It's the end of the year and you are counting down the days left right along with the students! It seems as though the entire class has forgotten every rule and routine that was put into place (and seemed to be working). Now the kids are antsy and acting more like brothers and sisters at each other all the time. The lack of kindness is taking over... I was recently reading a question … [Read more...]
Starting to Plan the First Week of School: Yarn Web and Student Scavenger Hunt
As all teachers know, the first day of school can be full of giving directions and going over all of the rules. Amidst these discussions, I like to get my students out of their seats and moving around. I love to foster a sense of community right away and its important to help the kids get to know each other right away. On the first day of school, I do a yarn web game with my class. It is so simple, yet my students love it and continue … [Read more...]
Reward Coupons: Incentives that Students Actually Find Motivating
Every year I wish that my students will come into the classroom on the first day of school with an innate desire to do their best all the time. They often do not. As the year progresses, I am often able to help my students become more intrinsically motivated. Motivating students often leads to the Prize Box. So many teachers have prize boxes which are a great way to get students' attention and motivate them in the classroom. While I usually … [Read more...]
Freebie!!! Classroom Behavior Plan That Works: Baseballs and a Clip Chart
Here's a freebie you can use for your class!!! Another thing that I am refreshing/updating in my classroom is my behavior system. When I first started teaching I went through many different behavior systems until I finally found something that worked best for me. My first year of teaching third grade showed me that students really need boundaries and they need clear expectations with follow through. I knew that I wanted to have a clipchart in the … [Read more...]
