Candy Thank You Notes for Teachers & Staff

Posted on January 23, 2014 by Squarehead Teachers

A fellow teacher recently showed me this thank you note she had received at Christmas time.

It made me think of a few things:

How good it feels to be appreciated.
How many people it takes to run a good school.
How I show my appreciation to those I work with.

I’ve created this thank you printable (3 color options: blue, green and pink) to make it easier to show your appreciation to your fellow faculty and staff members. I know I don’t always have the budget or time to get a gift for each person who helps me in my job (librarian, cafeteria staff, maintenance staff, office workers, aides, etc.). So if you’re like me, feel free to print this page and attach some goodies (Snickers, Smarties and peanuts/any peanut candy). Be sure to write the recipient’s name in the blank space at the bottom. (These are also great for PTA/PTO groups doing teacher appreciation day.) Spread the love and your school will be all the better for it!

Click here for the printable thank you’s:
Blue Candy Thank You Notes for Faculty-Staff
Green Candy Thank You Notes for Faculty-Staff (St. Patrick’s Day note?)
Pink Candy Thank You Notes for Faculty-Staff (Valentine’s Day note?)

Homophones Worksheet

Posted on January 22, 2014 by Squarehead Teachers

Another part of the Common core is learning homophones (to, two, too). The 4th grade standard says “Correctly use frequently confused words (e.g., to, too, two; there, their).” Here’s my free homophones worksheet: Homophones worksheet

Adjective Order Worksheet (Free!)

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Squarehead Teachers

One of the standards in the Common Core is to “Order adjectives within sentences according to conventional patterns (e.g., a small red bag rather than a red small bag)” (4th Grade). So here’s my worksheet to help students practice ordering adjectives: Adjective Order Worksheet. I will be updating this worksheet when I have the time. For now, give your students a gold star if they find something that needs to be updated. 😀

Sweet Treats Behavior Management System

Posted on January 20, 2014 by Squarehead Teachers

This was too cute not to share. This teacher gives her students “brownie points.” But the problem was that brownies look kind of weird up at the front of the room. brown squares weren’t as cute and motivating as sweet cupcakes. She uses a brownie pan as the “tracking sheet.” The cupcake papers are laminated and attached to magnets. Here’s a picture:

Effective Bulletin Boards for Your Classroom

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Squarehead Teachers

I saw this idea in an upper grade classroom and thought it was pretty cool. It’s a bulletin board about the things a good reader does: C R A F T

Comprehension: I understand what I read
Response to Text: I respond with thought and detail
Accuracy: I can read a variety of words
Fluency: I can read with accuracy and expression
Text Features: I understand and utilize text features

The teacher focuses on a reading skill and makes anchor charts that go with it. The anchor chart goes on the bulletin board to be referred to later.

This poster is an example of how students should do their math work. The poster shows how students should do their math work: specific heading, numbered problems, write problems left to right in rows rather than columns and the answers are circled. It’s a great way to help students remember what they need before turning in a paper. In addition, it’s a great reminder of how to do some basic math algorithms (in case your students forget).

Calm Down Box

Posted on January 18, 2014 by Squarehead Teachers

Here’s an idea submitted by a reader. This teacher has a “calm down box” in her classroom. She put stress balls, timers and other tangible things in the box and when students get overwhelmed or need some alone time, they can sit at a table with the box and calm down.

Simple Writing Rubric

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Squarehead Teachers

It’s always good practice to let your students know what they’re being graded on. So here’s a generic writing rubric you can use to grade any elementary school writing project. There are 4 on a page, so it won’t waste paper. I always put a stack of these next to the turn-in tray and have students attach the rubric (along with their outlines, rough drafts, etc.) before turning it on. It saves me SO much time having them do it rather than me doing it. If I am having the whole class turn it in at the same time, I pass out the rubrics and send a few staplers around so everyone gets it staples in before they’re passed to me.

Click here for the PDF of the printable rubric: Writing Rubric – 4 per page

Adverbs & Adjectives Worksheet

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Squarehead Teachers

I recently needed a worksheet to assess students’ knowledge of adjectives vs. adverbs. So here’s a 20 question page to help you know if your grammar lesson worked or not! Enjoy!

Click here for the free printable PDF:
adverbs adjectives worksheet
adverbs adjectives worksheet ANSWERS