The end of the year is a chaotic time for kids, but especially for teachers! During this time, it’s so helpful to have a toolbox of fun and meaningful activities for kids to complete. Many of these ideas you really can do on your own. Of course, if you’re needing ideas and resources fast, I’ve […]
Making a “Getting to Know You” Fortune Teller
The start of the school year is the most critical time to help build positive relationships in your classroom. That’s why I’m always seeking new and fun ways to incorporate “getting to know you” activities for the back to school season. This is the best time to help all students feel part of the classroom […]
Top 10 Middle School Keys to Success
I absolutely love teaching middle school. Sometimes, though, when people hear that I teach middle school, they seem to feel bad for me. Like middle school is some type of unknown vortex for kids. Maybe that’s why I love it so much. It’s a time of creativity, instability, and the unknown. It’s a time when […]
What Teachers Are Thankful For
There is no better time of the year than Thanksgiving to sit and reflect about what I’m thankful for as an educator. Among all the ups and downs of teaching, there really is no other profession that stands close to what teachers can do. It’s a great time to show thankfulness and gratitude for all […]
Surviving the Last Few Weeks (or Days) of School
Most schools in the U.S. are on the verge of ending school sessions for the summer. It’s an exciting time for both teachers and students. Sometimes I think the teachers are more excited than the kids! With the excitement, though, comes a lot of craziness and uncertainty about what the end of the year will […]
April Fools’ Day.. Revenge of the Teachers
Today is April Fools’ Day. Part of me really wants to like this day, really! But, of course, a significant part of this day terrifies me. When you are a teacher on April Fools’ Day, you never know when, where, and how you will be the center of a student prank. This year, I’ve done […]
New Years – A Perfect Time for Goal-Setting
With New Year’s Day upon us in just a few hours, I thought about how right now is a great time for teachers to help students write meaningful goals. So many adults make their New Years Resolutions and our students should too! What is important is that students learn how to set goals that are […]
Last Minute Holiday Classroom Ideas
In my school, we are encouraged not to target any one specific holiday during this time of year so that no students are left out. Sometimes, this is challenging because many great lessons and activities are focused around Christmas. For the many teachers that have to teach in the next couple of days right before […]
Surviving December-
Besides June, I would say that December is the most challenging month for my students. We have just had several days off due to Thanksgiving Break, and now the holiday break is just weeks away. While I am excited, the kids are just plain restless. It’s hard to get them back into the groove for […]
