The back-to-school season is filled with so much excitement, but also a lot of stress! There are so many choices to make, systems to set up, and things to get done that I always find myself overwhelmed and exhausted. That is why I have tried to make sure I'm as ready as possible with a bunch of fun, easy-to-use, and productive activities. We want our students building community, learning our routines, and getting to know one another right away! If that sounds like something you'd like, keep ... View Post
Develop Learning Skills
The Ontario Curriculum requires teachers to develop learning skills in their students. The six learning skills outlined identify ideas students need to learn about as well as experiences they need to have in order for meaningful learning to take place. These skills include: Responsibility Are students able to complete their work on time, follow through with commitments and requests and manage their behaviour and choices? Organization We all know those students that ... View Post
Preparing for a Sub Teacher: Tips
Preparing for a sub should be part of every teachers back to school prep check-list. Planning ahead helps alleviate at least a little stress when emergencies and unexpected days off pop up. Knowing that your sub will have sufficient work to do with your students makes the decision to take a desperately needed sick day much easier. In my previous blog post: Classroom Management Tips, I spoke about the importance of being over-prepared for lessons. This is equally important when it comes to ... View Post
Classroom Management Tips and Ideas
When you train to be a teacher, you are taught many classroom management tips and tricks. It is only once you are in the classroom that you identify the tricks that work for you and your "teacher personality". What works for one person, may not work for another! Over the years, I have found a few strategies that work for me. I decided to share three of my favorite strategies with you to use as you see fit. Classroom Management tips: Be Over-Prepared for Class We've all ... View Post
Using Board Games in Science
Let me begin by saying, “I LOVE using board games in Science!” Well, not just in Science, in my classroom in general. They are so diverse and students love them too. Why should I Use Board Games in Science? Board games offer our students an opportunity to learn through play. If you had to pose the same questions in a worksheet and in a board game, which activity do you think your students would choose? Mine would choose the game over and over again. Now I’m not ... View Post
Create Personalized Dictionaries
Do you create personalized dictionaries with your students? Thinking back, I remember creating my own personalized dictionaries when I was a student in school. (I always loved studying my teacher's perfectly formed letters - is that weird? I'm still not happy with my printing, but I digress!) I recall searching for my desired word and if I couldn't find it, I would approach my teacher to add it to my dictionary. But not, as a teacher, I DREAD the September filled with "How do I spell.....How do ... View Post