February 2012
4 posts
preservice-teacher asked: I recognize that you're mostly an elementary-focused blog. the stuff you have is great, but could you point me in the direction of something similar for high school teachers? cheers!
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March 2nd Read Across America Day
As I’m sure you all know March 2nd, commonly known as Dr. Seuss Day, is Read Across America Day! On this day students and teachers will celebrate reading through the reading of various Dr. Seuss books.
This website features writing and activity packets that go along with the following Dr. Seuss books:
Green Eggs and Ham Oh, The Places You’ll GO! Oh, The THINKS You Can Think! Horton...
Anonymous asked: Please help with rewards for high school students!
Anonymous asked: What is your account on pinterest? :)
January 2012
7 posts
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Wonderful Bulletin Board Resource →
Seriously. The very best website on bulletin board ideas that I have ever found. Check it out right this second!
50 Best iPhone Apps for Students →
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Attention Grabbers
First off, I am so sorry it’s been so long since I’ve posted! Things have been crazy at school and home, so the blog had to take the backseat briefly. Don’t worry-I’m back and here to stay now!
I found some fun attention grabbers online that would work great in just about any classroom (I’m sure all you high school teachers would get mostly eye rolls though). The...
November 2011
7 posts
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FREE Online Interactive First Thanksgiving... →
dorouuable asked: Do you have any fun activities to use in the classroom when teaching fractions? :)
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Smart Beads
I found this idea here and I absolutely love it! The concept is simple, too. Whenever a student has volunteers to answer when no one else will, works very hard on on assignment, gives an “above and beyond” answer in class, or any other things those awesome kids do, give him or her a string of “Smart Beads” to wear for the day. Then, at the end of the day have them trade in...
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Substitute Teacher Binder →
Check out these awesome ideas and printouts for a substitute teacher binder!
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Rainbow Words
At the beginning of the week, to teach the word wall words (or spelling words, whichever you call them) have the students create rainbow words. Give each student a sheet of white paper either already separated into three columns or have them draw three columns. In the first column, have the students first write their name in black crayon. In the second column, they will write their name with...
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Class Pets
Class pets can be difficult to handle. As I posted before here, a great alternative to a live animal is a stuffed toy or, even more fun, a pet rock! Instruct the students to search at recess for a large rock (bring in an example to show them a good size). Or, if you have time, go exploring outside during class in search of rocks. Then, allow the students to decorate their rocks with Googley Eyes,...
October 2011
6 posts
Anonymous asked: I really want to be either a special education or elementary school teacher. I want to go to Boston University or one of the Boston teaching schools. What is your suggestion on getting the "best of both worlds" for special ed and elementary ed
beyourownparadise asked: I am in a school age program, do you have any recommendations of websites that have school age appropriate activities?
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Kindergarten Teachers
Are some of the bravest, most wonderful people I know. And they work really hard.
Challenge to myself: Have the patience, love, kindness, and work ethic of a Kindergarten teacher in everything I do.
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Powerpoint Tip
When using a Powerpoint in class, students may not be aware of what they should study more than other information. Although you want your students paying attention to all information you present, on very important slides that they absolutely must know include a small, animated note taking related clip art in the corner of the slide. Whenever the students see this let them know that is is a highly...
binca23 asked: When I first started my tumblr I somehow find this one. I now get excited when I see your posts because I am an aspiring elementry school teacher. :) I'm a senior now and going to fill out college applications very soon. I live in Chicago, Illinois and my top choice right now is, U of I in Urbana-Champaign. I was just wondering if you knew of any top notch schools that really encourage...
September 2011
14 posts
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Popsicle Stick Questions
When asking questions during content presentation, students are often nervous to answer especially if this is their first contact with the information. Try this strategy to get them talking, and to make sure you keep up with their understanding.
At your podium (or desk, or chair, or computer), have a cup with popsicle sticks in it. On each popsicle stick, have a student’s name. When you ask...
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Monsters!
Halloween is almost a month away! A great way to celebrate in your classroom is with these fun monsters! Use them as decoration around the classroom, or have each student bring in their own tissue box (or try your best to snag some around school). Then, allow every student to decorate his or her own monster. Leave the monsters on the student’s desk to fill up with candy on Halloween.
On...
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Word Wall Center
Spelling word wall words can be so mundane especially when students are typically doing the same homework with all of the words each night throughout the weeks of school. A fun center to get kids spelling out word wall words is to buy the cheap, plastic, magnetic letters for them to use. Then, if you have a desk with a metal front, place all the letters in random order for the students to use for...
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Bing
Technology in the classroom is crucial. A great, fun attention getter to use the at the beginning of social studies lessons is to pull up Bing. Everyday, there is a fun picture of something interesting, somewhere on earth. Check it out in the morning (if you scroll over certain points on Bing’s page there are facts about the picture). Then, show it to the students. Have them discuss...
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Time's Up!
When doing centers in the classroom, a timer is necessary. When students hear the bell ring, they know what to do and where to go (I prefer to have them clean up and then stand quietly by their current center). Sometimes a set time doesn’t always work for students, especially during the first few weeks of school. Instead of setting a specific amount of time, simply push the timer back far...
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Writing Center
This was also submitted by Kelly F.! I love her ideas.
The writing Center was great when we were doing a Community Helpers unit in the classroom. The writing center was turned into the classroom post office for the week and we had a little mail box. The kids wrote letters to either the teacher or their peers and put them in an envelope with some fake stamps on them and they mailed them but...
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Dramatic Play Center
This was submitted by Kelly F. who is an EC major. Love her ideas!
I would say that the dramatic play center was my favorite to work in. We often used the dramatic play center after we had class story time. In one instance my Co-Op read Goldilocks and the Three Bears. She had puppets to go along with the story. She set up a small tent in the area and a little table. The kids then reenacted the...
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ABC Food
For the EC classroom, the students are still learning their letters which can be a lot of hard work! For each letter covered have the parents (if you’ve got super supportive parents) or you bring in a fun food to go with each letter. Here are some ideas.
A- apples, applesauce, Ants on a Log
B- bananas, blueberries, brownies, Butterfingers
C- cookies or cake! (Could you really do anything...
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Acrostics for Synonyms and Antonyms
Learning the difference between synonyms and antonyms can be difficult. Hang these in your classroom or have your students make their own to help them learn!
Synonyms:
Same meaning!
Yell, shout
Nasty, horrible
Old, ancient
Nice, generous
Yelp, bark
Means the same!
Antonyms:
Are opposites
Naughty, polite
Take, give
Opposite, same
Nasty, clean
Young, ancient
Means the opposite.
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The Missing Piece Activities
Shel Silverstein’s The Missing Piece is a phenomenal children’s book. I had actually never heard of it until this summer when my best friend told me about it (it’s her favorite book ever). I love the themes and symbolism that touches my heart and is a little too deep for my elementary schoolers. I’ve been dying to find a way to incorporate this book into the classroom and...
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100 Ways to Praise a Child
I cannot take credit for these. This was given to me in a worksheet from a teacher a while back and I still refer back to it. I know I have my “go-to” phrases for praising students so it is nice to be reminded there are many ways to switch it up!
Wow * Way to go * Super * You’re special * Outstanding * Excellent * Great * Good * Neat * Well done * Remarkable * I knew you could...
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“Teaching isn’t just about teaching; it’s about caring. A teacher is...”
– Mr. Leonard Galloway, principal Varennes Elementary
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Centers
Hi! Centers can make or break your classroom. We would love to do some posts on unique, fun centers in the classroom. Send any centers that you use in your classroom, your fellow teachers use, or that you have found to teachersintiaras@gmail.com and we would love to post it!
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Gold Rush Activities
A few days ago we had a request for some Gold Rush Activities for the fourth grade. I’ve never taught on the Gold Rush so I went to the Internet for some ideas. I hope these help!
Five Lesson Unit Study on the Gold Rush:
Lesson 1: The Adventure Begins: “Boys I believe I have found a gold mine!”
Lesson 2: Getting There: “So you want to go to California?”
Lesson 3:...
August 2011
29 posts
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50 Classroom Rewards That Don't Cost a Lot of...
I found this idea from Teachers-Pay-Teachers. TONS of free resources if you sign up. Teachers post ideas and either sell them or put the up for free for other teachers. Please check out their website. This one was submitted by Little Campers.
Sit at the teacher’s desk.
Be the “zookeeper” and take care of the animals.
Have lunch with your favorite person.
Join another class...
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The Glue & Scissor Bag
This is another idea submitted by Sara G. for our contest. Check out her Tumblr!
At the beginning of the year, each kid gets one big Ziploc. In it goes their white glue, a glue stick, scissors, a pencil and an eraser. When we’re doing cut/glue things, there’s no need to have a ton of extra stuff that comes with getting out their crayon box. Plus, not having their crayons/markers there...
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Super Secret Walker
This is another idea submitted by our first place winner, Sara G. Check out her Tumblr!!
I’ve found that adding “Super Secret” to anything makes it more coveted. I always have students names on popsicle sticks so before we go into the hall, I pick one and I’m the only one that sees it. I watch for this student to be safe, respectful and responsible in the hallway to and...
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Easy Seating Chart Solutions
This idea won first place in our giveaway contest by Sara G, a Kindergarten teacher. Check out her blog here!
One of my favorite and easiest things I do is change my table names constantly to go with what we’re learning. Some teachers tend to number their tables and not change it up, but I’ll do colors, shapes, money (penny, nickel, dime, quarter, dollar), animals, modes of...
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Refocus Area
This post was submitted in our giveaway contest by Samantha E. You can check out her Tumblr here. She’s great!!
The purpose of a refocus area is to redirect students when they are misbehaving in class. Students are first given a verbal warning. If they do not listen the first time, I (without saying anything) walk to their desk and place a refocus worksheet on it. This signals to students...
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History Artefacts
This idea won third place in our giveaway. It was submitted by Hannah T. from New South Wales, Australia.
I brought in a range of different artefacts that were used in the past including an old soft drink bottle, a glass jelly crystals bottle, a pocket watch, an inkwell and a old style magnifying glass. The children then were giving a couple of artefacts and worked in small groups to try and...
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New Classroom Introductions
Getting to know all of your new students on the first day is always a great way to start! A common way is to have a sheet of questions about the student (ex. favorite color, what they did this summer, hobbies, etc.). Many have students interview each other, and then they will introduce their partner to the class. This is always for for the first few, but by the end it can get a little boring....
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And The Winners Are...
I loved all of the original ideas we received for the Back-to-School giveaway! If you didn’t get a chance to submit an original idea (or one borrowed from somewhere-just make sure you give credit) please email us at teachersintiaras@gmail.com. We would love to post your ideas on the blog!
Last, but not least, the winners are:
1st place: Sara G.
2nd place: Samantha E.
3rd place: Hannah...
Anonymous asked: What is the best children's book that you've ever read?
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Teacher's Top 25 Books for Children
I found this list on the National Education Association. It is actually a list of 100 books for children compline in 2007 by parents and teachers. Check out the full list here.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
I love you forever by Robert...
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Contest Deadline August 15th
I absolutely LOVE the wonderful, original ideas I have been receiving for the contest. Please remember to submit your own creative teaching idea to teachersintiaras@gmail.com by August 15th to be registered to win a back to school gift basket with any supplies you need for your age level.