Once the air starts getting cool students start getting antsy. The cooler air means that Halloween is just around the corner. I understand trying to fit in all of our education requirements before it’s time for break. To keep my students on track, we have to compete with Halloween and get creative. I have found one method of engaging my students that never seems to fail. I know you are all wondering “Well, go ahead and tell us already!” It’s a Spider Research Project! Easy Classr[...]
Here are a few easy classroom Halloween activities that are always a major hit! Fall is in the air! For a teacher that means it’s time for some low prep, yet spooky ideas to keep students engaged. Easy Classroom Halloween Activity #1: Slime Science This is one of my students’ absolute favorite experiments to do! But then again who doesn't love slime? The Slime Science project is a quick way to review the scientific method and get students excited to learn! [...]
True or False? There are no benefits to teaching handwriting in the classroom because it is too time consuming and the cons outweigh the pros. That was my exact thought process at the beginning of every school year. I was overwhelmed just by the idea of adding handwriting to an already packed-full curriculum. Raise your hand if you have ditched teaching handwriting just because it seemed to be too steep of a hill for you to climb. C’mon, raise your hand so I know I’m not alone! Something shif[...]
Are your students dropping the ball when it comes to learning to answer questions in complete sentences? Answering in complete sentences is a foundational tool to retaining information. When students take time to answer by restating the question, they are squirreling away facts quickly! I found that my students were really struggling with writing in complete sentences. Even for adults, it’s so much easier to give short one or two word answers. I decided that I wanted to give my class fun tutorials an[...]
This year especially, it will be important that we make the most of our instructional time with kids using spiral review! Hopefully, more time will be spent supporting kid's social and emotional needs. The time we do have to teach content will be even more limited with a new “normal” in place for so many schools. Let's chat about how spiral review activities can be a fun way to strengthen relationships and support academic needs! What is spiral review? You’re probably tired of see[...]
Raise your hand if you’re a teacher that has had to prepare for a substitute teacher on the fly. I like to believe we’re superheroes that are capable of living on improvisation and coffee alone! Being sick or having to deal with a family emergency should be your only focus when you have to call out unexpectedly. Say goodbye to the hectic rush of getting sub plans on your desk and ready to go. There are four reasons that your sub plans are taking too long and causing you stress. I had to learn to[...]
As distance learning gains popularity, I've had many teachers reach out and ask how to create an assignment in Google Classroom. I am definitely here to help! I have good news for teachers! Google Classroom isn't as overwhelming as you might think! This post is for all my Google Classroom newbies who are ready to take on e-learning! I'll cover how you will access Google Classrooms and how to assign a distance learning activity you may have purchased off of TeachersPayTeachers or created on your own![...]
Slime experiments. Every kid's obsession. I'm all about using what my class is interested in to create easy and more engaging lessons! We were studying the scientific method, so I used slime as a way to reinforce the steps of the scientific method! Teaching the Easy Slime Experiment for Kids Before I told the students anything about the science lesson for the day (I wanted it to be a surprise), I wrote this question on the board. "What happens when you combine water, borax, and glue toge[...]
Few things are sweeter than a group of students with little magnifying glasses working on their fingerprint science project for kids! However, squeezing a science project into our already packed schedules, can seem impossible. Most of the science projects in our curriculum are overwhelming. You have to use a million different materials and have at least an hour to complete each experiment. Sometimes I just want to be able to teach a 20-30 minute science lesson. Why is that so much to ask? I[...]
Dear Teacher, For many of you, your entire career has been flipped upside down. Many of you gave your students a hug or fist bump out the door on Friday, still expecting to see them today. Now you are left with so much uncertainty... unsure of when or if you will get another surprise hug as you pick your kids up from recess this school year. Not only that, but many of your brains are filled with worries for your students. Will they be fed? Is someone home to take care of them? What about students[...]