Write On!

          Need some ideas for those last few days of school? Writing prompts have been my best friend! I gave my students the writing prompt: “_[insert name]___ lived in a castle in a far away land.” Students chose their main character’s name and copied down this sentence. They then added one…

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A Hard Good-bye

This week is so bittersweet. I am forever grateful for this year’s experiences, from my wonderful principal to my amazing class. My room parents were the best I have ever had, my classroom was outfitted with state-of-the-art technology and had ample space, and my teammates became great friends. I am so blessed to have had…

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Summer Plans

I love how everyone thinks teachers have “off” in the summer. Not only do I have to work another job, but I am never truly “off.” I am always thinking of how to do things better, how to reach all of my children, and how I can mix things up to keep it fresh. Many…

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Field Day

At the end of every school year most schools host some sort of “Field Day” where their students compete in games learned throughout the year in P.E. class. Our school makes the event similar to a mini Olympics. Each classroom chooses a country and makes a banner. We begin our Field Day with a procession…

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A Change in Leadership

Have you ever experienced a change in leadership at your school? It creates a lot of anxiety as most changes do. I recently left my first job at a title-one school for the past 5 years to join a team of teachers at a high performing school in town. I knew I needed to gain…

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Remember When…

This school year was fantastic! There are so many wonderful memories to cherish. So many in fact, I may have forgotten them! I asked my students to place their heads down on their desk and visualize the year from beginning to end. They brainstormed a few of their favorite moments from this year and chose…

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Student to Student Appreciation

At the end of every school year I do the same activity with my class. It’s a way to say “thank you” and celebrate individual attributes. I got the idea from a story I read while I was in college. I apologize to the author as I cannot remember the source. I also apologize that…

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A Teacher's Must-Haves

Over the years, I have collected materials that have honed my teaching style. Looking back, I can’t imagine I ever taught without them at some point. Below is a list of items I cannot teach without and what I use each one for. Bell– Used during small group workshop times to signal transition to a…

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A Great Teacher Is…

As I continue on my journey as an educator of young minds, I always reflect on how I can inspire my students. I want them energized and engaged in their learning, so much so that they yearn for more each passing day. But….how do I do that? So I thought about what made me as…

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