My husband and I are cleaning out his family home with a plan to move there this summer. His mother passed away two years ago, and she was a wonderful woman and a bit of a pack rat. She saved everything from dishware to wrapping paper to t-shirts from her boys’ scouting days. Amidst the…
Today is National Clean Off Your Desk Day! And it’s a day I should probably observe. (If you’ll note the photo above, I don’t have the cleanest desk.) I suspect many of you don’t even have desks in your classroom. When I taught I didn’t bother with one because I never had time to sit…
Which type of student seating is better—traditional or flexible? The way I see it, there’s nothing wrong with traditional seating. For years students have learned well when sitting in desks and chairs. On the flip side, there are certainly plenty of children who could learn better if they were in more comfortable seating. You want…
I’ll start with a disclaimer. This blog does not include 100 uses for sticky notes. It does include 14 uses, and I feel certain the list can grow substantially with your help! I know you use ‘em! Tell us how! Also, if you’d like to enter to win some sticky notes, check out our First…
Sometimes students who need the most help are reluctant to ask for it. I always want to let students know that I care about them and want to help. I created these cards with the Card Maker Tool from Mailbox Gold 101 Tool Kit in less than a minute. I will print on card stock,…
The first day of school can be very nerve racking. What will my classroom look like? Did I pick the right clothes? Will I know what to do? Will I have any friends? If this is what I’m thinking, I can only imagine how nervous the kids are! Here are a few tips I found…
I remember way, waaaay back when I interviewed for a teaching job in a specific school district, I had to complete several essays. One of the essay questions was “Describe your ideal classroom.” In retrospect, it’s a ridiculous question. The likelihood of getting your ideal classroom is slim to none because of the lack of…
Before the end of the school year sneaks up on you and wallops you upside the back of the head, stop right now and think about some of the lessons you’ve learned this year. If you haven’t noted the people you want to thank, the compliments you’ve wanted to give, or the ideas you’ve had…
Do you remember your first school open house? Or do I need to ask Dr. Peabody and Sherman for their Wayback Machine again? Because I sure remember mine. Back then, I was the new deputy on the dusty streets of middle school, flush with the power of my own corner classroom and a license to…