The Flamingo Teacher – Teach like a flamingo. Spend time with your flock. Find the right balance. Be flexible. Don't get your feathers ruffled over little things. Be fabulous!

Marble Jar Rewards Chart: Whole Class Positive Reinforcement

I can still remember my second grade teacher, Mrs. Dunn, putting marbles in our class marble jar when the whole class did something good. I loved it! I promised myself that when I was a teacher, I would carry on the same tradition with my class. When we filled our marble jar, we would always have a popcorn party, which we loved. These days, food parties are getting harder and harder with ... Read More about Marble Jar Rewards Chart: Whole Class Positive Reinforcement

FREE Fruit Frenzy Addition Activity!

My school uses Go Math as its main program for teaching math. It is a great program that gives the students a solid background in their math concepts. That being said, I often need to supplement it with other activities and games. Quite a few of my kids have a great math background already when they come to me, so they need more challenging resources. I decided to create games and ... Read More about FREE Fruit Frenzy Addition Activity!

FREE First Day Jitters Back-to-School Activity!

The first day of school is an exciting time for both students and teachers, but everyone is feeling a little nervous and jittery! First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg is a humorous book with an unexpected twist at the end. After you read the story to your students, they will rate the book using simple yes/no answers. They should then talk with a partner about their responses. Next, they ... Read More about FREE First Day Jitters Back-to-School Activity!

FREE Wiggle Breaks: Movement Breaks for Elementary Students

Humans were not engineered to sit for hours at a time. It’s just not good for us. In too many classrooms today, kids are made to sit for entirely too many hours each day. It’s not good for their physical or intellectual development. If you would like to read an excellent article about the research that supports movement breaks for kids, click here to read this Washington Post article titled “Why ... Read More about FREE Wiggle Breaks: Movement Breaks for Elementary Students

Check Out This Teacher Hack for Spacing Students Apart When Lining Up!

To help little learners keep their distance when lining up, I use these Spot On Positive Sayings Carpet Markers. I love the positive messages on these carpet spots! These carpet markers made it so much easier for my first graders to abide by social distancing guidelines when lining up. These will help guide your little learners as they continue to adapt to a new normal in the classroom. ... Read More about Check Out This Teacher Hack for Spacing Students Apart When Lining Up!