180 different daily question prompts which will last you the WHOLE YEAR!Students will type an answer to the daily question prompt and either draw a picture or take a photo to match the...

The new Behavior Calendars are out and ready for the 2015-2016 school year! I figured there are teachers as crazy as me that want to start thinking ahead so that the summer is not overrun with things to do. The new behavior calendars work the same as the ones from last year. There are two versions, one with happy face, straight face and sad face. The other one is a color system with green, yellow and red. For those of you who do not know, these behavior calendars are the perfect addition to any classroom management system. You print one calendar per month per student, put it in their homework folder for the month, and have daily communication with parents on their child's behavior. It takes about 5 minutes a day to fill them out at the end of the school day and are so worth the time! My students know that they want to come home with a happy face. They also know that a note can and will be sent home with a straight face (I call it the "Uh-Oh Face") explaining their negative behavior. These notes are included in this pack from TpT. I have also included good notes home, because children NEED positive reinforcements that they can be proud to share with their parents. I hope you find these calendars as useful as I do. I could not teach without them. (Especially not KINDERGARTEN!!) To purchase this item or visit my store CLICK HERE.

These are the saddest and most heartbreaking TV deaths.

Are any of these ineffective teaching methods still part of your practice? Time to reconsider.

What happens when money, minimalism, and mindfulness intersect?

Our parasympathetic nervous system oversees the body's resting functions like digestion, immunity, and mood. It's mainly composed of the vagus nerve, the longest cranial nerve, running from the brainstem, branching through the body, and rooted to our gut and major organs.The bi-directional communication that happens between our gut microbiome and our brain flows through the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is being studied for its role in regulating hormones, the release of oxytocin, anxiety, depression, and how it guides our

Since returning to in-person learning, respect has taken a nosedive. Students are just different. We all see it. We all know it. The question is, what to do about it? Well, the usual keys are still in play. Clear Boundaries 100% Consistency Calm Enforcement ... Read more

This page (which is a chapter overview of The Cornerstone book) describes 3 major routines for your daily schedule: arrival at school, returning to the classroom from lunch and special classes, and dismissal. You’ll discover a variety of different procedures for each so you can choose ideas that fit your teaching style and situation. Choosing what … Continued

Teaching students about respecting personal space (and getting consent) before entering is important - "Personal Space Camp" and practicing the skills is a great way to do it!

Lisa Main DPS Build! #GenshinImpact #WOTGuide A powerful mage recognized as Sumeru Academia's most distinguished graduate in 200 years, Lisa has since returned to Mondstadt to become the humble Librarian of the Knights of Favonius.

Well, 10 days away from Christmas Break {note…I initially wrote this last week and I never finished it…yikes!} and I feel like I have finally hit my reading-teacher groove. After months of training and trying, we have finally ‘fit’ it ALL into our 50 minute class period: flashback, mini-lesson, guided practice/Kagan structure, exit slip, AND...

Today I am pleased to share with you an article written by Letty Rising. Letty is an international Montessori consultant. She holds an AMI elementary diploma for ages 6-12 and an M.Ed from Loyola University in Maryland. She has has held positions as Montessori Elementary Teacher (6-12 teacher), Education Coordinator,

We who have felt the abysmal pain of loss can take some solace in the new depth of empathy for others, the new gratitude for those loved ones still with us, the new sense of appreciation.

Check out the original Figure Me Out math activity and learn how you can make this poster with your students. This beginning of the year math activity incorporates numbers (and computation) into a page about students' own lives. Click to read about this fun ice breaker math project that you could easily use for a "who am I" guessing game or bulletin board display for Parent's Night here on Shut the Door and Teach.

I recently applied for a first grade position in a neighboring district. The employment in that district is highly competitive. I fortunately landed an interview at a school there and knew I needed something to take with me to showcase my talents and passion for teaching. I had read that teaching portfolios had helped many others in this situation. I have always kept a portfolio each year to meet our state's professionalism rubric, but I needed something a little more tailored to the needs of an interview. I decided to create my own that highlighted some important areas of teaching and that would serve as evidence to questions asked during the interview. Since I was going after a primary grade teaching position, I wanted the colors to be bright and colorful. I think it's also important to put your contact information on the cover, as well as your picture. They might want to keep your portfolio to look over while making their decision. Your picture will help remind them of you and your interview. I also wanted to take them on a tour of my classroom. They should be able to envision me in their building. Since I am a blogger, I have lots of photos of my classroom. I included a blog post after this page in the portfolio that took them through my learning space. You could even add a layout of your classroom from a website that allows you to create those. That would show them that you value classroom layout and like to plan ahead. Classroom management is an area they will definitely want to know about. What is your system? How do you ensure a smoothly run classroom? How do promote positive behavior and desired expectations in your classroom? I included information along with photos of these areas. Not only did I incorporate my latest strategies, I also added strategies of the past that I had tried with my students. Lesson plans should also be included. I have taught kindergarten and second grade, so I included examples of both. If you do visual plans, definitely incorporate those! They are attention grabbers and look great in your portfolio. I included a copy of my current classroom schedule. I wanted them to see that consistency and routine were vital to my learning environment. One section in my notebook was all about lesson plans and creative activities I had incorporated in my classroom. I divided that section up into some effective best practices. In each section, I included the strategy, brain research to support the practice, and photos of them being incorporated into my classroom. I also included some units I had created along with photos of students engaged in activities from those units. Another section in the portfolio highlighted assessment and data. Education is so data-driven these days that I knew I had to incorporate this. I listed all of the assessments I had experience with, included data from assessments I had administered (do not include student names), and showed how I used the data to drive my instruction. You may be asked about parent communication in your interview. In this section, I included newsletters and various other ways I communicated with parents and got them involved in their child's education. I also took the time to break down what my reading and math blocks looked like. I made sure to mention the five components of reading, curriculum I had experience using, and student work samples. I made sure to highlight how each of these areas drove student success. Finally, I had sections for professional development and important documents. You should include any professional development you have attended, as well as any you have led. Be sure to also include documents such as a copy of your teacher license, praxis scores, and a college transcript. There are many more components to my portfolio that you will have access to if you purchase this Editable Teacher Portfolio. I am confident it really helped me receive the first grade position. It provided easy evidence for me to refer to during the interview. The file is a PowerPoint, but you could also save it as a PDF when completed to send digitally to principals. Since it is editable, you can add or take away any pieces to fit your needs. It will definitely make you stand out in your teacher interview! I hope this portfolio is beneficial to you and lands you that perfect job! Happy teaching and best wishes!

Students are expected to come to every art class with a PENCIL & ERASER. EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT OUR ART PROGRAM Even though we do not have an art studio this claymation…