I had a request for a video from one of our awesome Facebook Fans last week, and I wanted to make sure I got to it for her – Teacher Desk Organization! In the video below, I explain how I manage to keep my desk clutter-free (because we know I can’t stand for there to […]
Charity Preston
5 Work/Life Balance Tools
Do you have work and life balance? Do you know what the secret to it is? I don’t know all the answers, but I can tell you that everyone struggles with this and perhaps there really isn’t such a thing as work/life balance anyway. Furthermore – maybe we should stop striving for something that actually […]
Classroom Seating Chart: X Marks the Spot
This section is for class sizes of 18-19 students. While all the photos show options for 18 students, feel free to place an additional student on the end of one of groups, if needed. Straight lines that cross at a midpoint are the central theme of this seating arrangement. It would be wonderful for an […]
Absent Work Clips
Hey teaching friends! School attendance is a tough topic because many times chronically absent students aren’t out of school by choice. Sometimes (at least in primary school), the problem falls to the caregiver who may not be getting the child to school on time – or even out of bed themselves. That is a tough situation […]
25 Other Jobs Teachers Can Do On the Side
Many teachers need to work a side job over the summer break or school year to make ends meet. Even if it isn’t a necessity, having some part time extra income can be a nice way to supplement a full-time teacher salary. But what types of places will hire teachers just for the summer, beyond […]
Chalkboard Comprehension Centers
Need a fun and easy comprehension center your students will love to complete? Whether you have these cute mini wood chalkboard laptops, or even instead use vinyl chalkboard or a basic set of chalkboard signs, the idea is the same. Some weeks coming up with new and novel classroom learning centers is extra hard. […]
Tattle Ender Idea
Does the sound of tattling drive you up the wall? Are you constantly interrupted by such outbursts while you are trying to teach or get something done in small groups? Do you cringe when you then start to hear other students call one another tattle tales, which then continues the tattling cycle all over again? […]
Four Chair Pocket Choices!
I know chair pockets are a hot topic because it is SUPER nice to be able to have a place where students can easily get to their independent reading items without having to dig through a desk or go to a cubby to grab it. I always dreaded certain transition times in the classroom: lining […]
Camping + Learning = Summer Fun!
Since when can’t learning and camping go hand-in-hand? I thought it would be a blast to list several ideas for keeping kids physically AND mentally engaged this summer! What child doesn’t love going on a camping adventure with his or her family? Let’s get the learning started! As a child, I loved camping, tent and […]
Easy Peasy Classroom Library Checkout System
How about a super easy library checkout system for your classroom bookshelves? So simple, it will blow your mind you didn’t think of it before! It’s probably easier than trying to label tons of books, have barcodes, have a checkout system, have a form to fill out to check. Really, I prefer the KISS method. […]
How to Create Your Own Custom Teacher Planner
Teacher planners just might be the highlight of any planner junkie + teacher out there. Choosing just the right cover, layout, to do list, and extra insert pieces makes a difference. Adding in stickers creates a whole new level of awe. Yes, you purchase your teacher planner in the hopes it will help you to […]
Making & Sharing Slide Shows with Edmodo & Animoto
Educational technology has exploded in recent years and what was once a few fun apps, has turned into a huge marketplace of educational resource apps, websites, tools, and equipment. Sometimes it’s hard to know what is really beneficial to learning, or just another distraction. If you are looking for a fun (and simple) tech solution […]
End-of-the-Year Activities Roundup!
Here is a roundup of all the almost 150 End-of-the-Year Activities links that were tweeted and/or posted on the facebook fan page. Perhaps you missed something? Make sure to bookmark this page to return again (even next year for those of you lucky enough to be out already for the summer!) I have been there […]
Happy Moms (and Filling in for Moms) Day!
Just stopping by to wish all the moms out there a Happy upcoming Mother’s Day! And to all the teachers who help to fill the role of mom on so many levels for many hours during the week as well! My grandmother told me once that you are never really complete until you are a […]
Soaring with Spring Snacks
Hey teaching friends! Today, I just wanted to share an idea that I did for my son’s preschool class for his birthday treat. I thought it would also be a great idea for an end of the school year celebration too! It was a huge hit with the teachers and students alike! I certainly can’t […]