Classroom set up is important because how well your classroom works for you and your students will impact your year. However, if you take a look at Instagram, you might begin to feel overwhelmed. New teachers might feel like they need to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into their classroom. This is just not realistic or true. Here is…
What things can students do independently? This is something I was unsure of as a new teacher. However, after years of teaching first and second grade, I’ve learned the answer is… a lot! Of course, it will depend on the time of year, age and maturity of your students, but here is a list of things that most kindergarten, first…
Your classroom morning routine sets the tone for the whole day. It can be a time of chaos and stress, or a time of productivity and easing into the school day. Here’s my morning routine in my first grade classroom and how it sets us up for a successful day. What are the goals of a strong morning routine? When…
Anchor charts are a huge part of teaching and learning because it’s often the quickest and easiest way to document learning, share new information, and collect student ideas. Anchor charts also allow students to look back and recall past information. Anchors serve very specific purposes, and have an important role in lower elementary education. Here is why I always save…
Help students to self regulate when they’re upset with a calm down kit. It provides students with a safe space to process emotions and feelings. It’s particularly helpful for students with sensory processing needs. It teaches students life long coping skills, cuts down on classroom management issues, and takes some of the burden off of you as a teacher. But,…