Motivational Poem About People

What kind of people are you?

People come in all kinds, each with their unique way of interacting with the world. Some people lift you up, making you feel unstoppable, while others seem intent on bringing you down. There are those who always remember to say thank you, showing appreciation in every small thing, while others focus only on faults. Some people admire your dedication, recognizing the hard work you put in, while others are too self-centered to notice. The long hours required to achieve something meaningful are understood by some, whereas others never take a moment to reflect on such efforts. Learning from defeat is a hallmark of resilient individuals, while others are solely focused on winning at all costs.

Joyful words from some can brighten your day, contrasting with those who deliver hurtful comments. A heart of gold shines in some people, unlike those who glare with envy. Faithfulness is a virtue held dearly by some, remaining loyal and steadfast, while others struggle with trust. Encouragement from some people cheers you on, yet others prefer to criticize behind your back. Recognizing the effort behind success is a mark of insight, missing in those who remain oblivious.

Celebrating hard work is common among those who value effort, but some people are quick to condemn. Love and passion are deeply appreciated by some, while others fail to grasp these emotions. The ability to be motivated by defeat contrasts sharply with those who sulk in their losses. Support for your labor is given by some, while others belittle your efforts. Deep thinkers ponder long and hard, while the impulsive react without much thought.

Gratitude is a constant trait for some, making them appreciative, unlike those who are never satisfied. Good friendships are nurtured by some, while others struggle to keep them. Optimism radiates from some people, spreading positivity, while others dwell in negativity. Spiritual fulfillment is a journey for some, leaving others always wondering what's missing. So, ask yourself, which 'people' are you?

Poem about  People

Decorating Valentine Bags

Valentine Bag Idea

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. :-)

Fun Book Report Idea for Valentines

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 

21 Sayings Elementary Teachers Can Relate To

21 Things Teachers Say

Being an elementary teacher comes with a unique set of challenges and humorous moments. Here are 21 sayings that every elementary teacher can relate to:

Things Teachers Say:

1. WHY am I here late on a Friday.... AGAIN!!
2. I can't believe I am dragging all of this crap home, I'm sure it won't even leave my trunk!!
3. It's Sunday night..... do I have to get up and go to work tomorrow?
4. Awww. Good morning. Thank you sweetie for the (half-eaten) breakfast treat.
5. Planning time... what planning time???? Oh, you mean meeting time!
6. Quiet in the halls...stay in a line... right side.
7. Who on Earth locks the stall from the inside and crawls under!!!
8. This is the fifth time we have done this!! What do you mean you have never heard it?
9. Is there an acronym we don't have?
10. I cannot believe I just sat down and in walks my admin.
11. Really... how many times does a pencil need sharpening?
12. You found WHAT in your desk?
13. And why am I writing these standards on my board?
14. Hey... it's quiet reading time! Hey... it's QUIET reading time.
15. Have they never seen snow before?
16. Make sure you bubble in the circle. #2 pencil only.
17. Please don't pour your milk in your corn, and STOP stabbing your apple. Does your mother let you do that?
18. Hey... get down from the monkey bars like that!
19. Pencil shavings are the death of me!
20. Quiet, it's bus call! Thank you, Jesus!
21. I sure love my job!

These sayings encapsulate the day-to-day experiences, frustrations, and joys of elementary teaching. Teachers often juggle a myriad of tasks, from handling classroom management to understanding each student's unique needs. Through all the chaos, one thing remains constant – their love for teaching and their students.

For more fun and relatable teacher content, visit Classroom Confections.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Activity for Kindergarten

Let's Learn about MLK
I Have a Dream Activity

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

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Goal Setting for Teachers

How can you set goals as a teacher?

If you are anything like me, then you set goals for yourself. When it comes to my goals, I tend to set lofty ones, and I often set too many. 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 accomplished much at all. This can apply to goals in teaching, fitness, family, and more. 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 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 might be to walk for 30 minutes. Another big-picture goal could be to have all students in my class reading on grade level by the end of the year, while today’s baby-step goal might be to implement a strategy to help Johnny learn the basic sight words he has been struggling with.

When I think of goal setting in education, I can't help but consider the lofty long-term goals and the stress they cause teachers. Reflecting on my goals as a teacher, I recall all the grand goals set over the years. Often, someone else set those lofty goals for me, which is why I always felt so stressed. It was up to me to figure out how to meet those goals.

Having baby-step goals can give you a sense of accomplishment, especially as a teacher. Teaching can be overwhelming and stressful, and many days we leave feeling like we worked hard but barely made any progress toward the big-picture goal. The problem is, you can't see and appreciate the present because you are so focused on the future. Sometimes, we need to "stop and smell the roses."

And that's where sticky notes come in.

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

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 can write the goal on a sticky note and place it with the plans for that day. On Tuesday, you might set a baby-step goal to pull five kids in math to review multiplication.

Remember that those baby-step goals are both factors in helping you meet the "big-picture" goals. For instance, pulling low readers is a baby-step goal that will help you reach the big-picture goal of having all kids on grade level by the end of the year. Similarly, reviewing multiplication with five kids helps work toward the goal of getting 100% of your students on grade level.

Once you accomplish your daily baby-step goal, you can throw the sticky note away, leave it in place in your plans, or keep a journal of all your accomplishments. By the end of the week, you will have met five goals. By the end of the month, you will have met around 25 goals. By 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 might accomplish ten things or more. That's great! The idea behind this 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 and 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.

And here's something else wonderful about this goal-setting activity. If you get to the end of the year and 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 still see 180 goals you did accomplish. Don't feel defeated. Feel proud!

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

OH! And here is something else wonderful about this little goal-setting activity. If you get to the 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 still see 180 goals you did accomplish. Don't feel defeated. Feel proud!

Thank you for visiting my TpT store for great lesson ideas.

Elementary Lesson Plans TpT Store