*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* Ok, so I know it’s not quite time to start clearing your desk, walls and student belongings, but getting an early start on your end of the year classroom clean-up is imperative! It makes life so much simpler. You’ll be more organized, productive and frankly happier for taking these steps early on. 1. Before all else, take pictures: You’ll definitely thank yourself later for this step. I used to pull up old pictures of my classroom when I was stumped on how to set up a specific section for the new school year. This is really helpful because sometimes you either want to avoid or follow specificContinue reading
7 Steps to EQAO Test Success (and other standardized testing)
Standardized testing is quite the ordeal for teachers and students alike. It really can cause undue stress and anxiety to our students and often cuts into our curriculum time as we prepare our classes. I wont discuss the merit of standardized testing, but since it is part and parcel of our schooling system, I’ve listed 7 steps to EQAO success (and other standardized testing), which can be used in any grade. I’ve implemented these steps in my classroom and really found that they helped to both prepare and calm my students. Take a look at these steps, and let me know which steps you use in your classroom in the comments section. *Please note that, as perContinue reading
4 Steps To Effectively Teach Point of View!
Teaching point of view/perspective in narratives is one of my favorite units! After following these four steps, your students will be pros at identifying and describing points of view in various texts and also create unique perspective pieces. These 4 steps to effectively teach point of view are meant as a guideline, you can use and expand them to cover many more lessons. Take a look: 1. Define & Identify Start off by discussing point of view and who exactly is narrating the story. Are they speaking in the first person? Do they have abilities to know all sides of the story? Is their view limited? Some of these questions may be philosophical but your studentsContinue reading
7 Amazing End of the Year Gift Ideas For Students
*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* The end of the school year is so wonderful! Teachers and students alike daydream about all the wonderful things to come. However, it’s also a time of reflection over the year that passed, and for many it has a tinge of sadness about the things that will be missed. For these reasons, many teachers give their students parting gifts commemorating the year and looking forward to the next. Oh, and there is no need to spend a fortune, most students are perfectly happy receiving goodies from your local dollar store. Here are 7 amazing end of the year gift ideas for students that you must see: 1. Pencils AnyContinue reading
8 Ways to Teach Landscape Art
Landscapes are so beautiful to look at, which is why it is so great to teach your students how to recreate them. There are so many artistic principles that can be taught through a landscape unit. For example, you can create lessons around line, foreground & background, artistic messages, color representations and symmetry (to name a few). Landscape art also ties in really nicely with a Social Studies unit on Urban & Rural communities. Here are ways to teach landscape art. 1. Start with the sky: In this form of landscape art, the sky is the main feature. So naturally, students plan out their landscape by first painting/coloring the sky. I like the swirl approach,Continue reading
Up Up and Away Classroom Theme
*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* I love this up up and away classroom theme! It suggests something magical and adventurous, and if you combine this with your students imagination you have the perfect mix! There is something empowering about soaring towards the sky and it’s wonderful imagery to give your students regarding their own journeys throughout the year. Here are some ideas about an empowering and uplifting up up and away classroom theme: Classroom Decor Here is a great opportunity to give your class a splash of color. I also love how imitating a blue sky in your room just brightens up the atmosphere. Seeing all this flight and promise is sureContinue reading
Dr. Seuss Classroom Theme
Dr. Seuss is just the kind of quirky & colorful theme that will have your students feeling alert and alive in the classroom. Not to mention, they can contribute to the theme or point out what they notice after read alouds of Dr. Seuss books. Behind all the wacky language, Dr. Seuss books contain some wonderful messages to share with your students. Also, how fun would it be to reward them with a Dr. Seuss movie as a class management technique! Most of these ideas are completely DIY-compliant, which helps when budgeting. Take a look at these Dr. Seuss classroom ideas: Classroom Decor All you need to complete some of these looks are pool noodlesContinue reading
2D Shapes Lesson Ideas for Grade 3
*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* Grade 3 students will have already had quite a bit of exposure to 2D shapes. Most of them will only need a refresher before moving on to 3D shapes and other geometry lessons. So, why not reinvigorate your students’ knowledge with some fun and exciting ways to approach 2D shapes. Here are some classic, as well as some unique, ways to craft your 2D shapes lesson ideas for grade 3 :). Anchor Charts: First things first, you will need good anchor charts. Some students have trouble remembering the names of shapes, so colorful anchor charts are key to their success. Try these out: Games: Just sayContinue reading
Teach Reading Strategies – All Students Need This!
I always (always!) start my year off with teaching reading strategies. This will help your students in everything they do throughout the rest of the year. Not only does it work miracles for their reading, but they can use these strategies across all subjects. Here is an overview on how to teach reading strategies: First things first: Download this super helpful reading strategies bookmark. This fun bookmark is the perfect tool for students doing independent reading! It directs them to use strategies when they are having difficulty with a text. When they’re done reading, it gives them post-reading strategy ideas! Choose from 5 different bookmark designs for students to decorate. Create Schema Connections: Students need toContinue reading
NonFiction Lesson Ideas for Primary Grades
*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* By the end of the primary years, students should know all about nonfiction. They should be able to define nonfiction, identify text features and more. Here are some nonfiction lesson ideas for primary grades I have come across: Compare Fiction & Nonfiction: This goes without saying, students will learn better when they can compare concepts that they are already familiar with. A comparison between fiction and nonfiction will help them to better understand how to classify both genres. Here some ideas to try out: Anchor Charts: Worksheets: Focus on Text Features: Here, you want your students to be able to identify and define the text featuresContinue reading