Using Stuffed Animals in the Classroom

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Kids love stuffed animals. I mean, they LOVE them. They are comforting, cute, and make the students happy. Here are three ways you can use them in your classroom.Reading BuddiesThis is my favorite way to use stuffed animals in the classroom. You're probably thinking that reading buddies are supposed to be human. You know, you pair a class of younger students up with a class of older students and every week/every other week they read together. But, did you know that stuffed animals can also serve as reading buddies? My second graders have fifth grade reading buddies, but they don't meet up with them every day to read. But, they do have their stuffed animal reading buddies that they can read...

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Classroom Management: Using a WOW Board

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Have you heard of the WOW board? This tool is not a brand new idea, but I only started using it last year. And, I intend to keep using it!Using a WOW board is a great (and super easy) way to recognize individual students and reward their choices, achievements, and efforts. It is also a great way to boost self-esteem too.What is it?The board is simply a table that is printed onto poster sized paper. The table is labeled with letters along the bottom, and numbers along the side, creating cells. It is laminated so it can be used again and again.I printed my board using the standard poster size setting on our poster maker. I know that some schools may not have a poster maker, but there is no rule...

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Classroom Management: Callbacks in the Classroom

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Callbacks, also known as attention getters, are nothing new, but they are one of those classroom management strategies that just work. What makes callbacks successful is that they are fun. Students love responding to them and you rarely need to repeat yourself. Sometimes, when I call out "class" and wait for the "yes" response, I just get crickets. Truthfully, I think the students get tired of the same callback all the time. Callbacks add some novelty to the day and elicit an enthusiastic response.How to UseWith callbacks, there is a teacher phrase and a student phrase. The teacher says their phrase (to get students' attention), then the students respond with their phrase to show that they...

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Summer Reading Picks 2023

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Do you have a favorite summertime activity? Mine is reading. I mean, pool days, lake days, these are nice and all, but I genuinely look forward to all the reading I get done in the summer. If you're a fan of reading and need some book recommendations, then keep on reading!This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase through one of my links. For more information about my Disclosure Policy, please visit this link.First, let me just say this...you don't have to read these books during the summer. In fact, a few of my recommendations are kind of fall specific. These picks will get you through the summer and beyond!I...

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Lucky Duck {A Classroom Community Routine}

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Teachers spend a great deal of time building classroom community at the beginning of the school year, but really, this is something that should go on throughout the year. I'm so excited to share with you a tried and true favorite community building activity of mine: Lucky Duck.I have used this routine in my classroom for many, many years. It dates all the way back to my student teaching days (almost two decades ago).I'm going to break down how "Lucky Duck" works in my room, but please know that it can be modified and used in a million different ways. So, feel free to tweak and customize these ideas to meet your needs and teaching style.What is Lucky Duck?Lucky Duck is basically the student of...

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Wooden Snowman Ornaments {Updated Tutorial}

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Do you let your students make gifts for their families? This is something that I truly enjoy doing. My students enjoy it too! This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase through one of my links. For more information about my Disclosure Policy, please visit this link.Several years back, I made a wood slice snowman ornament with my class. It was a hit and I've made this same ornament ever since. This year, I am making the same ornament, only this time, I will be using a different kind of wood.These precut wooden ornaments are absolutely darling, and perfect for this project. Best of all, they come in bulk...

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Meet the Teacher Tips & Ideas

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Does your school host a Meet the Teacher event? I know this looks different in different places. We usually report back to school three days before the first day of school. The Meet the Teacher event is always on that third day, so it's important that I get in my room and have a plan so that I'm ready to meet my new students and their families at the end of the week.This event is an opportunity to leave a lasting impression and meet your students (and their families). My hope is that the following tips will make this less overwhelming for you. I hope you find them useful! Tip 1: Don't StressHonestly, this event is intended to give you the opportunity to meet your students and vice versa....

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