Really, you’re going to talk about birthdays? (Is that what you’re thinking?) The answer is “Yes.” I’ll make it quick. I have just a couple of ideas to share! I love the idea of plotting birthdays on a coordinate graph. I realize this isn’t appropriate for all grade levels, but trust me, kids grasp the…
What would teachers do without discount department stores, dollar-type stores, teacher discounts, sales, coupons, and such? Honestly, I have no idea. Even though I no longer have my own classroom, I’m always looking for a better deal. So I’m thinking, if we each share one or two ways we save money, we’ll end up with…
What do wreaths, boot stuffers, paint brush holders, foam sabers, floating beverage boats, Halloween costumes, and a variety of teaching activities have in common? You guessed it—they can all be made using pool noodles! Cut the colorful foam rods into chunks and students can stack ’em, sort ’em, and build with ’em. Label the foam…
So why are hacks called hacks? Honestly, I’m not sure. I’m guessing because hacks save you time…chop, chop! In any event, I find hacks deliriously entertaining. Here are ten hacks I gathered from Pinterest that I think you’ll enjoy. Full disclosure—I’ve only tried one of these. I’m hoping you’ll let me know which hack(s) you…
Well, our mail was missing. We found it and we’re all grinning about it. Teachers have substitutes and so do mail carriers. A few days ago a colleague noticed that our outgoing mail had been picked up, but no mail had been delivered. Or so we thought. Later in the day our mail was found…
If you’re looking for an excuse to purchase a new pair of sunglasses, I’ve got you covered! June 27 is National Sunglasses Day, a perfect day to indulge in a new pair of shades. I’ll admit that at first a national day for sunglasses seems corny. But when you stop to think about it, protecting…
Are you already wondering how you’ll wrap up this school year? Ouch! Did one of you just reach out and thump me? Okay, it is still April—which means you may not think you’re ready to read about an awesome end-of-the-year wrap-up that’s easy for the teacher and keeps kiddos focused and behaving until the very…
I’d heard of mood rings and mood bands. In fact, I even owned a mood ring at some point in my life. However, I’d never had the pleasure of seeing a mood duster! Check this out. It’s the perfect classroom management tool. Simply display a duster in your classroom—any type will do. Use the duster…
I had no idea there were a bazillion ways to remove a splinter. I recently pinned a splinter removal remedy that I thought was ingenious, especially when working with children. Instead of reaching for the tweezers, simply squeeze some liquid glue on top of the darn thing. When the glue dries, peel it off and…
This morning, a local news personality spilled the beans—summer vacation for students and teachers is more than halfway over. Whaaaat? Say it isn’t so! One of the great things about teaching, in my opinion, is the fresh start of a brand-new school. I like that “clean slate” feeling. I also totally love getting to know…