What Parents Want - Tips from a Teacher Mom about Parent Communication

Studies repeatedly show that parental involvement in education has a direct impact on student achievement, yet teachers often struggle with getting parents actively involved in our classrooms. As professional demands increase for teachers and modern lifestyles keep families incredibly busy, it becomes even more challenging to build quality relationships with the parents of our students. However, we must invest time in reflecting on the effectiveness of our parent communication in order to maximize the positive impact on our students. This post is written by an anonymous classroom teacher that also happens to be a mother of three wonderful children. Read more to see how becoming a parent really changed her perspective about communication!

Dear Teachers,

When I began teaching, I always thought I was being very clear in my communication. I sent home newsletters, personalized emails and notes, and even invited parents into my classroom for special events. I assumed the parents in my classroom felt informed and understood my perspective. After I became a parent, I began to realize that I may not be communicating all that I originally thought. As teachers, we think a lot about HOW and HOW OFTEN to communicate with parents, but I wonder if we think as much about WHAT message our parents are really receiving from us about their child. Communication is more than the words we say to parents, but also what they hear and understand as a result.  Based on my experiences as both a parent and a teacher, I have developed these tips for better communication between parents and teachers.

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Building a Classroom Community

Teachers have an important task at the beginning of each school year - to help the students in their classroom become a cohesive unit that can truly work together as the year progresses.  It's important to me that my students feel like our classroom is a family, where they are loved and accepted, safe and respected. Developing a positive classroom community takes time, but it is time well-invested. Follow these tips to build a positive community in your own classroom this year! 

BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT RELATIONSHIP BUILDING.

Research has even shown that a teacher's relationships with her students has a greater impact on student learning than the teacher's content knowledge! In other words, it doesn't matter how much you know if your students don't know how much you care about them. Relationship-building should be intentionally built into your classroom through lessons and activities. It can be tempting to think we don't have the time to "waste" on relationship-building, but that's just not true! It's so important.

FOCUS ON BECOMING A FAMILY.  

All students (and people in general) have a deep, psychological need to belong. They need to know they are accepted and valued by the teacher and other students in the class.  One of my favorite ways to help my classroom feel more like a family is to have Family Meetings at the beginning and end of the day. I bring students together in a circle in the mornings and afternoons to have group discussions, solve problems we may be experiencing, and share positive affirmations. Some people have these meetings only once a week, but my students are most responsive when I host them every day. We begin and end the day together on the carpet. I lead the meetings at the beginning of the year, but then teach students how to take over ownership. In time, the students learn the protocol for how a family meeting is held and are leading them out. This time is really cherished by the students!

TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO INTERACT AND BUILD AFFILIATIONS WITHIN SMALL GROUPS. 

In order for students to truly work together in cooperative learning groups, they need to have time to get to know their team members more closely. This is why teambuilding activities are so important! Teambuilding Activities encourage students get to know one another better and develop positive peer affiliations.  Teambuilding is truly the foundation for cooperative learning tasks to be successful because it helps students learn how to interact within small groups. The first few weeks back in school are crucial for students to engage in teambuilding activities.  Some ideas for teambuilding activities include: 

• Team Motto/Mascot/Pennant/Shirt/Slogan, etc - Have students work as a team to design something and be prepared to explain the meaning behind what they designed. This is a great activity for table groups or teams that will be working together more often. 


• 2 Facts and a Fib -  This one is so much fun! Each person has to write down 2 facts and 1 fib about himself or herself. The team has to agree on what they think the fib is, then share out. I always model this one out at the teacher first, and I stump them every time! ("Yes, guys, I really was born during an earthquake, and no, that wasn't the fib!")

TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO INTERACT AND BUILD AFFILIATIONS AS A WHOLE CLASS. 

Teambuilding is a great way to teach students how to interact with one another in small groups, but Classbuilding intentionally teaches them how to interact with one another as a whole group. It is important to help your students build a class identity while still valuing the differences that make each student a unique member of the class. So often, they will form strong group bonds, so we need to get them out of their seats and interacting with people they don't always talk to! These activities are a fun way to mix up the class and get students building connections with new people. 

• Line ups - Line ups have students line up in order of shoe size, birthdays, number of siblings, from tallest to shortest, etc. Fold the Line Up for a fun discussion. Just have students at one end "fold the line" by walking back to the other end so each student is standing in front of another, then have them chat about a specific topic.


• Four Corners - Assign each corner a statement, such as Strongly Agree, Somewhat Agree, Somewhat Disagree, Strongly Disagree. Then read out statements and have students self-select which corner best describes their opinion on the topic. They can chat with members in the same corner about what they have in common or share out why they identify with that statement. 

You May Also Like: 

• Building Positive Classroom Culture - Learn the one magic ingredient for positive classroom culture, as well as specific guidelines and strategies to implement
• 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Day Teaching - Learn from my mistakes so you can be better prepared for the unexpected things on your first day in the classroom! 
• How to Mentally Prepare for Your First Year Teaching - Practical ideas on how you can get ready this summer for your new teaching position!
• 10 Classroom Routines You Need Immediately - Have you overlooked these 10 important classroom routines? 

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Teaching with Confidence

As teachers we are constantly under the microscope. We have our students, their parents, our administrators, and more looking to us to carry out our responsibilities. Don't get me wrong, as teacher's we bear an amazing amount of responsibility which should not be taken lightly, but sometimes these responsibilities become a little crushing and we need a confidence boost. 

By teaching with confidence we show our professionalism, and encourage our students to be confident as well. Confidence does not just appear though, we have to work at it. While confidence is built on a series of successes there are certain elements that are more in our control. 

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3 Great Reasons to Launch Something New Now

Launch the new now? What? Why would I want to start something new at the end of the school year? Well, I have 3 great reasons that the end of the school year is the perfect time to start something new in your classroom.

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Alternative to Traditional Bulletin Boards

Do you have a love-hate relationship with bulletin boards? I love how bulletin boards can enhance a classroom and I LOVE displaying student work, but I hate trying to get the bulletin board paper up and smooth. Then there is the border that is like doing a puzzle without a picture! That's how I began using my window blinds as a bulletin board.

Transform the window blinds from boring to bright! Simply use paperclips on the blind slat that you want to hold your item. Since you are holding the paper with paperclips, you eliminate putting holes or taping student work. The paperclips blend in nicely, so they don't distract from what you are displaying. Here is a close up look.... You can barely see the paperclip!

If the item you are displaying is a little heavy or large, I would recommend using 2 paperclips.  For example, we used 2 on the ants pictured below. 

When you are ready to change out the items on display, simply slide the items out of the paperclips. I don't take my paperclips off of the blinds. I already have them spaced out and all on the same slat. This way, I don't have to put any effort into making sure everything is straight or evenly spaced out. Win!

Bonus: Your blinds can still be put down during a drill or emergency situation. I have been doing this window display for years and we've never had any trouble with the fire inspection. 

Want more tips and resources? Be sure to follow along on my blog, Mrs. P's Specialties and on Pinterest.

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Digital Learning: How to Do It Justice

"Digital Learning"

Seems to be one of the biggest buzzwords in education recently. 

But... what does it actually mean?  

Putting kids in front of a device and expecting results?  Not any more.  

My hope is that by the time you're finished reading this blog post you've got a better understanding of digital learning and how to do it justice in your classroom.

Just a bit of background...

In 2010, at the National Summit on Education Reform in Washington DC, a council defined 10 elements of "high quality digital learning".  Some of these were aimed at lawmakers, but some can be used to help teachers make more informed judgments for teachers classroom.If you want to learn more about digital learning click here, but for sake of time, I am focusing on three important elements of digital learning. You should ask yourself these questions when you're trying to implement digital learning.

Quality Instruction:  "Am I presenting this in an engaging and helpful way?"

Gone are the days of sitting a kid in front of a device and expecting them to be mesmerized and engaged for hours on end.  I can remember a time where my teachers would take us into the computer lab and hand us a real life floppy disk (showing my age here...) and our little happy bodies stayed focused for the whole hour.  Fast forward some 10+ years and now I'm trying to keep my own students engaged with what I'm teaching.  I have more technology than I can shake a stick at, but technology is no longer the carrot that can be dangled.  These kids are exposed to technology before they can read and sometimes before they can walk. As educators we have to believe that no longer is technology a transformational tool, but more of an adaptive tool to create change.  

So you must ask yourself: 

"Am I presenting this information in an engaging and helpful way?"

Stop the boring PowerPoint slides for lecture notes.  Try making your own videos or even engaging your students into creating their own presentations.  

Stop having your students turn in boring worksheets and try out using Google Forms.

Stop the ban on devices and try utilizing them intentionally.

Quality Content: "Is the content of this app/program engaging and important?"

What are you teaching?  How to write a paragraph?  Multiplication fact practice?  The impact of WWII on present day? There's probably an app for that.  But, is this app going to be the right way of presenting that information?  Are you choosing the right tool for the job?  

To make an analogy here, we teachers are like construction workers.  We have the task of creating learners that will be facing a future we can only predict. And much like construction workers, we have a vast array of tools at our hands when it comes to technology.  But we must remember that tools are only good for specific jobs.  For example, a hammer does no good when you need to screw something into place.  

So go back to the original question... 

Is content of this app/program engaging and important? 

Really analyze your purpose for it before choosing. 

Ask yourself: 

Does it provide quality information?  Does it push my student's thinking to a deeper understanding?

Or

Is it just a shiny new tool that won't work for this job?

Quality Choices:  "Can each of my kids access this in multiple ways?"

We're taught as educators that we serve students from differing backgrounds and to be prepared to teach in a variety of ways.  Why not then, allow the students to access their education in multiple ways?  Most schools have some form of technology they provide students with in the classroom.  Unfortunately too many times are teachers too busy, too afraid, or too underprepared for utilizing it in the classroom.  Don't be that teacher.  Get your hands on it and try out the device yourself.  

Think about giving your students choices about how to respond to the lessons you teach in a variety of ways and with options for technology.

• Allow students to use QR codes as a means of self-checking their understanding of the content.
• Allow students to research a topic and use their findings to create a video that teaches younger students.
• Allow students to create augmented reality experiences to go along with stories they're writing in class.
• Allow students to respond and summarize the class reading using a classroom hashtag and creativity.  

Digital learning is at your fingertips and can be utilized in SO many different ways.  We only need to ask ourselves the right questions in order to do it justice in the classroom.

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DIY Personalized Photo Desktop Organizer

Do you want to learn how to create your own
personalized photo desktop organizer? 

Hey, friends! It's Beth from Adventures of a Schoolmarm, and I have to let you in on a little secret. I can't stand a messy computer desktop! I also love being able to have a personalized photo on my desktop because I am picture obsessed. I started using a custom desktop organizer a couple years ago to help me stay organized and have easy access to my files. If you want to learn how to create your own custom desktop using a meaningful photo, this tutorial is for you!

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Schema Maps... a great alternative to KWL charts!

Hey everyone! Beth from Adventures of a Schoolmarm here. I hope you are enjoying your first week back in school. Show of hands... Who needed a NAP after work on Monday?!

Activating SCHEMA, or prior knowledge, is such a crucial part of helping students understand what they are reading about any topic. I have used KWL Charts many times to help my students record their thinking and learning about a new topic. But I've always had one issue with them...

What do you do when the kids think they KNOW something, but you happen to know it's totally wrong?!

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Easy Center Ideas

I am thrilled to write my very FIRST post on Classroom Tested Resources! I know this is the beginning of a beautiful blogger-ship....is that a  real word?  If not, let's just pretend!

This past summer I helped a few friends set up there classrooms.  One of my former colleges and friends is SO creative.  She had several EASY and simple ideas for centers.  

She planned to use hers as morning work.  Students could choose an activity after they unpacked for the morning.  I thought this was such a great way to help students ease into the classroom routine. I did this MANY years ago in my 4th grade classroom and loved it (and so did the kids!).

She had purchased several small tote bags and flash cards from the Dollar Store.  Each little bag had two sets of flashcards inside.  Students could grab a bag, and then take it to a spot in the classroom to work.

I thought this was a great idea because we all know those boxes for flashcards last about 2 seconds. Even AFTER the boxes fall apart, the flashcards will still be somewhat organized and usable since they are contained in the bag!

Here is another one of her clever ideas- and it is cheap! She just used an old Pringles can and small bathroom cups.

She took the  cups and put dots on them.  You can do a million things with these!  Subization and recognition of numbers, combinations of ten, adding three or more numbers, and so on. Students can "stack" the cups after they complete the activity to see how many numbers they worked on!

This is a similar activity.  She just put sight words  on the bottom.  Students read the words and then stack them.

Have you ever heard of the game BOOM?  It is a great review game and can be played in pairs or independently.

My friend used tongue depressors, but you can also just laminate strips of paper.  Her BOOM game reviews addition facts.  She wrote the addition facts on the end of the sticks.  On two or three sticks write BOOM!  

To play the game, students put the sticks in the cup (or container) with the facts side down so they cannot see what is on each stick.  Students randomly draw out a stick and answer the fact. If the student get the fact correct, they can keep the stick.  If it is incorrect, the stick goes back in the container.  If the student draw a BOOM stick ALL their sticks go back in the container.  Students continue to play until play time is over.  When playing in pairs (or more) the students take turns.  The student with the most sticks at the end of play time wins!

Got an egg carton?  Then you have another center ready to go!

Number the bottom of each hole on the egg carton.  I numbered mine 1-12.  Put in two counters or pieces clear vase filler.

Students close and shake the egg carton. Students open the carton.  Then the student can add the two numbers the counters landed in!

You can vary the game by using addition, subtraction, or multiplication. You can also differentiate by using large two digit or three digit numbers.

Hope these ideas help to keep it simple and add to your center stash!

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Daily 5 in my Upper Elementary Classroom

Hey guys! It’s Kristen from Chalk & Apples. When I first learned about the Daily 5, I loved the idea. It’s such a simple way to manage centers so that the teacher can focus on meeting with small groups. In my classroom, though, I ran into a couple of issues... a lack of adequate time and difficulty finding engaging, age-appropriate activities made implementing Daily 5 difficult in my 5th grade class. Today, I want to share some solutions that have helped Daily 5 work for my big kids.

Time Management with 30/30

I recently found an app that I absolutely adore! It's called  30/30, and while this particular app is only available in iTunes, there's an Android alternative.

This app allows you to set time limits for activities, starting and stopping them whenever you want, rather than based on the time of day. I have mine set up for three 20 minute rotations with 2 minutes of transition time in between and 2 minutes of clean-up at the end. If you get off track or need to go long with a group, you can even pause it, skip ahead, or add/subtract 5 minutes with a tap. It has a unique sound, and my students are trained to swap centers when they hear it! (PS: It's pretty good for blog-post-writing and TPT-creating time too! I set it to remind me to get up and move every half hour!)

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Tips to Combat Teacher Fatigue

Let's face it.  Being a teacher is hard work.  Finding simple ways to combat teacher fatigue can be a game changer!

Now that school is back in full swing you might notice your energy waning.  Me? Well, I'm changing positions a month after school started, so I am in full "back to school tired" mode!  This led me to investigate ways to beat teacher fatigue.

It goes without saying that we need to maintain good sleep habits once school starts.  It is so easy to work long hours, hoping to get caught up.  The ugly truth is there will ALWAYS be something else to do, especially in today's world.  Getting enough rest will keep your body healthy and your mind active during the long days at school.  Being overly sleepy is your body's way of saying, "Hey! Get some more rest!" When I ignore this signal, I often find myself fighting a nasty cold.

Test your sleep IQ by taking this interesting sleep quiz from the National Sleep Foundation.
You can find it by clicking {HERE}.

I know many of us toss and turn keeping us from falling asleep at night.  We simply have too many things running through our minds.  The best way I have found to combat this dilemma is by:

1. Make a "To Do List." Write down the things you need to accomplish or remember. This will free your mind to relax at night.  Try to prioritize and only list must do items.  Remember, this isn't a wish list!
2. Unplug from social media about an hour before bed.  Research states that computer usage before bed can decrease our ability to go to sleep.
3. Keep a bedtime routine and time schedule.  Our bodies get used to falling asleep and waking at certain times.  Keeping the schedule even on weekends is helpful.
4. Investigate essential oils. In a glass spray bottle combine a few drops of your favorite relaxing essential oil, like lavender, with water.  Spritz over your linens just before bed.  Check out The Prairie Homestead for recommended oils geared for getting and staying asleep.  
5. Let your linens dry on an old fashioned clothesline.  This is my absolute favorite!

Bring fresh air in for a restful sleep.

I found this affordable essential oil on Amazon.  It has some great reviews, including the use as a sleep aid for children.  Note: This is an affiliate link. 

Healthy lunches that look and taste good, are a wonderful "pick me up" during the afternoon.  I am famous for throwing a container of  Greek yogurt in my bag, then hoping for the best.  While most yogurt is good for you, it can get a little boring.  Having a fun, tasty lunch gives you more incentive to take the time to eat.

Photo and recipe can be found at Family Fresh Meals

Foods that keep blood sugar steady, provide long lasting energy, and trigger your brain to feel good are the best choices for lunch.

1.  Choose whole grains, keeping an eye on the amount of sugar listed in the ingredients.  These carbs are good for boosting energy and the feel-good chemical serotonin. Whole grains are absorbed in your body slowly, so your energy doesn't spike. Sugars cause blood sugars to spike and then plummet. Avoid high fructose corn syrup.

2. Add nuts, beans, lentils, fresh lean meats, and eggs.  These protein packed foods absorb in your body slowly and provide extended energy throughout the day.  Nuts, as well as whole grains, contain magnesium. Magnesium deficiency drains your energy. Meats contain Vitamin B-12 and boost dopamine levels which keep you alert and focused.

3.  Plan dinner meals which can easily be incorporated into wholesome lunches.  It is easy to cook a little extra during your main meal, then pack the leftovers for lunch.  Another great alternative is to make simple tweaks to your main meal for a fresh take as a lunch choice.  See the recipe below as a great example. Not only do you use the crock pot ("win-win"), but it would be so easy to add the leftover chicken to create a delicious lunch salad or wrap.  Have roast?  Shred it for an easy barbecue sandwich.

Find this photo and recipe at Family Fresh Meals.

4.  Seasonal fruits and vegetables are an easy, nutritious addition to your lunch.  They are low in fat, sodium and cholesterol. They do provide complex carbohydrates, fiber, nutrients and natural sugar. It is important to make sure you "eat the rainbow" when making choices.

Check out my Pinterest board for some easy lunch recipes.


Follow Sebrina Burke's board Easy, Healthy Lunch Ideas on Pinterest.

Take the advice of someone who has been teaching for 21 years, and is still NOT caught up!  Work will always be there.  Prioritize.  What needs to be done to keep your students safe and reaching their potential?  What deadlines are looming?   Does it really matter if every corner of your classroom looks like it came off a Pinterest board?  NO!  But your health, happiness, and family do depend on you to realize that you simply "Can't do it all!"

Be kind to yourself, get some rest, and enjoy your coming weekend!

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Simple trick to reduce interruptions in the classroom

Let's face it...we all have had that student that feels driven to ask a million questions during a lesson. Sometimes those questions are relevant and sometimes they aren't. Here is a great trick to get students thinking about why they are asking questions and if they are important to ask at that time.

My son was THAT student in third grade! He has an auditory processing disorder which led to classroom anxiety. When he was anxious, he would raise his hand to ask a question. Yup, any question that happened to pop in his head at that time!! Yikes!!! The teacher and I worked together to develop this question card system.

These three cards were on his desk at all times. When we started the system he could ask 3 questions every hour, but then we were able to fade it down to 3 questions in the morning and 3 questions in the afternoon. About a month later he didn't even need the cards any more. He had learned why and when to ask a question and no longer needed the visual reminders.

It is a nice easy LOW PREP way to teach students to think before interrupting a lesson. Download this FREEBIE here. 

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Teaching Tips To Help Keep It Simple In September

Stacks of papers.

Long "to-do" lists.

Bulging shopping bags.

Miles of files to read and paperwork to complete.

These are the harsh realities of our teacher lives.....especially during the month of September when the school year takes off at warp speed and you come home some days feeling like this....

I hope that this simple and practical list of time-saving tips will help you slow things down a bit, set a pace that will sustain you, help manage those marathon-like days, and hopefully infuse you with a little more creative energy!

These two plastic circles have saved my sanity since I purchased them two summers ago!  Instead of popping out of their seats to come and follow me, poke me, or encircle me to ask questions all at once, my second graders know that they need to come to the blue "Helping Spot" and wait until I have a minute to assist them.  The red "Waiting Spot" is where the line to the games/puzzles cupboard and/or their lockers starts so that there is not a stampede every morning or at indoor recess.

I found mine at my local Meijer grocery store!  The possibilities for these smiling faces are endless. They could be "Sharing Spots" when it is time to publish student writing, They could be "Star Student Spots" during carpet-time read alouds.  They could be "Wait Nicely for Your Teacher to Sharpen Your Pencil Spots" before the weekly Spelling Test.  You name it, they are up for any purpose you can think of!  I've seen felt placemats in seasonal shapes at my local Dollar Tree store that would work in a pinch too!

They say that "imitation is the highest form of flattery" and credit for this life-changing idea goes to the blogger that I idolize the most and whose posts I read religiously!  Kristin over at
The Teeny Tiny Teacher is an absolute ROCK STAR when it comes to sharing what works in her primary classroom!  She is also an absolute HOOT and writes honestly and hilariously about her most candid personal and professional moments!  This POST is a favorite and includes a free copy of the parent letter she sends home at the beginning of each school year.

One Friday when I was feeling sorry for myself and completely overwhelmed by my 28 students who never stopped talking when I was talking ALL WEEK LONG, I found this POST about how she managed to quiet her 30 first graders.  I am telling you my friends......two garden gloves, a bottle of craft glue, and a package of google eyes later, the solution to a noisy zoo in Room #2 was found!  

Meet Quinn and Quincy, twin cousins of Kristin's Quiet Creature!  One lives on my hand, and the other lives on my aide's hand as needed.  They only whisper to grown-ups or each other.  They sometimes kiss the quiet creature that a model student has made out of their fingers and get all "mushy-gushy" in their appreciation. This idea is another one of Kristen's genius moments, especially with some of my "toughest customers."  

Quinn and Quincy sometimes travel to the Computer Lab with my class.  Sometimes they even come to restroom break or to the school library.  

Do they get "Mrs. R. is a "looney tune!" looks from other staff members?  

Absolutely.  

Do they get "Mrs. R. is acting like a "whack-a-doodle again!" looks from former students?  

Indeed they do.  

Do they get results from the little ones in my line and during my lessons?  Y-E-S spells YES!  

Do I care if there are skeptics out there?  N-O spells NO!  

You shouldn't either!  Have fun and get results with your own Quiet Creature who is "proud but not loud!"

I recently discovered DoodleLoops'  TpT store and cannot wait to introduce her creative thinking pages to my students!  I plan to use them on Fridays (and include them in my sub plans), and look forward to the variety of stories my young authors and illustrators imagine, draw, and compose!

My personal "Sub Tub" is currently a "work in progress" this weekend, but I always include a set of our Scholastic News magazines, as well as a variety of read alouds related to the issue's topic.  You can't beat the scripted lessons provided in the teacher guide, and the supplemental worksheets for each issue make great homework activities.

The interactive website also provides a vocabulary slideshow, short video, and review games!  Our grade level team includes a $6.00 fee on our supply list every year that covers the cost of both Scholastic News and Science Spin, which are both full of great non-fiction text features and quality Social Studies and Science content.

A few years ago, I volunteered to be the literacy initiative coordinator at my school and began scheduling grade level visits from "Celebrity Readers."  The "tradition" has continued, with our district superintendent, our principal, or parent volunteers reading aloud either in individual classrooms or at weekly group Library times at least once every month.  International Dot Day on September 15th and Dr. Seuss' birthday during Read Across America were two special events last year.  One father even dressed up as "The Cat in the Hat" to read Green Eggs and Ham to grades K-5!  This year, I rounded up the collection of favorite picture books featured above for our new district superintendent to share as part of our READ TO SUCCEED kick-off campaign. He had a grand time when he visited on Friday, and can't wait to come back!

I look forward to planning more events for the coming months.  It gives me great personal and professional satisfaction to share my passion for reading with others.  I may even invite the family members of children in my class (and my own family members) to come read aloud in Room #2. What better way to model reading as a worthy and life-long practice, right?  Pernille Ripp  from Blogging Through the Fourth Dimension expresses the importance of promoting a "reading culture" ever-so-eloquently {HERE}.  What she advocates for administrators is also great advice for parents.  Simply put, we must continue to make time for read alouds for children of all ages.

Let's face it folks, the children in our care stare at T.V. and tablet screens more than we'd like. Therefore, the "taking turns" aspect of partner work and group learning activities is often difficult for them.  Incorporating brand name games like Scrabble, Chutes and Ladders, Trouble, and Battleship are a great way to "kill two birds with one stone"--as the old adage says.

Building word power, counting, and following direction skills is as easy as browsing the shelves of your favorite discount store!  My colleague found the fun Scrabble Alphabet Scoop game at T.J. Maxx two years ago.  It is not only a favorite choice during our Daily 5 rotation, but it is also very popular during indoor recess!  It warms my heart to hear and see my little ones stirring up some Spelling practice that did not require any printing, cutting, or laminating!

I hope that you found at least a few of the tips from this list valuable!  May they help your busy "teacher brain" be less scrambled and more time-savvy this month!  Know that all of the work you do is important and appreciated.  Continue to keep calm, carry on, and make a difference in the lives of the children you serve!

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