Awesome Classroom Ideas!

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I absolutely LOVE Pinterest. It’s one of my favorite productive diversions. Here are some cool elementary education ideas I’ve seen recently…

Awesome way to help kids practice tying shoes! (source)

Ticket Out the Door! Have students write their answer to a given problem as they leave the classroom each day. Motivational, and a good way to check who did it and who did not. (source)

Turn in basket sheet reminds students what’s required before they turn it in, and students can’t “peek” at papers turned in before theirs. (source)

Last 20 days of school, each balloon has a special activity. Everyday you pop one balloon to find out what it is! (For example, sit wherever you want for the day. (source)

Classroom Rules Poster – Owl (DIY)

Posted on September 16, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Owls are pretty trendy these days. So when I saw a cute owl-shaped note pad at the dollar store, I just had to buy it (with plans to work it into my classroom somehow). Here’s the poster I came up with (pretty proud of my DIY project!):

Our classroom rule is “no one has the right to interfere with the learning, safety or well being of others.” Each student will sign the poster and we’ll put it up on the wall so everyone will remember our classroom behavior expectations.

Fiction vs. Nonfiction Anchor Chart

Posted on September 7, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

This language arts anchor chart seems so easy, yet so effective in displaying the differences between fiction and nonfiction. The teacher even included a picture of fiction vs. nonfiction to help younger learners the two. It could be a good assignment to have each student create a personal anchor chart like this, especially using pictures from old magazines, etc.

Bio Poetry For Kids

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

Bio Poems can be written by students to describe the lives of real people as creative writing exercise, or fictional characters to demonstrate reading comprehension. Bio Poems could even be written about inanimate objects. There are a variety of formulas for writing a bio poem. Here are 2 of the most common formulas:

Your name

Child of…

Who loves…

Who hates…

Who wants to go to…

Who wishes he/she could’ve met…

Who is scared of…

Who dreams of…

Who is determined to…

Who values…

Who is proud of…

Who graduated from…

Who lives…

Your name again

Source

First name

Three or four adjectives that describe the person

Important relationship (daughter of . . . , mother of . . . , etc)

Two or three things, people, or ideas that the person loved

Three feelings the person experienced

Three fears the person experienced

Accomplishments (who composed . . . , who discovered . . . , etc.)

Two or three things the person wanted to see happen or wanted to experience

His or her residence

Last name

Source

It’s always fun to share or display the bio poems. One teacher had her students tear pieces of construction paper to create artwork of their face to put up next to the student’s bio poem. You could easily adapt this project to describe historical figures, events, etc. by changing the formula.

Math Key Word Group Project

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I recently posted my addition and subtraction key words posters. Then I saw this in one upper grade teacher’s room and had an idea for a group project to review these concepts at the beginning of the year.

Pass out a large sheet of paper to groups of 2-4 students. Then have them create a poster that shows what key words are associated with each of the 4 basic math operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Then post them on the wall as a reminder throughout the year. If you don’t have enough space to display them all, designate one spot for a poster and rotate through them throughout the year. When you switch posters to display a new group’s poster, have the group members review the key words with the whole class.

Addition and Subtraction Key Words Posters

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I recently saw this in a lower grade classroom. It seemed like a good math poster to have up for use when discussing whether a word problem requires addition or subtraction.

So I decided to make my own free math posters for you to use in your elementary school classroom! Enjoy!

$Math key words poster- add$ $Math key words poster- subtract$

Desk Fairy Printables (Free!)

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I don’t know about you, but I definitely don’t have the funding for even half of what’s in those teaching materials catalogues. But I saw this idea and wanted one for my classroom, so I just made my own (and I’m sharing it with you)! First print the poster (regular size printer paper) and put it up on your wall. Then print off and copy the desk fairy notes (color or black and white) and be ready to pass them out as you catch kids with clean desks. You could assign one student to be the desk fairy as their classroom job or just have pass out notes while kids are out of the classroom. Some teachers let their students turn in a desk fairy notes for a prize, special privilege or as an entry in a classroom drawing. Let me know if you try this. I’d love to hear how it works in your classroom!

PDFs here: Desk Fairy Poster Desk fairy notes- bw Desk fairy notes- color

Supplies for Today’s Project (UPDATED)

Posted on August 7, 2013 by Squarehead Teachers

I recently was this in a kindergarten classroom and was blown away by this simple, but genius idea! The teacher had clip art of commonly used classroom supplies attached to the board with a magnet. When it was time for a project, she’d move the magnets of the necessary supplies to the center of the board for her students to get out. This way, she visually reinforces what she says and doesn’t have to repeat herself!

I made some for you, so just print out my Supplies for Today’s Project PRINTABLE, cut out and laminate each piece and add a magnet. Then you’ll be genius too!