Hey there friends! We're on the home stretch to Thanksgiving break and I know I'm looking forward to it! Fun with family and friends and time to relax and reset what could be better? The kids are also in need of a break, which means having to work a little harder to engage our students, and it's a little tricky when our brains are so worn out ha! I would love to share a fun Thanksgiving STEM challenge sure to keep your students on task and having fun. I don't know if you have seen the "How to Catch a ..." series by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton but they are hilarious, brightly illustrated, … [Read more...] about How to Catch a Turkey – Thanksgiving STEM Challenge
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Classroom Problem Solving Station: Helping Kids Solve Problems Independently
Hey there friends, "Teacher! He did, she said, I tried but.." I know you are hearing it all. Our kids are having a harder time gettin along. It's just that they are now more like siblings instead of just classmates. They are getting to know each other more, spending more time together and needing a little space. This time of year is usually when I need to reteach what is tattling vs. reporting and do some targeted instruction on problem solving. What I have found is that sometimes kids just need to get their feelings out and want to be heard. Unfortunately, we know how long that line can … [Read more...] about Classroom Problem Solving Station: Helping Kids Solve Problems Independently
5 Essential Elements of a Successful Writing Workshop
I have always loved writing. I know that isn’t the case for a lot of the kids in our classrooms so each year I make it a goal to help kids feel confident in writing so that someday they might find that love for it…or at least confidence. There are a lot of things that go into a supportive learning environment and effective writing workshop. Before I can effectively teach writing, I need to make sure I have all the right tools and supports in place for ALL my young authors! I will tell you 5 Essential Elements of a Successful Writing Workshop. 1. Writing Utensils that Accommodate all … [Read more...] about 5 Essential Elements of a Successful Writing Workshop
3 Ways to Teach Kindness in the Classroom
Kindness. Something we all expect and dream of having in our classroom communities. I have been teaching for some time now and there has not been a year where being kind to others hasn’t made our classroom rules list. Most of the time my kiddos are kind to one another, maybe because of my “we are stopping what we are doing and talking this out" mentality when unkindness erupts, or because their home community has instilled these great skills in their hearts. BUT… sometimes, our students lose sight of those compassionate ways and I am left wondering what has taken over my sweet little … [Read more...] about 3 Ways to Teach Kindness in the Classroom
