The Classroom Commute

Then it’s time to take a hard look at how we approach writing in your classroom.

We spend a lot of time teaching skills and strategies for writing, but not every student needs work on the same skill or strategy.

That’s where helping students to develop writing goals can make a huge impact.  Setting individual writing goals gives purpose to student writing, and helps students to make progress on what THEY need.  Goals drive instruction and serve as a road map for what to work on during independent writing conferences.

But - to help students achieve more success in their writing through goals, we must break it down into a simplified process.  In this week’s episode, I’m doing just that.

EPISODE 63: Conducting Writing Conferences: A Simple Goal-Driven Approach

RESOURCES:

• Launching Writer’s Workshop
• Student Writer’s Notebook

It’s such a buzzword lately, especially as teachers try to navigate the aftermath of the pandemic. 

Now more than ever our students are struggling socially and emotionally. 

Months of learning at home, isolated from teachers and friends has brought a series of issues that teachers are now learning to work through.

Social emotional learning, or SEL for short, is not new, but has certainly created a new buzzword.

The thing is, the social and emotional well-being of our students isn’t just the responsibility of school social workers and counselors - it’s all of our jobs.  

Students can not effectively access learning until their social and emotional needs are met.  These needs sit at the foundation from which all learning grows from.

That’s why I’ve invited Victoria from The Mindful Apple to come back on the podcast to help us set the stage for the new school year with one big priority:  social emotional learning.

She’ll give us the essentials and beyond to empower all educators with the tools to support our students beyond the academics.

EPISODE 60: Easy Calming Strategies for Elementary Students

Connect with Victoria at The Mindful Apple: 

• Check out her Teacher and Student Resources
• Take a peek at her Website
• Follow her on Instagram

FREE Check In Sheet for Checking Students Social Emotional Needs

Check out Victoria’s growing social emotional learning curriculum

Dear old version of me...

We all look back on your first few years of teaching and cringe at some of the things that we have done with our students.

Sometimes, we just don't know any better...until we do.  

Now, I won’t waste your time telling you all about my mistakes, but I do want to share a few things that you can change about your teaching practices today to make a bigger impact with your students. 

Grab my FREE “Show What You Know Cards” in our Member’s Resource Library under “Student Assessment Resources.”

Before you get started with readers and writers workshop this year, we need to talk.

I know you want to launch into your first reading and writing unit.  

I know you’re anxious to start that first novel or that first writing piece with your students.  It’s exciting to start fresh.  

BUT — before you do, don’t.

Have your properly set yourself up for success when it comes to launching readers and writers workshop?  Have you considered all.the.things. to make sure you have crossed all your t’s and dotted all your i’s? 

In this week’s episode, I’m covering ALL the essential questions you should be asking yourself BEFORE you hit the ground running with your reading and writing curriculum.  

From simple questions like: Where will your students keep their reading and writing materials? to more thought-provoking things to consider like: How will you fit conferencing into your workshop time?    …and everything in between.

EPISODE 29: How to Launch Reader's Workshop in Your Classroom

EPISODE 30:  How to Launch Writer's Workshop in the Upper Elementary Classroom

EPISODE 62: Why You Need a "Share Chair" In Your Reading and Writing Workshop

RESOURCES:

• IntelliScanner (affiliate link)
• Online catalog like Book Source Classroom Organizer.  
• Smart phone apps like iBookshelf, Book Crawler, and Book Buddy  
• Launching Reader's and Writer's Workshop Bundle 

Grab these TWO FREEBIES inside our Members Resource Library

• Teacher’s Guide to Reader’s Workshop — under “Teacher Resources” section
• Teacher’s Guide to Writer’s Workshop — under “Teacher Resources” section

You may just be beginning your teaching journey, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone!

We’ve all been there.  While you might be excited to get that first year under your belt, you’re also likely feeling overwhelmed trying to process all. the. things.

But, wait.  Pause.  Take a deep breath.  

Then - listen to this week’s episode.  I’m sharing what really matters as a first year teacher …and what doesn’t.  What you should focus on, and what you can put on the back burner.  

The truth is:  You can’t (and shouldn’t) try to do it all.  So, let’s take control of what we can, and be ready to learn along the way!

EPISODE 34: Routines and Procedures Every TEACHER Needs

EPISODE 55: Easy Tips to Boost Student Participation While Building a Strong Classroom Community

POST: Back to School Series: Setting Up Classroom Routines and Procedures

Then do yourself a favor (or two) NOW.

Once the school year gets underway, teachers know just how challenging it can be to get ahead of the game.  Many times it feels like we are surviving day-to-day.

But - it doesn’t have to be that way!

In fact, with a little thought, planning, and prepping, you could be doing yourself a HUGE favor that you’ll thank yourself later for.  Putting in place a few classroom systems can reap huge benefits in the long run.

In this week’s episode I’m talking about simple things that you can prep NOW (before school starts) so that you’re not left scrambling later. 

RESOURCES: 

• Take-Home Math Games
• Take-Home Science Experiments
• Classroom Management Survival Kit
• Student Data Binder Kit inside the Members Resource Library under “Teacher Resources”.
• FREE Fast Finishers inside the Members Resource Library under “Classroom Management Resources.”

It's Back to School time!

I am a self-proclaimed back to school junkie.  I love everything about it.

The back to school planning.  Decorating my classroom.  All of it.

No sooner did a school year end before the wheels were already turning in my head for what that first day of school would look like. (I know, a little annoying, right?  I can’t help it..)

There is so much to prep and plan for that first day back, and all across America the To-Do checklists are being created and ticked off as we speak (it’s like music to my ears!).

However before you get too caught up in everything you want to DO as you’re planning for the first day of school, today’s episode is all about what NOT to do on the first day of school. 

POST: Establishing Routines & Procedures (Plus, grab a free routines and procedures guide for the elementary classroom!)

RESOURCE: First Day of School Toolkit

Grab my FREE First Day Checklist inside the Members Resource Library under “TEACHER RESOURCES.”

It’s go-time.

Teachers - start your engines and get ready for the new school year.  I don’t have to tell you that planning for a new school year is a bit of an overwhelming process.

As exciting as it is, there are a lot of moving parts when it comes to getting ready for that first day of school.

So let’s break it down.  In this FINAL playlist of of our summer road trip, I’ll outline how you can:

• design your dream classroom (and on a budget!)
• get organized from top to bottom
• curriculum map for an entire school year (um - yes, you can!)
• have the very best first day of school

First Day of School Survival Kit

Classroom Theme Decor Essentials

Classroom Color Scheme Decor Essentials

Most teachers have a love-hate relationship with technology.  It’s true that classroom technology can help engage students like no other teaching strategy can.  But - with technology comes a whole new set of challenges.

And, teacher technology can be great, too.  Never before have we had some many tech tools to help us get organized, manage our classroom resources, and keep our schedule in check.  But again - there’s always a learning curve.

So, let’s tackle some of those challenges.  In this week’s summer playlist I’ll be covering some important ways that you can maximize the power of technology for both you and your students. We’re talking about:

• tips and best practices for managing classroom technology with your students
• new learning tools that will spark instant engagement
• getting your digital files in tip-top shape for the new school year
• how to use online calendars to manage everything from your curriculum planning to meetings, field-trips and more!

LINKtivity® Interactive Learning Guides (The Complete Library)

Using Google Calendar for Teachers (Video Tutorial)

Join us on our Teacher Summer Road Trip

We all get excited for the beginning of the school year.  Those fresh pencils.  Boxes of new markers.  Crisp chart paper just waiting to be used.

We can’t wait to dive in to all the lessons, activities, and projects that we’ve been prepping and planning.

But wait.  Stop right there!

Before you even THINK about anything else when it comes to the new school year, let me ask you this.  What’s your classroom management system?

Don’t really have one?  Let’s fix that.  In this episode I’m focusing on classroom management.  If you skip the whole classroom management step of starting a new school year, you’ll find yourself frustrated all year long.

Join the Summer Teacher Road Trip

Classroom Management Survival Kit