Here’s a quick list of simple ways to positively manage behavior in the classroom. These tips are designed to be easy and quick. You’ll find ways to manage the entire class and individual students. 

If a student is becoming distracted or talking too much, stand right by their desk.  Continue your instruction as usual.  Just moving closer to them is often enough to alleviate the distracting behavior.

Make it a practice to send out a set number of postcards (or even emails) a week celebrating students that made positive contributions to class.  

TIP:  Be sure to record your mailings in a communication log.  

Give ...

Searching for fun and meaningful back to school activities? Looking for easy ideas that introduce students to you, their classmates, and your classroom? Wish you could grab some FREE back to school activities to try at the start of the new school year? Well...then you're in the right place!

I've rounded up some of my favorite back to school ideas for grades 4-8. And...here's the best part...I've included 2 different freebies so that you can easily give some of them a try!

1. ICEBREAKER

Plan an activity to get students sharing about themselves in a fun and easy way. I'm a fan of starting the first day of school off with letting students create name tags. Download this ...

Analyzing poetry is a skill all our students need to develop. While students are required to investigate poems often, poetry analysis is still something that many students struggle with. That's why I'm a big fan of practice! I love to give students lots of opportunities to closely read and analyze poetry. 

(And I've put together a FREE one-pager that students can use with any poem!) 

POETRY ANALYSIS TIPS

When putting together a poetry analysis lesson, here are some tips I follow:

✔ TIP 1: Select a poem that is long enough for students to adequately investigate, but not too long to make the process overwhelming.

✔ TIP 2: Provide students with background information about the author of ...

Creating a calm classroom environment is more important than ever. Since classrooms can be such a busy place, many of our students (and their teachers) long for a serene environment that calms their senses. That's why I thought I'd put together a series of classroom design mood boards filled with ways to create a calming classroom environment. You'll find that the mood boards include muted colors, flexible seating, lighting alternatives, cozy textures, and motivational messages. The idea is to create a space that helps students feel calm and ready to learn.

Let's say goodbye to boring book reports for good! Today, I'm sharing 7 of my favorite ways to get students to report on the books that they have read. These ideas combine creativity, rigor, and engagement so that students actually enjoy reporting out on their reading. And...there's enough variety in these activities that you'll be able to tap into a variety of learning styles all year long.

1. Doodle Book Review - Exclusive FREEBIE!

This book review is accessible and fun...and since I know your students will LOVE IT, I'm ...

Let's face it...being an educator is challenging. Teachers often have the weight of the world on their shoulders. So, simple coping strategies are essential for promoting a positive mindset about teaching. One way to reduce stress, promote happiness, and reset one's thoughts is with positive affirmations. Reciting positive affirmations is an easy tool for teachers.

Affirmations are positive statements that help you overcome stressful and negative thoughts. They are brief phrases, repeated frequently. When affirmations are repeated often, one’s outlook and thinking patterns begin to change. Positive mental repetitions reprogram our thinking patterns, so that we begin to think and feel differently.

Affirmations have been shown to boost problem-solving abilities and reduce health-deteriorating stress. In addition, they can stimulate ...

Building a classroom community where students feel included, valued, and supported is every teacher's dream. As educators, we want our students to feel like important members of our classroom community. Of course, this happens naturally in the way we interact with students and the way we celebrate learning in our classrooms. However, I've found that it is also effective to include intentional activities that help students build bonds, develop social emotional learning skills, and foster a positive learning culture. 

Here are a few of my favorite ways to build a positive classroom environment...

If you're looking for Thanksgiving lessons that require students to think, create, and share, then you're in the right place. I'm rounding up my favorite ways to celebrate Thanksgiving in the classroom. These Thanksgiving activities are designed to honor the holiday while teaching students critical listening, speaking, reading, and/or writing skills. In other words, no fluff! 

Your students will love these engaging Thanksgiving lessons, and you'll love that they're already planned for you.

Here's a quick overview of my favorites:

--- Thanksgiving Doodle Poster and Gratitude Leaf Project

--- FREE Listening Comprehension Activity

--- 5 Reading Comprehension Learning Stations

--- Thank You Note Writing and Pockets

--- Parts of Speech Pop Art Turkey Lesson

--- Autumn Poetry ...

Today, I'd like to focus on ways to help students develop self-awareness. Self-awareness includes one's ability to recognize emotions, have an accurate self-perception, identify strengths, develop confidence, and show self-efficacy. 

Researchers have found that a student's ability to control his or her feelings, thoughts, and behaviors can be linked to academic success. So, let's take a look at some easy ways to help students develop an awareness of their individual characteristics and personal emotions.

All About Me - ...

Teachers everywhere know that Valentine's Day always seems to bubble over with anxious anticipation and candy-fueled excitement for many students. There's a unique buzz in the air as students in upper elementary and middle school classrooms navigate Valentine's Day celebrations. That's why I love finding fun ways to harness all that energy with educational games and activities. Capitalizing on all of the excitement is a perfect way to engage students. 

I've put together a list of my favorite Valentine's Day activities and games for big kids. I hope you find some that your students will love!

BONUS: Many of these ideas work for virtual instruction as well!

Fact Hunt - Make learning about Valentine's Day super fun with a fact ...