I feel like I’ve tried it all when it comes to classroom jobs! At one point I had different individual jobs for each and every student that I had to remember to change everyday (exhausting!). With all the little, and big, things teachers have to do, classroom jobs should be at the very least of […]
Singapore Math Games
Finding simple, but effective math games for elementary classrooms usually means pulling out all sorts of manipulatives, but a you will see from the guest post below, it doesn’t have to include a ton of resources. Sometimes simple really is better. Keep reading! High Energy Math If you step into my classroom, you’ll notice that […]
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 […]
Using Smart Board Files Without a Smart Board
I am in my second year of teaching with a Smart Board, and now I don’t know how to teach without it! But like many teachers, I spent my first six years of teaching without one. I also didn’t have student computers in my classroom, but maybe you do. If so, you can still take […]
Pocket Chart Make-Over
Pocket chart stands are almost a necessity in an elementary classroom. They can be used for so many different activities in daily lessons and offer a permanent home for those items, like anchor charts, you know you’ll want to review again with students. I know for me, I have always used an easel or chart […]
Leprechaun Fun in the Classroom
Setting up a leprechaun trap in your classroom can incorporate science (think simple machines), social studies (the history of the legend of the lucky leprechaun), and literature in your lesson plans. The best part is that they can be as complex or as easy to put together as you like. It is usually a rarity […]
Contractions aren’t tricky to teach?
Teaching about contraction words in the early elementary grades can be confusing for students – until you introduce games, visual aids, and other hands-on activities to help them understand they get to take a “shortcut” in grammar. Once students learn where to put the apostrophe when they form contractions, it opens up a whole new […]
Lovely Valentines Printables
Classroom Valentine’s parties are some of the most fun celebrations throughout the school year. Need a valentine heart candy graph printable? This will make your planning for your Valentine’s party much easier! Our guest post from Colleen today has some great ideas for your next Valentine’s Day celebration! Happy to be back here at the […]
Ironing Out the Lamination
Don’t you hate it when you are laminating paper for your classroom, and the machine spits back out a creation filled with air bubbles? Sometimes, even when you use adhesive laminating sheets on home laminating machines for arts and crafts, you can have the same issue. And the price of those laminating pouches isn’t cheap! […]
Simile Fun!
Similes are a fun lesson when teaching about different types of figurative language. I love teaching about similes with third grade. They are old enough to understand the abstract thought and can appreciate the humor in the double meanings. An epic way to describe a funny situation when taken literally, there are many examples of […]
Turning Noneducational Games into Learning Fun
Educational board games and file folder games are great learning resources for every student from Kindergarten to Middle and High School! Reusing familiar board games is one of the best ways to have students thinking about how to mesh together current curriculum objectives with some good old-fashioned game play. Use some of the ideas below […]
3 Favorite Things
Holy moly it’s May and time is flying! It’s Jaime from The First Grade Bloom. I’ve been so fortunate to guest blog for Charity at the start of each month this past year. As this is my last post, I’m going to share 3 of my favorite, most used, things right now. Would you like […]
Teacher Tools
Hello! It is me, Hilary from Second Grade is Out of This World! I don’t know about you, but when I want to do something in my classroom, I want to do it NOW! I hate waiting around for someone else to have time to do it. Enter: The Teacher Toolbox. Now, it is absolutely […]
Character Study with Olivia
As students make their way up in elementary school, the need for character development in their writing increases. Olivia, by Ian Falconer, is a great lesson in character study. After reading the book aloud to your class (for the pure joy of it), go back and reread it, asking kids at the end of most pages, […]
A Rockin’ Student Teacher Gift
It’s Faith again from Kindergarten Faith, and I am here for one last time. I have thoroughly loved being apart of this awesome blog and organization. I will miss getting to share a little bit of me with all of you out there. This past semester I was blessed to have a wonderful student teacher in […]