Ketchup & Pickles

I found this idea on Pinterest, and I love the idea! This is what the website says to do: 

"My students love to "play" pickles and ketchup on Friday afternoons. First print then cut the cards in half to make to two signs. Laminate and attach magnets to each of signs. Then on Fridays, I place them on the board. Anyone who has turned in all of their assignments is a "pickle" and I write their name under the pickle sign. Anyone who is missing an assignment has their name placed under the ketchup bottle. Pickles can "pick" a fun game or activity, while "ketchups" catch up on missing work. It is amazing how quickly assignments come in!"

I think this is great motivation for students to get their work done! I think this will definitely be on my list of things to do in my classroom!

Follow the link under the pictures, and you can get a free download of these pictures as well as instructions on how to implement!!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pickles-and-Ketchup-Printable

Enjoy!

Happy Late Earth Day!

In honor of Earth Day, I decided to post this cute idea that I found while looking at random education blogs. This one is all about the Lorax by Dr. Seuss. This website features a ton of ideas for a Lorax birthday party, but I loved the idea of planting the new Truffula Trees!

This is a good idea to read the book "The Lorax" to students and then have them make their own Lorax pots, then they get to plant their own Truffula trees (which are really sunflowers). This can be integrated into a science lesson, or you could do it as an Earth Day lesson.

As an alternative to real trees and dirt, I saw an idea where students plant a pom pom in a pot of confetti and when the students go home, the teacher places a lollipop or something like it, in the pots. So cute!

http://blog.hwtm.com/2012/11/truffula-tree-inspired-lorax-birthday-party/

Enjoy!

Eric Carle in the Classroom!

For those of you who don't know, Eric Carle is a children's author who writes books like "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "This is Monday" I saw this on Pinterest (where else) and I thought it was adorable. Unfortunately, the link that this came from is a church website so there's no instructions on how to make these. However! I think it's possible to look at the picture and make your own.

http://blogthechurch.wordpress.com/2011/08/25/
getting-further-into-gods-grace-part-13/

This is a great project idea for spring or when you're talking about metamorphosis. You can read "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" first then make this craft, or just make a few like it to put up in the classroom! 

Happy Spring! 

Enjoy!

Confessions of a Teacher

http://bonniethrasher.blogspot.ca/ 

I found this lovely picture on Pinterest today, and I thought it was a great way for a teacher to tell her students how she really feels. Positive reinforcement is so huge these days, it's important for us to remember to tell our students these things each and every day. What a better way to remind them, then to have a constant reminder up in the classroom?

Enjoy!

Bulletin Boards

 I found this genius idea today on Pinterest (where else!) and I love it! All you have to do is glue thumbtacks on the back of clothespins, then you can put them on your bulletin boards and clip things like important papers, reminders, etc. I think this is such a great idea and it's SO SIMPLE!

Enjoy!

http://middleschoolforlife.blogspot.com/

Pinterest for Teachers!

I hope everyone is enjoying their February so far! I know I talk a lot about Pinterest and that's because it's so awesome! If you're a teacher/student/future teacher, etc. you should definitely consider getting one! Now my post for today is about a website that I found on... you guessed it: Pinterest! It's got a ton of ideas, pictures, etc. for future teachers and their classrooms! It's so awesome! There are pictures of actual classrooms showing you how to decorate using various themes. There's a ton of ideas!

Now I must warn you that this website is so cool that you should set aside a chunk of time to explore it! Sure  you could just glance, but to really get the amazingness that is this site, you have to REALLY check it out!

Here's the link:

http://www.theschoolsupplyaddict.com/room-setup.html

Image is a screen shot from the actual website from the link above

I hope this site makes up for the lack of posts! I hope to post some more soon! 

But for now...

Enjoy!

Classroom Management

First of all, Happy New Year everyone! I hope this post finds you enjoying a wonderful 2013. I know it's been a while since I've posted anything, SO I wanted to make it up to you by posting something that I just found that I LOVE! 

The teacher that thought of this is a genius and I am definitely using thins. She put up pictures of commonly asked questions like: "Can we use markers?" "Do we turn this in?" etc. Then she put them on the board with magnets. Then she put check marks next to the questions that are answered with yes, and x's next to the ones answered with no. This way the kids know by looking at this board that they can use markers, talk to their friends, work at their seats, talk to the teacher, and they have to turn it in when they're done.

I think this is a great idea and I can't wait to implement it someday!

http://firstgradeglitterandgiggles.blogspot.com/2011/09/classroom-management.html

Enjoy!