3 Back To School Tips For Getting Your Room Ready

Hey everyone!

With some of you back to school and me going back very shortly, I thought I'd share few tips for back to school that I use to get my room ready.

In case you don't know this tip, these facial scrubbers from the Dollar Tree work great as dry erasers! They come in a few other colors too, but I always go for the blue and green.

I don't sew, so instead I hot glue things together. Easy and takes the stress away from me!

I love laminating things so that when I write on them with sharpie, I can reuse them by writing over them with dry erase markers. I'm using these cut outs as labels for my supply bins. 

So these may be some tricks you already know, but I still wanted to share! Do you have any tips? Leave a comment down below!

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How Google Classroom Has Changed My Teaching

Hey everyone!

This year I'm fortunate enough to have 1:1 Chromebooks in my classroom. The second week of school they were all ready to go and I jumped into Google Classroom, something I dabbled with last year. It has completely changed my teaching and my classroom.

I set up a main Google Classroom (I'll call it GC from here on out) for my class. I post assignments in there for writing, science, and social studies. I've also posted announcements or links I want students to go to. I used to make a KWL chart, but now they do that on GC.

Then I realized I could change my reading time by also setting up a GC for each of my reading groups. Game changer! I post questions there and we discuss questions. Sometimes they answer them in my guided reading groups. If they don't finish, they can do this at their desk. Oh and let me say, my students chose the names for their reading groups! I just added the graphic at the top lol.

I'm spending less time at copy machines now. In fact, I'm only there for copying homework and for a few other things. I don't have stacks of papers in my class now, just their math tests and some writing. Everything else goes in GC.

I love the fact that I can create one document and with one click of a button, my students all have copies. I love that I can see in live time what they are working on and add comments to their work. That their classmates can add comments. I can quickly see who is done or not done. I can post video links, images, docs, etc.

My students are getting much better at typing. I love that they are becoming so independent and GC is helping with that.

To my amazement, one of my students was home sick, but still did the assignment because it was up in GC. Also the one day I was out sick, I posted almost the whole day's work in GC and the kids were able to run the day smoothly. I could even pop in and see what they were doing.

My plan is to do some blog posts here about some tech tips. Let me know if you have any tips you want to see.

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Self-Adhesive Labels: Stick to Making Life Easier

Hey everyone!


I'm sure most of you have seen the Target self-adhesive labels. I couldn't get any (boo!), but I found some on Amazon that fit business card size labels or cards. I know it's not the same as Target, not the same price etc, but I am really excited to use them.

This is what the pack looks like. 

Here are some of my labels. These will be labels on the students' book boxes. I'm making a second set to go on their mailboxes. This is the first year I'm using numbers instead of names and I think it'll save me lots of time and frustration on things. 

I wasn't sure of the size and I'm happy to see I can make them even larger if I want. 

I think any that I have left I'll put on my book tubs. 

I love the ease of these pockets!

Do you use adhesive pockets? How do you use yours? Share below!

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Keeping Kids Going With State Testing

Hey everyone!

My kids are on a week break from state testing. I don't know how your schools/state does it, but in my school, it's all on the computers. My school also has it arranged so they have 3 days for the ELA main portion then a break, then 3 days for the performance task. We're on a break before we do the math test and then there'll be another break and the math performance task. Which means we'll have tested in both April and May.


The kids have been pretty great, but it's also a stressful time. To help with things, I've made sure to do some easy activities or stress relieving moments. One day we drew and colored for 25 minutes. It was very much needed and they were fine.

I ask fun questions on my easel or have them finish a quote.

Yesterday while learning about decimals, I threw in a quick matching game. They ran up to me and said it was so much fun.

                                                                             I got these cards here.

We all can't wait for testing to be over, but I know we'll make it by throwing some fun, stress-relieving activities in there.

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Hands-On Fun Can Be Simple

Hey everyone!

I really have enjoyed teaching this Oregon Trail unit because I can do so much hands-on stuff. My favorite memories of school were when we did hands-on things and it helped make learning the topic that much more concrete for me.

It can be simple things too! We learned about games the pioneers played, like Cat's cradle. All you need is yarn. I love that they're sitting in the 'wagon' that was taped off for real-life measurements. Also, the student with the pink hood was teaching small groups how to play. So simple and fun!

This picture cracks me up! Research and yarn...learning the pattern and process for making a yarn doll using the internet for help. 

We also made butter the next week after we compared chores from the past to the present. 

After a lot of shaking for 20 minutes by all wagon groups, butter! Again, something simple as a jar and whipping cream, but I know they'll remember this!

I go more in depth on my blog if you want more info! 

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Classroom Library and My Kids

Hey everyone!

Last year, I felt my library was thrown together. It was leveled and then there was nonfiction and interest. Once I was hired permanently, I knew my library would be my prized jewel in my class.

For me, my library had to be organized, comfortable, and a place the kids wanted to hang out in. I also wanted them to have ownership over it. There are a few kids who organize it every few days, once a week minimum. We went over how the library is organized into genres, levels, series and/or authors. Each book has  a label to help them know which box/shelf it goes back on.

I also wanted to make adding books to my library fun. Every time a Scholastic order comes in and I've added my name and the label, I make a big deal out of the new books. I think I've turned them into Pavlov's subjects because they see the box and get excited, lol.

There are a few things I do to get them excited. Depending on the books, I may read the blurb on the back. My favorite thing to do is line the books up on the whiteboard easel. Then I pull their name sticks aka The Sticks of Destiny, and they can come grab one of the new books.

It makes my heart happy to see them reading, or curled up in the library reading a book and smiling.

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I Wonder Wall

Hey everyone!

My school is an IB school (International Baccalaureate) and we love to have our kids get into inquiry.

After getting my feet wet with this last year, I am ready to dive in this year.

One way I am helping my kids rev up the inquiry is my "I wonder" cabinet door.

I grabbed some quote speech bubbles and made a header, then laminated them.

Next I put a frame on my cabinet with borders and then taped on the speech bubbles. My kids will be able to go up there and write with dry erase markers any questions they have. If we have any spare time during our unit, they can look it up on the computer.

The right side of the cabinet is going to be my "Read all about it" section. I'm going to put either a newspaper article or a magazine clipping there for my students to read. I plan on them adding sticky notes around it with their opinions, thoughts, and questions. I can't wait until my room is all put together!

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Find Those Accent Pieces!

Hey everyone!

I am getting my classroom ready for back to school and I wanted to share with you some of my favorite accent pieces I've grabbed for my room.

In my mind, I decided I wanted a black/white theme overall with pops of turquoise/teal, but I also wanted items in my class to make it feel more like home. The easiest way to do that is to pick up accent pieces, like pillows, signs/pictures, rugs, storage accessories  and lamps (which I'm still on the look out for).

This is one of my favorite pieces from Target, it's a pillow with the USA map on it. It fits my theme, it's cute, and it's educational. I'll tuck it into my library somewhere.

I think I have at least half a dozen wooden signs with cute print on the outside and some amazing, inspirational saying on it. I plan to place them on top of bookshelves and cabinets. My cabinets on top would otherwise be bare and this will add a little pop (I got mine from Michaels, TJ Maxx, and Marshalls).

I adore this little rug. It's simple, it's easy to wash, and will add just that extra touch I was looking for!

This ottoman will be perfect seating either for myself or in my library, plus I can use it for storage! Any sort of basket or container can be the perfect accessory to a classroom and can add character.

I popped into my room this week to start arranging and unpacking and my reward after I did a good portion, was to start on my library. I am obsessed with this book nook corner! I have a few more pillows to add and I might just have to sit here after my hard work because I love it! 

As for lamps, I'm thinking I might have to convince my mom to make the long trek up to IKEA with me  to grab this beauty:

It's the perfect color for my room and would add  just the right pop. 

Accent pieces don't need to be large or colorful, they just need to add that extra little bit, that homey feeling to your classroom. After all, you and your students spend the majority of the school year there. I feel like we become not only teachers, but interior designers!

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Summer Reading... What's On Your List?

Hey everyone!

I love to read! With surviving my first year of school, my reading was cut way down because at times, I felt it was like sink or swim. You better believe I swam!

What I love about the summer time is that I can read pretty much when I want. I've been scoping out other teachers' blogs and IG accounts to see what they were reading before settling on a few for now. Key words, for now. I have a few more books I have on my wish list that I may be adding before long!

1. The Leader In Me.  Why did I pick this? My principal gave every staff member The Seven Habits Of Highly Effective Leaders. At some moments, it was very intense. I wanted the TLIM because it seemed to be a better resource for teachers implementing this in the classroom. The main theme is making students become leaders. My school is a certified IB school and so this ties in perfectly with many of our attitudes and attributes.

2. Learn  Like A Pirate. As I'm currently geeking out that not only did the author tweet me back, so did The Leader In Me and Dave Burgess, haha, I'm loving this book as it correlates with The Leader in Me. This book is about having students lead in the classroom. Now you might say that sounds ridiculous, as that's what I was worried about to, but since I'm looping with my kids, I feel that this will be the perfect opportunity to try this out (or at least start integrating this a little).


3. Word Nerds. My kids didn't get as much vocabulary practice as I would have liked. Yes, they got vocabulary from  my reading lessons and sometimes in small groups and content areas. I confess, my main focus this year was surviving my first year teaching and focusing mostly on reading and math. I have to toot my own horn and say I did a pretty darn good job and I rocked science and social studies. Poor writing got the short end of the stick. I vow that next year with these kids (same class) that writing will get more of a focus (but of course now I have all new curriculum to learn) and Word Nerds will be perfect for helping me with that. I really got into this book. It's about developing a vocabulary routine and using cloze reading skills, inferring, antonyms and synonyms, instead of having kids just look it up in a dictionary.

I want to know what's on your list? What are you reading that I should add to mine?

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Technology in the Class: Plickers

Hey everyone!

I've seen other teachers post about this lately and I am here to say that I love Plickers too!

I created my class list and printed out the Plickers cards for my class. Whomever last used the copy machine left green paper in it, so now my Plickesr cards look like something from Minecraft lol. It actually makes them easier for the kids to find, so it was a happy mistake.

I put all of the kids' names on the backs. This one happens to be mine, because I wanted to be part of the fun too!

I wanted to start off easy, to get the kids used to this. The first question was what was their favorite color, next was favorite specials, do you like math, and then favorite flavor of ice cream.

All they had to do was rotate their paper to either A, B, C, or D, and then I used the free app on my phone to scan their cards.

I love that their name pops up with the letter choice right there! And then I could could use my app to just swipe to the question from my phone and presto, it changed on the computer!

There are two nice features with this program. You can see who hasn't voted where it says "students" , or you can have it on graph, like on the picture below. If it's something that you want to have a correct answer, you can program that in too and then reveal the correct answer after all kids have entered their answer.

And I had 6 kids absent this day (day before their spring break!)

I plan on using Plickers for math or reading questions. A quick way to assess students and a great way for me to save data, paperless! I can't wait to see how this turns out for the rest of the school year too. I'd have to say that at conferences, 98% of my kids included this in their conference, because they loved it so much.

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