A Little Reminder...

Tis the Season

With the Thanksgiving break now behind us, we enter into the final weeks before the winter break. During this time of year, students may seem a bit antsy and anxious as they anticipate the holiday season.  That is why it is more important than ever to remain consistent with your routines and structures, and also provide meaningful learning experiences that both you and your students will enjoy and grow from.  As we begin to get busy and frantic during this time of year, it is important to remain cool and collected.  Take time to reflect, relax, and most importantly take care of yourself.  It is very hard to care for so many others when we, ourselves, are not at our best.  Enjoy the holiday season with your students, make many memories, and count your blessings!

 Winter Holiday Resources

Check and Reflect

It is hard to believe that we are already into the month of November!  Fall is finally trickling into the area, the holidays are approaching, and I bet your kids finally feel like YOUR kids.  At this point your routines and procedures are falling into place and you have established the structures that help your classroom run smoothly and with ease.  If things are still not feeling quite right, remember that it is important to establish clear expectations with consistency.  At the same time, if something is not working--be willing to change, adapt, or tweak for the maximum results.  Don't be afraid to revisit and reteach your expectations as often as needed.  Classroom management is the key to creating a learning environment that nurtures and facilitates learning and growth.

Check out these resources:

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Happy Halloween!

Tomorrow, Halloween, will fall on a Monday!!!! EEEK!  Plan ahead and make sure you have plenty of engaging learning opportunities available to help students channel their energy into meaningful learning.  Check out these wonderful fall resources below:

The Teacher's Corner

teach-nology

Education World

Pinterest

NTU Follow Up Day 1

We are so glad that we were able to spend time getting to know each of you today!  Remember that your learning and professional community is a valuable resource and we appreciate your willingness to share your thoughts, ideas, struggles, and successes.  The power is in the conversation!

These are a few of the insights that came from YOU today!


Kayce led a very informative and helpful discussion about ARD's, differentiating between mods and accommodations, and prompted great conversations about data collection in the classroom. Remember Kayce's advice about frequency, duration, and location for behavioral observations. Check out some of the following resources prompted by your thoughts and ideas!
Interval Recording Sheet        Interval Timer     
16 Teacher Hacks for Making Data Collection a Piece of Cake

We loved hearing about your ideas and successes using math stations in the classroom.  Check out this pinterest board for over 1000 ideas and images regarding math stations.
Math Stations

We also had some fabulous ideas that were shared about managing students during small groups, particularly the students who are not in your small group but may interrupt with questions during this time. You shared that you used stop signs, crowns, necklaces, posters (ask three and then me), wands, and lights to give students those nonverbal cues.

Josh also shared some amazing tools and ways to encourage students to engage in appropriate behaviors using CHAMPS, mystery behavior or mystery boards.  Check out these cool resources: Mystery Motivator  Element of Surprise   Free CHAMPS Posters  CHAMPS on Pinterest

And just for fun...

10 Tips for Surviving and Thriving Your First Year Teaching

Check out this article from Edutopia that provides great advice and tips for your first year of teaching.

10 Tips for Surviving and Thriving Your First Year Teaching

I'm a Teacher!

Take a minute and let it all soak in.  You are about to change lives.  You are about to inspire.   You are going to be a safe place, a friendly smile, a much needed hug.  You will be the name on many of pictures created just for you.  You will be hope.  You will be faith. You will be love.  You will build confidence, independence, and success.  You will teach harder, love harder, and dream bigger than you ever have before.  It's true...you really are about to change the world.

Remember as you start your school year.....your influence is endless.

"A teacher effects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." --Henry Brooks Adams