Category: End Of The Year

End Of The Year, Reading

Encouraging Summer Reading For Kids

*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* Wouldn’t it be wonderful to know that your students were continuing to use the valuable skills they learned in class over the summer?  We can actually help to encourage valuable summer reading for kids! I recently came across “Summer reading is so different than reading for school.  Here are 3 reasons to encourage it for kids”.  It mentions 3 reasons kids should be reading throughout the summer.  The reasons are: 1. it prepares students for the upcoming school year, 2. they’ll enjoy reading more-so than they would in class and 3. kids could actually earn free books! Those are all awesome reasons for students to read over theContinue reading

End Of The Year

4 Gifts For Teachers That They Actually Want

*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* At the end of the year, some students & parents opt to give their teacher a small token of appreciation.  So I’ve put together a list of 4 gifts for teachers that they actually want & find useful.  As a teacher, I can tell you that (even though it is dearly appreciated) some personal items are not relevant to all teachers.  For example, a box of chocolates may not be suitable for a teacher with an allergy or dietary constraint.  However, I can tell you that we certainly appreciate the thought and admire the effort.  Check out the list below if you’re interested in getting your child’sContinue reading

Classroom Management, End Of The Year

Top 4 Creative Student Awards

*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* Throughout the year, and especially as the year ends, we often look to acknowledge our students’ strengths as a way to give them encouragement and keep them motivated.  It’s also common to hand out student awards for overall achievement at the end of the year as a way to celebrate their efforts. But, in all honesty, this can get kind of boring.  So, I give you: the top 4 creative student awards that you MUST try! 1. Ribbons This is unlike your typical certificate because students can wear them and display them with pride to all their classmates.  There is something so rewarding in receiving a ribbon!Continue reading

End Of The Year

8 Amazing End of the Year Activities

*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* The end of the school year is a special time.  It’s brimming with excitement and promise, while also garnering reflection over the year that passed.  When this time rolls around teachers are mostly done with their core curriculum and find themselves with more time to try new and creative lesson ideas they couldn’t otherwise do.  However, this time shouldn’t be squandered or eagerly passed, there are really useful lessons to be had.  Here are 8 amazing end of the year activities every teacher must try! 1. Go Out with A Bang… or a pop? Leave a lasting impression of your creativity with your students.  Make the last fewContinue reading

Classroom Organizaion, End Of The Year

7 End of the Year Classroom Clean-up Tips

*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* Ok, so I know it’s not quite time to start clearing your desk, walls and student belongings, but getting an early start on your end of the year classroom clean-up is imperative!  It makes life so much simpler.  You’ll be more organized, productive and frankly happier for taking these steps early on. 1. Before all else, take pictures: You’ll definitely thank yourself later for this step.  I used to pull up old pictures of my classroom when I was stumped on how to set up a specific section for the new school year.  This is really helpful because sometimes you either want to avoid or follow specificContinue reading

End Of The Year

7 Steps to EQAO Test Success (and other standardized testing)

Standardized testing is quite the ordeal for teachers and students alike.  It really can cause undue stress and anxiety to our students and often cuts into our curriculum time as we prepare our classes.  I wont discuss the merit of standardized testing, but since it is part and parcel of our schooling system, I’ve listed 7 steps to EQAO success (and other standardized testing), which can be used in any grade.  I’ve implemented these steps in my classroom and really found that they helped to both prepare and calm my students.  Take a look at these steps, and let me know which steps you use in your classroom in the comments section. *Please note that, as perContinue reading

End Of The Year

7 Amazing End of the Year Gift Ideas For Students

*This post contains affiliate links for convenient viewing* The end of the school year is so wonderful!  Teachers and students alike daydream about all the wonderful things to come.  However, it’s also a time of reflection over the year that passed, and for many it has a tinge of sadness about the things that will be missed. For these reasons, many teachers give their students parting gifts commemorating the year and looking forward to the next.  Oh, and there is no need to spend a fortune, most students are perfectly happy receiving goodies from your local dollar store.  Here are 7 amazing end of the year gift ideas for students that you must see: 1. Pencils AnyContinue reading