At my student teaching placement, my cooperating teacher (Debbie Gray) showed me how she would write little notes to all of her students. Β She would try and get a letter to each one in a semester so that every student got about two notes a year. Β It’s hard to keep up with this, but she staye...
You can never have too many ways to show off student progress and celebrate success. Β I had a blank/grey bulletin board space in my classroom and wanted a way to show my students’ progress when they tested for recorder karate belts. Β In case you’re not familiar, Recorder Karate is a sy...
If you’re looking for a cheap and effective way to reinforce good behavior with kids then look no further than Awesome Socks Rocks!Β I use this little trick as a form positive reinforcement with my younger students and it really helps with classroom management.Β Awesome Socks Rocks are anoth...
I love a good theme and when I got back to school this summer I found out my principal had decided to make our school theme for the year “Soaring Higher.”Β Of course I wanted to find a way to connect with the theme and show students how we’re “soaring higher in music” ...
I’m always looking for new and fun ways to encourage kids in my classroom.Β If you’ve worked with kids long enough you know that stickers or candy treats only work so long to reinforce positive behavior.Β You really need several different tricks up your sleeve because not every reward ...
A little spritz of water can be one of the most powerful behavior management tools when you call it Cool Kid Spray!Β So funny how something as simple as water in a little spray bottle can get kids excited and motivated to do what’s right.Β This super simple and effective tip is another ama...
Here’s a bulletin board that I created to help my kids identify, categorize, and use movement words. Β Our district is on a big literacy kick (which district isn’t these days?) and we’ve been encouraged to post and use more words on word walls, etc. Β I am fresh off my first Orff L...