Search the blog

Skip to content

Tales From a Very Busy Teacher

A Teaching Blog

Home
Subscribe
About Me
Formative Assessment Handbook
Teacher Leadership Community

Home
Subscribe
About Me
Formative Assessment Handbook
Teacher Leadership Community

Subscribe

SEARCH THE BLOG

Instagram

These are three things I always had displayed in m

These are three things I always had displayed in my classroom because they were so important for my students:

1. Daily Schedule/Calendar
Displaying the daily schedule helped my students because they knew what to expect and knew what was coming next.
There was a sense of normalcy, safety, and predictability which really helped students’ anxiety and discomfort-especially on those off days when we didn’t follow our normal schedule.

2. Learning Goals
I didn’t display learning goals just to be compliant for admin. I displayed learning goals so I could clearly communicate what we were learning to my students. Not only was it displayed for each lesson, but it was connected to real world applications and success criteria so students could monitor their own learning and be more engaged.

3. Behavior Expectations
My classroom behavior expectations were posted at the front of the classroom on a bulletin board and were separated by area of instruction/activity. We had expectations for whole and small group instruction, entering and exiting the classroom, independent work time, and group work time.l always referred to the board when I reviewed expectations and students became very aware of what to do throughout different parts of our school day.

What is something you always have displayed for your students?

#teachersfollowteachers #mathinstruction
#teachersofinstagram #iteachtoo #teacherlife #teachersofig #tpt #teacherspayteachers #iteachfourth #education #teaching #iteachfirst #iteachthird #teacherproblems #iteach4th #iteach3rd #teachergram #teachersoftpt #thirdgrade #secondgrade #teacherfriends #iteach345 #lifeofateacher #classroomsetup #elementaryteachers #teachersofinsta #alwaysateacher #teachermom

Start 2025 off with a problem-solving wheel. ☸️

I reviewed this problem-solving wheel with my students, as often as I could, to empower them to problem-solve on their own.

When I taught 5th grade, I had a few 5th-grade students use this wheel as “Peace Patrol” officers while they helped primary students problem-solve on the playground.

It’s a great display to have up in your classroom so you can refer to it easily.

Comment WHEEL if you want a copy and I’ll DM you the link to have it sent directly to your inbox.

#teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #classroombehavior #teachertips #elementaryteachers

Create a school-wide kindness tree!💕🌳 To he

Create a school-wide kindness tree!💕🌳

To help create this school-wide board, every teacher in our school had their students write about different ways they could show kindness, using sentence frames that we (the school leadership team) provided to them.

The students wrote their sentence on hearts.

We used the hearts to create this giant kindness tree display at the front of our school.😍

Some teachers did this daily with their students and others did it weekly. Every time a class was finished writing on the hearts, we’d add them to the tree. It was a great display at our school’s entrance and we kept it there until the end of the school year.

Comment TREE and l’ll DM you with the link to find the templates for this bulletin board in my shop!

#teachersfollowteachers #teacherlife #elementaryteacher #classroomsetup #classroomideas #teachertips #teachersofig #classroomsetup #classroomdisplay #schoolwidebulletinboard #interactivebulletinboard #kindnesslessons #actsofkindness

Let’s talk about structuring math intervention g

Let’s talk about structuring math intervention groups that actually work. 🧮

Back when I taught 5th grade, my team had an intervention block we called Power Time—because it was all about empowering students with targeted support. (And yes, I always joked we needed MC Hammer pants for this, because it was basically Hammer Time. Is my elder Millennial showing? 🫣)

Here’s the thing: effective interventions start with strong Tier 1 instruction. If your whole-class lessons include clear modeling (aka a “clean teach”), intentional practice, and opportunities for all students to engage, your intervention groups can truly target and fill gaps.

Here’s how to make your intervention time count:
✅ Group students based on specific skills they need support with—focus on targeted needs, not just general struggles.
✅ Set clear, measurable goals for each group so you can track progress effectively.
✅ Keep your routines simple but consistent. Structure = results for you and your students.
✅ Use quick, focused data collection to monitor growth without overwhelming yourself.

Want to learn more about how we made Power Time work? Head to the link in my bio for all the details or comment POWER and I’ll DM you the link.

#teacherlife #elementaryteacher #mathintervention #interventionstrategies #smallgroupinstruction #teachertips #teacherclarity #mathteachersofinstagram #upperelementary #powertime #effectiveteaching #lessonplanning #teacherinspiration #edutips #educationmatters #teachingmath #targetedintervention #teachersofinstagram #teachingideas #eldermillennial

🌟 Start each day with connection! 🌟 In my c

🌟 Start each day with connection! 🌟

In my classroom, the Editable Daily Check-in was a game-changer. It helped me quickly gauge how my students were feeling and gave me insight into who might need extra support that day. Plus, it set a positive tone and helped my students feel seen and valued. 💕

Whether you prefer digital or paper, this customizable resource fits seamlessly into your routine.

✅ Build SEL into your daily schedule
✅ Monitor your students’ well-being
✅ Save time with an easy-to-use format

Ready to transform your mornings? Click the link in bio to grab yours today! ✨ Or comment DAILY and I’ll DM you the link!

#TeacherResources #DailyCheckIn #SELinTheClassroom #ElementaryTeacher #TeachersOfInstagram #ClassroomCommunity

Get ready for February with these resources: 💕

Get ready for February with these resources:

💕February Doodles

💘”Owl” Love You Poem and Craft

💕Reasons We Love Our School” Bulletin Board/Anchor Chart

💘Kindness Lessons (Wrinkled Heart)

💕Valentine’s Day Art Project

💘Abe and George Writing and Art Activity

💕Kindness Posters

Use the link in my bio to shop my store or comment FEB and I’ll DM you the links! 😍

#teachertips #teacherlessons #elementaryteacher #teacherideas #teachertips #classroomfun #studentmotivation #teachersofinstagram #classroomchallenge #teacherlife

I used this project with 2nd, 3rd and even 5th gra

I used this project with 2nd, 3rd and even 5th graders!😍

It’s great in helping students with fine motor skills and helps support students in completing steps sequentially.

I also enjoyed using this project with “buddy classes.” When I taught 5th grade, my students would complete this project with their 2nd grade buddies. They helped them with cutting and gluing, and also had great conversations that helped build strong relationships!

There’s also an option to include writing with this project. I would have students write haikus or diamanté poems related to Valentine’s Day.

They also make a great display. 🥳

You can grab this project in my shop! Use the link in my bio or comment OWL and I’ll DM it to you!💕

#teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #iteachtoo #teacherlife #teachersofig #tpt #teacherspayteachers #teachfourth #education #teaching #iteachfirst #iteachthird #teacherproblems #iteach4th #iteach3rd #teachergram #teachersoftpt #thirdgrade #secondgrade #teacherfriends #iteach345 #lifeofateacher #classroomsetup #elementaryteachers #teachersofinsta #alwaysateacher

🚨 Unpopular Opinion Alert: I stopped doing “F

🚨 Unpopular Opinion Alert: I stopped doing “Fun Friday” in my classroom, and here’s why.

At first, I thought Fun Friday would be a great motivator, but it ended up creating more challenges than it solved. From inequities to anxiety, it just didn’t work for me or my students.

Instead, I found other ways to celebrate our week and encourage positive behavior—ways that included everyone and focused on teaching students how to grow. 💡

Swipe through to see why I stopped doing Fun Friday and what I do now instead.

✨ Want even more ideas for alternatives to Fun Friday? ✨
Type FRIDAY in the comments, and I’ll send you the link to my blog post with all the details! 💻

Do you use Fun Friday in your classroom? Or have you found another approach that works better? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 💬👇

#TeacherLife #FunFriday #ElementaryTeachers #ClassroomCulture #PositiveDiscipline #InclusiveClassroom #TeachingTips

Did you know there’s a smaller version of my “

Did you know there’s a smaller version of my “Reasons Why We Love Our Class/School” board?

You can use the mini @postit easel pad (from @walmart) or the large one and students can use sticky notes to write things they love.

They can also write directly on the chart paper.

Comment REASONS and I’ll DM you the link to find it in my shop, along with the link for the mini easel pad.

#teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #iteachtoo #teacherlife #teachersofig #tpt #teacherspayteachers #iteachfourth #education #teaching #iteachfirst #iteachthird #teacherproblems #iteach4th #iteach3rd #teachergram #teachersoftpt #thirdgrade #secondgrade #teacherfriends #iteach345 #lifeofateacher #classroomsetup #elementaryteachers #teachersofinsta #alwaysateacher

Recent Pins

Shop My Resources

Facebook

Subscribe & Follow

Popular topics

Academic Vocabulary
1
Art
4
Back to School
12
Bulletin Board
10
Career
4

×

Recent

Why I Stopped Doing “Fun Friday” in My Classroom
January 12, 2025

Popular Topics

Academic Vocabulary Art Back to School Bulletin Board Career Classroom Management Classroom Organization Design Direct Instruction End of Year English Language Arts Fashion Featured Growth Mindset Intervention Lesson Plans PBIS Social Emotional Learning Teacher Clarity Teacher Mom Teaching Ideas Uncategorized Visible Learning Writing

Search the blog

These are three things I always had displayed in m

These are three things I always had displayed in my classroom because they were so important for my students:

1. Daily Schedule/Calendar
Displaying the daily schedule helped my students because they knew what to expect and knew what was coming next.
There was a sense of normalcy, safety, and predictability which really helped students’ anxiety and discomfort-especially on those off days when we didn’t follow our normal schedule.

2. Learning Goals
I didn’t display learning goals just to be compliant for admin. I displayed learning goals so I could clearly communicate what we were learning to my students. Not only was it displayed for each lesson, but it was connected to real world applications and success criteria so students could monitor their own learning and be more engaged.

3. Behavior Expectations
My classroom behavior expectations were posted at the front of the classroom on a bulletin board and were separated by area of instruction/activity. We had expectations for whole and small group instruction, entering and exiting the classroom, independent work time, and group work time.l always referred to the board when I reviewed expectations and students became very aware of what to do throughout different parts of our school day.

What is something you always have displayed for your students?

#teachersfollowteachers #mathinstruction
#teachersofinstagram #iteachtoo #teacherlife #teachersofig #tpt #teacherspayteachers #iteachfourth #education #teaching #iteachfirst #iteachthird #teacherproblems #iteach4th #iteach3rd #teachergram #teachersoftpt #thirdgrade #secondgrade #teacherfriends #iteach345 #lifeofateacher #classroomsetup #elementaryteachers #teachersofinsta #alwaysateacher #teachermom

Start 2025 off with a problem-solving wheel. ☸️

I reviewed this problem-solving wheel with my students, as often as I could, to empower them to problem-solve on their own.

When I taught 5th grade, I had a few 5th-grade students use this wheel as “Peace Patrol” officers while they helped primary students problem-solve on the playground.

It’s a great display to have up in your classroom so you can refer to it easily.

Comment WHEEL if you want a copy and I’ll DM you the link to have it sent directly to your inbox.

#teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #classroombehavior #teachertips #elementaryteachers

Create a school-wide kindness tree!💕🌳 To he

Create a school-wide kindness tree!💕🌳

To help create this school-wide board, every teacher in our school had their students write about different ways they could show kindness, using sentence frames that we (the school leadership team) provided to them.

The students wrote their sentence on hearts.

We used the hearts to create this giant kindness tree display at the front of our school.😍

Some teachers did this daily with their students and others did it weekly. Every time a class was finished writing on the hearts, we’d add them to the tree. It was a great display at our school’s entrance and we kept it there until the end of the school year.

Comment TREE and l’ll DM you with the link to find the templates for this bulletin board in my shop!

#teachersfollowteachers #teacherlife #elementaryteacher #classroomsetup #classroomideas #teachertips #teachersofig #classroomsetup #classroomdisplay #schoolwidebulletinboard #interactivebulletinboard #kindnesslessons #actsofkindness

Let’s talk about structuring math intervention g

Let’s talk about structuring math intervention groups that actually work. 🧮

Back when I taught 5th grade, my team had an intervention block we called Power Time—because it was all about empowering students with targeted support. (And yes, I always joked we needed MC Hammer pants for this, because it was basically Hammer Time. Is my elder Millennial showing? 🫣)

Here’s the thing: effective interventions start with strong Tier 1 instruction. If your whole-class lessons include clear modeling (aka a “clean teach”), intentional practice, and opportunities for all students to engage, your intervention groups can truly target and fill gaps.

Here’s how to make your intervention time count:
✅ Group students based on specific skills they need support with—focus on targeted needs, not just general struggles.
✅ Set clear, measurable goals for each group so you can track progress effectively.
✅ Keep your routines simple but consistent. Structure = results for you and your students.
✅ Use quick, focused data collection to monitor growth without overwhelming yourself.

Want to learn more about how we made Power Time work? Head to the link in my bio for all the details or comment POWER and I’ll DM you the link.

#teacherlife #elementaryteacher #mathintervention #interventionstrategies #smallgroupinstruction #teachertips #teacherclarity #mathteachersofinstagram #upperelementary #powertime #effectiveteaching #lessonplanning #teacherinspiration #edutips #educationmatters #teachingmath #targetedintervention #teachersofinstagram #teachingideas #eldermillennial

🌟 Start each day with connection! 🌟 In my c

🌟 Start each day with connection! 🌟

In my classroom, the Editable Daily Check-in was a game-changer. It helped me quickly gauge how my students were feeling and gave me insight into who might need extra support that day. Plus, it set a positive tone and helped my students feel seen and valued. 💕

Whether you prefer digital or paper, this customizable resource fits seamlessly into your routine.

✅ Build SEL into your daily schedule
✅ Monitor your students’ well-being
✅ Save time with an easy-to-use format

Ready to transform your mornings? Click the link in bio to grab yours today! ✨ Or comment DAILY and I’ll DM you the link!

#TeacherResources #DailyCheckIn #SELinTheClassroom #ElementaryTeacher #TeachersOfInstagram #ClassroomCommunity

Get ready for February with these resources: 💕

Get ready for February with these resources:

💕February Doodles

💘”Owl” Love You Poem and Craft

💕Reasons We Love Our School” Bulletin Board/Anchor Chart

💘Kindness Lessons (Wrinkled Heart)

💕Valentine’s Day Art Project

💘Abe and George Writing and Art Activity

💕Kindness Posters

Use the link in my bio to shop my store or comment FEB and I’ll DM you the links! 😍

#teachertips #teacherlessons #elementaryteacher #teacherideas #teachertips #classroomfun #studentmotivation #teachersofinstagram #classroomchallenge #teacherlife

I used this project with 2nd, 3rd and even 5th gra

I used this project with 2nd, 3rd and even 5th graders!😍

It’s great in helping students with fine motor skills and helps support students in completing steps sequentially.

I also enjoyed using this project with “buddy classes.” When I taught 5th grade, my students would complete this project with their 2nd grade buddies. They helped them with cutting and gluing, and also had great conversations that helped build strong relationships!

There’s also an option to include writing with this project. I would have students write haikus or diamanté poems related to Valentine’s Day.

They also make a great display. 🥳

You can grab this project in my shop! Use the link in my bio or comment OWL and I’ll DM it to you!💕

#teachersfollowteachers #teachersofinstagram #iteachtoo #teacherlife #teachersofig #tpt #teacherspayteachers #teachfourth #education #teaching #iteachfirst #iteachthird #teacherproblems #iteach4th #iteach3rd #teachergram #teachersoftpt #thirdgrade #secondgrade #teacherfriends #iteach345 #lifeofateacher #classroomsetup #elementaryteachers #teachersofinsta #alwaysateacher

🚨 Unpopular Opinion Alert: I stopped doing “F

🚨 Unpopular Opinion Alert: I stopped doing “Fun Friday” in my classroom, and here’s why.

At first, I thought Fun Friday would be a great motivator, but it ended up creating more challenges than it solved. From inequities to anxiety, it just didn’t work for me or my students.

Instead, I found other ways to celebrate our week and encourage positive behavior—ways that included everyone and focused on teaching students how to grow. 💡

Swipe through to see why I stopped doing Fun Friday and what I do now instead.

✨ Want even more ideas for alternatives to Fun Friday? ✨
Type FRIDAY in the comments, and I’ll send you the link to my blog post with all the details! 💻

Do you use Fun Friday in your classroom? Or have you found another approach that works better? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts! 💬👇

#TeacherLife #FunFriday #ElementaryTeachers #ClassroomCulture #PositiveDiscipline #InclusiveClassroom #TeachingTips

facebook instagram pinterest shop email

Design by Laugh Eat Learn // Theme by Georgia Lou Studios

Go to mobile version