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Kindergarten Math Assessments

Kindergarten math assessments were always such a headache for me. I tried so many different ways of assessing and had a hard time finding a way that would work for these young kids, while also being accurate. It’s very different assessing a kindergartener who knows the math skill but can’t read the problem than a student who doesn’t understand the math skill.

Hopefully these math assessment ideas will help you come up with a way to accurately assess your students while sparing you the headache I had!

Kindergarten math assessments can be tricky. It's very different assessing a kindergartener who knows the math skill but can't read the problem than a...

Math Assessments in Kindergarten

If you’re a kindergarten teacher, you already know how short a kindergartener’s attention span is. It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to give whole group, unit tests that are more than one page. I tried this and had very small class sizes and it still was a nightmare. There’s always one or two (or five) that are off in lalaland, not paying attention to what problem you’re on in the math test or just looking at their neighbors paper to pretend they’re following along.

It’s also very unlikely that you’ll be able to give one on one assessments for every standard to every student. There are too many other things teachers and students do throughout the day to give that much time and attention to math assessments.

Which brings me to exit tickets. Exit tickets are short one or two problem, half sheets of paper that are ideally given after every lesson. They are quick and simple so students can focus on the task before losing attention. There is only one set of directions for students to solve either one or two problems that go along with what they learned during the lesson.

When you give an exit ticket, you get immediate feedback. That way, you can pull whatever students did not understand the skill and work more closely with them during the next lesson. That immediate feedback helps you know what students you need to work one on one with. Most likely you won’t be able to work one on one with everyone for every standard.

Kindergarten math assessments can be tricky. It's very different assessing a kindergartener who knows the math skill but can't read the problem than a...

Beginning of the Year Assessments

Kindergarteners come to you at so many different levels. Depending on if they went to preschool or not, you may be teaching some how to count, while others are ready to start adding and subtracting.

Something super helpful that I did was assess their math skills right in the beginning of the year. That helped me figure out who was at what level and where I should place them when we started guided math.

These are the skills I assessed in the beginning of the year:

  • Counting
  • Writing numbers
  • Identify Shapes

Kindergarten math assessments can be tricky. It's very different assessing a kindergartener who knows the math skill but can't read the problem than a...

During the Year

You already know that it’s important to assess students throughout the year. We had report cards 4 times a year, so although I was formatively assessing students every day, I had specific assessments I did before completing report cards.

Some ideas for kindergarten math assessments during the year:

  • Exit tickets – Give an exit ticket after every (or mostly every) lesson to gage student skills. This will tell you when they master the concept.
  • Quarterly verbal math assessments (for standards like – can count to 100)
  • Take parts of the end of chapter or end of unit tests that the teacher manual provides and give certain problems throughout the quarter or year
  • Use guided math in your classroom so you can easily formatively assess students when they’re at your group. Write down these observations in a checklist.

End of the Year Assessments

At the end of the year, to get a comprehensive understanding on what concepts students have mastered, I re-assess standards that certain students did not understand the first time I assessed. (Of course, you teach concepts over and over and over but sometimes students just take a little longer to fully grasp a concept.)

So, at the end of the year, I looked at my assessment binder, where I held all my check lists and exit tickets and I marked off who needed to be assessed for which standard. Usually there are only a few students in each standard (depending on your class size) who need to be re-assessed.

 

Kindergarten math assessments can be tricky. It's very different assessing a kindergartener who knows the math skill but can't read the problem than a...

Standards Based Grading

Standards based grading is simply when students get “graded” on if they meet a standard or not instead of getting a letter grade in different subjects. When I taught, we used standard based grading so students earned W’s for working on a standard. They earned M’s for meets standard. E’s meant they exceed the standard or N’s for not at grade level.

Here’s how I assessed for standards based grading while using guided math!

Common Core Math Assessments

If you are interested in using exit tickets in your classroom, you can purchase exit tickets for the entire year for all Kindergarten Common Core Standards in my TpT Store.

Getting Familiar with the Kindergarten Common Core Standards

The common core standards have been adopted in most of the states in the US. These standards tell us what students should be able to do by the end of the year. The standards are used from kindergarten through high school. Therefore, they build on each other year after year in hopes that once students graduate high school, they’re prepared for college, a career and life.

As kindergarten teachers, it’s our job to digest the standards and then teach students what they need to know. That way, students master each kindergarten common core standard by the end of the year.

Common Core in Kindergarten

Kindergarten is very different now from when I was in kindergarten. Students are asked to master many different skills that you may be surprised by when you first take a look at the standards. However, students can and do learn these year after year. The kindergarten common core standards set a strong foundation for all students will learn throughout their schooling.

This post breaks down all you need to know about the kindergarten common core standards. What they are, how to teach them and resources to use.

Kindergarten Common Core Math Standards

There are 5 categories in kindergarten Common Core Math Standards:

  1. Counting and Cardinality
  2. Operations and Algebraic Thinking
  3. Number and Operations in Base Ten
  4. Measurement and Data
  5. Geometry

Let’s take a deeper look

Counting and Cardinality: Students learn about numbers and how to count in order and they also compare numbers.

Operations and Algebraic Thinking: Students learn how to add and subtract.

Number and Operations in Base Ten: Students learn place value and how to compose and decompose teen numbers.

Measurement and Data: Students learn how to measure objects using standard and non-standard units. They put similar objects in categories.

Geometry: Students learn names of shapes, identify and compare shapes.

This post breaks down all you need to know about the kindergarten common core standards. What they are, how to teach them and resources to use.

Kindergarten Common Core Language Arts Standards

There are 6 sections in the kindergarten Common Core language arts standards.

  1. Reading: Literature
  2. Reading: Informational Text
  3. Foundational Skills
  4. Writing
  5. Speaking and Listening
  6. Language

Let’s take a deeper look

Reading Literature: Students are introduced to a variety of different types of books and stories. They learn about different parts of a story and are able to explain them.

Reading Informational Text: Students are introduced to non-fiction books and stories. They learn to find the main idea and key details in the story.

Reading Foundational Skills: Students learn concept of print, phonics and phonemic awareness. Students learn sight words and practice reading with fluency.

Writing: Students use drawings, words and sentences to write different types of stories.

Speaking and Listening: Students participate in multiple conversations with different people. They ask questions when they don’t understand something and they present ideas and concepts they do understand.

Language: Students begin learning conventions of Standard English and are introduced to and begin to use a variety of new vocabulary.

This post breaks down all you need to know about the kindergarten common core standards. What they are, how to teach them and resources to use.

Common Core Curriculum

Many curriculum companies updated their teacher guides and student materials to follow the Common Core Standards. You can also find a lot of curriculum that follows the standards on Teachers Pay Teachers and other similar websites.

Some of the resources I offer that coincide with the Common Core Standards:

Math:

Kindergarten Common Core Math Assessments for the YEAR BUNDLE

Math Games for Kids – Access to ALL Current and Future Math Games

Language Arts:

3 Star Coloring – A Beginning of the Year Writing Lesson

Letter Sounds and Rhyming Words Word Work Center

Common Core Website

To read more about the Common Core Standards or see all the grade levels in full, visit http://www.corestandards.org/

 

Do you use Common Core Standards at your school?

Classroom Management Systems for a Smooth Running Classroom

Want a classroom that essentially runs itself? You need classroom management systems! You need them, you need to teach them to your students and you all need to use them together. When you have systems in place, you’re setting yourself and your students up for success.

Classroom Management Systems

As teachers, we love to plan. Some systems you’ll think about before the school year starts and you’ll implement right from the beginning. Other times, you don’t even know what systems need to be in place until you’re halfway through the year and something just isn’t working. That’s okay. Play around with things until you find systems that work for you, your style and your students.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself that will help you set up your classroom management systems.

Want a classroom that essentially runs itself? Organize your classroom management systems! These questions will help you get started.

Planning Management

Where do sheets go that need to be copied? Where will they go once they’re copied?

I keep a basket of papers that needed to be copied. My assistant knows to check that box daily and make any copies. If the copies need specific instructions, put a post-it note with those instructions on the paper. Once they’re copied, they get laid out on my desk for me to review and then put away into the day of the week materials box.

How will you store materials for the week/for next week?

I keep all the materials for the week in a slotted box. The box has 5 shelves – one for each day of the week. If any materials are too big to fit in the box, they go next to the box inside my teacher cabinet.

What happens when you need to file something? Where are the files? What goes in those files?

I have a couple different filing systems in my classroom. One system is for curriculum. These files are organized by unit and hold different worksheets I use to compliment our curriculum, activities, games, art projects etc. The other system is for saving student work to put in a portfolio. I save seasonal art projects to create into a memory book at the end of the year. These files are in my teacher desk.

Want a classroom that essentially runs itself? Organize your classroom management systems! These questions will help you get started.

Student Work Management

Where does student work go when it’s unfinished, finished and corrected?

This is an important system so students know what to do with their work! When student work is unfinished, they put it in their unfinished work folders until they finish it. When it’s finished, they put it in a basket to turn in. Once it’s in that basket, I can correct or look through. Once it’s been corrected, it goes in another basket of things that go home in a Friday Folder.

How does student work go home?

In my classroom, student work goes home every week in a Friday Folder. Parents are expected to take everything out of the folder and students return the folder on Monday.

Will you save specific student work? What will that be? Where will it go?

Like I mentioned above, I save certain seasonal art to create a memory book at the end of the year. These art pieces go in a file until it’s time to create the book.

Want a classroom that essentially runs itself? Organize your classroom management systems! These questions will help you get started.

Supplies Management

Where are extra supplies? How students get those extra supplies?

How to manage supplies was a hard task for me to work through. There are so many extra things to keep track of and when you teach kindergarten, many of them lose things left and right!

I kept markers, crayons, colored pencils, pencils, scissors, glue, expo pens and expo erasers out in the room, available for students to use. The system is, if you have a dull pencil, you put it in the unsharpened container and grab a new one from the sharpened container. Same goes for crayon. If you lost a crayon or don’t have a certain color, you grab one from the extras.

Where are teacher supplies?

Teacher supplies stay inside (or on top of) my teacher desk and in my cabinet behind my teacher desk.

Want a classroom that essentially runs itself? Organize your classroom management systems! These questions will help you get started.

Classroom Management Strategies

There’s no one way to organize your classroom management systems. Organize your thoughts, create a plan and implement them into your classroom so that you and your students are using them together.

Want a classroom that essentially runs itself? Organize your classroom management systems! These questions will help you get started.

Classroom Management Plan

To have a smooth running classroom, classroom management is crucial. These questions above will help you begin to create your classroom management plan.

Start by going through these questions and write down your systems. Then, if you find that something needs tweaking during the year, tweak it. If you find you need a system that you hadn’t thought of, put one in place. If you explain your system and teach it to your students, they’ll be able to follow along and you’ll feel more organized.

 

How to Take Control of Your Classroom Organization

Classroom organization. You either love it or hate it! No matter your feelings on organization, I think we can all agree that it’s important for your classroom to have some sort of flow and method to it so students can focus on learning. Part of classroom organization is how your room is organized and how your materials are organized.

Before you set up your classroom, you want to ask yourself some questions about how exactly your room will be organized. Ask yourself these questions below and you’ll take control of your classroom organization.

Need some direction when organizing your classroom? Ask these questions to yourself before you start and take control of your classroom organization today.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting Classroom Organization

What areas or sections do you want to include in your room? Will you have a writing center? Technology area? Space just for free play items?

In order for your room to make sense to kids, spaces have to have a common theme. For example, students know that when they need to get a book, they need to go to the library. What other sections will you have in your room?

Some ideas:

  • Writing Center
  • Word Work Center
  • Math Manipulatives
  • Puzzles
  • Science Exploration
  • Listening Center
  • STEM/STEAM
  • Cultural Center
  • Free Play – Toys
  • Meet with Teacher Area (for small groups)
  • Teacher Area – desk/supplies

Need some direction when organizing your classroom? Ask these questions to yourself before you start and take control of your classroom organization today.

Where will your supplies go? Will you have your teacher supplies somewhere separate from student supplies? What will the supplies go in?

Now that you know what sections of the room you’ll have, you need to decide where supplies are going. A lot of classrooms have a beautiful, large storage closet. Not mine. I had to get creative with how I was going to store supplies. These DIY crate seats are a perfect hidden storage option.

When you figure out where you are going to store your items, decide how you will store them. I felt the most organized when I had all of my storage materials for each subject together.

Some ideas:

  • Keep art supplies together
  • Supplies for when you get a new student
  • Science materials
  • Extra math manipulatives (that aren’t already in your math section)
  • Extra student supplies – crayons, glue, pencils etc.
  • Teacher supplies
  • Keep all curriculum together – easier when you sit down to plan

Need some direction when organizing your classroom? Ask these questions to yourself before you start and take control of your classroom organization today.

Where will student supplies go? Will they have a pencil box? A community box that the whole table uses? A chair pouch?

For the supplies that students will use on a daily basis – where will they go? I’ve tried a few different options but my very favorite was using a chair pouch with individual student supplies that went in a pencil box inside their chair bags. The chair bags also held their folders and any workbooks.

I tried the community box in my classroom and although it is convenient to just load up one box for each table, it caused more fights between kindergarteners and they just could never keep it clean. When you use a chair pouch, even the messier students know where their supplies are. Ha!

Will students be at desks? Or tables? Or will you use flexible seating?

Part of deciding where student supplies will go will depend on where your students will be located. Do you have desks in your classroom? Tables? Will you use flexible seating?

My students sit at tables in groups of 3 or 4 or at the carpet in assigned rug squares. I found that this was the best way for kindergarteners to stay focused and for me to manage them. However, I never tried flexible seating, but know a lot of teachers have had success with this. If you have tried flexible seating in kindergarten and love it, share below!

Need some direction when organizing your classroom? Ask these questions to yourself before you start and take control of your classroom organization today.

Take Control of Classroom Organization

In order to have organization, you need to figure out exactly how you want your room to be organized. Ask yourself these questions and you’ll have a better idea at how you want your room organized.

  • What sections/areas will you have in your room?
  • Where will extra supplies go? What is your storage like?
  • Where will student supplies go?
  • Will students be at tables? Desks? Will you use flexible seating?

If you answer these questions before you begin your classroom set up, you’ll have an easier time as you’ll know exactly how you want your room.

My Kindergarten Schedule for a Full Day Kindergarten

Where are all my full day kindergarten teachers?! It is crazy to me to think that these kiddos are in school for the same amount of time as a third grader or a fifth grader or an eighth grader! I don’t know about you but when I went to kindergarten, we had a half day program, we had nap time and most of the day we colored and played. A kindergarten schedule has changed so much!

Throughout the year, my kindergarten schedule changes slightly. Here are two kindergarten sample schedules for the beginning of the year and end of the year.

Kindergarten Daily Schedule (Beginning of the Year)

Beginning of the year kindergarteners are VERY different from end of the year kindergarteners. I like to think of incoming kindergarteners as preschool students because essentially that’s what they are. They just came from preschool (many of them).

The one major difference between my kindergarten schedule int he beginning of the year and the end of the year is nap (or rest) time.

kindergarten-schedule-beginning-of-the-year

Beginning of the Year Schedule

8:00 – 8:30 Morning Circle

8:30 – 9:10 Literacy Centers (Daily 5)

9:10 – 9:45 Language Arts

9:45 – 10:20 Snack and Recess (We go out 15 minutes before the rest of the school)

10:20 – 10:45 Writing

10:45 – 11:15 Spanish

11:15 – 11:45 Math (We use Guided Math)

11:45 – 12:30 Lunch

12:30 – 1:00 Nap or Rest Time

1:00 – 1:30 Specialty (P.E., Music, Art)

1:30 – 2:00 Science or Social Studies (I alternate by unit. I’ll do one unit of science and then focus on one unit of social studies.)

2:00 – 2:30 Free Play

Notice, we typically spend about 30 minutes focusing on one subject. Kindergarteners are little learners, they can only focus for so long before they get bored, tired, disengaged. That is something you need to think about when creating your own kindergarten schedule.

Read about setting up your classroom here: 7 Tips for Your Classroom Set Up

kindergarten-schedule

Kindergarten Daily Schedule (End of the Year)

Toward the middle or later in the year, I have found that kindergarten students develop a stamina where they are able to push through their day without needing a built in rest time. From the middle of the year on, I take nap (rest) time out so we’re able to focus on more subjects.

Middle/End of the Year Schedule

8:00 – 8:30 Morning Circle

8:30 – 9:10 Literacy Centers (Daily 5)

9:10 – 9:45 Language Arts

9:45 – 10:20 Snack and Recess (We go out 15 minutes before the rest of the school)

10:20 – 10:45 Writing

10:45 – 11:15 Spanish

11:15 – 11:45 Math

11:45 – 12:30 Lunch

12:30 – 1:00 Social Studies

1:00 – 1:30 Specialty (P.E., Music, Art)

1:30 – 2:00 Science

2:00 – 2:30 Free Play

Not much has changed besides nap time going away to be able to do science AND social studies.

Read about my 10 Favorite Activities in Our Kindergarten Year

kindergarten-schedule-template

Kindergarten Weekly Schedule

Above is a sample daily kindergarten schedule. Of course, this doesn’t look exactly the same every day. For example, we have different specialties on different days. We also have a half day during the week (ours is Monday). We don’t do social studies or science every day. Also, we teach religion because we’re a Catholic School.

Every school is different and this will have a lot to do with how you set up your schedule. Here is an example of a kindergarten weekly schedule.

Kindergarten Visual Schedule

Once you figure out your schedule, it is crucial you have it in visual form somewhere for the kids to reference and for you to reference! Posting a visual schedule helps with time management, staying on track and behavior management. When students can see what they’re doing, what they will be doing next and how long they need to focus until their next break, I believe they have better behavior because they know what to expect!

kindergarten-visual-schedule

Ways to create your visual schedule:

  • Magnet Schedule Cards
  • Velcro Schedule Cards
  • Write it on your board
  • On an Anchor Chart
  • In a Pocket Chart

Full Day Kindergarten Schedule

Kindergarten is such a different world compared to other grades. With these little ones, it can be tricky to set up your schedule. We have so much to do in what feels like so little time. It takes a while to figure out a schedule that works for you and your students. (I tweaked mine every year for 5 years.)

My biggest advice: Try things out. If they don’t work, try something else!

How do you set up your kindergarten schedule? What all do you have to include?

Lesson Plans for Kindergarten Using Movement

If you teach kindergarten, you know how hard it is to keep your student’s little attention spans engaged. During much of the school day, they’re told to sit in their rug squares, sit at their tables or do something quietly so they don’t disturb their classmates. For a 5 or 6 year old, this is very hard. Which is why if you’re a kindergarten teacher, you better be switching it up all the time in order for learning to stick. I’ve found that incorporating movement into kindergarten lesson plans is the easiest way to keep your kiddos attention. The best part is you can do it with whatever curriculum you’re already using!

lesson-plans-for-kindergarten

How to Implement Lesson Plans with Movement

Movement can be added to ANY lesson plan. You just have to be creative and be willing to experiment! When I first started teaching, I stuck to what the teacher book said. I read through the lesson the week before and then a couple days before and then even right before the lesson to make sure I knew what I was teaching and how I was supposed to teach it. This is pretty common with new teachers because well you’re new! Plus, being a new teacher is overwhelming. There’s so much you have to teach, you’re getting used to the standards and curriculum and completing all the extras that come along with this profession.

Once I felt a little more comfortable in all I was teaching, the way I planned my lessons changed. I wouldn’t just read through the lesson and study what I needed to do in order to teach it. I would read the lesson and then figure out how I could spin it to still teach the lesson and standards, but how to make it more engaging. This is where I found movement to be crucial. When planning lessons, I would think about all the ways movement can be added.

Movement Ideas

There’s so many ways you can include movement into your everyday lessons. Some ideas are:

  • Freeze Dance
  • Write the Rooms
  • Take them Outside
  • Charades
  • Racing
  • Ball Games
  • Body Motions
  • Hand signals

lesson-plans-for-kindergarten

Lesson Plans with Music

One way to get students moving is through music. There are so many times, I play music in the classroom and engagement automatically heightens just through this simple step of adding music. Some of my favorite music resources are KidzBop, Spotify and GoNoodle.

You can play music:

  • While students are at their tables completing an activity – I like to find a slower, calming type of music for this
  • During math games – more upbeat, fun music
  • As a brain break (GoNoodle)
  • To remember vocabulary words – we did this through our song of the week

Movement Lesson Plans Kindergarten Language Arts

There are countless ways to turn your language arts lessons into lessons with movement. I’ve linked a few ways below. However, my all time favorite way to get kindergarteners engaged through movement is with “write the room” style activities. For those of you who are unfamiliar, a “write the room” activity is when you put something around the room (a lot of teachers do this with seasonal vocabulary) and students walk around with a clipboard, find the word and copy it down on their paper. At first, this is all I did with write the room too. This is a great way to get students writing and practicing their letters and sounds, but there’s a whole lot more you can do with this “write the room” concept.

4 Movement Activities to Teach Verbs

Teaching Setting in Kindergarten

Sight Word Run the Room – A Sight Word Movement Game

lesson-plans-for-kindergarten

Movement Lesson Plans Kindergarten Math

There are also many ways to incorporate movement into you’re math lessons. Depending on what you’re teaching, you could use a racing style game. A lot of teachers use this for math facts (probably good for later in the year in kindergarten). My favorite movement game a game I use for teaching counting and skip counting. Students stand in a circle, take turns counting (or skip counting) to a certain number and then once they get to the number, that person sits.

If you use guided math in your classroom, it’s really easy to incorporate movement in both your “meet with teacher” station and “hands on” or “game” station.

Everything You Need to Know to Launch Guided Math in Your Classroom

Hands on Learning

When you teach kindergarten, you have to find ways to reach your students. Hands on learning is a great way to make your lesson plans fun and engaging. Using movement pairs well with hands on learning.

Ways to incorporate movement into your hands on learning lessons:

  • Centers
  • Write the Room Activities
  • Games
  • Racing
  • Passing Games

Guided Math Centers: What are students doing when they’re not meeting with me?

Do you add movement to your kindergarten lesson plans? Share how below!

7 Tips for Your Classroom Set Up

Whether you’re a new teacher or a seasoned teacher, chances are, you’ll be taking some time this summer to set up your classroom for next year. Classroom set up can be a little overwhelming with all that goes into it. There are so many things you ask yourself about how you want your room to look, how it’ll be organized, what systems you’ll use, etc. Here are my 7 tips to help you set up the classroom of your dreams!

7 Tips for Your Classroom Set Up

classroom-set-up

1. Plan out your room

There are two major things that come to mind when I think about planning out a classroom: decor and organization.

Decor

Classroom decor will look different based on what grade you teach and your own personality. Being a kindergarten teacher, I love classroom themes! I chose a jungle theme for my classroom as it was fun and I felt like I could do a lot with it. I also love animals and got to incorporate this love into my theme! You can choose a theme like this or even just a certain color theme.

My advice when choosing your classroom decor:
– try to not make it too busy
– leave room for students to see their work displayed (you don’t need to cover every inch of the classroom before school starts)

Jungle Theme Classroom Reveal
Sneak Peek of my Ocean Classroom Decor Bundle

Organization

The other part of planning out your room is your organization. This means how your room will be organized as well as how your materials will be organized.

Questions to ask yourself before you start organizing your room:

  • What areas or sections do you want to include in your room? Will you have a writing center? Technology area? Space just for free play items?
  • Where will your supplies go? Will you have your teacher supplies somewhere separate from student supplies? What will the supplies go in?
  • Where will student supplies go? Will they have a pencil box? A community box that the whole table uses? A chair pouch?
  • Will students be at desks? Or tables? Or will you use flexible seating?
  • How will your library be organized? By theme? Author? Season?

If you ask yourself these questions before you begin your classroom set up, you’ll have an easier time as you’ll know exactly how you want your room.

classroom-set-up-organization

2. Make a list of everything you need to do

I am a list person. Lists help me feel super organized and like I know the direction that I need to be going in. When I have a list, I know exactly what I need to be doing.

Tip number 2 is make a list of everything you need to do. I like to type this out on a word document and section it out into categories. When I finish something on my list I change the text color to red so I know it’s been completed.

Here’s my list to get you started:

  • Organize materials into stations (word work, math manipulatives, writing, technology, free play, etc.)
  • Set up and label student supplies – pencil, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, glue, eraser, folders
  • Set up student desks or tables – label with name tags
  • Assign a rug square to each student
  • Organize teacher materials – teacher desk, extra supplies, files etc.
  • Organize curriculum – where will this go, how will you organize it (files, binders, tubs)

3. Make a list of everything you need to buy

Now, this will be different for everyone depending on what your classroom has when you walk into it, how long you’ve been teaching or what kind of budget you have. I like to shop at the following places to keep my classroom costs down:

  • Target dollar spot
  • Dollar Store
  • Amazon

Check out my list of  Top 10 Teacher Must Haves

classroom-set-up-diy

4. List out everything you need to make

This may be my favorite part of classroom set up. I love being crafty and I love DIY projects. My dad jokes about all my projects because he is very handy and I always pull him in when I need help with my classroom DIY.

Here are some things you might want to make for your classroom:

  • Classroom decor: print (on cardstock), cut and laminate
  • Anchor charts
  • Word Wall
  • Bulletin Boards – Welcome board with student names

If you’re interested in DIY projects for your classroom, check out these DIY Crate Seats.

classroom-set-up-bulletin

5. Start in one section of the room and work your way around

I am the type of person that wants to do all the things all at once. This gets really overwhelming when setting up a classroom because there are so many things! The way I stay organized is by starting in one section of the room and working my way around.

For example, my room is set up in sections such as the word work section, writing station, listening to reading, library, free play and math. So the way I set up my classroom is by starting in one section, pulling everything out that would belong in that section, organizing it and moving on to the next. That way, once I’ve completed a part of the room, it’s done (for the most part – of course there will be minor changes and additions).

6. Set up systems

When you have systems in place, you’re setting yourself up for success. Everything will have a place and you’ll know where to find your stuff and your extra stuff.

The systems I set up:

  • Where sheets go that need to be copied and where they go once their copied
  • What happens when you need to file something – where are the files? What goes in those files?
  • Where student work goes when it’s unfinished, finished and corrected
  • How student work goes home
  • Where extra supplies are – how students get those extra supplies
  • Where teacher supplies are
  • How you store materials for the week/for next week

classroom-set-up-jungle

7. Label items for students in your room

I always save this step for last as you never know if you’ll have late additions or people dropping from your class last minute. Also, when I get to this part of my classroom set up, I know that I am almost done and ready for the school year!

Here’s all that I label for my students:

  • Cubbies
  • Desks
  • Carpet Squares
  • Chair Pouch – inside: pencil box, any workbooks and folders
  • Pencil boxes – inside: pencil, colored pencils, scissors, glue, eraser, expo pen and eraser
  • Guided Reading Bags

What to Include in Your Weekly Classroom Newsletter

I love sending home weekly newsletters to parents. It keeps them involved and in the know about what is going on in the classroom and is an easy resource for them to refer back to. Parents love to know what their kids are learning and when you ask a kindergartener (or any other grade student for that matter) “what did you do today?” most would say “I don’t know”, “nothing” or “free play”. Of course parents know that you’re doing a lot more than their kids are telling them and a classroom newsletter is the perfect place to share all they are learning in your room.

classroom-newsletter

What to Include in Your Weekly Classroom Newsletter

When I first started sending out weekly classroom newsletters, I was overwhelmed with what to include. There is so much that goes on in the classroom and at school that it was tricky for me to figure out what the best system was. I came up with a classroom newsletter template that allowed me to communicate with parents while not adding just another thing on my ever growing to-do list.

Weekly Classroom Activities

I like to pick three subjects to highlight each week in our classroom newsletter. Most often, I’ll share something we’re doing in language arts and math and switch around the third subject to share depending on what we have going on. I find that parents are most curious about what their child is doing in language arts and math and find these subjects most important, which is why I always share these. Then, if we have an exciting science experiment or social studies activity, I’ll include this as the third subject in the classroom newsletter.

The way you share what’s going on is totally up to your preference. You can put it in paragraph form (this is what I do), bullet points, number it, whatever you find works best for you!

Class News

This section of the classroom newsletter template, I include any dates that may be coming up that are classroom specific.

Things that might go in this section:

  • Field Trips
  • Themed Activities (example: 100th Day of School)
  • Special Subject Activities such as a special science project coming up or the ABC countdown at the end of the year

classroom-newsletter-template

School News

In this section of the classroom newsletter template, I include school news that parents should be aware of.

Things that might go in this section:

  • Fundraisers
  • Social Events
  • Book Fair
  • Holidays
  • Themed Dress Days

Classroom Volunteer Opportunities

Another section I include in my classroom newsletter is any classroom volunteer opportunities we may have coming up. I was lucky enough to work at a school with many parents who wanted to volunteer for the classroom. Whenever we had a new opportunity, I like to mention it in the classroom newsletter as well as create a sign up on our classroom page (we use SchoolSpeak).

This gives parents a few ways to read about any opportunities to volunteer in your classroom and sign up.

classroom-newsletter

Classroom Newsletter Template

It’s important to have a system in place and a classroom newsletter template so you’re communicating with parents but also not completely overwhelming yourself. I’ve found that this system works for me as it’s the same format week after week. The only thing that changes is the information! Also, I send this newsletter out only digitally. However, you could print it and send home if you use a folder system.

Whatever classroom newsletter template you decide to use, make it work for you!

Transform Your Life with this Teacher Side Job

Teaching is hard work. We all know this but we do it anyway. We know it’s long hours and we know it’s being involved in many “extras” that other jobs don’t have and we do all of this for little pay. Why? Because we love our kids. We do it because we want to make a difference in other people’s lives.

How is it fair that we make a sacrifice everyday as teachers? We either sacrifice our calling by leaving the teaching world to do something that will help us be more financially stable or we struggle financially while we live out our dream of teaching kids. Why can’t we do both? Why can’t we teach and make a decent living?

We can.

I’ve learned that we can do both. What started as a little teacher side job has become so much more to my life. I make a difference in not only just my student’s lives but the lives of students around the world with my resources.

side-job-for-teachers

Want to make more money as a teacher? Learn how with this side job.

Transform Your Life with This Teacher Side Job

My Story

I started selling on TeachersPayTeachers at the end of 2016 as a way to put my resources out there and earn a little extra cash. I didn’t think much of it, just put together some of the things I was doing in my classroom already and threw them up in my store. My first product I put in was an Elf on the Shelf resource and it took off (or what I consider “took off” as far as being a new seller goes). When I started making money on this one resource, I began to think about where this little “teacher side job” could go.

I thought about all the teachers I could help with my creative ideas. I thought about all the students across the world I could help with activities I was already creating for my own classroom. And of course, I thought about how I could earn that extra bit of money that would supplement my teaching salary.

When I thought about all these things, I decided I would learn as much as I could about this business and how to create a business of my own. I took a leap of faith, invested in myself and my growing business and now what started as a teacher side job, is now a much bigger dream.

teacher-side-job

I transformed my life with this teacher side job. You can too!

Sell Teaching Resources on Teachers Pay Teachers

If you’re a teacher (which I think you are if you’re reading this) then you already know the stress and pressure teachers are under. We have so many things to do and not enough time. Teachers Pay Teachers is such a great platform for teachers to find good lessons, created by people who are actually in the classroom and know what students are capable of. You could be that teacher that puts creative and engaging lessons on this platform for busy teachers to use with their students.

Reasons to Start this Online Side Job

  • Put Up Lessons You’re Already Using in Your Classroom

Chances are, you’re already doing amazing things in your classroom! Why not get paid to share them with other teachers?

  • Help Teachers and Students All Over the World

Teachers love to help people. It’s something we all have in common. Through this online side job, I’ve been able to help teachers all over the world. When my resources make their way into other classrooms, I am indirectly teaching students all over.

teacher-side-job

You’re already making amazing things for your students, why not get paid for them?

  • Get Paid

It’s hard to live on a teacher salary. When you start a side job, selling teaching resources online, you get paid for your resources. These are things you are already an expert on and making for your class anyway! So, why not get paid?

  • Do this Side Job From Home

This is a great side job for teachers as you can do it all from home. Most of the time when I’m creating, I’m sitting on my couch, in my yoga pants, in front of a TV show (that I don’t have to pay much attention to).

Share Your Ideas on a Teacher Blog

Selling your teaching resources online could be a great teacher side job for you, but if you want to make a big difference, you need to share your ideas and resources on a teacher blog. A blog opens up a world of new opportunities than just selling on Teachers Pay Teachers.

  • A Teacher Blog is Your Own

Yes, Teachers Pay Teachers is a fabulous website to put your resources on, but you don’t own it. A blog is a place you own and have control over. You decide how it looks, you decide the content that goes up, and there is no algorithm to try to beat. When you start a blog, you have the option to also open a storefront and sell your teaching resources on your own platform.

  • You’re Helping Many Teachers With More Than Just Your Resources

When you have a blog, you’re sharing more than just your resources. You can share ideas, creative ways to teach something or anything in your expertise. When you help teachers be successful in their own classroom, they want to come back to you and will look for your resources.

  • People get to Know, Like and Trust You

A blog is a great way for people to get to know you. I don’t know about you but I feel much better purchasing something when I know someone’s story. It’s a win-win when I’m getting something I need and also feel good about who the money is going to.

  • Get Paid Through Affiliates and Email Marketing

Having a blog as part of your online side job, gives you more opportunities to earn money. You can get paid through being an affiliate and marketing products you already use and love. You can also build up your own email list and share products and deals that you might be having. An email list is the only sure way you know your information is getting into the hands of your customers.

teacher-side-job

Learn how to grow your teaching business online.

Enroll in Transform Your Resources

If you are serious about creating this side job, you need to enroll in Transform Your Resources, a course by Kayse Morris. Kayse takes you through the ins and outs of how to be successful teacherprenuer. She is the reason my dream has developed from just having a little side job to building an empire.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to Create Visually Appealing Products

You’ll take the products you’re already creating for your students and you’ll make them pop, so other teachers want to purchase them. You’ll learn about fonts and clip arts and the importance of pairing certain “looks” together. When you sign up for this course, you’ll also learn how to create editable resources, something so valuable to teachers.

  • SEO and How to Get Your Products in Front of More Eyes

Before this course, I knew absolutely nothing about SEO. I don’t even think I knew what SEO stood for. After this course, my products and my blog posts are showing up on the first page of search engines. Because I got my SEO in order, my products are selling more.

  • How to Make What Teachers Want

The only way you’re going to sell anything is if you’re making what teachers want to buy. The course goes over ways to make your products valuable for other teachers.

  • Email and Social Media Marketing

It’s great if you have amazing ideas and awesome resources but the only way others are going to see it, is if you are marketing. Kayse teaches you how to market your products through email and social media.

online-side-job

Create the life you love to live.

What to Expect

When I started selling my teaching resources at the end of 2016, I knew I wanted to learn all I could about starting a business. I invested in courses that taught me bits and pieces of what I needed to know but were never the full package.

Kayse is an expert because she started on Teachers Pay Teachers, tripled her salary and was able to leave teaching to pursue this side job full time. Now, she helps other teachers like me and like you do the same.

  • It Will Change Your Life

When I started this course, my Teachers Pay Teachers store was just a side job at home. After completing it and getting to know Kayse and all the Go-Getters I took the course with, I’ve decided to build a business. I won’t be going back to the classroom next year. I’ve decided to stay home with my son and pursue my online business full time.

I thought I would be a teacher forever and in some ways I will, but this course changed my life because I have the dream to be more. I will expand my reach of just a handful of students each year, and I’ll help students and teachers all over the world.

If you have any thoughts of wanting to make a difference and start a teacher side job like this, enroll in this course. We’re ready for you!

Celebrating Culture in the Classroom

Creating a classroom community is probably the number one most important thing you can do as a teacher. If students don’t feel comfortable and welcome in your classroom, they’re just not going to learn. One way I like to promote a positive classroom community is to learn about each other’s cultures. Celebrating culture in the classroom leads to students feeling cared for and understood.

Why it’s Important to Learn About Culture in the Classroom

Learning about each other and where people came from is truly one of the best things you can do for your students because they get to feel important, they get to share about their family and students get to learn about other cultures.

When you make the time to incorporate culture in the classroom, you’re showing your students that they matter and their family matters.

culture-in-the-classroom

How to Incorporate Culture in the Classroom

Invite a Student’s Family Member to the Classroom

I love the opportunity to have parents join in with what we’re doing in the classroom. I think it is amazing for parents to see all that your students (their kids) are doing every day. Also, inviting them in bridges the gap from home to school and boosts up the classroom community because now everyone feels welcomed in.

One way you can incorporate cultural diversity in the classroom is through inviting parents (or family members) in to share something about their culture. This can happen throughout the year if maybe they celebrate something at a certain time, or it can happen all at once. If you’re planning on inviting families in throughout the year, you may want to send something home or mention it at Back to School Night. You can tell them that you’re hoping to have families come in throughout the year and share something about their culture. They can then email you when they want to come in and you can coordinate. When you do it all at once it might be nice to host a Culture Fair. (See next point)

culture-in-the-classroom-culture-fair

Host a Culture Fair

My whole school hosts a Culture Fair each year and it’s a great way to celebrate diversity at our school! We invite parents to bring in a special dish related to their culture, ready to serve and ready for kids to taste. We also invite students or family friends of students who do any cultural extra curriculars such as dance or art to either perform or share with the school.

On the day of the Culture Fair, a table is set up for each class with many different foods from different cultures. We take an afternoon to celebrate our diversity together, tasting foods and watching performances. It’s also fun to incorporate any games from different cultures for students to play at the fair.

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My Culture Project

To prepare for our Culture Fair, I have my students complete a project about their culture. This project helps them learn more about their culture and gets them excited to share about it at the fair.

Interview a Family Member

What better way to learn about your culture than interviewing someone in your family? Included in the “My Culture Project” is the task to interview a family member.

I ask students to sit down and write questions they are curious about. I also give them ideas of what to ask such as about special foods, holidays and traditions or dress.

They write down three questions they’re going to ask and who they’ll as them to. Then, after they’ve had the interview, they write (or draw) about one thing they learned about their culture. I like to have my students share one thing they learned to their classmates.

culture-in-the-classroom-project

Students Research About their Culture

Another great way to learn about their culture is through research. Of course, parents would have to help with this (which is why I love sending home projects). A great resource for kids to research anything is through checking out books at the library or searching on a kid friendly search engine such as Kiddle.

Other kid friendly search engines:

KidRex

Kidtopia

Kids Search Engine

Once students research and learn about their culture, have them come back and share to their classmates something interesting they learned!

celebrating-culture-in-the-classroom-food

Culture in the Classroom

It is so important to create a caring classroom community. Celebrating your students’ cultures is a great way to build relationships in your classroom. You can do this by inviting families in, hosting a Culture Fair or sending home a culture project.

How do you celebrate culture in your classroom?