You know when you see a cool idea, then you obsess about it, and you realize that you HAVE to have it? That's what happened with these team packs. I saw them from Kagan, and I loved them. The Kagan ones come with markers, super thin whiteboards, crayons, and a spinner, and they retail for around $15. I wanted the same concept, but I didn't want to spend upward of $75 with shipping, so I decided to turn it into a DIY project! :)I went to The Container Store to get the bubble envelopes. I was able ... VIEW POST

I think we all have that filing cabinet with the endless amount of file folders and the random, misplaced task cards and matching cards, and as much as we try to organize it, it's better left closed.Here is what my filing cabinet looked like before:The obvious problems: there are no clear indicators of where one unit begins and ends, all of the files are the same color, and I'll be honest: most of the time, I do not put the folders back in the right spot.The solution that I came up with: I will ... VIEW POST

There are so many great ideas out there to boost staff morale, and I was inspired by those great ideas to give our copy room a little makeover.I started by creating some motivational posters. I went for both school-related and just general quotes to spark some positive vibes and motivation. I even printed a few extra for my classroom. Print them on Astrobrights paper or any bright cardstock for an extra pop! If you want to grab them for yourself (for free), click here: motivational ... VIEW POST

Let me start by saying that my kids LOVED this review game. They laughed, learned, and helped each other throughout the entire game!What you'll need: 9 Hula HoopsSome kind of marker. We used Frisbees, but you can use bean bags, fabric, paper plates, and more. Use something that's not bouncy so that it stays in the hula hoop.Optional: scooter boardsHow to play review game style:Have the students separate into two groups. My classes are roughly 15 students in each, so it worked out really ... VIEW POST

I could be wrong, but I don't think that any of us LOVE calling parents. Sometimes those calls can be awkward or confrontational, but other times, they can be AMAZING!Positive phone calls home are equally if not more important than the negative ones. I recently started using reward coupons in addition to lollipops. I assumed that my teenagers would always want the lollipops, but surprisingly, there have been two clear coupon winners: the option to listen to music while they work and positive ... VIEW POST

I've seen a lot of posts on Instagram of teachers writing on student desks. I love the idea, and let me just say that it was actually FUN to write on their desks with an Expo marker!I wish that I could leave little individualized notes/compliments to the students, but I have five back-to-back classes, and I don't do assigned seating, so that strategy wouldn't really work well in my classroom.I decided to instead write review questions on their desks and leave a post-it for them to write down the ... VIEW POST