I don’t know about everyone else, but it sure its hard getting all the subject areas in during the day sometimes! I like to integrate my subjects as much as possible by incorporating literature into all the other core subjects as well. In this way, students can begin to see that even in math, reading […]
Teacher Freebies
Need some classroom freebies to use with your students? Find freebies for various subjects, classroom management, seasonal events, staff morale, professional development for teachers, and so much more!
Keeping Tabs on your PD Materials
Hey teaching friends! So, I was looking for a PD resource book the other day for an idea and I realized that I had loaned the book to a friend and it still has not yet been returned! While the person who borrowed it, did not mean to have forgotten about it, it is still […]
Feeling Lucky?
St. Patrick’s Day bulletin boards are fun not only for the students, but with all the kelly green, leprechauns, and rainbows, it really brightens up your classroom for the transition month of March. As you can see in the examples (and freebie printable) below, classroom decor or theme ideas don’t have to take up a […]
Elephants in School?
I finally had a few minutes to break and create some new files to match a read aloud book and am just now getting time to sit down and share them with you! I was sorting through some of my books on my bookshelves at home to look for something I might use for a […]
Start with a Word Splash!
In my district, our new evaluation system focuses heavily on how we deliver content to our students and especially how we gauge their understanding of that content. I’ve been reflecting upon this quite a bit. I think it becomes very easy to fall into the “timeline trap” of blindly following the curriculum map or […]
Irish Creative Writing Kit
Teaching St. Patrick’s Day lesson plans can be fun, free, and common core aligned when you find the right printables. You can use the ideas below for literacy centers that week, place the worksheets on their desk for bell work in the morning, or use the writing prompts during whole group ELA instruction. Whatever you […]
Fundraiser Freebie!
For those of you who may be new to The OC Blog, I want to personally welcome you! Every week on The OC Blog Facebook Fan Page, we do a collaboration question. I list some type of question in which I would love your input and feedback. Sometimes I compile all the answers together and […]
Need A Lift?
Staff morale boosters for teachers are important for retention of staff members and keeping the overall vibe in the school building high. By boosting the camaraderie amongst the employees, they begin to feel appreciated, which encourages them personally to do a better job, which in turn creates a snowball effect throughout the building. […]
Love Is Writing
Looking for something fun to use as morning work or centers for February? Here is a little something I whipped up for you to enjoy! My freebie is February Journal Prompts! Perfect for the grade 2-5 classroom! Either print off the pages, and display under an overhead/document camera, or import to an interactive whiteboard! Great […]
How Do You Communicate With Parents?
I think we all can agree that parental communication between school and home is so important! But, sometimes, with everything we have to get done during the day, we might forget to make that connection. Well, I thought I would ask a few (over 90,000!) of my closest Facebook friends from The Organized Classroom Blog’s […]
30 Indoor Recess Ideas!
Indoor recess ideas and games to the rescue for all my teacher friends! I hope everyone is staying warm in for classroom recess with yet ANOTHER blast of cold air swooping through the US. In my local school district, the students have definitely had their Winter Break extended due to the freezing air! Hopefully […]
What Happened to Groundhog Day Activities for Kids?
I remember Groundhog Day activities when I was a student were much more pronounced than they are today. It would be an entire day of facts about groundhogs, groundhog reading activities, and games that were groundhog-approved. Today, it seems as though the groundhog day children’s activities are either mentioned in a sentence, if at all. […]
Telling Time Rollers!
Do you ever use dice as a math learning tool? How do you do it without dice flying all over the room and splitting your ear drums? One quick tip I learned from a fabulous math coach was always to give students 60 seconds with the manipulative you would be working with just to “play.” […]
Winter Craft Paper Plate Fun!
Need a new fun winter craft for students? This class craft is easy and perfect even for older kids! When choosing winter arts and crafts for kids, I like to to find things that can be done inside, yet incorporate winter activities for kids outside in nature as well. It helps if they are less […]
Place Value Front and Center!
Teaching place value to kids in math class can be fun – if you have some hands-on learning activities and visuals, like charts. You can utilize game boards or worksheets. The key really is for students to understand the core of what place value is, which is abstract and much harder to get across when […]
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. […]
Similar Snowflakes Grouping Freebie
Anyone feel antsy when you are shut inside? Too soon? Funny, I know. Well even the snow falling outside or frigid temps that always force me inside (I’m a weenie when it comes to extreme temps) makes me stir crazy. The bonus for you is that when I get stir crazy, YOU get freebies – […]
Real-Life Math
After noticing a facebook post from Scholastic Teachers, I got to thinking about what I do combat the usual student question, “When are we ever going to use this in real life?” Since I teach gifted children, it seemed as though I heard that question almost daily. I decided I had heard enough, and since […]
DIY Countdown Calendar
Ok, you are heading into the Winter Break homestretch! Yay! But many of the students seem to believe that Santa is coming tomorrow! No! And their excitement is bubbling over into your lessons making it a tad difficult to get teaching across. How about an idea to at least keep them reminded of the days […]
“Whooo” Needs a New To-Do List Template?
If you do, you are in luck! This is part of my owl-theme planning pack: a fun To-Do List – and it is free! Copy, cut out, and use to jot a note down for some of things you have to do today (and you know you will add to it as the day goes […]