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 […]
Teaching Tips
Need some general classroom inspiration? Check out the posts below to find something new-to-you to use in your classroom routine.
Easy Valentines Party Ideas
This video explains how to create a simple decorated paper treat bag for a classroom Valentine’s Party that even talks about using symmetry. Then, it explains an organized way to pass out the items without shedding tears or creating classroom chaos. Valentine’s Day has never been so simple! Prefer to read the transcript? Transcript “Hi, […]
Quiet Dice Solution
Hi there fans and followers of The Organized Classroom Blog! Today, I created another video! Whoo hoo! This one is from a tip from Janice! I mentioned how the sounds of 15 sets of dice hitting the table (or mainly the floor as they were being whipped about), was almost unbearable without carpeting. Janice’s idea was […]
Accountable Classroom Centers
As I walked into the classroom, it felt like an alternative universe. I noticed students in various places in the classroom working quietly. Some were on their own, some in small groups. The teacher was sitting at a table with several students working on a comprehension skill of some sort that involved several different […]
File Organization for Teachers
Welcome to today’s video: File Organization for Teachers! This video was the most requested topic from all those who voted in the poll on our Facebook fan page. I explain how I keep track of all my files, and never miss an opportunity to teach that great lesson because I couldn’t locate it in time. […]
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.” […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Super Easy Bulletin Boards
Here is the latest in my video series for how to show off your great student work without having the hassle of having to change it constantly. I demonstrate a fun way to get students involved, right from the first meeting at Parent Open House Night so that you do not even need to use […]
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 […]
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 […]
Learning with Washi Feathers!
As I was thinking about US Thanksgiving, I thought about how I learned about Thanksgiving when I was in school. What I don’t remember learning a lot about was Native American culture throughout that process. {Keep in mind, this was a great many years ago.} So, while I was doing a little research, I did […]
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 […]
Science Experiment Freebie!
Today, for Teaching Blog Addict’s Science Week everyone is providing freebies! Whoo hoo! So, here is my contribution for the event – it is a science experiment that involves food! Who doesn’t love food when teaching (unless you are one of those disctricts that doesn’t allow it due to allergy issues). Well, this one includes […]
Motivating Your Student Writers
Welcome to today’s teacher videos which is about getting your reluctant writers to get those pencils moving! This two-part series focuses on 3 big picture ideas: Writing with Visuals, Writing for Meaning, and Writing by Novelty. You can watch both videos in the playlist below – or keep scrolling for the transcript and links to […]
Concealing the Clutter
Does a cluttered classroom make your head hurt? Or do you just accept it as inevitable and go with the flow? The classroom environment does play an important role in student learning, but with budgets that are small (or more likely nonexistent), it is tough to get rid of anything. With that said, the visual […]
Classroom Job Organization
Hey teaching friends! Today I have a fun and EASY way to set up a classroom jobs chart in your classroom using a few basic supplies that you can easily change out from year to year! First up: Grab some scrapbook paper, cardstock, washi tape, and magnetic tape – all in the colors of your […]
Being on the Other Side of the Teacher Conference Desk
I waffled for the last 2 weeks whether or not write this essay of a post. This is a very tough post to write as I like to keep things pretty simple here at OC most of the time, but I feel like maybe it is needed – if for nothing else than to get […]
A Nice “Thankful for Our Students” Gift Tutorial!
So, the awesome people at Silhouette contacted me to see if I wanted to play with some vinyl. Ummmm, OK? You all know I am not super crafty, so I was a bit apprehensive about working with a new medium (I am pretty much a cardstock and construction paper kind of girl). Of course, I […]