A successful classroom community happens when students clearly understand the expectations. The ideal time to set the stage for this classroom community is the beginning of the year! I recommend that teachers use a three-step approach to teaching new routines and procedures at the beginning of the year. The three steps are: 1.) Model desired…
Kindergarten teachers, are you searching for innovative ways to manage your kindergarten centers effectively? I decided I wanted an easy way for students to see and understand exactly what was expected of them at each center, and I finally found something that worked! Digital slides and visuals. Completely designed to streamline classroom management while enriching…
Every teacher strives to have a well-managed classroom. We know that having a classroom that runs smoothly saves us time and energy when it comes to managing our students. It also saves us instructional time by allowing us to teach more and correct behavior less often! But how do we achieve a well-run classroom? A…
I have written before about the importance of using visuals in your kindergarten classroom. You can check out these posts to learn a little bit more about why I feel so strongly about using visuals with little learners. Visuals make everything easier! They prevent you from having to repeat yourself over and over again. They…
It is so important at the beginning of the year to talk about classroom procedures and practice it often to start the year off right. Spending that time at the beginning of the year to talk about expected behavior is key and can really set the tone for your school year. Providing visuals to show…
A calm down area is such a valuable space in your classroom or house. Little learners can have big feelings and teaching them how to cope and self regulate is such an important skill. Social emotional learning is a necessary part of our day. This resource includes everything you need to set up your calm…
Indoor recess can quickly turn into chaos! Often the first indoor recess comes as a surprise so have these visuals handy to quickly model and explain. The words and pictures will help your young students quickly understand what is expected of them. Keep them in a just right spot to quickly grab and refer to…
Going over Outside Recess Procedures is so important at the beginning of the year. These outside recess visuals are perfect to use as you model and practice expectations. The kid friendly language and pictures will help your young students quickly understand what is expected of them. Keep them close to the door or use the…
Going over bus procedures is so important at the beginning of the year. Want an engaging and fun way to practice bus expectations? Use the acronym BOOGIE to help your students remember the key words of how to behave on the bus. These bus visuals are perfect to use as you model and practice expectations. The kid friendly language and pictures will help…
Manners Visuals and Emergent Reader I am a firm believer that visuals are important to help little learners understand and know what is expected of them. Use these manner visuals and emergent reader at the beginning of the year to discuss a variety of manners to help build a strong classroom community. Display or…
Visuals are such an important and valuable tool in the lower grades. Use these colorful visuals to help make your directions easy to follow for each activity. Simply laminate for durability and post the steps needed to complete each activity. I like to assign this job to my teacher helper. He or she will go…
Visuals are the keys to success when explaining classroom procedures especially for little learners at the beginning of the year. Primary students need to SEE what they need to DO. Use these visuals to help your students understand bathroom and hand washing procedures. Display the digital slides as you teach and explain. Laminate and store on binder rings to easily…
Going over every classroom procedure and practicing over and over is key to show what is expected and to start the school year off on the right foot. Use these visuals to help as you go over different classroom procedures and then display in your classroom. Classroom Visuals with Clip Art as well as Classroom Visuals with a blank space to add your own picture.
Every teacher strives to have a well-managed classroom. We know that having a classroom that runs smoothly saves us time and energy when it comes to managing our students. It also saves us instructional time by allowing us to teach more and correct behavior less often! But how do we achieve a well-run classroom? A…
We’ve all been there—you’re in the middle of a super important lesson, and then bam! A kid decides it’s the perfect time to test the limits. Whether it’s playing tag when they should be sitting down or interrupting a classmate with a story about their pet hamster, setting boundaries with children can feel like trying…
Understanding personal space is one of the most important social skills students can learn, especially in the early years of their education. However, for many students—particularly younger children and those with special needs—the concept of personal space can be a bit confusing. They often don’t realize when they’re standing too close to a classmate, crowding…
So, it’s the beginning of the year, and everything was supposed to go smoothly… until you met the disruptive students. Whether it’s the line jumper, the blurt master, or the infamous space invader, every class has its fair share of disruptive classroom behavior that threatens the classroom environment. Don’t worry, though; we’ve all been there….
So, the school year just started, and instead of having the perfectly managed classroom full of smiling, well-behaved students you dreamed of all summer, you’re staring at a room that looks more like a wild circus. This can happen to any teacher. A first-year, an almost retired, or a somewhere in-between teacher. You’re dealing with…
Starting your first teaching job can feel like diving into the deep end without your floaties. On my first day of school as a new teacher, standing in front of a group of students, I was super excited but also absolutely terrified. I had all my lesson plans ready, but as soon as the day…
Classroom management is a topic that teachers never stop discussing, no matter the school year’s time. Initially, you must establish your ground rules, expectations, and routines. In the middle of the year, you revisit procedures and rules after a longer holiday break. Finally, during those last months, you remind students of your expectations and routines…
As St. Patrick’s Day draws near, the air fills with excitement and anticipation, especially in kindergarten classrooms where young minds are eager to explore the magic of this festive holiday. From tales of mischievous leprechauns to the allure of hidden pots of gold, there’s something enchanting about St. Patrick’s Day that captivates the imagination. When…
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As primary grade teachers, we face unique challenges during the month of February, and sometimes, we just want to crawl into the corner and cry some tears while drinking our Starbucks, Dunkin, or water out of our Stanley cups. The long winter days and potential disruptions like indoor recess can test our classroom management skills…
I want you to imagine your classroom for a minute. Imagine not having a schedule. You can start reading and math when you want and send your students to lunch whenever you are ready. Each day would be different from the other, and if you already work in an elementary school setting, you know how…
