Classroom Rewards that Won't Cost You a Penny!

Are you searching for a classroom management system that is TRULY motivating to your students, but that doesn't break the bank? Research has shown that academic optimism is the secret ingredient in classrooms that are able to keep students motivated and engaged while others struggle. Reward coupons are just one way I keep positivity thriving in my classroom!

I have tried many different classroom management strategies over the years... card flipping, clip charts, level systems, etc.  But this is my absolute favorite. I made these coupons several years ago with my students because I wanted to help them develop intrinsic motivation. These coupons have truly changed the atmosphere in my classroom for the better! Kids are no longer focused on getting things, but rather on positive experiences. These reward coupons on so versatile, but today I want to tell you a little about how I use them.

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Get Parents Involved from Day One!

Are you looking for a way to increase parent engagement 

at the beginning of the school year? 

I have a great resource for you! 

Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes is one of my favorite books to read aloud on the first day back to school.  The theme of self-acceptance is a perfect fit to calm those first day nerves! This activity also gives the students an opportunity to dive right into online research, helps me introduce technology procedures, and encourages parent involvement right from the start. 

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3 Strategies to Determine Importance in Math Word Problems

Do your students have trouble determining which information is most important in a word problem?  

If so, you are going to love these strategies! Our kids live in an age where endless information is literally at their fingertips. If they are going to be successful, we HAVE to explicitly teach them how to weed out the necessary from the unnecessary. Most of them do not just figure this out on their own.

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Sub Prep Made Simple

I need to let you all in on a little secret.  

I used to never be ready for a sub. Like ever. 

In fact, it took me TEN YEARS of teaching before I could say I was ready for a sub at a moment’s notice. Yep. I spent an entire decade entirely stressed out about the idea of potentially getting sick.  Like drag-yourself-into-school-in-your-pajamas-with-a-104-degree-temperature-and-hope-no-one-judges kind of never ready.

So when I am telling you that finally making a Substitute Teacher Information binder changed my life… well, it’s pretty accurate.  I hope you find these tips helpful!  I recently shared them on my collaborative blog, Classroom Tested Resources, and I wanted to share them with my readers here as well.

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Strategies for Math Comprehension: Making Inferences and Predictions

I am joining up with A Teacher Mom today for Chapter 6 of Building Mathematical Comprehension by Laney Sammons.  Chapter 6 shares strategies for helping all students learn to make inferences and predictions like true mathematicians. 

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Strategies for Math Comprehension: Visualizing

In today's society, we are bombarded by images all day, every day.  It comes as no surprise that many of our students are visual learners. However, most of the time, our students are used to being passive recipients of the images instead of active participants. Once students have to start generating their own images, they often get frustrated and say those dreaded words…

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3 Ways Teachers Pay Teachers is Changing the World

I just experienced my first ever trip to the Teachers Pay Teachers conference in Las Vegas, Nevada.  I am actually typing this blog post in the airport while I wait for my flight because I feel like I am about to burst with inspiration.  This post can’t wait until tomorrow when I am experiencing jet lag. I need to express my thoughts while they are fresh in my mind. I truly believe that Teachers Pay Teachers is changing the future of education in the world, and this is why.

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