People often ask me where on earth I come up with some of my ideas and I have to tell you I ask myself the same thing sometimes, but any ''original'' (and I use that term loosely because, let's be real, are there really any original ideas in teaching??) idea I come up with is almost always inspired by my students.   My students are progressing ...

Hello Darlings!  Friday was SEUSStastic!  Usually I don't make a big deal about Dr. Seuss' birthday because most activities out there are tailored to the younger kiddos.  We third grade teachers have to be ''serious'' and we cannot have any ''fluff'' according to our administrators.  So I decided to make some unfluff and celebrate Dr. Seuss ...

It's so hard to find good, engaging centers to keep the kids moving and working!  So I wanted to share with you some fun centers I created that involve developmentally appropriate practice and the academic rigor your administrators require! Snap Cube Centers These are fun centers using those snap cubes that sit in a bin in the corner of your ...

I am so glad that Ms. O and Ms. S are back!  They returned to us on January 14 and are such a huge help in the classroom, especially during MWF center time!  They will begin planning activities or leading activities next week and I know will do a great job. Speaking of centers, those have been going great!  I am so happy that this change has been ...

This is the week!  We are starting centers in the MWF class! I began thinking about doing centers in this class over Christmas break.  I was feeling like the Rotation period was too long; the kiddos didn't really like getting on the computers for the whole time they were supposed to; there was work being accomplished but I felt like I still ...

Wow, the beginning of the year has been a huge whirlwind for me (and, from the sounds of things, everyone else as well!).  I haven't forgotten to post, I am just SO busy that I haven't had time.  By the time I can (hmmm...let's see...8:30, when the boys are finally asleep), I am so exhausted that I need to get my school work done and fuel up for ...

Every year, when we take our quarterly assessments, I always have one or two students that freeze up when I say, ''Write a number sentence'' (or whatever it is that uses those words in the directions).  Yep, we talk about them ALL. YEAR. LONG.  but there's something about tests---I get it.  I'm not a test taker either.  I needed something new ...

Seriously? EE and EA together? For my firsties?  All in a 4 day week? This basal is NUTS, but they didn't ask me to write it.  They just want me to teach it--and  have my students Master it so I can assess them on Friday?  WOWSA!  I know that some words they just have to memorize, so I will get off my little soap box because a girl's gotta do what ...

Yesterday was a long day!  It was a day without specials, the kids were beoming crazy as we, here in Ohio, faced yet ANOTHER weather change.  I had a student celebrating her birthday and she brought in goody bags, juice and cupcakes that needed passed out (and she's such a cutie--she didn't want to get the icing all over her---so I got roped into ...

I don’t know about your kids, but mine are getting fidgety as all get out!!!  If they’re this bad this week, I can’t even think of what they’ll be like next week!  So, I am hoping that my Christmas Centers packet will help keep them at bay!  They really loved the Halloween Centers packet, so here’s hoping!  Plus, not all of my kids celebrate ...