TeachersPayTeachers Seller Spotlight

Woooow! 
I'm in the Seller Spotlight!

Every little honor packs a punch!
But some honors are Woooow!!!

I'm in the Seller Spotlight in the TeachersPayTeachers Newsletter today!  (Be still, my heart!)  It's the TpT Newsletter Vol 481: Grades PreK - 5.

This is what I saw staring back at me in this morning's email:

...and these are the links to the resources:

 


Our journey at TpT is so step-by-step—it’s soooo nice to take a giant leap every once in a while.

Thank y'all for sharing the journey with me!
Cheers, hugs, and truckloads of New Years confetti to ALL of our leaps--big and small!

I'm wishing you all MANY leaps in the coming year--and an ocean of health and happiness.

Lots of Love,

Top 10 Resolutions for Teachers

Happy New Year everybody!

Here are my Top 10 Resolutions for Teachers:

1. Be happy!  You're a teacher.  You've just got to figure out how to custom-design it for you.
2. Self-Improve!  Use mentors and the internet to learn and make your teaching life better than you can even imagine. 
3. Behavior Management is king!  Treat it like royalty and everything else will fall into place.
4. Organize!  Work smarter, not harder.  Prioritize what MUST get done, and delegate whenever possible--to parents, teacher teams, student teachers, and even kids.
5. Get creative!  Teach your kids to see the world through fresh eyes, and personalize the thrill of learning.
6. Beautify!  Check out your classroom's feng shui, or flow.  Improve your classroom's landscape.  Add eye-catching and inspirational posters and kids' art work--in 3D, hanging from ceilings and popping off walls.
7. Smile!  If you were waiting for Christmas, go!  Smile--it's contagious--and even better, laugh more often.  You'll trigger endorphins and good will all around you.
8. Move!  Don't just sit there.  Jog or dance while you read anchor charts, sight words, and chant math facts.  Extra points if you grab a weight vest or bar bells, too. 
9. Get healthier!  Don't just teach, teach, teach; learn to eat, sleep, meditate, move, breathe, and think healthier.
10.  Be grateful!  Ask non-teachers which job they wished for.  Sooo many say teacher!  You've got it.  Start a Gratefulness Diary.

Here's a gallery for your New Year's resolutions, dreams, goals, and plans:

 

 As always, I'm wishing you a wonderful, calm and confident, New Year!  And I'd love to know what you're adding to your top 10 list of resolutions for teachers so I can add some more to mine.

Holiday Humor for Kids

Can you teach kids to write with humor?   Humor for the Holidays?

A Christmas wish isn’t funny.  
Wishing for your 2 front teeth—and a kid-sized Ferrari—is.      

 

Humor happens when two worlds collide, and when they come together unexpectedly.   It’s funny, playful, and creative—as long as no one gets hurt in the crash.  Let’s watch humor in action...

Start with a character or a setting.  Add an unexpected or surprising detail…

•          A look, expression, or object: a ghost with a… goofy smile, holding a tiny holiday tree

•          A sound: a dog…barking a Christmas carol

•          A feel:  a lady with tall gelled hair that’s filled with holiday lights

•          A mood: an alligator…wrapped in ribbons and giggling

•          An action: Santa flying…upside down, in his sleep

•          An exaggeration: a kid who wants to fly with Santa, 24/7

•          A usage: Santa on a…skateboard, a drone, or a bat

•          A behavior: Santa planning peace on Earth…over a piece of pie  

 

That’s funny. 

I made it easy to be funny--or cheerful--for the holidays, with charming printables and plenty of writing tips.  You'll get a complete kit that's perfect for TAG kids, ELL kids, and everyone in between.

If you’d like my Christmas brainstorming posters, as well as 53 Christmas characters with speech bubbles, and cool Christmas writing paper for extended writing, please look under my holiday tree and I'll show you…

...a happy holiday!

Teacher Resources on Sale

It's a TeachersPayTeachers sale!

If you've been on the fence, please consider these teacher resources at steep Cyber Monday discounts:

Yes, you can make your lessons perfect, and your observation lessons sooooooo much easier with this Teacher Evaluation Guide.  

It includes checklists, charts, cheat-sheets, tips, scripts, class posters, lesson plans and lesson plan templates for your expert Danielson-style teacher evaluation.

I use it all the time for my lesson templates and reminders of best practices.  And I admit, I carry the one-page mini-lesson cheat-sheet in my pocket, in the weeks before every unannounced observation (really!).

If you're a substitute teacher, you'll find that The Substitute Teacher Guide  is much more than a run-of-the-mill kit.

You see, after over 20 years teaching, I've observed hundreds of subs and teachers in action.  I've seen it all--the good, the bad, and the Kindergarten Cop Chaos.  This resource is a detailed and comprehensive account of what to bring, do, and say when you sub.

And it includes dozens of printables a sub can use all year.

NOT JUST FOR SUBS!  If you're a regular teacher, it makes a handy Substitute Binder--for the days you're absent--with explicit directions so you'll return to a semi-normal room.

It also serves as a refresher course for regular teachers, with guides for lessons, behavior management, managing trips, parties, assemblies, and more. 

My current favorite is Behavior Management with Humor--a creative approach to discipline in the classroom.  You’ll find tons of tools and strategies for behavior management with laughter.

At every step, we start with the essential skills for no-stress behavior management. Then I'll show you how to infuse these with respectful fun, so they come alive in your classroom. 

 If you'd rather go for the whole kit 'n kaboodle -- or is that kitten kaboodle?  --  Here's a soup to nuts behavior management, with the heart of a tiger in a kitten's fur.  

You'll be CALM and CONFIDENT at school—with step-by-step instructions for teaching school rules—starting from the moment you walk through the door of your classroom. 


This mega-bundle includes Behavior Management with Humor, with all the bells 'n whistles, teacher scripts, behavior mod charts that really work (instructions included), Callbacks galore--and my favorite new-agey counting song to calm kids instantly.

Cyber Monday wouldn't be complete without a little holiday fun, now, would it? 

Have a very happy cyber Monday, and I'll see you there.

Substitute Teachers Day

Substitute Teachers Day is November 17th.

We love our subs!  We need great subs!

THREE CHEERS for substitute teachers!!!

Did you ever stop to wonder how an EXTRAORDINARY substitute got to be that way?  Hint: it doesn't happen in an instant.

Whether it's your first year subbing, or you simply want a step-by-step guide to taking control of a classroom, I can help show you the way.

NOT JUST FOR SUBS--This makes a great refresher course for a regular teacher, or a perfect sub binder for the days you're absent. 

I’m a New York City public school teacher with over twenty  years’ experience.  I’ve observed hundreds of subs and teachers in action, and was a sub myself for three years prior to teaching full time.  Now it’s my pleasure to pass along all I’ve learned to you.

The Ultimate Guide for the Substitute Teacher includes hundreds of tips, teacher scripts, lessons, and printables that you can use all year.

As always, I'm wishing you all the best,
and a wonderful Substitute Educators Day!

Who Stole the Cookie Easy Name Game

Want an easy name game for your kids?

Of course you do!

You want a name game that's easy, no-prep, and FUN--so your kids are begging to play it over and over, day after day.

You want to click it open on your SMARTboard, write a child's name, have the class sound it out together (with you giving hints)...

Then have one child read the name aloud.

The class will say the classic nursery rhyme, Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar.

Then you'll erase the name, and write another.

After a few go-rounds, you'll ask a high-order question from the list included, and kids will turn and talk in groups of six.  Afterwards, you can have a whole-class discussion.

Hmmm...

•  Why might you steal a cookie?
•  What is the best cookie you could imagine eating?

Kids can also write about their favorite cookie on the adorable printable sheet--with 2 or 12 writing lines.

Who Stole the Cookie from the Cookie Jar NAME GAME has endless practical uses:

• Learn class names
• Class conversations
• Small group work
• Choral speaking
• Response to literature
• Phonics lesson
• Balanced Literacy activities
• Brain Break at any time of the day
• A fun game with prizes 

The best bonus--at the bottom of the cookie jar--is for you.

Next time you have to give out student classwork--for kids to take home or stuff into work folders--you can just sit back and relax as your bright kids easily read their classmates' names and run around the room placing papers on the right table.  

Delegate, delegate, delegate!  ...so you won't wonder who stole the time from your day!  

We can all agree that time is better than cookies, right?

Kindergaten Set Up for the First Day of School

Kindergarten set up for the first day of school can go all-out or simple.  It's up to you.

My friend Keri has set up a wonderland with an Elmer-the-Elephant-colored carpet, Winnie dolls galore, Raggedy Anne dolls on a rocker, alternative stool seating at the meeting area, Legos for each child to play with at tables as she signs them in, and so much more!  Keep looking!

 Here's another view that includes numbered circles on removable stickies, that will show each child where to stand on line.

Want to go simple?  Cheer it up with ceiling hangings!

My room-in-progress has an arrow at the doorway, leading my newbies to our lucky leprechaun, with an inflatable globe in the distance--all hanging from near-invisible threads.  

Other hangings include anchor charts and picture dictionary pages printed in pastels.  I make my cutouts puffy and 3D by gluing folded tissues inside.

I finish it off with a high-interest book for the kids to read when they first walk in.  This will give me time to greet the parents and take attendance.

Be sure to have name tags ready to go.  This year, mine are a fiesta-vibe oak tag.

Simple and effective. 

Since my parents are bringing their children right into my classroom on the first day, I have posters letting them know when and where to pick up their kids on the first days.

My posters also show parents how they can help their kids organize the school supplies.  Personal supplies like notebooks, folders and pencils stay on their desks.

Communal supplies go in bins in the back of the classroom.  I put a sample of each type in every bin--paper towels, tissues, glue, markers, soap, computer paper, etc.  That way, parents can help sort these--saving me hours of work later!  An industrious child or two sometimes helps to collect and sort.  

It takes about twenty minutes to meet and greet each child.  By then, the classroom is organized and ready to go.  The parents leave--reluctantly--and we begin the day.

If you'd like a complete guide to setting up your kindergarten it's here.

First Days of Kindergarten Teacher's Bundle features step-by-step instructions for setting up a kindergarten classroom, as well as moment-by-moment teacher scripts for the first day of school.  We go through the first week of school--with all the printables, posters, parent letters, and forms you'll need, including an EDITABLE homework kit.  Then I point you in the right direction for the next few weeks of kindergarten.

I'll be thinking of you, and wishing you all the best on your first days of school!

Kindergarten Homework Template

Kindergarten homework is a great tool--for parents.

It shows parents how to help their kids to succeed in school.

Kindergarten homework should be simple; a quick review of the day's work.  

The first week of school it can be verbal: kids can practice saying their first and last name, their teacher's name, class, and school.  They can also write or trace their first name.

The second week kids can continue to write or trace their first name.  They can also draw and label one picture--of something red, or blue, or yellow--to match the lesson of the day.

The parent can help by writing the word and having their child copy or trace it.  The key is to have the child involved and growing new skills.

By the fourth week, your phonics program has likely begun.  Kids can draw one picture of an object that starts with a given letter--the letter that matches your lesson--and label it.  

Advanced kids can write a simple sentence: e.g.; for the letter t, I see a tiger or I like a tiger.

You can also start assigning a math page to match your lesson.

You may review the week's math lessons on Friday, and give only reading homework on the weekends.

You'll want to explain to parents how important it is to read with their child every day.  Remind them to talk about the characters, settings, events, feelings, and ideas in the books.  Have their child re-tell the stories.  

This same template works for the rest of the year.  Simply apply the math and phonics/reading/writing or holiday homework for each day.  Add any special news or events for the week, or for upcoming weeks.

All the kindergarten classes may use the same homework sheet.  Teachers can plan the homework together as a grade, and then take turns typing it up using this template.  Each teacher can type all the homework sheets for a month, then make enough copies for each child.

If you'd like this Kindergarten Homework Kit, with homework for the first four weeks of school, Parent Letters and Notes--including for Orientation Night, a Supply List, First Day of Kindergarten Schedule, and tips, ALL EDITABLE, it's here.

If you'd like a mentor's guide, First Days of Kindergarten Teacher's Bundle features step-by-step instructions for setting up a kindergarten classroom, as well as moment-by-moment teacher scripts for the first day of school.  We go through the first week of school--with all the printables, posters, parent letters, and forms you'll need, including the EDITABLE homework kit.  Then I point you in the right direction for the next few weeks of kindergarten.

For all of the above, and many other resources that you can use all year, please take a look at my Kindergarten Creative Mega-Bundle.  I think it will help you on your journey.

The Kindergarten Ultra Bundle has even more delightful goodies, including an in-depth guide to behavior management:

As always, I'll be thinking of you and wishing you all the best!

Teacher Guide for a Great Classroom

It's back to school time.  It's crazy, but even after twenty years in the classroom, I still get butterflies at the end of summer--I mean, in my tummy.

Part of me knows I'll be fine.  As soon as the kids walk through the door, it's all good, because all my preparation, instinct, adrenaline, and calm kick in.

All my superpowers rally 'round, and pull me through that first day...

And then the next...and the next, till it's June.  Then in June, I stand there with my jaw hanging, and I ask: how in the world does the clock spin faster every year?

Well, this year I managed to jot down my best tips to keep it together, keep it together, keep it together, keep it together--besides saying that 8X fast (just kidding)!

No joke, though, my tips turned into a 700-page compendium that keeps me sane.  Of course, I'm sharing!

The Teacher Guide for a Great Classroom is designed with one goal: to help you to be CALM and CONFIDENT in your classroom—as if you've done it a million times—with teacher scripts, lessons, posters, printables, tips, behavior management resources and materials you can use all year.

It begins with good behavior management.  My approach is creative, organic, and very effective.  At every step, I start with the tools for no-stress behavior management. Then I show you how to infuse these with respectful fun, so they come alive in your classroom.

Once behavior is in place, you can move on to crafting the kind of lessons that make you--and your kids...and your admin--smile.  The Perfect Lesson includes checklists, charts, cheat-sheets, tips, scripts, class posters, lesson plans and lesson plan templates so you can tick off "yes, yes, yes!" on your Danielson teacher evaluation.

The Substitute Teacher Kit is for the days you're absent.  You know you drag your self into school sometimes--though you really need to stay home--because it's easier than pulling together last-minute lessons.  

And even worse, you dread picking up the pieces of the hurricane, aka your well-meaning sub.  This kit gives you substitute lessons and directives ready to go, so you can return to a clean, organized room.  It also serves as a great refresher course for regular teachers.

There's a delicious bonbon at the bottom of the bag. My beloved Math Song MP3s to relax or energize your class.  As soon as I hear the first beat of the music I go "ahh!" and so do my kids.  We never do get tired of them.  Can you ever get tired of fun or calm?

The Counting Songs feature a soothing vocal over relaxing music with a soft beat.  They're great for meditation, transition, stretching or dancing, and a couple dozen more things.

 Rap Your Math is a math drill in a catchy rap song.  You can change the verses daily to match your lesson.  And kids vamp to this like they own the universe.  For the moment, they really do.

 
This kit will help set the tone for a great year of teaching.

Here's the full roster, including 3 mega-resources: 

• The Perfect Lesson Plan: checklists, charts, cheat-sheets, tips, class posters, lesson plans and lesson plan templates for K – 5 
• Substitute Teacher Kit: In-Depth Guide and Dozens of Printables for Kids – a thorough substitute binder for the days you are absent
• Behavior Management with Humor -- a creative approach to discipline in the classroom.
• Behavior Management Callbacks -- an instant call to good behavior 
  
• Behavior Management – Behavior Modification Charts -- fun and easy behavior mod 
• School Rules 
  
• Bathroom Rules

...and these BONUS MP3s for creative classroom management: 

Rap Your Math – Math Drill in a Song  MP3
Counting Songs for Relaxation and Behavior Management MP3

In The Teacher's Guide for a Great Classroom you'll find:
• What to do and say during the entire school day
• Making a good first impression
• Mastering behavior management
• Teaching rules
• Presenting a lesson
• Lessons in reading, writing, math, social studies, science, art, and music
• How to handle assemblies, parties, trips, fire drills and other emergencies
• Dozens of printables for fun, easy lessons to use all year

As always, I'll be thinking of you and wishing you all the best as you start your new year!

Kindergarten Creative Back to School Ultra Bundle

Kindergarten Back to School – CREATIVE  ULTRA-BUNDLE at 43% OFF

Kindergarten Back to School: Be CALM and CONFIDENT on your first days of school—with kindergarten back to school scripts, lessons, posters, printables, tips and materials you will use all year.

This Kindergarten Back to School Creative ULTRA-Bundle is compiled by a long-term kindergarten teacher with attention to every detail. From kindergarten classroom set-up to the moment you meet your students, through the first week of school and beyond, this kit will help set the tone for a great year in kindergarten!

Kindergarten Back to School Creative Mega-Bundle Includes 800++ pages and 11 MP3s:

First Days of Kindergarten Teacher’s Kit
School Rules Pack
Bathroom Rules
How to Tie a Shoe: Photo Tutorial

Sight Words Songs, Crafts and Printables
Vowel Vest and Short Vowel Fun
Nursery Rhymes: Creative Writing and Bulletin Boards
Look At Your Writing – K Rubric in a Song - MP3
ABC Song - MP3 and ABC Chart
Personal Word Wall Printable for each child's writing notebook or folder
Feedback Comments – Easy Printable Check-Off Tickets with Comment Space for Kindergarten

How to Draw People and Familiar Objects for Narrative Writing
How to Draw Farm Animals
How to Draw Forest Animals

Count to 20 Lesson and Display Printables
Number Chart Robots with 1 – 30 Charts: Beautiful Display Pieces!
Number Chart Robots with 1 – 100 Charts: Fabulous Display Pieces!

AND ALSO Classroom Management:
The Perfect Lesson Plan: checklists, charts, cheat-sheets, tips, class posters, lesson plans and lesson plan templates for K – 5
NOT JUST FOR SUBS--A GREAT SUBSTITUTE BINDER for the days you are absent:
Substitute Teacher Kit: In-Depth Guide and Dozens of Printables for Kids
Behavior Management Callbacks -- a creative approach to discipline in the classroom.
Behavior Management – Behavior Modification Charts -- a creative approach to discipline in the classroom.
Behavior Management with Humor -- a creative approach to discipline in the classroom.
Rap Your Math – Math Drill in a Song MP3
Counting Songs for Relaxation and Behavior Management
Brain Breaks for the 5 Senses

Please take a look today
to take advantage of the 43% off--
During this One Day Sale!

Wishing you all the best,
 

Teacher Resources SALE and TpT GIFT CARD

Please join me in a $10 TpT Gift Card Giveaway!

Simply visit one or more of these 

Back to School Blog Posts
listed below

and leave your comment at the end of that post:

10 Reasons You NEED Behavior Management with Humor

·         Humor is one of the most powerful tools in guiding behavior

·        Humor is creative and memorable 

·        Laughing shakes up our immune system and heals mind, body and soul

Teachers - 3 BEST Tips for the First Days of School

·        Be kind--and smile!

·        Be firm--Teach the rules step by step and discuss so kids internalize them

*   Be FUN!   Make learning exciting, and add plenty of brain breaks

10 Keys to Using Humor in Behavior Management

·        Safety first, then fun--Teach rules first!

·        Humor should heal, not hurt--Never be cruel, sarcastic or disrespectful

·        Set up a "stop" signal to set boundaries or for emergencies

-- Please leave a comment at one of the 3 posts above

-- For a chance to win $10 of great resources for teachers.

Winners will be chosen by a random number selector.

Thanks for joining the fun! 

Contest begins 12 AM Monday August 21st and ends 2 PM Tuesday August 22nd EST. 


PLEASE NOTE:  This Giveaway contest is now closed.
Congratulations to YearnToLearn -- our randomly selected winner.
Thank you, www.Random.org

Thank you, everyone who participated in the Giveaway!
I sincerely appreciate your comments on the Back to School posts.

Best wishes to all as we head back to school!  🙋

Even sweeter:

Teachers Pay Teachers is having a ONE DAY SALE--up to 25% off everything--Tuesday ONLY, August 22nd. 

ENJOY, and see you there!!