Before I get into sharing lots of teacher binder ideas, let’s pause for a second. If you are reading this, you are likely thinking about… Back. to. school. Three little words that elicit some pretty strong reactions. When kids hear them they groan. When parents hear them they cheer wildly.
Are you looking to learn more about student portfolios and perhaps begin implementing them in your classroom? Did you already take the leap of faith and begin using them but haven’t found an organization tool you love? Wherever you are on your student portfolio journey, know this… Student portfolios can
Remember how gorgeous and new everything was in your classroom on that first day of school? Most likely, that is not the case anymore. But, we still have a solid chunk of the school year left including the chaotic end-of-the-year months where schedules get super crazy busy. Changes in schedules
It is officially spring! I couldn’t be more excited about that. I’m already looking forward to teaching my Life Cycle of Plants and Flowers Unit because we had so much fun with it last year. It’s packed with a ton of Plant Life Cycle project ideas and activities! What I really
I am a National Board Certified Teacher. My heart still pounds when I think of that roller coaster experience. It was by far the most challenging and most rewarding thing I have done professionally. But holy cow… the paperwork! So not only do you need to be the “highly effective”
When we are about halfway through January, I am totally over winter. I’m tired of the cold. I’m tired of the snow. This winter writing project and bulletin board idea is a great way to put the spark back into your teaching. Students love completing this writing project and craft, and you’ll
Top of the morning to ya! If you are looking for St. Patrick’s Day activities for elementary students, then you’ve found the right place! Read below for some ideas and resources to get you inspired for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in your classroom. 20+ St. Patrick’s Day Activities and Ideas
Prior to teaching fractions, I find it very helpful to teach the geometry standards. I had an absolute blast teaching 2D Geometry to my third graders recently. It’s a concept that lends itself to lots of hands-on learning and project-based learning experiences. I was really impressed with how quickly my
Your students work at different paces. They work on differentiated assignments. They are pulled out for various services. It can be a lot to manage! One of my favorite ways to manage student assignments is a Must Do May Do Board. It helps students stay focused and become independent with
Regardless of what grade you teach, I have a free student check-in system resource for you that will help you better understand the relationships between your students. This system includes a classroom check-in form that helps you identify which student or students need some extra attention. It was inspired by
When you draft your lesson plans, you have the following resources on hand: computer with internet, teacher manuals, thematic resources you’ve accumulated, pacing guide / curriculum maps, Common Core Materials and Standards, and plans from previous years. Wow, that’s a lot! Check out the tools for organizing lesson plans below to
You are inundated daily with so many types of papers. The papers can quickly become overwhelming if you do not have a system in place for organizing classroom paperwork. You could waste lots of time looking for papers and perhaps even miss some important deadlines as a result. We know documentation is
