Although the title seems to indicate that I went on a trip to a faraway land of enchantment, rich in exotic flora, where I had a bounty of delicious food, beautiful beaches and perfect weather, but had no access to technology or civilization, it really means that I've been too busy to blog.
Yeah, well maybe the title doesn't exactly indicate the aforementioned situation (I wish it did!), but the blog has been low on the priority list and now I want to change that.
After reading several ideas about journaling, blogging, reflections logs, etc, I thought it would be great to come back and do exactly that. I've found so many great ideas from incredible teachers posting on the interwebs, from amazing conferences (I'm talking to you MidSchoolMath, UCET, and UMLA), and from my fellow "Mathnificent edutainers", which I would love to share with others. I would also like to keep track of those great ideas in case I forget the details in years to come. What better way to do that than to pen, er, type these ideas in a format in which the entire world, including me (hence the word entire), could see and use?
I am "planning" to post at least once a week; Friday looks like the front runner. I would like to do a daily themed post, like some of these amazing (non-sleeping) bloggers, but I'm taking baby steps right now
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Thursday, April 3, 2014
UCET Presentation
I was lucky enough to be selected as a presenter at this year's Utah Coalition for Educational Technology, but I wasn't sure if it was going to go over well since I didn't have a whole ton of technology in my presentation.
The session was titled "You Can Be the Teacher AND the Class Clown" and I was to present my ideas on motivation in the classroom through humor, music, cheers, and technology, also known as "Edutainment."
Well, it was standing room only! The attendees were so receptive and willing to have participate, that I almost went over my scheduled time because everyone was having a blast.
Being in that room, with all of those educators laughing at my jokes, listening to my advice, and sharing their gratitude, was truly amazing and I hope I will be able to continue these motivational sessions in the future.
Thank you UCET for taking a chance on this presentation and scoring! I can't wait to do it again! And thank you to the attendees for being a great audience whom I hope will take away some valuable ideas and incorporate them into their "Edutaining" classrooms!
The session was titled "You Can Be the Teacher AND the Class Clown" and I was to present my ideas on motivation in the classroom through humor, music, cheers, and technology, also known as "Edutainment."
Well, it was standing room only! The attendees were so receptive and willing to have participate, that I almost went over my scheduled time because everyone was having a blast.
Being in that room, with all of those educators laughing at my jokes, listening to my advice, and sharing their gratitude, was truly amazing and I hope I will be able to continue these motivational sessions in the future.
Thank you UCET for taking a chance on this presentation and scoring! I can't wait to do it again! And thank you to the attendees for being a great audience whom I hope will take away some valuable ideas and incorporate them into their "Edutaining" classrooms!
Monday, July 1, 2013
Teacher Humor
Humor is sometimes the only thing that can get you through the day, but if you use it daily, your classroom will be a happier place for EVERYONE!!!
Be Creative
The candy bouquet included fun sized Reese's Cups, Kit Kats, Twix Bars, and Snickers. I attached each fun sized bar to a thin wooden skewer and taped them in place. Then I put a cone-shaped Styrofoam piece into a thick, silver and blue gift wrap sheet and placed the wrapped Styrofoam into a small glass jar. The Styrofoam allowed me to keep the skewers upright in the jar so it looked like a full bouquet. I varied the skewer sizes to they fanned out nicely. I finished the bouquet with her name painted on the jar so she could use it for treats, supplies, etc in her classroom.
Hunter was so excited to give it to her. Mrs. Craven was surprised and delighted and couldn't wait to place it on her wall. It turned out so well that I may have to make myself one too! :)
 |
| Mrs. Craven and Hunter |
And so starts a new chapter
When one door closes, another one opens. In my case a door that leads into a fantastic classroom; complete with my own office!
I am starting a new chapter in my life as an ABS cluster teacher at Eastmont Middle School in Sandy, UT. I will be a proud Patriot and educator to 12 wonderful 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Yes, I know what you're thinking; only 12 students? Well, they are wonderfully active and exceptional students that mostly fall into the EBD category, so 12 students is plenty.
I will be teaching Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Reading, Social Skills/Character Development, and PE/Health! Wow, I got tired just typing that!
I am lucky though, because I will have a part-time and full-time paraprofessional in the class to help make the class run smoothly. ;)
The administration is AMAZING and super supportive, and the district has been wonderful to work with. I had the pleasure of meeting many of the teachers at a training in June where they were welcoming and accommodating even though training happened after the school year was over. That right there made me realize that these were professional educators willing to make themselves, and thus their students, the best they can be.
My smiling face and bio should be up on the Eastmont website soon, so take a look and let me know what you think. GO PATRIOTS!
I will be teaching Math, Science, Social Studies, Language Arts, Reading, Social Skills/Character Development, and PE/Health! Wow, I got tired just typing that!
I am lucky though, because I will have a part-time and full-time paraprofessional in the class to help make the class run smoothly. ;)
The administration is AMAZING and super supportive, and the district has been wonderful to work with. I had the pleasure of meeting many of the teachers at a training in June where they were welcoming and accommodating even though training happened after the school year was over. That right there made me realize that these were professional educators willing to make themselves, and thus their students, the best they can be.My smiling face and bio should be up on the Eastmont website soon, so take a look and let me know what you think. GO PATRIOTS!
Dealing with loss
I was really hit hard by this, especially because I devoted a TON of time to my class, the school, and those amazing students. Students cried when they found out, parents kept asking "why", and I was a blubbering mess for a many, many days. I just couldn't wrap my mind around why they would do this to those students and to a good teacher, but it wasn't about me or the students; it was about covering their butts and continuing on their unethical ways.
Although I had no intention of renewing my contract for the following school year, I felt bad that the students were left in a lurch and were told lies about my leaving. I truly loved those kiddos and I was luckily able to let them know that they were amazing and that I wanted them to continue on the path to excellence that I was trying to help pave for them.
I entered the education world to help make it better, change the things that needed changing, and help students get to places that they never dreamed they could go. This experience was hard to deal with but I have learned and grown from it. My passion for education is even greater now, as is my desire to help address those "issues" that are negetively affecting our youth.
My advice to anyone who goes through this type of situation is to never lose hear,t and really think about why you became a teacher. We all go through the same type of politics, the same long hours, the same obstacles in our way, but we're in it for the same end result too; to make the world a better place to live in by educating and caring about our youth. Go TEAM!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Trying to do it all
As I wrapped up my first term toward my Masters in
Mathematics Education on January 31st, I realized, for the first time, that I
CAN'T do it all.
But it's ok because I realize now that I am human,
not a super hero, which I occasionally liked to believe I was. Lack of
enough time in the day, has proven to be my Kryptonite, but I am determined to
rise from the ashes, get back on that horse and try-try again. (Wow, was that
enough clichés for you?)
Throughout my life I have crammed in lots
of events, activities and opportunities, both voluntary and
paid, with little regard to the possibility of it taking over my life.
I have been a Girl Scout Leader, PTA Public
Relations VP & President-Elect, member of many bowling, softball,
basketball, tennis and volleyball leagues (competitive and recreational), head
coach for several girls softball teams, and Community Council board member.
This doesn't include performing and running my
entertainment company, Funny Girl Productions since 2000, being a full-time
mother since 1998, and being a devoted and amazing wife (hubby's words) for 15
years. Throw in a few jobs throughout that time and finishing my BA in
Special Education, and you got the makings of a crazy lady!
I'd rather describe it as an active girl with ADHD
who wants to make the world a better place before she leaves it. Yeah,
that sounds a LITTLE better.
But even with that kind of full-plate experience, I
wasn't able to complete all of my classes during my first term of graduate
school.
Friends, family and colleagues have all tried to
comfort me in my disappointment by reminding me of the fact that I AM teaching
6th grade, full-time at a Direct Instruction charter school with an extensive
academic and character development curriculum, while in my first year of
teaching, while still performing and running my company, while having two
teenagers and a pre-teen that are involved in a plethora of activities, along
with a husband that works over 55 hours a week.
Ok, when it's typed out like that, I guess it looks
like I may have bitten off more than I can chew, but I have taken those big
bites before. And although they might have been a bit hard to swallow, I
eventually got them down the gullet and moved on. This bite seems to have
stuck in my throat!
I decided that I am not going to kick myself or
tell myself that I am a failure. I am not going to lie in bed with a
quart of ice cream and reruns of Grey's Anatomy telling myself that I am a poor
excuse of a human being.
I am instead choosing to learn from this experience
and will allow myself to understand that it's OK NOT TO DO EVERYTHING!
My coach did not turn back into a preverbal pumpkin
at midnight on the last day of my term, nor did I explode, disintegrate, or die
from not getting it all done. I will not be withdrawn from school, but I
will be on academic probation and will need to step it up this next term.
But it's ok because I realize now that I am human,
not a super hero, which I occasionally liked to believe I was. Lack of
enough time in the day, has proven to be my Kryptonite, but I am determined to
rise from the ashes, get back on that horse and try-try again. (Wow, was that
enough clichés for you?)
I will spend quality time with my kids and husband,
stop working by 5pm, and say "no" when I need to. I will hang
up my cape with the big "SV" on the back (Super Valerie; what did you
think it stood for?) and know that the world will continue to keep spinning and
survive without me taking it all on.
Maybe
I'll keep the cape within reach; just in case!
Organizing for Success
Is your child missing homework deadlines because they can't remember what's due and when? Are they frequently getting ZAPPED due to being unprepared?
Help your child to be a successful Patriot by helping them to organize their lives.
Help your child to be a successful Patriot by helping them to organize their lives.
Here are a few reminders and tips for helping your child to be successful.
1: Use the planner the way it's supposed to be used.
A student planner is your child's "to do" list for each day. It should list what was done in class and what needs to be done at home whether it's study time or homework. Look over the planner starting with the first subject and work your way down checking items off as they are done. This way you don't forget what was finished and what still needs to be done.
2: Use your binder the way it's supposed to be used.
Binders are the student’s main way of transporting homework, finished assignments, class packets and parent communication. Binders should not have workbooks, tons of notebooks, toys or anything other than the assignments given to the student and the folders that hold those assignments. A "take home" folder should only have assignments that have been corrected and are ready to go home; and stay home.
Color coding your folders are a great way to stay organized and not forget where you place things.
Reading - Red
Math - Yellow
Science - Green
History/Geography - Blue
Language Arts - Purple
Electives (Foreign Language, Band/Orchestra, Health) - Orange, Black
Take Home - Manila (Beige)
Clean out your binder at the end of every week so it doesn't become over-stuffed and hard to deal with. Take the assignments that have been graded and place them in a folder at home for safe keeping until the end of that term. Although teachers are pretty amazing, they do sometimes make mistakes. It's always better to save the work and show them the graded assignment for credit, rather than do the assignment over again.
3. Keep your desk and backpack clean and clutter free Try having a "no loose papers" policy, which requires you to place papers in the right folders in your binders and keep them out of your locker or backpack. When loose papers are "floating" in a backpack, they can get torn, dirty, and lost, leaving it hard to do your homework and be successful. Check your backpack daily and remove any unnecessary items so it's easier to find what you need in the morning and when you get home from school. Using a binder as described in #2, will help eliminate clutter in both your locker and your backpack!
4. Choose an effective study area.
Choose a quiet, well-lit area for studying and doing homework. Don’t study in front of the television, or in an area of your home where you’re bound to be distracted. If a library is close to your home, ask if you can do your homework there, so distractions like siblings and technology won't ruin your success.
Take your binder out, once seated, and open the folders one at a time (according to the order of your planner; science first, then math, etc) so you can work on each subject. Once that subject's assignment is complete, place the folder back in your binder and move on to the next subject. Once all folders have been placed back into your binder, you know you're done for the day!
5. Prepare for the next day, the night before
Place your binder, textbooks, workbooks and anything else that needs to go to school the next morning, in your backpack the night before. Lay out the clothes that you are going to wear the next day as well. This will help lessen stress in the morning and, if you’re running late from something else, will eliminate being unprepared at school. If you bring a home lunch, make your lunch the night before so you can grab it and go the next day. Pictures, field trip, or important teacher/parent meeting the next day? Make sure you remind your caregiver and give them the required forms for permission, etc, before the due date as well. Getting to school in the morning can be tough, but it's even tougher when you forget your permission form on the day of an amazing field trip and you have to stay at school by yourself!
1: Use the planner the way it's supposed to be used.
A student planner is your child's "to do" list for each day. It should list what was done in class and what needs to be done at home whether it's study time or homework. Look over the planner starting with the first subject and work your way down checking items off as they are done. This way you don't forget what was finished and what still needs to be done.
2: Use your binder the way it's supposed to be used.
Binders are the student’s main way of transporting homework, finished assignments, class packets and parent communication. Binders should not have workbooks, tons of notebooks, toys or anything other than the assignments given to the student and the folders that hold those assignments. A "take home" folder should only have assignments that have been corrected and are ready to go home; and stay home.
Color coding your folders are a great way to stay organized and not forget where you place things.
Reading - Red
Math - Yellow
Science - Green
History/Geography - Blue
Language Arts - Purple
Electives (Foreign Language, Band/Orchestra, Health) - Orange, Black
Take Home - Manila (Beige)
Clean out your binder at the end of every week so it doesn't become over-stuffed and hard to deal with. Take the assignments that have been graded and place them in a folder at home for safe keeping until the end of that term. Although teachers are pretty amazing, they do sometimes make mistakes. It's always better to save the work and show them the graded assignment for credit, rather than do the assignment over again.
3. Keep your desk and backpack clean and clutter free Try having a "no loose papers" policy, which requires you to place papers in the right folders in your binders and keep them out of your locker or backpack. When loose papers are "floating" in a backpack, they can get torn, dirty, and lost, leaving it hard to do your homework and be successful. Check your backpack daily and remove any unnecessary items so it's easier to find what you need in the morning and when you get home from school. Using a binder as described in #2, will help eliminate clutter in both your locker and your backpack!
4. Choose an effective study area.
Choose a quiet, well-lit area for studying and doing homework. Don’t study in front of the television, or in an area of your home where you’re bound to be distracted. If a library is close to your home, ask if you can do your homework there, so distractions like siblings and technology won't ruin your success.
Take your binder out, once seated, and open the folders one at a time (according to the order of your planner; science first, then math, etc) so you can work on each subject. Once that subject's assignment is complete, place the folder back in your binder and move on to the next subject. Once all folders have been placed back into your binder, you know you're done for the day!
5. Prepare for the next day, the night before
Place your binder, textbooks, workbooks and anything else that needs to go to school the next morning, in your backpack the night before. Lay out the clothes that you are going to wear the next day as well. This will help lessen stress in the morning and, if you’re running late from something else, will eliminate being unprepared at school. If you bring a home lunch, make your lunch the night before so you can grab it and go the next day. Pictures, field trip, or important teacher/parent meeting the next day? Make sure you remind your caregiver and give them the required forms for permission, etc, before the due date as well. Getting to school in the morning can be tough, but it's even tougher when you forget your permission form on the day of an amazing field trip and you have to stay at school by yourself!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Holiday cupcakes for the students (and teachers!)
When I was thinking about what to do for the students for Christmas, I looked online for ideas. I found a cute cupcake idea at Bakerella.com that I tweeked a bit to work for my students.
Luckily, I saw some of these spherical bottles at a local store for a really great price. NPS, which has lots of cheap items (some food is past the expiration date, hence the low costs), had cases of this fruit punch sports drink in the shape of a baseball.
They were about 6 months passed the expiration date but they weren't for drinking so it was perfect. And at only $.33 each, I wasn't going to go broke. :)
I followed the same steps to make the globe and "snow" in it, but I used Duncan Hines red velvet cake mix and Pillsbury whipped vanilla frosting for the snow that the characters "sit" on.
I also knew I didn't have enough time or money to make fondant polar bears for 40 cupcakes so I went to Target and the dollar store for ideas. Lo and behold I saw the perfect thing!
I found a pack of 5 Christmas character ring pops at the dollar store. I bought 9 packs (back-ups or treats for my kids if back-ups aren't needed!) and I was ready to go.
These rings are from two cupcakes that fell at school. I totally forgot to take pictures of the cupcakes while I was making them so I'm using these "causalities" for the post.
They actually turned out pretty well and didn't take a lot of money or time(except the cutting of the bottles; that part was kind of a bummer).
The students thought they were "so awesome" and couldn't believe I made all of those for everyone. I think they are starting to understand how much I care about them! :)
Thanks to one of my fabulous 6th grade teachers (and friend), Mrs. Swingley for modeling with her personal cupcake.
They were about 6 months passed the expiration date but they weren't for drinking so it was perfect. And at only $.33 each, I wasn't going to go broke. :)
I followed the same steps to make the globe and "snow" in it, but I used Duncan Hines red velvet cake mix and Pillsbury whipped vanilla frosting for the snow that the characters "sit" on.
I also knew I didn't have enough time or money to make fondant polar bears for 40 cupcakes so I went to Target and the dollar store for ideas. Lo and behold I saw the perfect thing!
I found a pack of 5 Christmas character ring pops at the dollar store. I bought 9 packs (back-ups or treats for my kids if back-ups aren't needed!) and I was ready to go.
Thanks to one of my fabulous 6th grade teachers (and friend), Mrs. Swingley for modeling with her personal cupcake.
Found it on Pinterest and it is SO PERFECT! I've worked with students from different walks of life and different ability levels and it applies to every student, including the adult ones!
Cheers!
Classroom website is active!
My new class website is up and running and I am VERY excited about it!
I know I am super busy with teaching, working on my Masters, keeping up on my entertainment company, and raising three wonderfully amazing children, but I wanted to make sure my awesome students and their parents can access assignments and announcements easily even when they aren't in school.
I understand the meaning of busy and hope the website will help those busy students to keep up on their work and make them successful.
Stop by and let me know what you think.
http://edutainer.weebly.com/
Happy surfing!
I understand the meaning of busy and hope the website will help those busy students to keep up on their work and make them successful.
Stop by and let me know what you think.
http://edutainer.weebly.com/
Happy surfing!
Christmas visitor
So I found this great idea on pinterest and I had to make my own and share with the family.
This would be great for a Sunday School teacher or just for teaching about Christ at home. Thank you Latter-Day Homeschooling for the idea.
It's basically the idea that we are good throughout the year because of Jesus and not because we are wanting gifts from Santa. Jesus in our lives is the greatest gift of all and this project helps to demonstrate that.
I started with this picture of Christ that I found here. You can also find other pictures of Jesus in red and white by googling "Jesus/Christ in red robe", "Christ and children around the world". You just have to use a picture that has Christ in red and white for the full effect.
Then I found this picture of a door at deconstruct the girl blog. You can use any type of door, but I really liked the way the two doors opening looked after I said all the clues.
I then printed both pictures and cut through where the two doors close. Then I cut the tops of the door so they would lie flat, but open like doors when I pulled on the paper.
Then I took the door photo and placed it over the photo of Christ. I matched the pictures up so that you can see Him when the doors are opened.
Finally, I taped the photo of Christ onto the photo of the door. I will be making a more permanent display with wood for next Christmas so I can use this lesson for church and other teachable moments during Christmas time. (I will post those when I get there.)
And thanks to Tami Greene at Latter-Day Homeschooling, I used the clues below (with a few differences in the order of the clues.)
• He has spent his life giving to others
• He loves little children
• He gives us a wonderful, special warm feeling
• He has special, wonderful powers
• He can get into our homes even if the doors are locked
• He gives the very best gifts
• We want to give gifts back to him, but He doesn't need anything we could buy; He just wants us to give to other people
• He has a beard and a kind face
• He 's often pictured in red and/or white clothes
• He sees you when you're sleeping and He knows when you're awake.
• He knows if you've been bad or good.
• And He encourages us to be good so we will be ready when He comes.
I showed this to each of my three kids (one at a time) and two said Jesus and one said Santa! When I opened the door and they saw the picture of Jesus, their eyes lit up and they smiled. The kiddo that said Santa, was even more happy to see the picture of Jesus and had tears in her eyes.
After I showed it to them, we talked about how Christ and Santa are similar by going over each clue and then talking about the other symbols we have at Christmas that are reminders of Jesus. I gave them a candy cane (red & white striped; not the colorful kinds), and talked about the meaning of giving gifts, the star on the top of the tree, and the nativity scene itself that we have on the mantle.
Although my kids are older now, 12, 13 and 14, they thoroughly enjoyed the discussion. This would be great for younger kids so they can appreciate the similarities and the true meaning of Christmas.
We donate gifts every year to Toys for Tots, the Giving Tree, or the Road Home but this year we got to make it a bit more personal. (Please donate all year long to places like the Road Home, the Utah Food Bank and other charities because homelessness and hunger don't just happen at Christmas time. Click the links to help the Road Home, Utah Food Bank, American Red Cross and the United Way just to name a few.)
Well, I have a lovely student in my class who's mother works very hard and loves her children very much. Being a single mom can be very hard especially around Christmas time, so Iggy's Sports Grill graciously allowed us to buy some gifts and clothes for the family, along with inviting them to lunch or dinner at the restaurant.
When my kids, my husband and I arrived at the house on Christmas with all the gifts in tow, the family was so surprised and overwhelmed with joy. Mom cried and hugged us, along with the kids, and we left the house with a feeling so amazing, it cannot be put into words.
I would highly recommend finding a family, child(ren), or anyone a bit down on their luck, that you could give the gift of Christmas to. Because it's not about the new video game console or power tool at Christmas time, but the feeling that someone knows that you care about them and you know that Christ cares about you.
Merry Christmas to you all; all year long!
This would be great for a Sunday School teacher or just for teaching about Christ at home. Thank you Latter-Day Homeschooling for the idea.
It's basically the idea that we are good throughout the year because of Jesus and not because we are wanting gifts from Santa. Jesus in our lives is the greatest gift of all and this project helps to demonstrate that.
I started with this picture of Christ that I found here. You can also find other pictures of Jesus in red and white by googling "Jesus/Christ in red robe", "Christ and children around the world". You just have to use a picture that has Christ in red and white for the full effect.
• He has spent his life giving to others
• He loves little children
• He gives us a wonderful, special warm feeling
• He has special, wonderful powers
• He can get into our homes even if the doors are locked
• He gives the very best gifts
• We want to give gifts back to him, but He doesn't need anything we could buy; He just wants us to give to other people
• He has a beard and a kind face
• He 's often pictured in red and/or white clothes
• He sees you when you're sleeping and He knows when you're awake.
• He knows if you've been bad or good.
• And He encourages us to be good so we will be ready when He comes.
I showed this to each of my three kids (one at a time) and two said Jesus and one said Santa! When I opened the door and they saw the picture of Jesus, their eyes lit up and they smiled. The kiddo that said Santa, was even more happy to see the picture of Jesus and had tears in her eyes.
After I showed it to them, we talked about how Christ and Santa are similar by going over each clue and then talking about the other symbols we have at Christmas that are reminders of Jesus. I gave them a candy cane (red & white striped; not the colorful kinds), and talked about the meaning of giving gifts, the star on the top of the tree, and the nativity scene itself that we have on the mantle.
Although my kids are older now, 12, 13 and 14, they thoroughly enjoyed the discussion. This would be great for younger kids so they can appreciate the similarities and the true meaning of Christmas.
We donate gifts every year to Toys for Tots, the Giving Tree, or the Road Home but this year we got to make it a bit more personal. (Please donate all year long to places like the Road Home, the Utah Food Bank and other charities because homelessness and hunger don't just happen at Christmas time. Click the links to help the Road Home, Utah Food Bank, American Red Cross and the United Way just to name a few.)
Well, I have a lovely student in my class who's mother works very hard and loves her children very much. Being a single mom can be very hard especially around Christmas time, so Iggy's Sports Grill graciously allowed us to buy some gifts and clothes for the family, along with inviting them to lunch or dinner at the restaurant.
When my kids, my husband and I arrived at the house on Christmas with all the gifts in tow, the family was so surprised and overwhelmed with joy. Mom cried and hugged us, along with the kids, and we left the house with a feeling so amazing, it cannot be put into words.
I would highly recommend finding a family, child(ren), or anyone a bit down on their luck, that you could give the gift of Christmas to. Because it's not about the new video game console or power tool at Christmas time, but the feeling that someone knows that you care about them and you know that Christ cares about you.
Merry Christmas to you all; all year long!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Funny stuff: A fun "e-card" I found on, way for it, PINTEREST! Enjoy your summer. :)
Source: facebook.com via Valerie on Pinterest
Totally Terrific Teacher Tip: Place the names of your students on the back of your id badge. Then you have a handy list to use in an emergency like a firedrill, when going on field trips or at recess time. If you have a clear back to your badge, you can place the list inside the badge, then use a dry-erase marker to mark off names as you call them.
Source: kindergartenfever.blogspot.com via Valerie on Pinterest
Too fun!!! Great teacher stool idea from pinterest. Teachers can use the stool for reading, q&a, whatever! You could also use the stool as a reward for students. Sitting on the stool can be a privilege earned by good behavior, grades, etc. The cooler the stool looks, the more tantalizing it would be to earn a seat in it.
Source: lauriecoledesigns.com via Valerie on Pinterest
Great idea! These "bathroom passes" can be placed on a student's desk when they use the restroom so you know where they are. When they come back, they have to sanitize their hands in addition to washing their hands in the sink. We all want to believe every student washes their hands in the bathroom, but we know better! This will give the teacher a heads up as to where the student is, and a little piece of mind about their germy hands!
Source: 3rd-grade-thoughts.blogspot.com via Valerie on Pinterest
Organization Board
Totally Terrific Teacher Tip: Teacher's organization board - A great place to keep your receipts, to do list, calendar and more. Use this for items only related to your teaching life to make your day-to-day easier.
Low cost student gift idea or prize Bookmarks made from paint sample sheets found in hardware stores. These "bookmarks" are made with a small amount of ribbon, a regular round hole punch, and a fun heart shaped punch. You can also add stickers or a name for a personal touch. I went to a few Home Depots in the area when I got my samples so I didn't deplete their stock! I also purchased a few items so I didn't feel guilty grabbing these. :)
Source: google.com via Katrina on Pinterest
Totally Terrific Teacher Tip: "A place for everything, and everything in its place."
Great idea from pinterest on how to organize some of your smaller classroom supplies. I will probably change up the labels, but it's such a great idea when you don't want to spend your time searching for these items in your desk!
Source: mrsrojasteaches.blogspot.com via Kelsey on Pinterest
Phases of the moon using Oreos! FUN!!!
Just found out I will be teaching 6th grade in the fall and we will be working on the phases of the moon. I thought this would be a fun culminating activity. Thank you pintrest!
Source: tryphena.tumblr.com via Leslie on Pinterest
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