Trace, Write, Draw freebie

The end of the school year is always a good time to reflect and make changes. Fern and I decided we wanted change our Thursday Throwbacks a little.  There will only be the two of us, but you will still get a freebie each week. So, don't forget to stop by our blogs each Thursday.  

We are also adding something new this summer.  Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading.  I love to read teacher blogs and the latest teacher idea books.  Stop by Fern's blog and my blog each week for Tuesday Teacher Tips.  We are going to share tips about classroom management, managing school supplies, working effectively with parents, and other helpful things that we have learned through the years.  We hope you will share your ideas, too.  Each week we will choose one person who shared a tip on our blog who will get a $10 shopping trip.  We will announce the winner in the following Tuesday's post.  

Click HERE to download your freebie.

Just a reminder:  You will not be able to leave feedback after we change it back to a paid for lesson. 

Now, go visit Fern so you can get your other freebie!

1

Teacher Tip: Emergency Substitute Plans

Did you join Girl Scouts when you were a child?  If so, you are familiar with the Girl Scout motto.

The Girl Scout motto is "Be prepared." In the 1947 Girl Scout Handbook, the motto was explained this way: "A Girl Scout is ready to help out wherever she is needed. Willingness to serve is not enough; you must know how to do the job well, even in an emergency." The same ideas are true today.

This is a motto that teachers should also follow preferably before the first day of school.  All teachers need a set of emergency substitute plans.  Keep a copy of your emergency plans in a visible place in your room.  A place that you can easily give instructions to someone else to get out for you.  It is also helpful if you give a copy of these plans to the school secretary - if he/she is willing.  Your school secretary is usually the first person the sub meets when he/she arrives at your school.  Wouldn't it be nice if the secretary had your emergency plans ready to hand them to your sub?

2

Squirt Station

Do you remember your first year of teaching?  There were so many things I wish I would have known ahead of time.  One of the things most first year teachers ARE told is that you will get sick, sick quite often your first year of teaching.  You will hear various suggestions to help with this . . . . take your vitamins, exercise, and get plenty of sleep.  

I stumbled across another thing, quite by accident, that made a major difference in my health and the health of my students.  I even got several happy notes at the end of the year from moms thanking me for their child having such a healthy kindergarten year.  These moms all had older children, so they were prepared for the inevitable viruses that go along with most kindergarten years.  They were pleasantly surprised when that didn't happen.

6

Birds of Prey: Golden Eagle

Birds are very interesting creatures.  When I was in undergrad, I worked at a pet store.  The store had a rose breasted cockatoo named Rosie.  Rosie quickly became my buddy when she found out I would give her crickets each time a customer needed some.  A few years later, I got married.  One of the first pets my husband and I adopted was an umbrella cockatoo named Molly.  Unfortunately, the next pet we adopted was a black lab puppy named Major.  Major really wanted to play with Molly.  We felt it was in Molly's best interest to find a new home before Major hurt her.

4

Read, Read, Read - freebie

The end of the school year is always a good time to reflect and make changes. Fern and I decided we wanted change our Thursday Throwbacks a little.  There will only be the two of us, but you will still get a freebie each week. So, don't forget to stop by our blogs each Thursday.  

We are also adding something new this summer.  Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading.  I love to read teacher blogs and the latest teacher idea books.  Stop by Fern's blog and my blog each week for Tuesday Teacher Tips.  We are going to share tips about classroom management, managing school supplies, working effectively with parents, and other helpful things that we have learned through the years.  We hope you will share your ideas, too.  Each week we will choose one person who shared a tip on our blog who will get a $10 shopping trip.  We will announce the winner in the following Tuesday's post.  The winner for June 17th post will be announced on June 24th's post.

Click HERE to download your freebie.

Just a reminder:  You will not be able to leave feedback after we change it back to a paid for lesson. 

Now, go visit Fern so you can get your other freebie!

3

Beginning of the Year: Procedures and Listening Skills

Does this sound like something you've said at the beginning of the year?  

• This class is much more challenging than my last group.
• I feel like my students are in Boot Camp.
• I need a nap!

Click HERE to watch this if you feel like you herd cats.

I can't tell you how many times I have told my husband at the beginning of the year that this class is so much more challenging than my previous class.  That was when he reminded me that I say this every year.  I need that reminder that it takes awhile for my class to learn my procedures.  Until they learn the way I run my class, it feels like I am herding cats.  Did you watch the video?  If so, then you too can relate!

3

Parent Communication: Tuesday Teacher Tips

This week's tip is a two-fer.  It is a parent communication tip and a sponge activity all bundled together.

Have you read Stephen Covey's book?

(Click on book to read more about it.)

Covey talks about an emotional bank account (EBA).  This is a metaphor for the trust in a relationship.  You can make deposits or withdrawls in this account.  Relationships work like a bank account.  You can build trust or tear down (withdrawl) trust.

Relationships are an important part of a teacher's job.  We have relationships with our boss, co-workers, students, and students' parents.  When the new year begins, teachers, students, and parents feel anxious.  One of the best ways I have found to  deal with anxiety is to make deposits in my students' EBA. By doing this, I am letting my students and parents know that I see the positive in my students. You can do this by making a positive phone call or sending home a happy note.

5

Classroom Management: Conflict Resolution

Do you have two students who cannot get along?  I'm not talking about your garden variety conflicts.  No, these are the two students who are like magnets.  No matter how many ways you have tried to separate them, they find a way to get together.  When they are near each other, a conflict quickly develops, and one or both of them come to you to tattle about it.

It is so frustrating!  You waste so much instructional time helping these students resolve their differences.

1

Meet the Teacher

Through the years, I have found a few things that have helped make my Meet the Teacher less stressful.  I would love to hear your ideas, too!

One thing that is very helpful to parents, especially the ones who are new to your school, is your clothing.  Teachers and staff members should wear their school shirts at the Meet the Teacher and the first day of school so parents and students can quickly identify staff members.  

5

On the Farm freebie

The end of the school year is always a good time to reflect and make changes. Fern and I decided we wanted change our Thursday Throwbacks a little.  There will only be the two of us, but you will still get a freebie each week. So, don't forget to stop by our blogs each Thursday.  

We are also adding something new this summer.  Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading.  I love to read teacher blogs and the latest teacher idea books.  Stop by Fern's blog and my blog each week for Tuesday Teacher Tips.  We are going to share tips about classroom management, managing school supplies, working effectively with parents, and other helpful things that we have learned through the years.  We hope you will share your ideas, too.  Each week we will choose one person who shared a tip on our blog who will get a $10 shopping trip.  We will announce the winner in the following Tuesday's post.  The winner for June 10th post will be announced on June 17th's post.

Click HERE to download your freebie.

Just a reminder:  You will not be able to leave feedback after we change it back to a paid for lesson. 

Now, go visit Fern so you can get your other freebie!

0

Class Incentives

How do you motivate your students?  Do you use incentives?  I know there is usually a pro-incentive camp and a con-incentive camp.  I've heard different arguments through the years against incentives.  The one I heard mentioned the most was about intrinsic motivation.  Students are supposed to want to do well because they are motivated from within. They are not motivated by outside forces or things like stickers, trips to the treasure chest, praise, or candy.

More often than not, the same colleague who was opposed to rewarding students through the use of stickers, treasure chest, or other extrinsic methods was the same person complaining in the teachers lounge that her principal or parents "doesn't appreciate her".  If asked how she would like her parents or principal to show appreciation, she usually wanted to be recognized for her hard work with a happy note, email, visit or phone call.  Wouldn't these words of affirmation be considered extrinsic motivation?  

Don't we work harder for a principal when we feel like we have a principal that supports us and recognizes our value?  If we are truly intrinsically motivated, we should work to the same high degree whether we have parents and administrators that value us or not.  

What about our paycheck?  How many of us would show up for work everyday if we weren't getting paid?  Isn't a paycheck extrinsic motivation?  We expect students to show up and do their best quality work because that's their job.  Their "paycheck" is their grade. But, when you're young, do you really get the value of a report card? 

As you may have guessed, I fall into the pro-incentive camp.  I enjoy rewarding my students through a variety of methods. 

One of my all time favorite incentive plans was the B.U.G. plan.  You can read more about it HERE plus there are FREE printables for you.

Looking for more tips?  Check out my Behavior Management Pinterest board.  Click on the picture below.

Fern has a few tips about behavior management to share with you, too.  Be sure to hop over to her blog!

Fern and I are adding something new this summer.  Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading.  I love to read teacher blogs and the latest teacher idea books.  Stop by Fern's blog and my blog each week for Tuesday Teacher Tips.  We hope you will share your ideas, too.  

Each week we will choose one person who shared a tip on our blog who will get a $10 shopping trip.  We will announce the winner in the following Tuesday's post.  The winner for today's post will be announced on next week's post (June 17th).

Congratulations Debbie Weaver for sharing your pencil tip on last week's Tuesday Teacher Tip post.  You have won a $10 shopping trip in my store.  Email me (teach123.school@gmail.com) links to the lessons you would like as your prize.  Click HERE if you'd like to read all of the tips shared about classroom management last week.

Do you have an class incentive idea to share?  Be sure to include your email so I can contact you if you're the winner of the $10 shopping trip.

Looking for more ideas?  Check out these!

An InLinkz Link-up

0

Back to School Books and a FREEBIE

Do you have a favorite book that you read to your class every year? I love to read the book Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes.  It is the perfect book for the beginning of the year since we learning everyone's names and this book focuses on names.  I have a couple of freebies for you.

(click)

1

Writing Ideas

Summer is the perfect time to recharge your batteries.  It is also the time to look for new ideas.  

Do you have a monthly paper count for the copy machine?  If so, then you probably spend quite a bit of time using the Ellison die cut machine.  It is an easy way to add colorful, hands-on activities to your lessons that doesn't require a copy machine.

I have a few ideas to share with you using an Ellison machine.

At the beginning of the year, students are always very chatty.  They want to tell each other about their summer.  Why not channel that energy into a personal narrative assignment? You can use this planning sheet and writing page.

Click HERE to download this FREEBIE.

2

Jump into Grammar freebie

The end of the school year is always a good time to reflect and make changes. Fern and I decided we wanted change our Thursday Throwbacks a little.  There will only be the two of us, but you will still get a freebie each week. So, don't forget to stop by our blogs each Thursday.  

We are also adding something new this summer.  Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading.  I love to read teacher blogs and the latest teacher idea books.  Stop by Fern's blog and my blog each week for Tuesday Teacher Tips.  We are going to share tips about classroom management, managing school supplies, working effectively with parents, and other helpful things that we have learned through the years.  We hope you will share your ideas, too.  Each week we will choose one person who shared a tip on our blog who will get a $10 shopping trip.  We will announce the winner in the following Tuesday's post.  The winner for June 3rd post will be announced on June 10th's post.

Click HERE to download your freebie.

Just a reminder:  You will not be able to leave feedback after we change it back to a paid for lesson. 

Now, go visit Fern so you can get your other freebie!

1

Tech & Tips for teaching the ABC's

Are you looking for some new resources for teaching the ABC's and letter sounds?  I have some sites and other resources that you should check out.

This site is called Letter Speed.  Click HERE to visit the site.

This ABC Match game has a timer which makes it fun.  Click HERE to visit the site.

Jolly Phonics letter sounds - click HERE to visit the site.

Alphabet Goop students practice letter ID and sound.  Click HERE to visit the site.

My students have always enjoyed the flashlight center.  It is a versatile center.  Students can practice writing letters, numbers, or spelling words.  You will want to go over a few rules ahead of time.

• Don't shine the light in your eyes or a classmate's eyes.
• Turn off the flashlight when you finish.  Double check to make sure you did this because batteries are expensive.
• Point the light on the table or floor to write.
• Do not open the flashlight.

Here is a note you can send home to parents asking for supplies.  Click HERE for the FREE note.

I personally prefer penlights because they fit in students' hands better.  Some years around Halloween, Target Dollar Spot will have pen lights for $1.  But, they don't include the batteries.  I found the six pack of penlights below on Amazon for $6.75 which is a great deal.

Click HERE for a link to the penlights.

Click on the pictures below for more lessons, videos, and other great stuff!

An InLinkz Link-up

Don't forget to visit my Reading Pinterest board.

Click HERE to visit my Reading Pinterest board.

Do you have a fun way to teach letter sounds or letter identification?

1

Classroom management: Pencils

Pencils are one of those things that are not taught in your undergraduate classes.  Sad, because they can cause so much frustration in your day-to-day life as a teacher.  I thought I would share a few of the things I learned - many times - the hard way!

It was my second year of teaching and I was very nervous.  I had a year under my belt so I knew there was a lot about teaching that I had yet to learn and I knew I didn't know everything.  I was at a new school so I wanted to make a good impression.  I had worked hours on my room and I THOUGHT I had everything ready for my students.  I had just found out that I was going to be the teacher with the oversized class.  I was supposed to have up to 30 first grade students that year with an teacher's assistant. The T.A. wouldn't be hired until weeks later after the final numbers were in so I was on my own for now.  And I started out the year with 32 first graders.  Yes, I was 2 over, but the district assumed a couple of students would move in the first few weeks.  I didn't even have enough desks for all my students at this point.

After the parents left and I took roll, I gave my students an assignment to fill out.  My students began digging through their brand new supplies but very, very, very few of the pencils were sharpened.  And no one had told me that I should have a class set of pencils sharpened and ready to go the first day.  

So, I did what any 2nd year of teaching teacher would do.  I told my students to line up at the pencil sharpener.  This was in the olden days when you had to sharpen your own pencils, not use an electric sharpener.  There were probably 25 kids in line at the sharpener.  You can imagine what that was like!  So, then I took over the cranking of the sharpener, thinking it would speed things along.  And guess who walked in?  It was my principal AND the Superintendent of the district.  Not the best way to make a good impression.

So, my teacher tip is, buy a class set of pencils plus a few extras.  Sharpen them before the first day so you won't make the same mistake that I did.

I have a free parent note for you.  Click on the picture to download it.

Looking for more tips?  Check out my Classroom Management Pinterest board.  Click on the picture below.

Fern has a few tips about pencils to share with you, too.  Be sure to hop over to her blog!

Fern and I are adding something new this summer.  Summer is a great time to catch up on your reading.  I love to read teacher blogs and the latest teacher idea books.  Stop by Fern's blog and my blog each week for Tuesday Teacher Tips.  We hope you will share your ideas, too.  

Each week we will choose one person who shared a tip on our blog who will get a $10 shopping trip.  We will announce the winner in the following Tuesday's post.  The winner for June 3rd post will be announced on June 10th's post.

Do you have a pencil tip to share?  Be sure to include your email so I can contact you if you're the winner of the $10 shopping trip.

Looking for more ideas?  Check out these!

An InLinkz Link-up

9