Volunteer Gift Ideas and FREE Printable Tags

Hello everyone!

I'm just popping in to let you know that I am blogging over at Primary Powers today!

I'm sharing some SUPER ideas for volunteer appreciation gifts and this little FREEBIE I think you will LOVE!

Click {here} to head on over!

How a Teddy Bear Can Save the Day! A Simple Classroom Management Strategy you can Start TODAY!

Looking for an easy to implement way to make daily routines and transitions run smoothly? Sometimes a teddy bear can save the day from chaos in the classroom!

I'm just popping in to let you know that I am have a new post at Primary Powers. It's all about how I use our friend Teddy to help with classroom management! This has been one of the BEST strategies I have EVER used because it has also improved student behavior!

Head on over to see how I use him for turn-taking in the classroom. You can get some helpful ideas for using a Teddy in your room to make other routines run more smoothly too!

Click on the picture to read all about it!  

Second Grade Comparing Numbers and Place Value Math Activities and a FREEBIE!

Hello Everyone! I am popping in to let you know that I am blogging over at Primary Powers today to share a favorite ready-in-a-minute math activity using number cards! It is perfect to fill those few extra minutes here or there and a great one to use when you sense the class is getting restless! I also have a little FREEBIE for you all to get something like this ready for your classroom too if you like!

 Click on the picture below to head on over!

 I hope to see you there!

Classroom Organization Tips for Teachers!

 Welcome to Creative Lesson Cafe Friends! I'm really excited to be part of this blog hop with my friends at Primary Powers. We are here to save the day with some SUPER ideas for organization! I'm here to share ideas for organizing your teaching resources and important papers.

My classroom appears very organized. I try to manage the great paper shuffle as best I can with plenty of storage containers, plastic drawers, files, labels and bins.

 But...what is inside some closed drawers is a problem. One disastrous area is my file cabinet. My cabinet is completely stuffed with unit files and favorite teaching resources that I want to save, but that I don't use on a regular basis. It's REALLY frustrating to file new things away or browse through files when they are so packed in together. My cabinet is in good condition, but still it's an eyesore I want to eventually hide away in my storage closet.

If you are looking for a great way to easily organize your favorite and most-used masters and resources, you may want to invest in a few hanging file tubs. I did!

 I am getting ORGANIZED one subject at a time! 

Each subject area will eventually have its own file tub. 

 One is going to be my assessment bin.

Target carries these fantastic clear containers with lids.
{Room Essentials Box File} I ordered six of them.

Because they are see-through boxes, I wanted some pretty hanging folders. The Container Store sells bright folders in a rainbow of colors and I ordered a set of each to coordinate with the tub signs. Inside, I have decided to organize by skills and units.

I made some square signs that fit perfectly on the front of the box! If you want to get organized with some tubs too, you can download a set of the signs {here}! They should look great on any size file box you happen to have or purchase. 

 Just imagine how cute these new handy tubs- set up in a rainbow of organization- will look in my teacher corner! I can't wait to get them all done and finally put an END to the file cabinet frustrations!

Hopefully this post has given you some cute inspiration to continue to work at being as organized as possible with the great paper shuffle too! 

:)

One Word New Year Resolution: Focusing on Improving FOCUS While Teaching in a Very Busy Classroom

If you could sum up a New Year resolution in just one word, what would you choose? One short but very BIG word immediately popped into my mind. It is something I struggle with on a daily basis and it just drives me bonkers! I want to stick with my goal this year so I'm not even going to call it a resolution. This year, it's more than that! I will be on a MISSION! 

What I want to improve can be summed up in this one word!

FOCUS has several meanings. I think all of them are just SO perfect for me!

focus: to concentrate

focus: a thing or place that is of greatest importance to an activity or interest

focus: a guiding or motivating purpose or principle

focus: to view clearly

Spending a day managing a busy classroom of 28 seven year old learners can cause anyone to feel like they have attention problems. It's hard to ever have a complete and organized thought without an interruption of some kind. It's a day full of constant distractions. But I also believe that life and teaching has gotten so COMPLICATED lately that it is challenging to stay on track when there is so much going on at once and so many demands. Do you feel like this too?

I can only imagine how much more effective and productive I could be at work if I could only FOCUS better. To me this means... better concentration, prioritizing tasks, sticking to a plan, and accomplishing as much as possible so I can then focus on the things and relationships that matter most in life inside and out of the classroom.

Right now, I'm honestly not sure what my MISSION will look like but here is a tentative plan:

• limit distractions I can control like email alerts
• make lists and remember where I put them!
• no chit-chat during prep (mornings only)
• finish something before moving on
• simplify life in and out of the classroom
• stick to my lesson plans and schedule
• begin with the end in mind
• be at my personal best every day
• get out the reading glasses so I can actually see my math TE!

Hopefully my improved FOCUS will come in baby steps and I'll be able to notice a change! We'll see! :)

Go Noodle Brain Breaks for Students

Do you GoNoodle in your classroom? Oh it's SO MUCH FUN! It's more than just a fun brain break, however. I like to use GoNoodle with my class to wake up their brains to be ready for new learning!

 I don't know about you, but about a half hour after lunch, I could completely fall asleep at my desk. Because of our schedule, we have to work in silent reading time after lunch. 
 It's all quiet and cozy warm in the room...

 *yawn*

I bet we all have moments like this.

 Kids get the after lunch slump too.

Well, we have too much learning to do in the afternoon to feel sluggish. I need my class bright-eyed and alert for each lesson especially when a new concept is being taught. 

So, what do we do? We GONOODLE! 

Moving and singing wakes up my little sleepyheads and gets the blood and oxygen flowing to their brains once again. We know research supports that movement and learning go hand in hand!

Even the teacher likes to GoNoodle! :)

 When I participate too, I can be at my best to teach them!  

 You know the hit song. This is definitely our class favorite! Singing requires a different kind of breathing than when the body is at rest and this is wonderful for the sleepy brain. The little snowflake you see in the image moves along with the words for great reading practice. I have my kiddos move their bodies along with the character to mimic what she is doing.
They beg to do it again and again! You can preview it here.

We also like many others for wake-up-our-brains time!

You can head over to GoNoodle to check out all of the fun brain breaks and get started in your classroom by setting up an account. 

It's FREE to use, so why not try it out?

Kitty High Five is just so stinkin' cute! You have to check it out!

 It's really easy to get your little sleepyheads up and moving with GoNoodle!
 

Thanksgiving Writing Project for Second Grade: I Feel Like a Turkey and a Freebie!

Are you counting down the days to the holiday like me? I can't wait to gobble up all of my Thanksgiving favorites and have a little time off to regroup! Today I am blogging over at Primary Powers about a really funny Thanksgiving writing activity to do with your class just before Turkey Day! If you want a good laugh with your kiddos, head on over and read all about it!