Top 5 Classroom Must Haves

Have you ever bought something for your classroom and thought it was going to be SO GREAT, but you immediately had buyer's remorse about one week in (or even shorter)? 

Over the years, I've found that these are ESSENTIALS that deserve to restocked in your classroom because they ROCK!

1. Jumbo Paperclips There's just something about the slick quality of these that glide easily over my stacks of papers.  I don't even bother with the standard paper clips anymore, they can't compare!
2. Staples-brand Heavy Duty Pencil Sharpener by far the most precise point time and time again, although it's a little noisy- this sharpener is my FAVORITE, especially since I don't need to use the rotating dial for different diameters.  We're a standard #2 pencils ONLY sharpening classroom here!
3. Magic Erasers Any smudge or leftover paint stain vanishes quickly with this awesome cleaning tool!  This also makes for a great accessory for your class tidy team expert to use when making the classroom look spic and span!
4. Inkjoy gel pens By far, my favorite pen to write notes in!! I can put together my to-do list in this vibrant gel ink from Inkjoy that won't smudge.  My only qualm is the ink isn't waterproof but that would probably mess with their secret formula.  I have had a couple of water spilling accidents that ended in big black puddles of ink on my notebooks, but that was because of my own clumsiness.  Inkjoy really does create joy through their innovative ink products!
5. White Vinegar Although this may seem like an odd choice for a teacher, vinegar has a variety of uses.  When I buy vinegar for my classroom, I invest in the gallon-size jug because it will get plenty of use out of me during the school year.   #1 Science Experiments - mixing baking soda and vinegar is a classic yet engaging activity!  #2 Slime Cleaning Solution - surprisingly, when a fresh batch of red slime plummeted to my classroom carpet, it was not a total game ender.  My student shared with me that if we added vinegar to the clump of slime that attached itself to the carpet fibers, then it would reactivate the slime and she'd be able to clean it all off.  Much to my surprise, she was right! My janitor was happy about this as well. :)

You can find all of these items at Staples, but if you are just out and about at the grocery store, or Target - you'll find everything but the pencil sharpener there!  If you're an Amazon-a-holic, you can get everything using the links above!

(DISCLAIMER: I'm not an affiliate, I don't get paid by any of these brands, I'm just a genuine fan of all these items!)

Happy Shopping!

Digital Template for School Calendar

If you teach at a 1:1 school, you may find yourself battling the need to become more and more paperless!

While helping my little sister (who happens to be a kindergarten teacher) setup her new bulletin boards in her classroom this summer, she discovered she had a PROBLEM!

The HUGE amount of bulletin board real estate she was used to putting her Calendar Math display before the fancy Epson Interactive Board was installed had BECOME NON-EXISTENT!  This is where she stapled all 18 sets of ten frames to count the amount of days spent in school each day with her students!

So, what's a tech-savvy big sis to do?  Offer the suggestion to take it digital - with Google Slides that is!  In fact, it seemed like the most engaging option because it would automatically make this counting routine of her Calendar Math lesson bigger and hands-on.  It also incentivizes students to become the math leader of the day and move the counter for the class!


She liked the idea so much, she actually said YES!  And, she requested I redo her outdated, chevron place value chart to keep a visual track of what day of school it actually is without having to refer to the Google Slide!

If you'd like to expand your horizons and try this calendar routine in DIGITAL FORM this year, don't worry!  My template includes two 6-minute TUTORIAL videos that you can watch over and over again.  The first is specifically for Google Slides.  And the second, giving the tutorial for the PowerPoint version of this template (automatically included with the Google Slides version).

Since many primary teachers enjoy bringing in bright colors into their class bulletin boards and wall displays, I created a set of gold glitter heart rainbow counters.  Her school is leading with heartprints this school year, plus what glam teacher can resist anything with sparkle?  Besides, this might encourage her young mathematicians to love math even more with these sparkly, gold hearts!

 Click any of the images above to shop my store for this digital calendar template using ten frames.  If you want to see more about what you're actually getting, watch my sneak peek video clip on Facebook:

Free Classroom Labels (for Target's Square Label Pockets)

When I first started teaching ten years ago, I spent LOTS of time LABELING!  Avery sticker labels were my best friend. Now, Target Dollar Spot has blessed teachers with many ways to label your classroom with their clear adhesive pockets.

My favorite size is the square 3.5 x 3.5 clear labels.  I now prefer these over the Avery options because they don´t leave behind the sticker residue or annoying, white remnants that shipping labels normally do when you peel them off.  This means if you need to re-position them, it´s not a big deal. After leaving my first school district, some of my former coworkers let me know that Room 30 still has touches of me with all MY labels still on the cabinets! (That's just PROOF at how much of a job it is to REMOVE shipping labels.)

FREE Classroom Label Tip #1: Name Tags (on chair backs)

Last year, we started leveling our students for math.  This meant, my homeroom class would switch to one of the two other grade level teachers if they weren't staying with me for accelerated math.  I knew I wanted to have name tags in an area that other students coming from different classrooms wouldn’t be distracted by or messing with. As a fix, I decided to place the square labels on the chair backs. Some of the labels did need to be replaced about midway through the year because the kids would pull out the labels when I wasn’t vigilantly monitoring or through just normal wear and tear of stacking chairs, but it was definitely less than how often I normally have replaced regular desk tags!

FREE Classroom Label Tip #2: Table Folders

One of the ways I organize unfinished work at tables is with poly plastic folders.  I would mainly use this for students to keep writing papers and/or science lab activities since students tend to be at different stages of completion.  This system greatly helped me to manage revising rough drafts over the weekend, and planning for writing during the upcoming week.  The left pocket had a shipping label which said, "still working..." and the right pocket's label was, "finished work."

Looking through my class´ writing progress this way helped me to check the status of the class and determine who wasn't ready for the publishing stage, and how to plan my lessons accordingly.  Each table, 1 through 6, would travel lightly in my tote bag - much nicer than 25 notebooks. This method also kept everything easily organized for students to access without having to pass back and sort through an entire class set.

FREE Classroom Label Tip #3: Personal Schedule Reminders

Managing schedules for my resource and speech students DRIVES me CRAZY!! I try to avoid having to answer the questions, "When do I have to leave for writing?" as much as possible.  Part of making this a peaceful reality for myself is to create schedule reminders for my students to refer to all by themselves!  For example, "What time do we go to lunch?" - I simply point to the schedule on the whiteboard.  Why wouldn't it be different for personal schedules?  

Aside from not having a clue what time each speech student leaves for their services every week, I know these printed reminders help out these guys deal with their anxiety so much!! These students crave routines and are SO TIME-DRIVEN!!  So, I designed a desk reminder that can be easily edited the next time there's a schedule change ------which is HIGHLY LIKELY (at my school)!!

I place this reminder in the top corner of my students' desks because they are discrete and help them to manage all the places they need to be ALL by THEMSELVES!! This promotes independence and saves my sanity because I no longer have to worry about getting these learners to their push-out classrooms.

Since this is my FAVORITE way to use these Target labels, I created this video tutorial to show you how to do it yourself! Check it out to see how I create these personal schedule reminders!

FREE Classroom Label Tip #4: Numbered Cubby Labels

Instead of placing the labels where the printout loads in at the top, I rotate the opening so it´s on the right.  Not only did it help me to keep everything flush with the straight edge, but it has helped these labels stick for years! This strategy prevented the adhesive pocket from getting caught on anyone´s backpack and allowed me to avoid the lip that is created by the opening gap.  I´ve had these labels on my cubbies for the past two years without having to replace a single one!!

FREE Classroom Label Tip #5: Participation Tallies

WARNING: This will make the label somewhat dirty.  Simply, place a Sticky Note inside the label and have students write on them with dry erase markers.  During math lessons I do ANYTHING possible to make sure students are engaged in their learning. One of these strategies is to have them give themselves a participation tally for responding or completing the appropriate task when directed.  I typically set a goal of having them reach 15 tallies before our Exit Ticket at the end of our lesson.

For example, I might say, "If you read the I can statement with me, give yourself a tally." "If this is the solution you shared with your partner, give yourself a tally."   If you´d like to make it even more competitive, then you can have table groups total up their tallies and award an ACTUAL TABLE POINT to the table with the most participation tallies that day.

BONUS Tip: Line Display (no pocket label needed)

My sister has previously used calendar numbers purchased at the teaching supply store to attach to the tiles on the floor in her kindergarten classroom.  Now, her students use these numbers to know what spot to stand in when they line up to leave the classroom at any time. This teaches them about personal space and where to find their student number.

EXCLUSIVE FREEBIE for my blog followers (simply click the image above or below)

Solar Oven S'mores to Build Lasting Memories

Are you ready to promote a love for learning with solar oven s'mores?  Bring a touch of summertime and camping into the classroom by building pizza box solar ovens to cook your class their very own s'mores!  National S'mores Day is August 10th, and since we start school in Arizona near August 1st, solar cooking is one of my favorite ways to build classroom memories each school year.

To minimize my teacher prep time, I recruit parents starting at Meet the Teacher to make solar ovens for our science experiment.  In the same section of the room/newsletter where I ask for classroom donations, I put a special educational request in for a donation of DIY pizza box solar ovens.  I highly recommend Steve Spangler's Science Made Easy tutorial on how to make a pizza box solar oven.  This is the tutorial I sendmy families and they always turn out great.  Also, I don't feel bad accepting the help when I hear that several of my families rave about turning it into a weekend bonding project!  

Another way I reduce my teacher time prepping is by getting the materials laid out in class while the students are busy writing down the lab purpose, the hypothesis and listing the materials on their lab reports.  This works great for labs that don't require precise measuring.  While the students are filling out these portions of the lab, I add square graham crackers and marshmallows into the solar ovens.  Then, by the time, we get to the procedure part of the experiment, it's time to find a spot to place the s'mores solar cookers outside!

 Why don't I add the chocolate at the same time? For starters, I teach in Arizona and chocolate melts in your purse in as little as two minutes.  I recommend doing a trial to get an idea for what time parameters work well in your area.  For me, I found that adding chocolate when we return outdoors gives it the MINUTE it needs to melt naturally in the sun without being added to the solar oven!  Each student walks outside with a paper plate topped with one square graham and chocolate (if they're not allergic).  As they wait in line UNDER the SUN melting their chocolate, I grab a melted mallow graham and overturn it onto their plate to complete their S'more!  We eat outside, unless it's too miserable, and then we return indoors to cool off and discuss solar energy!

 According to the tutorial above, you'll also need a few more supplies to build the solar cooker:

• Large cardboard pizza box (in pretty good shape)
• 2 Clear page protectors
• Black construction paper
• Duct tape
• Wide, clear packing tape
• Box cutter
• Scissors
• 12” (30 cm) Wooden food skewer (or a ruler or will do too)
• Glue stick (Elmer's Glue® works, too.)
• Aluminum foil (wide, heavy duty if possible)
• Ruler
• Pen or pencil

Thinking about school from the perspective of a kid, the BEST MOMENTS always involved food and any hands-on science experiment!  So, I combined the best of both worlds by adding this experiment to my annual rotation.  Who can say their best school memories happened as a result of an assigned worksheet?  

Sadly, by the time the students get to me in fourth grade, they haven’t had much time engaging in science experiments.  This is because in Arizona, our primary teachers are stressed out about helping these kids read, not leaving much room for scientific exploration in the school day.  

Each year, without fail, I get the same AWE-STRUCK look from the fourth graders who enter my class and hear me proclaim, “this is the YEAR of SCIENCE!” like Oprah announcing everyone gets a free puppy.  They can’t believe what they just heard, but they’re ready to LOVE every moment of it!

During the first month of school, I make sure to PRIORITIZE science and we create LASTING MEMORIES with eight fun experiments.  As a teaser, we begin the year with the Don't Eat the Marshmallow Challenge which is based on a TED talk in which scientists placed a marshmallow in front of a child with the option to potentially earn another if they simply wait for a certain time frame.  If they chose not to wait, then the child was able to enjoy the marshmallow immediately!

I try to plan in at least 2-3 experiments a week during our first month together!  One of my absolute favorites, is making s’mores with pizza box solar ovens.  The idea came to me after learning there was a National S’MORES Day a few years ago, and I knew we had to celebrate this joyous occasion in my classroom!

National S’MORES Day is August 10th – sometimes it’s a school day, but even if it falls on the weekend, we celebrate as close to the day as possible.  Whenever we will make S’mores at school, I make sure to announce this A WEEK AHEAD of time to the class, so we can have plenty of time to gather the needed supplies.  On Meet the Teacher Night, I even have my optional class donation cut-outs labeled with a pizza box solar oven and s’mores ingredients.  Luckily, I’ve had several repeat families who know what this is for, and others, who are extremely generous!

Don’t underestimate the GIFT of giving your class this unforgettable experience.  It surprised me to find out that one of my students had never had a S’MORE before in their entire life until we did this experiment together.  Getting to complete this science experiment at school, helped him to learn he really liked S’MORES, and he made sure to tell me after he had messily devoured it!

Setting the Stage for “The Year of Science:”
Each year, I get my students ready to think like a scientist by introducing the Scientific Method.  We take notes after setting up our science journals.  I make sure to play these related video clips:

• BrainPop
• Think Like a Scientist!

Then, we dive into the science experiments!  The Gummy Bear experiment is always the first!  This piques their interest because they’re forced to wait a WHOLE day to see the results.  I like adding more SUSPENSE, so I hide our soaking bears in my cabinet, and I tell the students it’s to make sure roaches don’t get them, of course!   Naturally, this is all the kids can talk about the next school day.

Then, I up the ante, with the Magic Potion Lab!  We get to observe a chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar to inflate a balloon *magically!*   You can use any regular latex balloon (I prefer the emoji kind from the 99¢ store).  Even though this balloon kind of smells bad (not sure if it’s the rubber latex or the ink used to print the design ), they transform into personal emoji trophies for the students to parade out of school with at dismissal!  

Check out what others have said about using these science experiments in their classrooms:

Either way, I hope you are inspired to celebrate National S'mores Day with S'mores cooked by Solar Oven Pizza Boxes!

Back to School Pineapple Bulletin Board

Develop more CONFIDENT student leaders who build a POSITIVE community filled with respect by sharing these 3 POWERFUL LIFE LESSONS with your class!

Whether it's the beginning of the school year or the end of the year, using the Pineapple Poem as a metaphor is a great way to teach important life lessons to your students!  My advice is to chunk this up into digestible bites for your class.  Read on to find out more about the pineapple-themed life lessons I share with my class to help them develop into better leaders.

Pineapple Life Lesson #1: Good Vibes Only!

I'm a big believer in the power of STAYING POSITIVE!  Each school year, I love building class community and relationships off this idea of GOOD VIBES ONLY!  I say, life's too short to go through it as a grouch - lighten up and be aware of your energy!  Before my obsession with pineapples, I used the "smart cookie" metaphor, and I would frequently remind, "You can't be a smart cookie with a crumbly attitude."  Basically, you can't grow & get better at something if you choose to stay in your fixed mindset and just complain & groan.  Positive energy raises the vibe up and keeps your emotions happy and the stress level light.  Instead of freaking out, I teach my students to stay calm & focus on the positive.  This isn't just a school strategy, but an applicable lesson for life!

Pineapple Life Lesson #2: Stand Tall

It's a fact of life, not everyone is going to be your biggest fan in life.  In fact, you will run into your fair share of haters.  (The kids always giggle when I use this term, but it's the best word for me to get the message across.)  It is important to remain resilient and STAND TALL: not giving up or quitting when the going gets tough.  Don't let the haters bring you down to their level and turn it into a war of low-blows, but be the BIGGER person.  I remind them, you can't control other people's thoughts, feelings, or opinions - all you have control over are TWO things in this world: YOUR attitude and YOUR actions!  Don't let someone tear you down with their hurtful comments.  

Often, the best medicine you can show that person is to RISE UP and go on with your day minding your own business & staying HAPPY WITH YOURSELF (all while showing kindness and not being mean in retaliation because SECRETLY they are trying to STEAL your HAPPINESS. If your emotions show you're sad or mad, it means they won and you just lost.)  This is also a good time to briefly touch on bullying - this word is so overused and confused and misunderstood.  So, I find it's easier for me to clear up these misconceptions early on. Often times, kids overreact and think one act of unkindness means that someone is bullying them.  Repeated and intentional acts to pick on someone over a consistent basis is how bullying is different than a single, senseless act.

Pineapple Life Lesson #3: Be TOUGH on the outside, but SWEET on the INSIDE!  

This lesson is the perfect follow-up to the previous lesson on Stand Tall.  Having tough skin like the protective skin of a pineapple is important to protect your brain from believing the untrue comments your haters will tell you.  It truly helps you protect your happiness to realize that you are in control of your emotions and STOP giving that power to others.  Being sweet, like the tasty fruit found inside the pineapple, is just a way to remind you to show kindness to others.  We are in this world to make it a better place, and we do that by sharing love to each other.  Kids often connect this idea easily to the "Golden Rule" or "Do the Right Thing Even When No One is Watching." 

How do I keep these pineapple LIFE LESSONS on my students' mind?  

I post a Pineapple Welcome Board outside my classroom that students pass by each morning before they greet me at the door.  In addition to the kids delighting in seeing their very own name on the pineapple outside our door because it adds to a sense of belonging, I also keep the Pineapple Poem posted on this bulletin board as well.  Additionally, I typically ask an applicable question during read alouds or novel discussion about a character.  Was The BFG doing a good job of standing tall when his giant brothers picked on him for his small size?  Tell your partner 2 ways you know the BFG is someone who stays sweet on the inside.  This easy strategy can be used with any character traits program your school may follow, or the one you've chosen to be your own class theme!

 

This clipart by Prettygrafik had me at A-LO-HA!  When I saw it was on sale, it was an even SWEETER deal!  I knew it was the perfect way to give my best-selling Editable Pineapple Welcome Bulletin Board a makeover for the back to school season!  If you're curious to see what the original design looked like, click here.

Stay Sweet & Stand Tall🍍 this School Year!