How to Create a Positive Classroom Environment

Are you ready to start your school year?

Do you have a creative classroom environment?

Do you want to make your classroom more inclusive?

This blog post is part of a blog series "6 Things GREAT Teachers Do" that will share teacher tips for setting your classroom up for success. With practical tips and techniques that have been used in the classroom, this will be a helpful series for any teacher looking to create a better classroom community. 

How to Create a Positive Classroom Environment

1. Setting up your classroom 

When you are preparing to order your classroom think about how your students will interact. Create a classroom community with your desk arraignment. Make the desks orderly and have purpose. It's best to pair desks for partner activities or put desks in fours for group activities.

2. Color Palette

Did you know that certain colors inspire creativity and learning? Yes it's true. If you were in a classroom with walls painted black you would be inspired to sleep. On the opposite side of the color wheel, if you were in a classroom that had walls painted white you would feel cold and stark. So what is the best color to paint your classroom or add a pop of color with a bulletin board? BLUE. Blue is a great color that gives order, direction, and peace. It is one of the most popular colors for classrooms above green (second) and yellow (third). Blues are easy to incorporate from light blue to teal to navy blues. There are many different shades and even using blue ombre in the classroom today is a trend. Try it the next time you plan a bulletin board! 

Try a bulletin board activity with your students the 1st week of school!

3. Positive Motivation

Creating positive motivation for students does not have to be difficult. Find positive phrases to give students. Having specific posters that you can refer to throughout the year can help. Use these Growth Mindset Posters to share with your students that they may not know everything yet, but with a positive mindset they can learn anything!

  Click HERE to download! 

Creating a Growth Mindset is a process. Have you heard that practice makes perfect? Continue to work with students by saying these phrases daily to promote using effort and hard work to preserve. Students will internalize these phrases and remember the strategies for learning.

Creating a Positive Classroom Environment starts with you. Help create a positive classroom for your students and try one of these tips today!

Subscribe HERE to receive next week's topic: Classroom Management Techniques. 

Happy Teaching!

6 Things Great Teachers Do - Back to School 2019

Are you ready to start your school year?

Would you like some new tips for the classroom?

Do you want to see how other teachers make their year a success?

Six Things Great Teachers Do

This blog series will cover all you need for setting up a successful school year in your classroom. With practical tips and techniques that have been used in the classroom, this will be a helpful series for any teacher looking to create a better classroom community. Here is the list of topics that will be covered in the next six weeks:

1. How to Create a Positive Classroom Environment 
2. Using Classroom Management Techniques
3. Having Consequences for the Classroom
4. Grading Math Assignments
5. Retesting in Math Class
6. Open Parent Communication Great Teachers Use

Back to school season doesn't have to be hard. Using practical techniques to start the school year is the best way to go. Be a great teacher this year and give your students the best back to school by preparing for it today. Do you want more helpful tips and techniques?  >>Click here<< to subscribe to the VIP teachers email list today!

Happy Teaching!

3 Teacher Tips for Back to School

Are you ready for Back to School?

Here are 3 Teacher Tips to be Back to School ready in 10 minutes or less!

3 Teacher Tips for Back to School

1. Organize 

Back to school can be overwhelming and you are pulled in all different directions. First, sit down and plan what you are going to do during planning week, during the first week of school, first month, etc. Set small attainable goals in a calendar that you can check off. Having a check list is one of the best ways to stay organized and accomplish your goals.  Download the FREE Back to School Planner with checklist and calendars to maximize your planning time.

2. Plan in Reverse

Planning is key to having a successful school year. Planning in reverse will make sure you have your end goals as a priority. Use a calendar to plan out your first quarter. Take your curriculum one day at a time. The best curriculum is the one that you use every day, one day at a time. Remember that consistency is key in staying with your plan for the school year.

3. Keep students actively ENGAGED

The first week of school is critical to have everyone on board with your plan for the school year. You set the tone of the classroom, explain the expectations, and most importantly you get to know your students. Keep them engaged while you are getting to know them. 

Parents ask two questions "did you have fun?" and "what did you learn?" If you're having fun while learning students will retain the information you are teaching. Try using activities and games the first week to build relationships with your students.  

Back to School Math Packets 

35 Different activities and math puzzles for Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. 

Back to School Math Activities

Surveys, Projects, and Math Skills Review for Grades 3 to 5 and 6 to 8. 

Back to School Math Activities & Games

Equations, Rational Numbers, Expressions, Ratios, Proportions and Integers Review.

Try one new activity to do with your students the first week in August. Watch them light up as they have fun in your classroom! They will remember how happy you made them feel while learning.

Have a Great Back to School!

Planning for Next School Year

When do you plan for the next school year?

What should I plan for the next school year?

Planning for Next School Year 

Planning for the next school year is never a bad idea. It's not too early to start now! If you do some things now, you won't have to do them in August. August is such a busy time with meetings, meet the teacher, and other school events that take away from your planning time. Plan now, and save yourself time in August. Here are five things you can do now:

1. Your Class Syllabus. 

Prepare your syllabus this summer. Make sure you include all the important information for students and parents. Making your syllabus ahead of time will save time in August.

2. Seating Chart. 

Do you use a seating chart to get to know your students? Try using a seating chart to memorize all your students names within the first five days.

3. Get to Know your students activities. 

How do you build relationships with your students? Do you use "Get to Know You" activities? Research shows that when you acknowledge students by name and build a teacher-student relationship, they will become more accountable to your class. 

4. Back to School Math Activities.

Get Back to School ready with some activities to engage for your students on day 1. These math activities review key math skills and help develop math fluency.

Click HERE to download Free Math Activities. 

5. Make a Back to School Prep Box. 

Include a to do list, already made copies, activities, calendars, and more. Prepare all the things you will need for August in one box. Make it easily accessible for you the first week back. You should be able to get everything you need ready made from the box.

The box snaps to close and store all of your back to school papers. Include your master copies, calendar, and any other Back to School activity in this accessible box.

Click Here to get the Back-to-School Prep Box.

These are a great start at getting yourself ready for next school year. August will be here before you know it! Try one of these planning tips today and thank yourself in August!!

Happy Teaching,

Back to School NO PREP Math Packet {6th Grade}

Are you looking for a fun review with your 6th graders? 

Do you need an assessment to gain understanding of what your students know? 

Do you want to engage your students during the first month of school? 

Click HERE to download

A Back To School Math NO PREP packet that will keep your sixth graders engaged on day 1 in your classroom! This packet is just plain fun. Not only is it PACKED with fifth-grade common core math problems, it also gives students fun coloring, puzzles, and problem solving. Also included is a beginning of the year diagnostic test with fifth and sixth grade benchmarks addressed, back to school activities, and a Math portfolio starter pack. Use this packet at the beginning of 6th grade year review activities during August & September!!

Click HERE to download

THIS BACK TO SCHOOL PACKET FEATURES:

*25 days of Back To School Math Activities. It is just enough for a good review, but not overwhelming for Back To School classwork or homework!

*FUN activities and puzzles centered on reviewing math curriculum.

*Designed for students who have completed 5th grade and are going into 6th grade.

*Packed with 5th grade common ore math problems for review and practice. Tied to Common Core benchmarks required for 6th grade.

*Timeline for completing Back to School Packet (2-3 weeks).

*An ANSWER KEY for each day.

*Back to School NO PREP Math Portfolio Starter Kit Included (A $3.75 Value)

*Common Core Assessment Diagnostic Test - Grade 6 Included (A $5.00 Value)

*Back to School Activities for the whole classroom.

*Math Portfolio contents for saving and sharing student work for the school year. (Parents love these at parent conferences!)

*Lots of coloring fun. I’ve intentionally designed this packet with lots of pictures and borders to color. A MUST: Using a set of crayons or markers.

Table of Contents:

Days 1-4: Writing expressions & analyzing patterns

Days 5-8: Performing operations with decimals

Days 9-11: Adding and subtracting fractions

Days 12-15: Multiplying and dividing fractions

Days 16-17: Understanding place value

Day 18-19: Measurement

Day 20-21: Representing and interpreting data

Day 22-23: Understanding volume

Day 24: Graphing points

Day 25: Classifying 2-D figures

I hope that this packet helps you plan for the beginning of the school year. This packet can be used the first 2-3 weeks of school during Math to actively engage your students in being back to school. The review activities are fun and refreshing for students who may have difficulties or stigmas about Math. Begin the year with students on a fresh start into having fun with Math!

Happy Teaching!

Back to School NO PREP Math Packet {4th Grade}

Are you students ready for 4th grade math? 

Do you want your students engaged and excited about math? 

Click HERE to DOWNLOAD

A Back To School Math NO PREP packet that will keep your fourth graders engaged on day 1 in your classroom! This packet is just plain fun. Not only is it PACKED with fourth-grade common core math problems, it also gives students fun coloring, puzzles, and problem solving. Also included is a beginning of the year diagnostic test with third and fourth grade benchmarks addressed, back to school activities, and a Math portfolio starter pack. Use this packet at the beginning of 4th grade year review activities during August & September.

Click HERE to DOWNLOAD

THIS BACK TO SCHOOL PACKET FEATURES:

*25 days of Back To School Math Activities. It is just enough for a good review, but not overwhelming for Back To School classwork or homework!

*FUN activities and puzzles centered on reviewing math curriculum.

*Designed for students who have completed 3rd grade and are going into 4th grade.

*Packed with 3rd grade common core math problems for review and practice. Tied to Common Core benchmarks required for 4th grade

*Timeline for completing Back to School Packet (2-3 weeks).

*An ANSWER KEY for each day.

*Back to School NO PREP Math Portfolio Starter Kit Included (A $3.75 Value)

*Common Core Assessment Diagnostic Test - Grade 4 Included (A $5.00 Value)

*Back to School Activities for the whole classroom.

*Math Portfolio contents for saving and sharing student work for the school year. (Parents love these at parent conferences!)

*Lots of coloring fun. I’ve intentionally designed this packet with lots of pictures and borders to color. A MUST: Using a set of crayons or markers.

Click HERE to DOWNLOAD

Table of Contents:

Days 1-4: Adding and subtracting whole numbers

Days 5-8: Multiplying and dividing by whole numbers

Days 9-10: Displaying Data in Pictographs

Day 11-14: Ordering fractions

Days 15-18: Performing operations with Time

Day 19-20: Interpreting Line Plots

Day 21-23: Area of unit squares

Day 24: Classifying 2-D figures

Day 25: Parts of shapes

I hope that this packet helps you plan for the beginning of the school year. This packet can be used the first 2-3 weeks of school during Math to actively engage your students in being back to school. The review activities are fun and refreshing for students who may have difficulties or stigmas about Math. Begin the year with students on a fresh start into having fun with Math!

Happy Teaching! 

Back to School NO PREP Math Packet {3rd Grade}

Are you students ready for 3rd grade math? 

Do you want your students engaged and excited about math? 

Click HERE to DOWNLOAD

A Back To School Math NO PREP packet that will keep your third graders engaged on day 1 in your classroom! This packet is just plain fun. Not only is it PACKED with second-grade common core math problems, it also gives students fun coloring, puzzles, and problem solving. Also included is a beginning of the year diagnostic test with second and third grade benchmarks addressed, back to school activities, and a Math portfolio starter pack. Use this packet at the beginning of 3rd grade year review activities during August & September!!

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO TUTORIAL OF THE NO PREP MATH PACKETS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL

Click HERE to DOWNLOAD

THIS BACK TO SCHOOL PACKET FEATURES:

*25 days of Back To School Math Activities. It is just enough for a good review, but not overwhelming for Back To School classwork or homework!

*FUN activities and puzzles centered on reviewing math curriculum.

*Designed for students who have completed 2nd grade and are going into 3rd grade.

*Packed with 2nd grade common core math problems for review and practice. Tied to Common Core benchmarks required for 3rd grade

*Timeline for completing Back to School Packet (2-3 weeks).

*An ANSWER KEY for each day.

*Back to School NO PREP Math Portfolio Starter Kit Included (A $3.75 Value)

*Common Core Assessment Diagnostic Test - Grade 3 Included (A $5.00 Value)

*Back to School Activities for the whole classroom.

*Math Portfolio contents for saving and sharing student work for the school year. (Parents love these at parent conferences!)

*Lots of coloring fun. I’ve intentionally designed this packet with lots of pictures and borders to color. A MUST: Using a set of crayons or markers.

Table of Contents:

#1-6: Adding and subtracting whole numbers

#7-8: Finding Place Value

#9-10: Displaying Data in Pictographs

#11-13: Skip Counting by 5s, 10s, 100s

#14-15: Adding by 10s and 100s

#16-18: Telling Time

#18-19: Interpreting Line Plots

#20: Shape Fractions

#21-22: Measurement

#23-25: Geometry & Shapes

This packet can be used the first two to three weeks of school during Math to actively engage your students in being back to school. The review activities are fun and refreshing for students who may have difficulties or stigmas about Math. Begin the year with students on a fresh start into having fun with Math!

Happy Teaching!

Back To School Elementary Math Activities

Are you preparing for Back to School? 

Do you want to actively engage your students in math activities during the first week? 

Click HERE to download. 

These Back To School Elementary Math Activities are NO PREP and ready to keep your third, fourth, and fifth graders engaged! This packet is just plain fun. Not only is it PACKED with grade level common core math problems, it also gives students fun coloring, puzzles, and problem solving. Use this packet for bellwork, classwork, extra credit, fast finishers, or homework.

 Click HERE to download. 

Included
*9 different Engaging Math Activities
*FUN activities and puzzles centered on reviewing math curriculum.
*Packed with 3rd, 4th, & 5th grade common core math problems for review and practice. 
*Topics covered: Operations with Equations, Addition, Subtraction, Operations with Money, Multiplication, Division, Graphing Pictographs, Graphing on a Coordinate Plane and Adding & Subtracting with 3 or 4-Digit numbers

Activities:
-Lunch Addition {with answer key}
-Lunch Subtraction {with answer key}
-Spin and EAT! {with answer key}
-Ready, Set, SCHOOL! {with answer key}
-Create a School Menu {with rubric}
-Class Survey {with answer key}
-Find the School Bus & Find the Car {Game}
-Numbers Puzzle #1 {with answer key}
-Numbers Puzzle #2 {with answer key}

Click HERE to download. 

These activities are print & go and easy to implement for instant math connections for back to school. Talk to your students about how they arrived to school or how they are going home and take a survey and graph it. Review addition and subtraction skills with puzzles, practice multiplication and division with spinners to create new problems, and much more! Have a great back to school with your new students.

Happy Teaching!