Printable Word Searches for Teachers in the Classroom

The benefits of word search puzzles are vast. They improve things, such as cognitive function, help with memory, and increase vocabulary and spelling.

Word search puzzles are a great way to improve cognitive function. The puzzles require focus and concentration, and completing them can help keep the mind sharp. Completing word search puzzles also helps keep the memory strong.

Word search puzzles can also help increase vocabulary. The puzzles might require looking up words in a dictionary, which can help improve vocabulary skills.

They can also help improve spelling skills. Students have to look for the letters in the correct order to find the words. The more a child practices, the better they will become at finding correctly spelled words quickly.

Puzzles can provide stress relief. They can help kids focus their minds and block out distractions. They promote a sense of calm and relaxation.

Word Search Bundle For Teachers CLICK HERE

There are many ways to use word search puzzles in the classroom. One way is to use them as a warm-up activity. Have students complete a word search puzzle before starting a lesson to get them thinking about words. 

Another way to use word search puzzles is to review vocabulary words. Have students complete a word search puzzle that includes the vocabulary words you are studying. 

You can also use word search puzzles to review spelling words. A word search puzzle is a great way to learn how to spell because students have to find the words spelled correctly. 

Finally, you can use word search puzzles as a test review. Have students complete a word search puzzle that includes the words they will see on the test.

Teachers can incorporate word searches in the following ways:

• morning work
• holiday celebrations
• early finisher activities
• homework
• substitute activity
• indoor recess
• introduce a lesson
• review important vocabulary
• practice spelling
• calm students
• partner work
• so many more

School Shootings: What has happened to our safe schools?

What has happened to our safe schools? The term 'active shooter in school' is becoming all too familiar. It's heart breaking and gut wrenching. I simply can't imagine what these latest parents are going through, or what the parents before them went through, or even the ones before that. I don’t even want to ponder what the children went though. Children who died at the location where they were required to be. Children who died while laughing, learning, and just being a kid. It brings tears. Our children’s safe place is being stolen away, one shot at a time. Teachers are being robbed of a safe work environment, one shot at a time.A parent’s sense of security is being stripped away, one shot at a time.

It’s all unfathomable. Unimaginable. Unthinkable. To fix a problem though, we must face the problem. We shouldn't tiptoe around it, only talk about it for a fleeting moment, and then move on. It's a vicious pattern that keeps repeating itself. It has become a cycle of catastrophe. I don’t know the answer though. I do know this is big. It’s bigger than me. It's bigger than you. It’s bigger than any single person.

I might not know the answer, but I can assure you that it's something I think about. After all, I'm a teacher. I'm married to a teacher. I have children in school. My family is positioned in five different schools on any given day.

This is a national epidemic. The news reports state that we have had 18 shootings in schools within the first two months of 2018. EIGHTEEN. They stretch across the country, and no one is immune. It's becoming common place. Shootings in our schools are happening so often that we don’t question if it will happen again, we wonder when it will happen. It’s a brokenness that has become the breaking news on far too many occasions.

 Cafeterias were once seen as dining and gathering places, not as a vulnerable large crowd. Classroom doors once remained open and learning could be heard. Fire alarms once signaled smoke, but now they instill fear and make you question if it's legit. Calculating how to create chaos was the latest choice plan. With the simple sound of something our children had been trained to respond to. Kids didn't flee to safety. They walked right into the fire. Gunfire!

There was a time when teachers, students, and parents thought such tragedies could only happen in other communities. We are quickly realizing that no one is immune to this latest national terror. And it is national. We can't deny it. One look at a map of the 18 latest schools proves just that.

When I imagine school, I think of a bright and happy place, full of learning and fun. We as educators work hard to maintain that feeling of hope and success. It's what we do. It saddens me to think that children, even high school kids, are gradually being robbed of feeling that school is a safe place. Yes, we as educators are there to try and counteract that fear by making it a warm and inviting place to be. We don't dwell on the worry, but I can assure you, it's in the back of our minds. We plan, engage, and strive to make the classroom a place students want to come to each day. What we have to realize though, is the harm being done to the psyche of our school children and even to our teachers. Our once open doors are now key padded entries. You can't help but think about the tragedies each time you place your key in the lock. And now, after the latest. I can assure you that I, and many others, will think of these 17 deaths each time the fire alarm sounds in our schools.

When solutions are talked about, it tends to become political and sometimes heated. We can talk about gun control, about better mental healthcare, about metal detectors on all doors in schools and so much more. But in the end, this is about solutions and saving lives. It's about salvaging our safe schools.

This is big though. Big problems need big solutions; bigger than one school, one community, and even one state. What is the answer? Possibly we need more counselors in schools. Perhaps we do need better mental health care. Is it conceivable to put metal detectors on all entries to all schools? Would safe-school government funding provide resources and personal needed? Will it take an act of Congress?

As I ponder the question about what can be done, I realize this is a complicated issue. Safe guarding entries to high schools seems to be far more difficult than at the elementary level. For me personally, I feel quite safe where I work. All doors are locked at all times. It's a step in the right direction. But I also know that not all systems have that safe guard in place. Funding and priorities can throw up a roadblock.

For now, I feel that we as a nation need to remain vigilant in seeking solutions. We need to work towards ending the cycle of praying, debating, and moving on until a short time passes.... moving on until we tune in yet again to the latest breaking news of "active shooter in school".

Georgia 4th Grade Social Studies

Let's face it.... teaching Georgia 4th grade social studies means you have lots of material to cover. I'm sure it's not just Georgia though, as I know all states require lots of US History to be taught in upper elementary. After teaching for more than a decade, I kept thinking there had to be a better way to get the standards covered in the time allotted. Over the last three years, I have spent hours upon hours researching and writing passages that I thought would benefit students in third, fourth, and fifth grades. My social studies interactive notebooks have been a top 100 seller on the 3-5 product list for a few years on Teachers Pay Teachers. They are teacher tested and kid approved, and they have over a thousand positive comments showing just that. I would love for you to take the time to visit my store and read them. My 4th grade social studies passages and activities have been in my Teachers Pay Teachers store for the last couple of years, and I keep adding materials when I get new ideas. The Georgia social studies standards have recently been revised, and the changes will be implemented starting with the 2017-2018 school year. To make things easier for those that use my activities (or those thinking about using them), I have taken the Georgia 4th grade social studies standards and put them on a table that lists the standards along with the passages and activities I have created to go along with those standards. I think you will find it's an easy format to use. The download below is free, and when you opt in, the table presenting the information will be emailed to you. Enjoy!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD 

Back to School Night Ideas

Have a successful back to school night! As summer is just getting under way, I am already thinking ahead to the next back to school night. Gathering ideas and making preparations in the summer is a great idea, because things can get a tad hectic for teachers once school begins. Back to school night is a time when you get to make an impression. Of course, it’s a time to share about the curriculum, the rules, and the procedures with the parents, but all eyes will be on you as you present the information. Being organized is a key factor in helping make the night a success.  In order to help you have a stress-free back to school night, I have put together a bundle of resources.

Find all of the "Back to School" ideas listed below by 

clicking HERE

What does the pack include?

Back to School Powerpoint Presentation - This is an editable Powerpoint template. It means you can ADD images and text to the slides. You can use different font and insert pictures or clip art over the top, but you CAN NOT change the slides I have included. You can add more slides though if you want. The powerpoint includes 34 slides with predetermined titles. It also has 7 slides that have backgrounds and images, but they do not have titles. You will want to read the slide titles below to make sure they will work for you. For each slide in the presentation, there is a themed picture that goes with the topic of the page. There is also a matching solid colored background. Many of the images included are 'real' items, such as a photo of shoes for the dress code slide, kids eating lunch for the lunch/snack slide, etc. I liked the look of using the real photos rather than just using clip art.

Open House Parent Handbook - This is perfect for you to print and have on desks for parents.  They can take it home and refer back to it. It includes the following topics:

✰Communication (type in email, phone, etc)
✰snacks/lunch
✰arrival and dismissal
✰Note from the teacher - introduce yourself
✰nurse/medicine
✰birthday policy
✰field trip
✰schedule
✰supplies
✰homework
✰weekly folder
✰recess
✰volunteers
✰curriculum
✰notes
✰questions for the teacher (leave blank for parents)
✰blank template (you can insert your own images and section titles

Meet the Teacher Template -All parents want to meet the teacher. They want all the details about your education, your likes, and more. This one-page (printed front and back) booklet-type parent newsletter template is the perfect way to share all about you. It's different from a standard letter you might write. This is suitable for passing out on meet-the-teacher day, open house, curriculum night, or whenever you feel is appropriate. I absolutely love how the cover turned out... so cute with the teacher image and the mug that says, "Eat, Sleep, and Teach".

Meet the Teacher Bulletin Board - Back to school is such an exciting time for the teacher and kids. All students are excited to meet their new teacher and find out their personality, their likes, favorites, and so on. There is so much they want to know but they are too nervous to ask. They want to know you as a person and not just as a teacher.

Hallway Display - This is a fun beginning of the year "All About Me" activity to help you and your students get to know each other. The great part about this activity is it will make a very cute display outside your classroom for back to school night. In addition, it could also be used as a bulletin board display. An added bonus is that when you are finished displaying the All About Me backpacks, they can be glued into your students interactive writing journals and they can look inside the backpack for writing ideas as the year gets started.

Have fun as you get to know the parents of your new students. 

Classroom Newsletter Templates and Tips

Do you ever have parents say things like, "But I didn't know my child was going to have a test on the American Revolution" or "But I wasn't aware there was an upcoming field trip." That's right!  I have had parents in the past say things like that, and my response is always, "I'm so sorry, but it was in the class newsletter."  With that said, I have taken some steps over the years to help parents be aware of the fact that a newsletter is being sent home. In addition, I try to help them realize how important it is to read the information. When sending a newsletter, it is important to choose a method that works for you and be consistent. 
Tips for Choosing a Type of Newsletter

1. Go Digital - In a day of desktops and iPhones, a digital file can be a highly desirable means for receiving a classroom newsletter.  Parents are on the go!  With a digital file they can open the attached newsletter any place they have access to email. Clearly mark the subject line of the email with 'important classroom newsletter', so it reminds parents to take time to read.
2. Paper can be a Plus - Parents might be able to read the digital file on the go, but they don't always have access to a printer.  The newsletter might be read by the parents, but the information might also be forgotten.  With a paper copy, parents can stick it on the refrigerator or hang it on a bulletin board. Having it visible gives daily reminders of upcoming tests, curriculum being studied, or events happening in the near future.  
3. Digital and Paper - I prefer to send both digital and paper classroom newsletters. You know the saying, 'two is better than one'. Well, using two methods of sending home the newsletter increases the chances parents will read it and stay informed. I have found it is worth my time to attach it in an email, as well as send it home in a weekly folder.
4. Link Up the News - Another way to keep parents informed is to save the newsletter and upload it as a Google document. Add a link to the document on your class website.  Parents can then reread the newsletters any time they want. They can also print a second copy if they lost the first one.  It's convenient for parents, because they have access to all newsletters throughout the year.  With this method, there is no excuse for not knowing what's happening. 

For my FUN Doodle Style Newsletter Templates, click HERE.

Planning to go the paper route?

• If paper is what you choose, let parents know from the get-go that a paper newsletter will be coming home. Meet-the-teacher day is a great time to let parents know you will be sending home a weekly or monthly classroom newsletter. You might even want to have an 'introduction to the newsletter' example on hand to share. This allows parents an opportunity to see it and become familiar with it from day one. They will recognize the newsletter when they see it in their child's school folder. They won't mistake it for something random they can dismiss.  If you can't share an example newsletter when you first meet the parents, curriculum night is a great time too. You can hold up an example and tell them what to expect. 
• Send the newsletter home the same day each week, such as in the students' weekly folders on a Friday or Monday.  Consistency is important.
• Try to use the same newsletter template format each time you send it home.  It creates uniformity, so parents know what to look for.  You can change the images or background on the newsletter, but keep the information in the same locations. They will know right where to look on the sheet for upcoming tests and important events. 
• Print the newsletter on bright paper. If the parents are financially able to make donations, ask them to donate a pack of colored copy paper at the beginning of the year.  You can change the color each week while keeping the format the same. It will stand out in the weekly folder among all of the school work. You could also choose one particular color. For example, parents would know the pink paper is the newsletter.  

CLICK HERE to see colored newsletters that are great to send through email.

When it comes to class newsletters, choose the method that works best for you. Remember to set a precedent from day one, and stick to it.  With consistency on the teacher's part,  the parents are sure to get in the habit of looking for and reading the information. It makes for a smooth school year.  

How to Catch Santa

So, how do you catch Santa? :-)      I had a lot of fun reading the book How to Catch Santa to my son's kindergarten class. It's written by Jean Reagan. I thought I would share the lesson in case you want to use it.  

 I started off by having a Christmas bag filled with goodies.  In the bag was a picture of a period and a question mark. I also had a gift box, a small Santa, and some garland.  As a preview to the book, I pulled items out of my bag one at a time.  I first told them we were going to read a book about how to catch Santa, and that's when I pulled Santa out of the bag.  He got to sit by me while I read.  I then pulled the picture of the period out and we reviewed what it was and where it goes in a sentence. I explained that while I was reading, they needed to think about something they would like to tell Santa. I pulled the question mark out and we discussed when and where we use a question mark.  I told them they would be coming up with a question they would like to ask Santa.  A gift box came out next and we talked about how Santa gives us gifts, but what if we gave him a gift, what might we like to give him?  Last, I pulled out my garland and we discussed the name of the book being How to Catch Santa, and would garland work to catch him? By this time, they were eager to hear the story.

The story covers all of those topics above.  It focuses on being prepared if you do catch Santa.  Being prepared means you aren't going to have much time once you catch him, so you need to know one question to ask him, one thing to tell him, a gift you would give him, and of course you need to know what your plan is to catch him.  It's a fun story that sparks the kids' imagination. If you choose to do this activity with your class, here is a follow up activity where students can write down their answers to the topics mentioned above.  You can get the activity by clicking the link below. How to Catch Santa Activity-Click HERE

I appreciate you 'liking' me on facebook, tweeting about what I post,
or pinning my ideas on Pinterest.

Merit Pay for Teachers

Merit pay is the big topic of conversation here in Georgia. I am totally against the proposal of merit pay, so my blood starts boiling every time I read about the possibility of my state (or any states) moving toward that kind of teacher pay system.  After reading a few recent articles on the topic, I was inspired to write this post. Click HERE for one of the articles. If you are interested in sharing this post on facebook or other social media, scroll down for an image version. Thank you for taking the time to read.  I do realize that there are differing views on this topic.  I would love to hear yours in the comments section below.

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What is merit?

By definition, it is the quality of being particularly good.

Or, the quality of being worthy,

Especially so as to deserve praise or reward.

In the case of school teachers, their merit could soon determine their pay.

But, how do you determine a teacher’s merit?

Who gets to determine the value of a teacher?

Who gets to decide their individual worth?

The reality is, no one in particular will determine the teacher’s worth.

The truth is, circumstances will govern their merit.

Circumstances that change from year to year will decide if a teacher is valuable.

Whose circumstances affect the teacher’s pay?

The students that are placed in that teacher’s classroom.

Every year it’s a new set of circumstances.

That’s right. I guess the teacher could be valuable one year and worth significantly less the next.

It really depends on the circumstances.

A teacher’s merit won’t be determined by the hours she works.

It won’t be determined by her degrees.

It won’t be determined by the extra tutoring sessions after school.

It won’t be determined by the supplies she purchased with her own money.

It won’t be determined by the trainings she attended twice a week after school.

It won’t be determined by the hours spent re-teaching a concept to the same child day after day.

It won’t be determined by the phone calls home and conferences she tried to schedule.

It won’t be determined by her sleepless nights wondering how to help a child.

It won’t be determined by the highly focused lessons she planned and taught each day.

It won’t be determined by her twenty years of successful teaching.

It won’t be determined by winning Teacher of the Year two times in those twenty years.

Really?.....not even Teacher of the Year?

Titles mean nothing when it comes to Merit Pay.

She has a new set of challenges this year. The village she needs in order to help the students is nowhere to be found.

Her students are well below grade level.

Some are abused.

Some are hungry.

Some spend their evenings babysitting younger siblings. They fall asleep to the TV at midnight.
Some sleep in hotels.  Others sleep in cars.

Remember that word…. Circumstances.

No food, no parental involvement, no home.

No love, no dedication, no care.

No doctors, No dentists.

 Their clothing is too small and their hair isn’t brushed.

These circumstances will determine the teacher’s pay.

Politicians say her students should leave her class reading on grade level.

The reality is… they came to her not reading at all.  Some have never had a story read to them at home.

The politicians say her students should leave her class writing a two page story.

The reality is… they came to her not writing their name. One child didn’t even know his name.

Circumstances are no way to determine value.

I appreciate you 'liking' me on facebook, tweeting about what I post, or pinning my ideas on Pinterest.

"My Personal Side" Link Up: Favorite Cup or Mug

I love teacher blogs.  I love reading about teachers' classrooms and all of the great ideas teachers have. With that said though, I also LOVE getting a glimpse inside their personal lives.  You know, it doesn't have to be much..... maybe their favorite food, an activity they did with their own kids, that hot new car they just bought, or whatever!  It's just fun to see the person behind the blog. It makes things real for me.  It's a human connection and not just a teacher connection.

And, because I love gaining insight into people's lives.... no, not the stalking kind of insight :-), just fun little tidbits of info, this link-up has been born.  It's called "My Personal Side", and it will allow teachers to share a little about themselves based on the topic given. I am not quite sure about the schedule of things yet, but there will be lots of upcoming topics.

==========================

So, here we go!

This first link up is sharing something we all use every day... a cup, a mug, a favorite drink! I have a favorite mug that has a positive message, and it's one that goes hand in hand with my TpT.  It has a quote from Steve Jobs on it that says, "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." I love designing classroom materials so much that it simply doesn't seem like work at all.  When I read this message, it reminds me that life is short, so find and do something that you love. It's a daily reminder.

What will you find me drinking in my mug?  I like to drink coffee in the mornings, typically it is Krispy Creme brand and I can find it at Kroger.  I add milk and Splenda.  It's a perfect way to start my day. During the day, I love Diet Coke. Is it bad that I stop at Sonic almost every day for a large Diet Coke.  Happy Hour is my favorite because it's half price...  Cheers!

  

How about you?

Join the fun by posting your favorite mug or cup. Tell us what you like to drink. Link back to this post, and we can all get to know each other, the people behind the blogs.

Feel free to use the top image when you post. It can be pinned too from your blog.

When you link up, please title the image with "your name and  blog name" and then link directly to the post.  Try to use a picture of your cup/mug. Can't wait to read these!

An InLinkz Link-up

St. Patrick's Day for Kindergarten

Looking for a fun and easy St. Patrick's Day activity?  Here are two I made for primary grades. One is a basic St. Patrick's themed trace and color activity, and the other focuses on the when, why, and how of the holiday; when is St. Patrick's Day celebrated, why is it celebrated, and how is it celebrated. These have many uses, such as a center activity, a whole group activity as a follow up to a read aloud, or use them however you would like.
St. Patrick's Day When, Why, and How Activity -HERE
St. Patrick's Day Trace and Color Activity - HERE

Hope you have a lucky day! :-)
Thank you for sharing on facebook, pinning, and leaving comments.  I really appreciate all!

Motivational Poem About People

Sometimes life offers an opportunity to be inspired, just like it did for me the other day. Through that inspiration came this poem about people. While writing it, I was motivated to think about me as a person.  I hope it can motivate you to do the same. Enjoy, and thanks for reading.

Thank you for sharing  with your friends.   I appreciate facebook likes, pinning to pinterest, and even tweets. :-) 

Decorating Valentine Bags

Today I had fun decorating a Valentine bag with my four year old son. It was actually an assigned activity for his preschool class.  Things like this become huge projects with a preschooler! In addition to the bag, we put together some Valentine cards with heart shaped ring suckers. I made him write his own name on all of the 15 cards, which he didn't like.  I got a lot of the, "My hand is soooo tired!"   LOL.... I even let him do 4-5 at a time with a pretty long break,  but I still got a few complaints.  He did have fun decorating the bag though.  We used  a white gift bag and painted it with colored glitter paint.  He then added some sparkly glitter dragons to the front and back.  I cut out some felt heart stickers that he also added to the front and back, and then he put all kinds of other Valentine themed stickers on the sides.  He added his name to the top.  Yeah, I know the 'h' is lower case, but oh well.... there wasn't a capital one in the pack. :-)

If you are looking for a Valentine bag idea for upper elementary, I made this fun bag activity, and it can be found in my TpT store.  It lets students share a little about themselves, and it also has a book report sheet the kids fill out and glue to the back.  They get to share about a book they LOVE.  After they bring it to school and present to the class, they get to fill it with all of the Valentine cards their friends brought them.  Even big kids love Valentine's Day activities.  It's one of my favorite days of the school year. :-)

Find the Printable activity in my TpT store.

 Valentine's Day Bag Activity HERE 

Thank you for sharing these activities with your friends.   We appreciate facebook likes, pinning to pinterest, and even tweets. :-)  

21 Sayings Elementary Teachers Can Relate To

Got a little creative today in my thinking.  Can you relate to any?

Thank you for sharing on facebook, tweeting, and pinning to Pinterest.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Activity for Kindergarten

If you are looking for a basic Martin Luther King, Jr. activity for your kindergarten kiddos, then this "Trace, Color, and Write" activity might be perfect. It has some basic facts about Martin Luther King, Jr. for kids to read and trace, an MLK image for kids to trace around, and printed lines for them to share their own dream for the world. 
It would make a great literacy center activity or even use it for morning work.  It would also work as a follow-up activity after you read a book on Martin Luther King, Jr.  Use it in your classroom however you would like, and please do pin the image below.   Click the link below to download. Enjoy!

Martin Luther King, Jr. Activity

Thank you for sharing on facebook, pinning to Pinterest, and Tweeting about this activity.

Goal Setting for Teachers

If you are anything like me,  then you set goals for yourself.  When it comes to my goals though, I tend to set lofty goals, and I often times set too many goals.  I end up being hard on myself when I don’t meet them, and I am sometimes left feeling defeated, almost like I haven’t really accomplished much at all.  This can apply to goals in teaching, fitness, family, whatever.  Sometimes with my goal setting, I aim high, usually looking too far into the future, which can be a real problem. It can cause me to skip over the present, making me lose sight of all of the “baby-step goals” that I need to accomplish in order to meet the ultimate long-term goal. 

Think of baby-step goals as the step by step plan for reaching the “big-picture goal”.  My big-picture goal may be to lose 20 pounds, but my baby-step goal for today may be that I just need to make sure I walk for 30 minutes.  Another big-picture goal may be to have all students in my class reading on grade level by the end of the year, but my baby-step goal for today may be to implement a strategy to help Johnny learn the few basic sight words he has been struggling with. 

When I think of goal setting in education, I can’t help but think about the lofty long-term goals and how much stress they cause teachers.  As I reflect on my goal setting as a teacher, I think about all of the grand goals I have set over the years. The reality of it is, someone else usually set those lofty goals for me, which is why I always felt so stressed. It was up to me though to figure out how to meet those goals. 

When I say goals were set for me, they really were.  Goals like...... all of my kids will be reading on grade level by the end of the year. Another goal was 100% of my students will score on-grade-level in math. Those goals are fine and dandy, but they are so long term, so ‘big picture’. They seem so out of reach, especially if you are a 4th grade teacher and you have kids reading on a first grade level. Because of that, I struggled for years to even see the baby-step goals that I was accomplishing each day.

Having baby-step goals can give you a sense of accomplishment, especially as a teacher.  Teaching can be overwhelming, stressful, and many days we can leave feeling like we worked our tails off, and we barely feel one step closer to meeting the big-picture goal. The problem is, you can’t see and appreciate the present because you are so focused on the future. You know that saying, "just stop and smell the roses", well.. sometimes we need to do that. 

And that's where sticky notes come in. 

It's a bright idea that helps me focus on the present. 

Sticky notes for goal setting? Yep! It's so easy and worth while.

Each week when you are making your lesson plans, take a minute to think of one "baby-step goal" for that day.  For example, on Monday, maybe you want to make sure you meet with your low readers for 30 minutes.  You are going to take a sticky note, write the goal, and stick it with the plans for that day.  On Tuesday, maybe you want to set a baby-step goal to pull 5 kids in math to review multiplication. 

Keep in mind that those baby-step goals mentioned above are both factors in helping you meet the "big-picture" goals.  Like the goal you set for yourself to pull low readers. That  baby-step goal is going to help you meet the big- picture goal of helping you have all kids on grade level by the end of the year.  Likewise, when you pull 5 kids to review multiplication, that is also helping you work toward the big-picture goal of getting  100% of your kids on grade level.

Once you accomplish your daily baby-step goal, you can either throw the sticky note away, leave it in place in our plans, or you can keep a running journal of all your accomplishments, which would mean removing the sticky note from your plans and adding it to a journal composition notebook.  By the end of the week you will have met 5 great goals.  By at the end of the month, you will have met about 25 goals. At the end of the year, you will have met 180 goals. That's a lot of sticky notes to reflect on! It's something to be proud of.

Why just one goal a day?  I know I can do more than that.

You are not just accomplishing one thing each day.  You may actually accomplish ten things in a day or more. That’s great, fine, and dandy!  The idea behind this little sticky note goal-setting plan is to start each day with one goal, one thing you want to make sure you accomplish, and then walk out each day having met that goal.  It's a way for you to feel accomplished.  It's a way for you to leave work each day knowing that you achieved what you set out to do. That's a good feeling! 

So, what are you waiting for?  Take a look at your lesson plans, grab some sticky notes, and start setting a daily goal.

OH!  and here is something else wonderful about this little goal setting activity.  If you get to then end of the year and you don't have 100% of your kids on grade level (after all, you knew they set an unrealistic goal for you to begin with)..... you will be able to see 180 goals you did accomplish.  Don't feel defeated.  Feel proud!!

Thank you for taking the time to visit my TpT store for great lesson ideas.
Elementary Lesson Plans TpT Store

Please do check out other bright ideas by visiting the links below.

An InLinkz Link-up

Teachers Pay Teachers App

I can not tell you how many times I have used my Teachers Pay Teachers app. Being a seller, I started using it on my IPhone when it was released, which means I must have used it for a couple of years.  I get on the app many times a day to check my feedback, respond to questions, check sales, etc.  So, the big question is... WHY HAVE I NEVER NOTICED?  Noticed what,  you may ask.  Why have I never noticed that the little arrow thingy at the top actually does something!!! That's right!  The little arrow image (I never really looked at it as an arrow, but I guess that is what it is supposed to be) between the freebie and sale items .... well, it will actually pull up a list of random sellers if you swipe your finger across it from top to bottom. Honestly, I always thought it was just a decoration.  And get this.... once the page of sellers comes up, swipe your finger from right to left across the screen, and an entire new page of sellers comes up.  Crazy!  But here is the deal, unless you can tell it actually does something and you aren't even aware those are little arrows, why would you swipe your finger across it from top to bottom!  So, it makes perfect sense.  
And, you might be wondering why I finally swiped it after a couple of years.  Well, I got an IPhone 6 plus for Christmas, and it got my attention now that my screen was huge :-)

Now, some of you might have realized this information about the Teachers Pay Teachers app, and if you did, well then I guess you are not as clueless as me....LOL!!  Okay, maybe not clueless, but after I realized it, I had to ask some of my top seller friends who have been around as long as me on TpT to see if they knew it actually performed an action.  THANK GOODNESS I was not the only one!!!  Many sellers were not aware. In fact, most everyone I asked had no clue. Even my good friend Deanna Jump, TpT's #1 seller,  didn't know.  Lordy, that made me feel so much better :-)  So, what about you?  Did you know, or are you in the 'clueless' category? 
If you don't have the app, you can download it for free in the iTunes store.
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Thanks for pinning this post, sharing on facebook, or tweeting. You can check out my Elementary Lesson Plans TpT store HERE.

Brain Breaks Video

Fun Brain Breaks Activity

Do you have fidgeting kids?  Do you need to take a moment to let them get their wiggles out? Maybe it's time for a brain break!

 Sometimes if you just allow students a few minutes to get their energy out with a "brain break", they will become better listeners and learners once you start the lesson back up. I created a little video that takes no preparation.  Just click play and let your kids have a few minutes to move their body. Brain breaks are a great way to improve the  mood of you and your students.  After all, it can be quite entertaining to see kids move and groove, bend and reach, and skip in place. There is also lots of humor to be found when the teacher joins in. But, the best part is they can get a little break and then get back to the lesson. There are two options for watching the video.  You can watch it right here via YouTube, or you can go download it from my Teachers Pay Teachers store. 

Brain Breaks Video
If you would prefer to download it from my store, just click this link: Brain Breaks

Thank you for pinning this post or sharing on facebook! :-)