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Category: classroom management

A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue

When students do not know the difference between tattling and reporting, it can eat up instructional time and frustrate even the most experienced teacher. I like to spend a good chunk of time at the beginning of the year teaching and using examples to illustrate the difference.  Today I want to share some ideas for using the book, A Bad Case of Tattle Tongue in the classroom to address tattling and reporting.
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Classroom Rewards That Won’t Break the Bank

I think most teachers would prefer a world where all students were intrinsically motivated, but it just isn’t an every day reality. Many of us dig deep into our pockets and find extrinsic rewards to help change certain student behaviors. Once I started adding up those little rewards, I knew there had to be a better way. I started brainstorming ways to reward my students without the need to dig deep into my pockets!
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Snack Time {Pros and Cons}

In all my years of teaching, I don't think I have ever done things the same way twice.  This includes the decision about having a dedicated snack time or going without.  I can't speak for the masses, so today I'm here to share the pros and the cons of having snack time in my classroom.
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classroom money

Classroom Economy: How I Use Money in the Classroom

Many years ago I moved from teaching intermediate down to primary. I worked closely with another teacher who had been using money in the classroom for years. I was hesitant at first, but quickly realized that if we would be sharing students throughout the day, I would need to jump in with both feet and get started. Now it seems like second nature, but it wasn’t always the case. Here’s a look at some of the questions I had when I first started and I hope it might help you, too.
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Classroom Jobs for Students

After teaching for more than a decade, I have changed the way I have used classroom jobs many times. I'm sharing some of the systems I have tried over the years.
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Goals help set a purpose and a direction for where you are headed. While you are building your classroom community, why not take the time to make some common goals that EVERY student in your classroom can work towards? Here's a little glimpse into how I do this in my classroom.

Setting Classroom Goals

Goals help set a purpose and a direction for where you are headed.  While you are building your classroom community, why not take the time to make some common goals that EVERY student in your classroom can work towards?  Here’s a little glimpse into how I do this in my classroom.
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Writing Report Cards

Our school is on a trimester system, so I write report cards three times a year.  When I first started teaching I wrote them all by hand.  I had to painstakingly plan out what I would write first so I wouldn't have to second guess and use gobs of white out.  I am thankful for the computerized version, even when I have to edit and revise to make sure I don't exceed the character limit.
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brainbreakspreview.jpg

Monday Made It – Brain Breaks

I feel like my summer to-do list is expanding every single day with new projects thanks to Pinterest and my blogger buddies.  Don't get me wrong, I love a good project as much as the next gal, but they are taking over my home!  So, you can only imagine my incredible sense of relief that I am able to pull out that highlighter and check-off a major project.  I have done it - I finished my Brain Breaks!
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