The end of the school year can be hard to keep students engaged and on task. They are anxiously awaiting Summer break (as are you) and need more opportunities for movement breaks and FUN. I realized when brainstorming for this blog post, that I already had so many posts for the end of the school year. Here's a compiled list of ideas, activities, and FREEBIES to make your last few weeks a success! End of the School Year | Academic Activities First, help your students review skills, stay engaged ... Read the Post
End of the School Year Activities and Ideas
How to Improve Student Writing in the Classroom
Are you hoping to get better writing in the classroom from your students? I'll show you the ONE change I made in my classroom to improve student writing skills.Personally, I'm not a big fan of writing. Unfortunately, I think I was passing that dislike on to my students. I realized that I didn't dedicate much of our day to writing, and when we did, it was always a formal lesson. I tried to make the lessons fun, but is it really fun to do "how-to" writing for 2 weeks in a row? Or only non-fiction ... Read the Post
Parent Volunteers in the Classroom
Having parent volunteers in the classroom can be extremely helpful. At back to school night, I let my classroom parents know that I was very flexible with having parents come in our room. They didn't necessarily have to give me much notice, and if they wanted to just pop in and help, they were welcome. I think parents appreciated the flexibility and opportunity to have a variety of ways to participate in the classroom. Read on to find al the ways I let parents volunteer and grab a FREE editable ... Read the Post
Making Gingerbread Houses in the Classroom
One of my favorite activities to do before Christmas break was making gingerbread houses in the classroom. I did a Gingerbread unit for a few weeks and we would finish the unit by having a pajama party and making gingerbread houses.During the week, I collected milk cartons from the students at lunch. To prepare the milk cartons, I washed and dried them, then stapled the top shut. If your school doesn't have milk cartons anymore, I've heard some teachers use these craft milk cartons ... Read the Post
10 Gift Ideas for Teachers
Are you needing gift ideas for teachers for End of the Year, Christmas, Teacher Appreciation Week, their Birthday, or more? I've created a list of 10 ideas that are teacher approved and don't have to cost you a lot of money. Candles and coffee mugs are among some of the most popular items teachers receive, so I've come up with a variety of alternative options. Of course, a hand drawn card or note from a student is always precious too.1. Writing Tools: Teachers tend to have quite the ... Read the Post
Incorporating Technology in the Classroom
Are you wanting to incorporate technology in the classroom more? I'm excited to show you a few ways I've used technology in my classroom. One year, I has a Promethean board in my room. Don't worry, there are many ways to use technology without needing a smart board of any kind. I think technology integrated into learning helps students stay much more engaged. Read on for 8 ideas to implement into your classroom and grab a FREEBIE!1. Fluency & Fitness: If you've followed me for any amount of ... Read the Post
