Since I've been teaching, I've acquired quite the collection of teacher supplies and materials. In fact, when I moved schools last year I realized just how much I had. I am FAR from a hoarder, but it was still shocking to see how many teacher materials I had accumulated in just
Classroom Focus Wall
Classroom focus walls are nothing new, and to be quite honest there isn't a set-up of focus walls that I haven't tried! I greatly regret not saving or at least taking pictures from my past focus walls, especially the year I partitioned a classroom wall with painters tape to
Planning for the Year
At the end of the school year, I always reflect on the year as a whole-what worked, what didn't work, what could I do differently. During the school year, I reflect and revise my daily lessons and make changes as needed. But as the school year winds down, I reflect on my pacing
Student Approved Review Game
My teaching partner recently introduced me to my new favorite vocabulary review resources-Quizlet. I know that Quizlet has been around for several years. In fact, I remembered using Quizlet several years ago. According to the site, I made a quiz back in 2010, but I never used the
Using Student Data Efficiently with Formative Assessments
Over the years, formative assessments have become a larger and larger part of my classroom instruction. These are the assessments I use as part of my instructional process, such as written responses, graphic organizers, exit slips, discussions, quick checks, etc. I use these
Writing a Class Digital Newsletter
Back to school time is one of my favorite times of year. Yes, it's hectic, exhausting, and more than a bit overwhelming, but it's so fun and exciting! I love being able to start fresh every year with new students, new ideas, and new goals. This year I am departmentalizing, and
Welcome to My New Classroom
Today officially ends my first full week of back to school. As you already know, inservice days and first days with students are a complete whirlwind (although, some of my favorite days of the year)! I often get so caught up in my "real job" that I forget to take pictures for
Interactive Procedures in The Classroom
I've always taught upper elementary, but I did most of my college field experience with younger students. In fact, I had a 15 week internship in first grade, which I fell in love with. I had the great fortune of working with one of the, if not THE, best teacher I've ever known.
Letting Go of Summer Guilt
As much as I love teaching, these long summer days are my most treasured days of the year. Waking up when it's daylight outside, sipping-rather than gulping coffee, time to enjoy my kids, not feeling the day-to-day grind, makes summer days my absolute favorite days. However,
Google Classroom Assignments
I was a bit hesitant to write this post, because I feel that this is a good example of when I made something that should be simple, difficult. I'm usually decent with learning new technology and new platforms, but for some reason I had the hardest time assigning new assignments
