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…
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…
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…
A reading comprehension and art activity to go along with Mo Willem’s book, Knuffle Bunny. This post contains affiliate links. The Book Knuffle Bunny is the first in a series of three great books by Mo Willems. The story starts with little babbling, bright-eyed Trixie and her dad taking a trip to…
One of my favorite activities for starting the year in 2nd grade is counting to 1000. Imagine this classroom scene – Instructions have been given, materials have been passed out, and everyone is working silently…at least for a few minutes! I know when I have those rare moments in class that I have found an…