Back to School Sale: TPT's Best Sale of the Year!

 Mark your calendars for August 3rd and 4th!  It is officially TPT's Back to School Sale!  Whoop Whoop!

Most sellers have set their ENTIRE stores set to 20% off, but you can receive an additional 5% discount if you enter code: BTS21 at checkout.  This is a wonderful time to get all the items on your wish list for a fraction of the cost!  I know I have my cart loaded up and ready to go!

All products in my store are 20%, including some of my most recently created products pictured below.  Just click the image and it will take you to the item in my store!

Happy shopping!!

Four Ways to Pair Students

When kids enter your classroom for the first time in the fall, you likely already have a plan for how you will teach your routines, procedures and rules.

BUT...have you thought about how you will get students interacting with one another on that first day?  How you will get these new faces to start forming bonds?  It is always good to have a plan on how to group or partner students.  

There are tons of fun ways to group students, and having a go-to pairing up method helps your class run smoothly.  Below are a few ways that are quick and don't require any prepared materials.    

• Stand up hand up pair up  

1. Students stand up, push in chairs and walk around the room in a randomized fashion
2. Teacher says "freeze" and students stop walking and raise their hand
3. Students locate a classmate close to them and high five their new partner.
4. If a student has trouble locating a partner--they just look for someone who still has their hand up, or they can come close to teacher and the teacher can assign a group.

• Form a line

1. Have students line up in alphabetical order based on their favorite food, animal, restaurant, etc.
2. Pair students with their neighbor in line OR each end becomes a partner
3. forming a line can also be done using numerical order based on birthday, number of siblings, letters in name, address, etc. 

• Form based on type of clothing

1. Ask students to form groups based on clothing. For example everyone who is wearing red, tennis shoes, necklace, jeans, etc. 

• Use online tools 

1. Random Group Creator
2. Class Dojo
3. Super teacher tools 

Back to School Scavenger Hunts--A fun first day activity!

That first day of school is almost here for most of us!  

Some of us are ready to go back, while others are not ready for summer to end! 

Me.....well.....I am like this doggo down below.  I just LOVE summer with my family!

Since school is just around the corner, I know some (if not most) of our brain space is devoted to thinking about the fist day back.  

• How will students get to know me?  
• How will they get to know each other?  
• What will be our classroom expectations and how will I teach them?
• How will I teach the classroom routines and procedures?
• How will I decorate and organize my room?

Okay, the list could go on and on and on!  I often wonder if the "outside world" really has any idea how much planning and preparation goes into that first day of school. So. Much. Work!  

Personally, as I am planning the first day, I try to put myself in my student's shoes.  Yes--I want the first day to lay the foundation for the school year, but I also don't want students to be bored out of their gourds.   

A classroom scavenger hunt is one of my favorite ways to get kids up and moving and break up the boredom! A partner, group or individual scavenger hunt is a great way to get students familiar with the their new classroom. Instead of walking around the room and pointing out the important aspects--let your students discover it.  Scavenger hunts are perfect for any age--preschool to high school students!

If you decide to make a scavenger hunt for your class it is a good ideas to include items students will use on a regular basis, or informative items.  Examples would include lunch menus, trashcans, Kleenex boxes, hand sanitizer, calendar, etc. 

If you teach young kids use pictures instead of words!  For older students use words, but have them answer a question about the item the located.  

Trust me--this is a way better way to acquaint students with the classroom--plus it gets some of that energy out on that first day or first week back!  For extra fun I sometimes make it a contest.  The first three teams, or three individuals done win a prize. :)   

Pre-made scavenger hunts are available in my TPT store if you are interested.  Just click the image below!

Back to School Season....it's here!

It is official....school supplies and backpacks have hit the shelves at the stores near me. 

Personally, I still have a lot of "summering" left to do....so these stores are CrAzY!!! But.... once I switch my brain into school mode, I will start by thinking through how to create a strong foundation for my students.  

Much like a builder at a construction site, your classroom REQUIRES a well-built foundation in order to have a positive and strong impact for your students.  A sturdy base includes preparations for building and maintaining relationships, creating classroom routines, behavior management, communication and organization of classroom supplies.   

So once you are ready to flip that switch to "school mode," give yourself a chance to think through the following questions:

Relationships

1. How will students get to know you?
2. How will you get to know your students?
3. How will your students get to know one another? 

Routines

1. What routines do your students need to know?
2. How will you teach them?
3. How will they practice the routines? 

Classroom Management

1. How will you prevent problem behavior? 
2. What are the student expectations?
3. What is your philosophy?
4. How will you co-construct the agreements/rules together?
5. How will you encourage positive behavior? 

Communication 

1. How will you promote all of the awesome things you are going to do this year?
2. Will you use social media?
3. How will you keep communication positive?  

Classroom Organization

1. How will you decorate your classroom?
2. Where will you put supplies?
3. What will be the best way to organize to keep your transitions efficient? 
4. How will students organize their supplies? 

Click the image below to download the above guiding question and a graphic organizer to record your thoughts.  It is a great freebie! 

Happy Fourth of July!

 Wishing you and your family a very happy and safe Fourth of July!