The idea of taming my paper clutter has been floating around in my mind for a couple years now, but this year I took the plunge. If you know me, you know what a big deal this is. I should probably introduce myself – “Hi. I’m Amy and I have pack-rat tendencies!” So, I’m sure […]
Guest Blogs
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Helping Students Organize Homework Agendas
Today’s blog entry is from guest blogger Ally at A Fly on the Classroom Wall! Make sure to visit her blog. Enjoy! Homework agendas are used in schools everywhere. They serve as an excellent means of communication between home and school. They encourage students to become increasingly responsible for their own learning, develop time management […]
Anchor Chart Binders!
I love anchor charts, I love looking at anchor charts on Pinterest, I love co-creating anchor charts with my students. I don’t always love how they turn out – or how my printing starts to drift or squish together – but I do love anchor charts. I keep some anchor charts displayed on binder rings […]
Vocabulary Practice Ideas – and a Freebie!
Hi everyone! I’m Ashleigh from Ashleigh’s Education Journey, and I’m so excited to be a part of The Organized Classroom Blog today. I wanted to share with you one of my favorite games that I use to teach academic vocabulary to my students. Before I introduce the game, I’d like to give a quick overview […]
Baskets To Battle A Paper Mess
Today I want to share a simple and very very cheap way to help keep your classroom tidy! In my classroom we are always cutting. We are cutting our picture sorts, we are cutting for our craftivities, we are cutting pictures to sequence stories and sometimes we are even cutting our hair. It happens in […]
How to Make an Electromagnet (minibook freebie included!)
For all the science lovers out there, this is a fun student-led project they will love! Building a working magnet doesn’t require a motor or fancy equipment. Students will be wowed with the steps of the scientific method while they are creating their project in small groups or as a whole group lesson. Science Learning […]
Magnetic Letter Fun!
I figured many of you are home with the kiddos this summer and of course you need to throw in some learning fun – right? Of course, it’s in our teacher blood! What’s on your refrigerator? I bet you have a set of magnetic letters on there! Are they holding up various works of art […]
Classroom Winter Party Fun!
I know what you are thinking? Didn’t we just have a Halloween Party and now you want to talk about Winter Parties – we haven’t even started eating our Thanksgiving Turkey yet? Yep, I am ready to pull out the snowman and the candy canes! I wanted to give you some classroom party ideas that […]
Easy Classroom Jobs Rotations!
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 […]