Category: Scholastic

Picture Day PERFECTION!

10/15/2015

Last week we had our picture day! Have you had yours yet? Whether you’ve already said, “CHEESE!” or the countdown to school picture day is underway, there are many ways to tie curriculum to this fun, annual school tradition.

Below are highlights from my Scholastic Top Teaching article on maximizing the picture day excitement in your classrooms. Click on an image to be taken to the full article for book recommendations, lesson ideas, and more!

Click on the images below to go to the full article for book links, FREE DOWNLOADS, fun photos ops and more!

// PERFECT TEXT PAIRINGS //

// FREE DOWNLOAD: VISUALIZATION ACTIVITIES! //

// PHOTO-OP FUN: REENACT PICTURE DAY SABOTAGE! //

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Scholastic TEACHER Launch & FREE SUBSCRIPTION!

10/13/2015

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// Scholastic TEACHER Launch & Enter to Win FREE Subscription! //

I LOVE Scholastic…always have. From the time I was a little girl, anxiously awaiting the big red box of Book Club (not Reading Clubs) orders, to being a Scholastic Top Teaching Blogger, I have followed and adored this company most of my life. You know what makes them so great? (…aside from the plethora of amazing books that we as both children and teachers covet) …Scholastic CONSTANTLY EVOLVES, and most of the time, they do so as a result of teacher feedback, in a way that benefits educators most.

Their newest evolution: Scholastic Instructor is now Scholastic TEACHER. With this already amazing teacher resource revamped and relaunched, they are kicking it up a notch in every way. If this newly released first issue of Scholastic Teacher is any indication, every issue will be absolutely JAM-PACKED with incredibly interesting and abundantly useful articles, tips, tricks, and techniques.

It was a tough pick, but below I’ve highlighted my top 5 finds in the inaugural issue of Teacher. Check these out…and pick up a copy yourself to read the countless other amazing articles that you can take ideas from and instantly implement in your classroom. See brief descriptions below and click on the image gallery to be taken to the article online!

Scholastic Instructor History: Scholastic, Inc. has such a rich history, and Instructor magazine certainly does, too. Its longevity and evolution throughout the many pendulum swings of education proves this teacher resource can weather the test of time…and mandates….and daily teacher challenges.
Best Lesson Ever: Who wants to learn from 7 state teachers of the year? I do! I do! See what these incredible educators reflect upon as their best lessons ever and try a few out in your own classroom!
Brilliant but Bored: We see this constantly: brilliant students, not being fully challenged, resulting in boredom, and often translating into poor choices in the classroom. Read to find 5 strategies to meet the needs of your gifted students.
Crazy for Chromebooks: For years it seems like ed-tech focus has centered around iPads. While I’m one of the biggest Apple fanatics on the planet, my school has a 1:1 Chromebook initiative, and overall it’s been tough to find much information or collaboration surrounding these devices. Thanks, Scholastic Teacher for shedding light on the power of the Chromebook!
Tech on a Budget: Christy Crawford is a fellow Top Teaching bloggers, and is an absolutely AMAZING teacher, tech leader, and all-around fabulous person. In this article, she highlights how to make a big impact in your classroom on a tiny budget, even if you only have one single iPad or tablet.

// Click on images below to view articles online. //

// ENTER to WIN a FREE Subscription for a YEAR! //

Be sure to check out the history of Scholastic Teacher to the left! I LOVE this timeline! To celebrate this awesome teacher resource & the new launch of TEACHER, I'm pairing up with Scholastic to give away ONE FREE YEAR of subscription to Scholastic Teacher!!
**WINNER ANNOUNCED BELOW!**

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5 Classroom Items I'm GLAD I Ditched {5 for Friday}

9/11/2015

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Each year I think about and look for inspiration on how to make my classroom arrangement work better for students and our daily flow. Using trial and error, and research-based findings, I've learned that we can live (much better, in fact) without many common classroom items. Read below for a highlight list of my top 5 (for Friday) things I'm glad I've ditched in my room. Check out my Scholastic Top Teaching blog post on the same topic for full details, tips, tricks, and rationale behind my changes!

I'm so excited because SmartBlog on Education hosts a monthly education content award, recognizing content written by educators, for educators that inspires readers to engage, innovate and discuss. My Scholastic Top Teaching blog post, 5 Classroom Items I'm Glad I Ditched, has been chosen as one of the Editor's Choice Content Award winners this month!! As part of this honor, I'll be a featured guest on Education Talk Radio on September 23 @ 11:00 a.m. CST. I hope you'll join me for my first ever RADIO CHAT! WOO HOO!

{CLICK each image below to be taken to the full article to read more details, tips, & tricks!}

#1: MY TRADITIONAL TEACHER DESK

#2: OVERHEAD FLUORESCENT LIGHTING

#3: ONE, CENTRAL, HUGE CARPET

#4: INDIVIDUAL STUDENT DESKS

#5: MULTI-COLORED & PATTERNED, BUSY BULLETIN BOARDS

// TPT //

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GET ORGANIZED...or at Least START Out that Way!

8/6/2015

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It's back to school time, and while my classroom may look like a bomb went off by the end of the year, or STEM challenge goodies may be strewn about during maker time on any given day...I like to AT LEAST START the year organized. No matter how "Type A" you are, or how hard you try, keeping a perfectly organized classroom is nearly (if not completely) impossible. I always tell myself that the best I can do is to SET UP THE ROOM to NATURALLY ENCOURAGE organization, and then maintaining that organization throughout the year is much easier.

The only problems are time, cost, ease of use, and classroom practicality. It takes a LOT of trial, error, and frankly wasted time, energy, & money to find what really works for you & your room. Soooooo, I like to get super clever, and even "cheat" a bit when it comes to clever classroom storage solutions. We can NEVER have too much good storage in a classroom, so sometimes you have to look at ordinary items in different ways to imagine how they could be used for storage in your room. Keep reading & pop on over to my Scholastic Top Teaching blog to see how I made the following my FAVORITE storage solutions that have stood the test of time!

Laundry bags = LICE PREVENTION (and a neater space)
Dollar store containers for...well...pretty much everything
Thrift store finds as cute, durable storage to match my room theme
IKEA Magazine racks make GREAT STUDENT MAILBOXES!
Kitchen & food storage goodies that serve fabulous class storage purposes
Hardware finds that are great for math manipulatives
Home goods that make the room more cozy & hold TONS of stuff
Office supplies that find a great home in the classroom for executive functioning

// SNEAK PEEK of my Clever Classroom Storage Solutions //

See the slideshow below for a quick look at how I used bargain finds, household goods, thrift shop surprises, and unusual items for CHEAP & EFFECTIVE classroom storage!
*NOTE: Each individual picture is linked directly to specific blog posts about how I used that tool in my classroom last year. Just click and you'll be redirected!

// Get ALL of the Juicy Details //

I've curated all of my best tried-and-true clever classroom storage solutions from over the years in these two Scholastic Top Teaching blog posts! I had so many great tips, tricks, & techniques, that I busted up the collection into two separate posts. Quick lists of items for your storage treasure hunt & their awesome...even UNUSUAL uses are listed out simply to help you grab-n-go with some back to school organization....without the hassle or cost!

// Follow ALL of my Scholastic Top Teaching Adventures! //

Don't miss out on my Scholastic Top Teaching blog posts for the 2015-2016 school year! Click the image below to go to my Scholastic blogger page and subscribe to updates!

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New Kids on the Block: Welcoming New students as they move into Your class

9/26/2014

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It happens all of the time. You’ve finally settled in with your new students, school year routine, classroom setup, and materials distribution when new students start moving in. As happy as you are to welcome new faces into your room, it can really throw a wrench into the groove you’ve gotten into thus far.

In years past, my class size has been maxed out, so I haven’t received move-in students. This year, I had a few kiddos move out right before school started, leaving my head count lower than usual. This means I’ll likely be the first to receive new students. I know I need to prepare some materials and plans for when bright new faces walk into my room (sometimes unannounced!). Use these tips and ideas I’ve gathered to help your new students feel welcome and make your life easier!

Search & Scour (.....any excuse to peruse Pinterest)

To prepare for what I believe is the inevitable, I’ve been scouring Google, blog-stalking, and pouring over Pinterest (any excuse to do so!) to gather what I think are the best ideas for welcoming move-in students. Click on the image of my Pinterest board below to see what I’ve collected so far. If you’d like to join the board and contribute pins to it, just email me as indicated in the board description.

Want to see my Fave Ideas that I plan to use??
CHECK OUT MY SCHOLASTIC TOP TEACHING BLOG POST
FOR DETAILS ON my top Newbie picks.

// FOllow my Scholastic Blog POsts! //

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Picture Day PERFECTION!

// PERFECT TEXT PAIRINGS //

// FREE DOWNLOAD: VISUALIZATION ACTIVITIES! //

// PHOTO-OP FUN: REENACT PICTURE DAY SABOTAGE! //

Scholastic TEACHER Launch & FREE SUBSCRIPTION!

// Scholastic TEACHER Launch & Enter to Win FREE Subscription! //

// Click on images below to view articles online. //

// ENTER to WIN a FREE Subscription for a YEAR! //

5 Classroom Items I'm GLAD I Ditched {5 for Friday}

#1: MY TRADITIONAL TEACHER DESK

#2: OVERHEAD FLUORESCENT LIGHTING

#3: ONE, CENTRAL, HUGE CARPET

#4: INDIVIDUAL STUDENT DESKS

#5: MULTI-COLORED & PATTERNED, BUSY BULLETIN BOARDS

// TPT //

GET ORGANIZED...or at Least START Out that Way!

// SNEAK PEEK of my Clever Classroom Storage Solutions //

// Get ALL of the Juicy Details //

// Follow ALL of my Scholastic Top Teaching Adventures! //

New Kids on the Block: Welcoming New students as they move into Your class

Search & Scour (.....any excuse to peruse Pinterest)

Want to see my Fave Ideas that I plan to use??
CHECK OUT MY SCHOLASTIC TOP TEACHING BLOG POST
FOR DETAILS ON my top Newbie picks.

// FOllow my Scholastic Blog POsts! //

// CONNECT //

MEET LINDSEY

Find Me On
// TPT //

FAVORITE THINGS

ERIN CONDREN

SITE DESIGN

SHOP NOW

PHOTO LOVE

PIN-TASTIC

CATEGORIES

ARCHIVES

LINKED UP

// Home // Blog // About // Shop // Connect //

Picture Day PERFECTION!

// PERFECT TEXT PAIRINGS //

// FREE DOWNLOAD: VISUALIZATION ACTIVITIES! //

// PHOTO-OP FUN: REENACT PICTURE DAY SABOTAGE! //

Scholastic TEACHER Launch & FREE SUBSCRIPTION!

// Scholastic TEACHER Launch & Enter to Win FREE Subscription! //

// Click on images below to view articles online. //

// ENTER to WIN a FREE Subscription for a YEAR! //

5 Classroom Items I'm GLAD I Ditched {5 for Friday}

#1: MY TRADITIONAL TEACHER DESK

#2: OVERHEAD FLUORESCENT LIGHTING

#3: ONE, CENTRAL, HUGE CARPET

#4: INDIVIDUAL STUDENT DESKS

#5: MULTI-COLORED & PATTERNED, BUSY BULLETIN BOARDS

// TPT //

GET ORGANIZED...or at Least START Out that Way!

// SNEAK PEEK of my Clever Classroom Storage Solutions //

// Get ALL of the Juicy Details //

// Follow ALL of my Scholastic Top Teaching Adventures! //

Be an IEMD INSIDER!

New Kids on the Block: Welcoming New students as they move into Your class

Search & Scour (.....any excuse to peruse Pinterest)

Want to see my Fave Ideas that I plan to use?? CHECK OUT MY SCHOLASTIC TOP TEACHING BLOG POST FOR DETAILS ON my top Newbie picks.

// FOllow my Scholastic Blog POsts! //

// CONNECT //

Be an INSIDER!

MEET LINDSEY

Find Me On // TPT //

FAVORITE THINGS

ERIN CONDREN

SITE DESIGN

SHOP NOW

PHOTO LOVE

PIN-TASTIC

CATEGORIES

ARCHIVES

LINKED UP

// Home // Blog // About // Shop // Connect //

Want to see my Fave Ideas that I plan to use??
CHECK OUT MY SCHOLASTIC TOP TEACHING BLOG POST
FOR DETAILS ON my top Newbie picks.

Find Me On
// TPT //