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Home / Archives for Teaching Tips

Teaching Tips

Need some general classroom inspiration?  Check out the posts below to find something new-to-you to use in your classroom routine.

Free Polygon Math File!

by Charity Preston Leave a Comment

I like to integrate my subjects as much as possible by incorporating literature. Today's post has a great example for using reading and polygons together! #polygon #mathlessonplans

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 […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Quiet Dice in Action

by Charity Preston Leave a Comment

Dice are so NOISY!  That is one of things that makes me want to run from my classroom. It almost makes you want to stop using dice. And then there was a solution. #dicegames #teacherhack

I’m back with another cheap and easy idea for another one of those pesky classroom problems! I love using dice in my classroom!   We play dice games, we have dice centers and math tubs!  They are cheap and fun tools.   But they are so NOISY!   That noise is one of things that […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Keeping Tabs on your PD Materials

by Charity Preston Leave a Comment

I realized recently that I had loaned a book to a colleague and it still has not yet been returned!  I decided to find an easy solution to keep tabs on it. #teacherhacks #classroomtips

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 […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Zip Tie It Up!

by Charity Preston 2 Comments

Do you go insane when the desks in your room are all out of place and sitting like crazy all over your room? Well, if so, I have a couple of suggestions. #classroomdesks #seatingchart

Do you go insane when the desks in your room are all out of place and sitting like crazy all over your room?  Well, if so, I have a couple of suggestions.  First, if you haven’t checked out my other video, “Classroom Desk Arrangement Straightening Tip,” you might want to head over there as well.  […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Serving Up Place Value with Straws

by Charity Preston 2 Comments

Place value doesn't have to be super confusing or involve a lot of expensive manipulatives! Grab a box of straws and get the learning started! #placevalue #anchorchart

Teaching place value is certainly a building block of math instruction and using items such as place value charts, simple manipulatives, and printables can help to create a deeper understanding so that when decimals are introduced in later grades, students can easily add their prior knowledge. What is place value and how do you teach […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Simile Fun!

by Charity Preston Leave a Comment

Similes are a fun lesson when teaching about different types of figurative language.  I love teaching about similes with third grade students. #similesandmetaphors #simileanchorchart

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 […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Ideas For Using Student Whiteboards

by Charity Preston 1 Comment

I often use whiteboards daily in the classroom. Each day I like to utilize whiteboards for a different reason to keep things fresh for students. #classroomsupplies #teachingtips

This is Mrs. Harris and I’m so excited to be back at the Organized Classroom with Charity. I find whiteboards to be a budget-friendly and versatile tool in my classroom. I often use whiteboards daily. Each day I like to utilize whiteboards for a different reason to keep things fresh. When I ask a question […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Simple Story Starters for Kids

by Charity Preston 3 Comments

Story starters for any grade level are a great way to practice writing skills. I remember 4th grade and loving creative writing lessons with my teacher. #storystartersforkids #storystarters

Story starters for any grade level are a great way to practice writing skills. I remember being in 4th grade, and loving creative writing lessons with my teacher.  I would be transported to space, the desert, or a fancy castle.  It was a chance to show my creative side in a “quiet” manner. Being a […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Multiplication Poetry

by Charity Preston 1 Comment

Have you ever used riddles in math? Here are a few ways to incorporate literacy and math in one!

Have you ever thought of combining subject areas, such as math, with funny riddles?   Using riddles for kids (making them show their answers) is one of the best ways to differentiate your content in the classroom. Even better, students can have their friends, families, or other adults solve their creations.  They can be as […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Homework Motivation

by Charity Preston 7 Comments

Do your students have intrinsic homework motivation? Or are you spending way too much time attempting to get their homework turned in on time and complete? #homeworkmotivationforkids #homeworkmotivationquotes

Do your students have intrinsic homework motivation?  Or are you spending way too much time attempting to get their homework turned in on time and complete? While there is much debate about whether homework is even beneficial, if you are required to assign it, I suggest encouraging parents to set up a designated spot for […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Need A Lift?

by Charity Preston 4 Comments

Staff morale boosters for teachers are important for retention of staff and keeping the overall vibe in the school building high. Get some great ideas here! #schoolmorale #teachermorale

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.   […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Flipping for Assessment

by Charity Preston Leave a Comment

Assessment is part of teaching and a paper and pencil test is not the only way to assess, but there are lots of ways to assess student learning. #tests #informalassessment

Keeping with the video theme this week, today’s idea is an oldie but a goodie that I imagine a lot of veteran teachers still use to this day. Assessment is part of being a good teacher and while many think the only way to assess is through a paper and pencil test, I am here […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Having A Ball With Vocabulary – DIY Style

by Charity Preston 2 Comments

Vocabulary teaching tips, games, and activities for classroom teachers. Find some new ideas in your curriculum to increase literacy in all subject areas. #vocabularyactivities #vocabularygames

Teaching vocabulary is super important for background knowledge and understanding context clues within new reading passages, math story problems, and other nonfiction subject area resources, like geography and science. Finding teaching techniques that work fast and effectively to broaden all different types of vocabulary lists can feel daunting at times. When students show up on […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Cup Management

by Charity Preston 1 Comment

I have a quick video that shows you an idea that I adapted! Save your voice and allow the students to have a visual reminder of the expectations as well. #studentbehavior #classroommanagement

Hi all!  Today, I have a quick video that shows you an idea that I adapted from one I saw being used during cafeteria duty.  Just change it up a bit, and use the same idea in your classroom when having small group work time!  Save your voice and allow the students to have a […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

How Do You Communicate With Parents?

by Charity Preston 1 Comment

Parental communication between school and home is so important! Sometimes, with everything we have to get done, we might forget to make that connection. #parentcommunication #stakeholders

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 […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Classroom Character Building

by Charity Preston Leave a Comment

Character building in students is important work by educators each day that typically goes unnoticed by most. Leading by example is the key to the future. #characterbuilding #socialskills

Character building in students is important work done by educators each day that typically goes unnoticed by most.  Good character traits are often the result of the teamwork between children, their caregivers, and their school influences. The path to strong student leaders who have a positive character no matter what adverse events may have happened […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

30 Indoor Recess Ideas!

by Charity Preston Leave a Comment

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 […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Easy Valentines Party Ideas

by Charity Preston Leave a Comment

Learn how to create a simple decorated paper treat bag for a classroom Valentine’s Party that uses symmetry. Valentines Day has never been so simple! Enjoy! #classroomparty #kidsvalentines

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, […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Quiet Dice Solution

by Charity Preston 3 Comments

Is the sound of 15 sets of dice hitting the table (or mainly the floor), almost unbearable without carpeting? Janice shared her solution with us! Enjoy! #classroomhacks #dicegamesforkids

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 […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

Accountable Classroom Centers

by Charity Preston 3 Comments

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 […]

Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.

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