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About Squarehead Teachers

Well, I’m a travel loving, cookie eating, bright color obsessed teacher who just can’t get enough of blogging or Photoshop. I’ve taught various grades from Kindergarten to Undergraduate courses in both in the United States and in China, teaching everything from dance and PE to English and math. I come from a family of educators, and believe that all teachers (public, private, charter and home school) are grossly under appreciated and deserve a little extra help. I started my Squarehead Teachers blog in August 2012 with the hope that I can be that extra little help that makes teachers feel a little more loved!

OO Like Spoon – Worksheet

I made another freebie for We Are Teachers! It’s centered around the “oo” sound like in the word “spoon.” Click here to visit my post (and download the worksheet) over at We Are Teachers.

OO Like Spoon Preview

Teacher Appreciation Poster Idea – Cinco de Mayo Theme

My friend recently shared this picture with me:

Teacher Appreciation Week - Cinco de Mayo

Their school celebrated teacher appreciation week the same week as Cinco de Mayo. I love how the parent who helped coordinate this poster combined the Cinco de Mayo and teacher appreciation themes! And what kid can resist taking a picture with a fake mustache!? 🙂

Send me photos of fun teacher appreciation ideas! Email them to squarehead teachers at gmail dot com.

Statements & Questions Worksheet

Check out the statements and questions worksheet I made for We Are Teachers:

Statements and Questions preview

 

Click here to check out the free printable worksheet over at We Are Teachers.

Matching & Counting Money Puzzles

Money! So much fun to have, but so much work to teach little minds about! Check out my recent matching game for learning money. I’ve got two sets: one for matching the words to the coin and another for also adding up the coins to find the total amount. These would probably be most appropriate for second grade.

Money match Sticker

Click here to download the matching-only puzzle:  Money Match

Money match and count

Click here to download the money match and countingpuzzle: Money Match and Count

Alter Your World by Recognizing Innovative Teachers

Here’s a cool opportunity from Altitude Summit:

“We have partnered with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, who supports teachers and celebrates innovation in education, to bring our Alt community a fantastic opportunity. During the next two weeks, we hope you will join us in a contest to celebrate just that and participate for a chance to win a ticket to Alt Summer for yourself and $500 cash for a deserving teacher.

Between May 1st and May 15th, you have three ways to appreciate an educator in your life who is using social media in innovative ways in the classroom. If you’re an educator, we’d love to hear how you are using social media.”

Click here to read more.

Before, Between, After – Letters Worksheet

I recently blogged about a number sequence/counting worksheet I made around the idea “before, between, after.” I thought it would work well for the alphabet as well. This will be a bit more challenging for kids, especially the section on what comes before a letter. However, I think this is still a valuable ABC exercise. Enjoy!

Before between after - letters STICKER

Click here for the free printable PDF: Before Between After – Letters

Summarizing – Graphic Organizer

Here are some more freebies I designed for We Are Teachers. I made one with simpler writing for younger grades and one with “cooler” writing for older kids:

Summarizing Graphic Organizer 1 previewSummarizing Graphic Organizer 2 preview

To go to the free printable freebies, please visit my post on We Are Teachers.

What it Means to Be a Teacher

I recently came across a well written piece called “A Letter to My Children: What it Means to be a Teacher.” The author provides some insight to her own children about teaching. It’s definitely worth the read. Here are some of my favorite lines:

“Teachers don’t see their classrooms as places where you go to make rules and assign homework.”

“Teachers worry about their students the way I worry about you.”

“Teaching doesn’t open at 8:00 in the morning and close at 5:00 at night.”

“[Teaching] creates an eternal optimist of you. It reminds you that every life matters…”

“Teachers could have chosen any profession, but instead they chose to teach you.”

“Take the lessons of teachers with you: work to discover and be your best selves, see potential in others, extend kindness, and ask tough questions.”

“We spend one week each year remembering to appreciate teachers, but I want you to spend a lifetime teaching appreciation.”