My friends at the iTeach blogs and I are excited to announce a big back to school giveaway! One lucky teacher will win an iPad Air 2, an owl case, a stylus pen, and a $15 iTunes gift card so you can get some apps. Just click the picture to enter using the rafflecopter over…
Teacher Burnout Explained in Two Pie Graphs This is a non-scientific (but probably pretty accurate) graphic I have created using my experience as a teacher. Another title for this chart could be “Teacher Burnout Explained in Two Pie Graphs.” I’m sure you can relate or even add some of your own crazy pie sections. Healthy…
Every teacher needs a few fun, fast, easy, tricks up his/her sleeve. Here are a few easy classroom management tricks I’ve picked up over the years. Need a Second to Get Ready for the Next Lesson? I got this first one from an art teacher I used to work with. She would have a few…
Have you been noticing colorful spools of tape on the end caps at your craft store? And the name on it…Washi tape? What in the world?!? I like to think of Washi tape as the more refined version of colorful/patterned duct tape. I decided to “Washify” a set of plain glass canisters. These canisters would…
Teaching with Play Doh If you don’t have a class set of Play Doh cups, you may want to consider purchasing some. (Or even asking for parent donations.) Play Doh can be used for a wide variety of activities and it’s very motivating for students. Nobody wants to be the kid that gets their Play…
Decorating your classroom isn’t one of your most critical duties as a teacher but if I’m going to spend 40-60 hours a week in my classroom, I want it to be a colorful, attractive environment! Here is what I’ve done with my classroom: I feel very lucky to have windows! I know not everybody does.…
I’m linking up today with Miss DeCarbo at Sugar and Spice. She’s asking “What are your teaching ingredients?” These are mine:
Supplies: paperwatercolor paintblack tempera or acrylic paintthin paint brushes (better quality brushes if available)sponge pieces (optional) Practice: One problem with art projects is that kids can get easily discouraged if their product doesn’t turn out the way they thought it would. A few years ago I discovered that having kids practice a few elements of…
I’m linking up today with The Teaching Tribune where teachers are offering up their best bit of teaching advice. Here’s mine: I first heard this at a training a few years ago and it really made me stop and think. Of course we have to offer corrections, redirection, and constructive criticism to our students. But…
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown was one of my favorite books from childhood. Looking back at it now, the bright orange, green, and blue illustrations (and those crazy striped curtains) seem a bit strange compared to what book printers are currently putting out. But there was something about the lulling lilt of the words…