At the beginning of the school year, teachers need to establish so many routines and procedures. When it comes to planning back-to-school reading lessons and activities, it can be overwhelming to say the least! Check out this blog post with 6 strategies to consider when planning your back-to-school reading! 1. The Power of “Status of the Class” To begin, one of the most powerful routines ... Read the Post
9 Ways to Build Classroom Culture
Working to build classroom culture in the first weeks of school is critical. Research shows that a number of components related to classroom culture, student discussion, and more are highly correlated with academic success. Not only that, but we want our students to enjoy their time in our rooms, right? Let's take a peek at nine strategies that will help build your classroom community and lead ... Read the Post
Back to School Student Surveys
Getting to know our students is such a huge part of those first weeks of "back to school"...and the thought of doing it virtually only adds to the anxiety of a new year. Whether you are returning to in-person instruction, virtual, or blended, it's essential to find ways to get to know about your students and to connect with them, and student surveys are one way to do just that. Social-Emotional ... Read the Post
Back to school ideas and more!
Starting to think about hunting for back to school ideas? I know there are tons of blog posts out there about organization, bulletin boards, and more--but today I just wanted to share a few of my favorite back to school resources that might help you as you start to plan those first weeks. Along with them, I have included some new video previews that I have created, and I would LOVE to know your ... Read the Post
Some of my classroom “must haves”!
If you are a teacher, you may be obsessed with office supplies, storage, or classroom gadgets. Just a hunch. Want to check out a few of my favorites? Read on! I spent some more time in my disaster of a classroom #justkeepingthingsreal today, and I started unpacking different boxes to begin the process of "reassembly". I thought it might be fun to share with you a few of ... Read the Post
Anecdotal Reading Notes and Status of the Class
As we move into a new school year, many of us are searching for new systems. If you are anything like me, you have probably uttered the phrase, "Next year, I am going to be SO much better at...". And you can fill in the blank. Better at recording grades...better at keeping your desk clean...better about providing timely feedback to students--we all have tons of areas where we wish we had a ... Read the Post
6 tips for Creating Your Back-to-School Classroom Culture
As I have taught longer and longer, I realize that this "back-to-school" season has taken on new priorities for me. I remember scouring the back-to-school flyers looking for bargain school supplies. I remember thinking about what colors my bulletin boards would be--or if I wanted a "theme". Upon reflection, I am still wondering what led me to the "fish" theme that one year. I think it was the ... Read the Post