End of the Year Awards (#Awards for Upper Grades)

Posted on May 19, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

It’s that time of the year… time for end-of-the-year classroom awards! This time, I’ve chosen a social media theme . I call these “Hashtag Awards” (Follow me on Twitter!). There are 45 ready-to-go awards and a blank one for you to get creative with! They’d be perfect for upper graders, who think they’re too cool for the rest of the fun, cheesy elementary school stuff. (Also check out my other collection of end-of-the-year awards!) Here are a few awards from the collection:

Click here to download the 46 page collection: End of Year Awards – Hashtag Collection

Don’t forget to grab some awesome pens to use when you fill these out! I recommend These Paper Mate Flair pens (kind of a teacher must-have!)

Click the photo to grab some!

… or grab these or the super fun Gelly Roll Stardust sparkly gel pens! Throwback to middle school! Click the picture below to buy some sparkly happiness!

Like what you see? Poke around some more! Support my blog by checking out my other posts and the advertisers who sponsor me. 🙂

OO Like Spoon – Worksheet

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

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.

Teacher Appreciation Poster Idea – Cinco de Mayo Theme

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

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

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

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

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

Matching & Counting Money Puzzles

Posted on May 11, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

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.

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

Summarizing – Graphic Organizer

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

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:

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

What it Means to Be a Teacher

Posted on May 5, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

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.”

“May the 4th Be With You!” Activity

Posted on May 4, 2015 by Squarehead Teachers

Calling all geeks! It’s May 4th, so you’ve probably already bid your friends farewell by saying “May the fourth be with you!” I probably should celebrate (or at least acknowledge) May 4th at school. I know this next idea is a little late…hindsight is 20/20. I’ll have to do this next year. (Ta-da! Now I’m prepped a year ahead!)

I just saw this free coloring page over at Homeschool Encouragement and thought of a math connection!

Print one of these for each student. Then make up a key that might look something like this (choose your own colors if you want):

circles = red
trapezoids = green
rectangles = blue
squares = yellow
everything else = orange

This way, you’re practicing shapes while you celebrate May the Fourth! If you’re looking to be more interactive, consider having your students create the image above with tangrams.

Here are some other Star Wars themed coloring pages for you to be creative with!

But no matter what you do, may the fourth be with you! 🙂