Some student names are more easily remembered than others. Most teachers have a few tricks up their sleeves for quickly learning student names. Some use association tricks such as “curly-haired Christy,” “glasses for Glenn,” and “Brian with a buzzcut.” These work well for remembering some student names, but not all. Desk tags are great too….
The start of a new school year means renewing a relationship with an alarm clock or another wake-up device. Dang it anyway! I don’t know about you, but for me morning minutes fly by super fast. This morning I found myself brushing my teeth and feeding my pooch at the same time. Ridiculous! How does…
Don’t worry, this back-to-school bulletin board isn’t going to run away. When I say it “has legs” I mean it can actually be an interesting part of your classroom for quite some time! To get started, use colorful yarn, string, or tape to partition a board like the one shown. In each section, attach a…
Am I right in thinking that every teacher has a locked desk drawer or another out-of-reach location where he or she keeps a collection of just-in-case items? I sure did. The more years I taught, the bigger my collection got. Now I’m not asking you to reveal any big secrets! I’m just thinking new teachers…
It’s the first Friday in August and you know what that means—it’s hot and it’s time for a giveaway! This month’s back-to-school prize pack includes a super fun “flip the flap” informational dinosaur book, a five-pack of colorful gel pens, a 24-pack of presharpened #2s, a pair of magnetic clips, a five-pack of colorful clothespins,…
Have your students ever tried to guess your age? A teacher friend of mine recently had me in stitches as she described her students’ attempts to guess her age. Their guesses were not flattering, though quite hysterical. Luckily my friend has a hearty sense of humor. My kiddos knew that I played soccer, spoiled my…
Things are hoppin’ here at The Mailbox! We are in the midst of packing up our office and moving to a different location. It’s an exciting time and we are lovin’ some Duct Tape. As you can see in the pictures, we have used different colors and patterns of this super sticky tape to…
The perfect teacher tote would be no tote at all, correct? And if you are a teacher who never has homework, I am in awe of you! My teaching experiences (and those of my teaching peeps) confirm that a night without teacher homework is a rarity. So what is the best tote for a teacher?…
As teachers, we know that a growth mindset is the key to learning. When children believe they can learn, they will. When children believe they can’t learn, their success is limited. So how does a teacher encourage a growth mindset in all students? Give plenty of feedback using these five fantastic tips! Always be specific….
Is there a teacher who doesn’t love brand-new school supplies? Perhaps, but I wouldn’t put money on it. Well, let me clarify. I believe most teachers get a charge out of new school supplies—just like kiddos do. What can be troubling for teachers is what to do with the avalanche of school supplies that arrive…