Tips for a First Year Teacher Written by Veteran Teacher Cindy Koopmans You’ve jumped through all the hoops set before you with aplomb and finally, you have your diploma in your right hand and your teaching license in your left hand. You’re packed to the tip-top of your brain with pedagogy, educational theory, and research. Professors and mentor teachers have …
Sometime this school year, you’ll get sick. Or your kids will get sick. Or you’ll have a family emergency. You’ll need to take a sick day – and then you’ll need to make sub plans, and copies, and instructions, and all those things that you will not have time for. Emergencies pop up. And when this happens, teachers usually don’t …
As teachers, you already know the value of team building and striving for a positive classroom environment – but that’s easier said than done. One of the easiest ways to promote a safe setting in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom is to help students connect with each other. When students realize how much they have in common with …
Do you have a 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th grade student that loved the Harry Potter series and is now wondering what to read next? The book list below is a great place to start. Written by guest blogger Cindy Koopmans It’s the perfect time to escape into the pages of a good book. Set down the remote, get off …
All About Me Ideas Written by Guest Blogger Brittney Klingl In addition to the smell of freshly sharpened pencils, the feeling of the chiseled tip on a brand new Expo marker gliding across a whiteboard, and the beauty of a perfectly organized classroom library, one of my favorite things about kicking off a new school year is getting to know each …
As teachers, you already know the value of making sure your 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students are exposed to diverse, multicultural literature. Unfortunately, books are expensive. And when you are trying to stock your classroom library with books you find at garage sales and dollar sales, it can be hard to find quality, multicultural books. (Side note: These tips …
All 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade teachers know that students need plenty of practice with multiples and multiplication facts. As much as we don’t like emphasizing rote skills, we know that math fact fluency will help students later on. These multiples mazes are a fun way to practice this important skill in a new way!Free Multiples ActivityIn this multiples freebie, …
Teaching is overwhelming. There is always more to do, and never enough time to do it. Time saving tips that actually work are a huge commodity in the education world. Teachers that invest a little time up front can end up saving time and energy later, while also being more effective. Check out these 8 best teacher habits that can …
We help our students establish morning routines and dismissal routines – why are teacher morning routines and afternoon routines not more prevalent? If you take the time to create an intentional morning routine that helps get you feel prepared for the day, then you can start the day off stress free. Having an afternoon routine that you go through before …
Looking for some alternatives to round robin reading in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom? Then check out these 9 different ways you can do whole class reading. All of these methods allow for a safe classroom environment where students can feel comfortable taking risks without embarrassment. Using a variety of the methods below will help keep your students …