Teachers have the nearly impossible job of making school more exciting than video games, social media, and everything in between. It’s my job as a reading teacher to think of the most innovative ways to inspire students to not only practice reading skills, but also build a love for literacy.
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Statistics aren’t great for students who aren’t able to read by the third grade. But all my reading teachers know that phonemic manipulation is the last and most challenging step before becoming a reader.
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After figuring out that their favorite rapper was @21savage , I knew I had to somehow incorporate that into my teaching. This clip is from our fluency rap battle this morning, and these two killed it. I’m so proud of how much they’ve grown this year, and I’m excited and honored to be a part of their amazing educational journey. I also don’t think we’ll have to worry about any of those statistics in this class.
#tagafriend #tagateacher #tagarapper
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P.S. who knew that Dr. Suess had bars 🤷🏽♂️ 🖤
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#blackeducatorsrock #TFA #teachforamerica #blackmaleeducator #teacherlife #teacher #teachersofig
#teachersfollowteachers
#teachersofinstagram #blackexcellence #blackboyjoy #blackboysread #blackgirlmagic
•WET HAIR DON’T CARE• As teachers, we are constantly pulled in all different directions. Sometimes self care comes last for us. One simple thing that we do have control over is our shampoo and conditioner. But it is so difficult to find the right one for you. I have tried them all! Expensive and cheap. I have the hardest time finding the right fit for my hair. That’s why I was so pumped to try @formulate.co . Their shampoo and conditioner is formulated for my specific hair. I have used it for a few washes and I can already tell and feel a difference! And it doesn’t hurt that you get to pick the fragrance. Mine smells amazing! This is a must have product for teachers with busy schedules. P.S. I will be doing a giveaway very soon!! So stay tuned! #teacherselfcare
Holiday time + equations = FUN! Check out this activity on solving various types of equations! Link in bio!
This Common Core Aligned lesson will be your kindergarten or 1st graders first geography lesson. Create this flip book in one day or stretch it to cover an entire week, in the end, your students will have an awesome book to help them understand the world around them.
http://bit.ly/2PaHLFJ
#tpt
#teacherspayteachers
#teachersofinstagram
#teachersofig
#iteachninth
#iteachtenth
#iteacheleventh
#iteachhighschool
#iteachtoo
#teachersfollowteachers
#teachersfollowingteachers
#teachersofinstagram
#teachercreated
#igteachers
#teacherfriends
#teachersoftpt
#alwaysateacher
#educator
#secondaryed
#schoolteacher
#highschoolteachers
#tptcheckoutmyclassroom
#learningresource
#teachershelpingteachers
#tptcheckoutmyclassroom
#geography #flipbook #elementarysocialstudies
#iteachk #iteachfirst
🎄We did a critical thinking/following written directions Christmas tree origami activity today!!! 🎄 I got a MUCH NEEDED 16 minutes and 10.51 seconds of complete silence during this!! 🎉🎉😍 Yes, I timed it! 🤷♀️ When we do these origami projected, there is absolutely NO TALKING, only THINKING and FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS!!! Some of us have a problem with following directions and not thinking before we ask tons of questions sometimes!! So, we do these each month to practice these much needed skills 😬! Plus, they help decorate our room for the holiday seasons!!! Listen to how quiet they are!! 🤫They always love these and I love the quiet time!!! They already asked to do it again and I’m ok with that!! 😉☺️If you bought this last year, redownload it!! I updated it and made it a PowerPoint so it’s easier to change slides!!! Link in bio! #thinkbeforeyouspeak #shhhhhhh #followthosedirections
How do you run collaborative groups One easy way to to give each kid a job. Example (illustrator, recorder, supply manager and researcher) I have students stay in the same groups for science and the roles rotate each time. Also if you haven’t heard of Kagan strategies. Do yourself a favor and look it up as there are a slew of strategies to keep kids accountable! ✨
I’m finally “off limits” during independent writing time! 🙌🏼 It took a long time of modeling, supporting, and reminding the kids of our writer’s workshop expectations, but we finally have the tools in place (literally) to create a more independent writing space. Want to know more Watch my Writing Wednesday stories!
Swipe 👉🏻 to see our new furniture! It really opened up the classroom. I can’t wait for the kids to see it tomorrow 😍😍
Prepping to introduce Literature Circles for next week! 🙌🏻 These kids are READY to start some independent conversations around books! Woohoo! Link in profile 👉🏻 bit.ly/2E19d2U
Absolutely! Kids who get respect give respect! It’s that simple!
Determining the central message can be pretty tricky for primary kids. I feel like they don't yet have the life experience to be able to easily identify a central message or what lesson an author is trying to teach. And that's where Gingerbread Man books come in. These familiar stories and the variations on their plots are relatable to children and lend themselves perfectly to teaching about central message.
If you're struggling to teach this with your students, I've put together this post (linked in my bio) with a list of guiding questions, examples, and activities that can help. http://bit.ly/CentralMessageUsingGBBooks
Quick reminder to challenge binary kid (and adult) narratives about boy and girl toys during this gift giving season, especially as stores and commercials and society constantly reinforce them 🎁
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Try:
⭐️ “Oh, I’m a girl and I love that toy.” 🤷🏻♀️
⭐️ “Have you tried that one before” 🤔
⭐️ “I think anyone would like how creative / interesting / colorful / fun that toy is. What do you like about it” 😍
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Happy gifting.
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Image from #amightygirl (don’t think they have an Insta, correct me if I’m wrong!)
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#balancedteachers #teachershare #teacherlife #teachergifts
Our Harry Potter week was a hit. (See previous post for decor) First, I sorted the kiddos into their houses to establish groups for the month. Then we completed in a scavenger hunt around the school using math problems. In this post you will see various center activities involving math, our makerspace, tangrams and coding. Finally, we wrote acrostic poems about Hogwarts and all the magical things that happen there. A truly memorable week. 🧙♂️
Countdown to Winter break. Each child brought in a book from home they wrapped up (I did several classroom books to make up for the ones who didn’t bring one) and we have exactly one book a day we unwrap and read until break. When all the books are unwrapped it will be our class party time! It has been so fun to see what books the kids bring in. 📚
I’ve found some new titles I want to add to my class library. Have you all read The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors! It is a clever and cute book. Of course we had to play after we read the book. We played championship cheerleader style though. Are you familiar with this version 🗿📝 ✂️ #ilovemyjob #iteachkindergarten #iteachk #iteachtoo #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #readingcountdown #rockpaperscissors
Is there anything better than being able to incorporate 80’s music into a lesson No, I don’t think so! Especially when your kids are awesome.
real life classroom • When the curriculum isn’t reaching my students, I do what I need to do: I create an access point for them. Nothing fancy or flashy. I look to see what my students need and start from there. (Like when they looked at me like 😐 during this lesson on creating multiplication and division stories!) Not all of my kids will need this scaffolding, but those who do will hopefully benefit. My “real life classroom” is a lot of this. No gimmicks. Just good practice. #universaldesignforlearning #nogimmicksjustgoodpractice #reallifeclassroom
Wow! Today I was named 2018-2019 Teacher of the Year! Thanks to my coworkers & Administrators. It’s truly an honor! #Grateful #Thankful #Blessed
When your advisory asks if they can have a Connect 4 tournament and you decide to go all out and make medals 😂😂😂
I think we can all agree that Teaching can be tough! Go check out my friend Jess @the_whimsical_teacher ! Not only do I love her insta stories but she also has her own podcast about keeping yourself healthy so you can be a happy teacher!
We get serious with reading partners in our classroom. I meet with all my students and go over their reading contract. Then we map out all their reading on a calendar that they keep in their homework folder. So far, everyone is on track to finish on time!
First grade classes have been focusing on different groups of shapes. This is a review game I do with them towards the end of the unit. I pass out these drawings of either geometric shapes, free forms, organic shapes, or curvy lines.... and the students have to walk around and find the other members of their group and all sit together. It’s a fun assessment and review for everyone!
these are desperate times, y’all, desperate times 😬
Day 1! Snag our Just Joking! Directed Drawing Calendar - the perfect parent holiday gift!
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To enter: 🎄Follow @sidetalkingteachers
🎄Tag a friend!
🎄Drop an emoji to describe your favorite part of the holiday season!
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Giveaway will end at 4pm (CST) on Thursday, December 6th. Winner will be announced shortly after!
Hour of Code flew by today as we programmed our own dance moves!!!!
Sometimes you need a keep the quote just as much as your class does. Anyone else feeling the challenge of December Or this year/change in general Welcome to my cluuuuuub!🙋🏼♀️ What has challenged you (good or bad) this week I’ve had a few in both categories 🤷🏼♀️ #thestruggleisreal #decemberscaries #keepthequote
🌟While many people are celebrating this holiday season, we want to celebrate YOU! Some teacher friends and I have teamed up to give away a Silhouette Cameo 3 to one lucky winner!🌟
Here's how to enter:
1️⃣Make sure you are following me, @happylittleteacher
2️⃣Like this photo and comment with your favorite holiday emoji.
3️⃣Head over to @ilove1stgrade and do the same to complete the loop!
*️⃣ Tag up to 2 friends for extra entries in separate comments!
This giveaway will end Friday, December 7th at 10pm EST. Best of luck!
This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram or Silhouette America. Open to US residents only.
WEEK 13: IRELAND ●●●●●●●●● This ball of sass is literally always TRYING me but she has pulled her grades up from the deep dark depths and has really put her best foot forward this quarter. I lowkey adore this kid!!!! I am so proud of her and her effort as the semester comes to a close. She's my girl! 😜 the quote this week was "in tough situations, don't say Why Me, just say Try Me!"
We ❤️ to pair our Seasonal Emergent Text Evidence Passages ✏️ with our favorite holiday books 📚 this time of year! 🌲 Link in profile!
When the student has surpassed the teacher!! This little lady not only knows her schedule for the week, but she knows the schedule for the other two groups of students in our room. 😲
When doing the schedule for the next day I can never remember who has what 😩
