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Small Group Instruction Remote Plan - Grade 1

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Pioneer Valley Books offers a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction books and other resources for Reading Recovery, primary classroom, and literacy teachers at affordable prices. Our mission is to provide engaging stories and teaching materials that help children to develop strong literacy skills and a love of reading.

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Login - Heinemann | Publisher of professional resources and a provider of educational services for teachers, kindergarten through college

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Heinemann is a publisher of professional resources and a provider of educational services for teachers, kindergarten through college.

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SEL activites for Pre-K & Kindergarten

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When our little ones head off for school, they take their first steps in a lifelong journey of learning. Not only will they begin to build foundational skills that will pave the way for academic success, but they'll also learn social-emotional skills like kindness, sharing, empathy, and many more that will contribute to their overall success in life. Some research suggests that social-emotional activities might be the most important work children can do in their early years. In fact, one study found that social-emotional wellness in kindergarten correlated with success up until age 25. Here are some of our favorite social-emotional activities to use with your preschool and kindergarten students.

Teach students to identify their emotions

Identifying and labeling feelings (your own and others') is a valuable life skill that takes lots of practice. These social-emotional activities are not only fun and engaging for little ones, they spark essential conversations that lead to deeper understanding.

1. Read, read, read!

There are TONS of children's books featuring interesting main characters and story lines that teach social-emotional skills. Reading about characters they can relate to, in situations they can relate to, helps young children learn valuable lessons. Here are two book lists to get you started: Picture Books To Teach Students About Kindness and Children's Books for Teaching Social Skills.

2. Sing

Different emotions evoke different feelings in our bodies. Teach your students this song to help them learn to identify what is really going on. Also, find role-play scenarios and reflection questions.

3. Practice with emotions play-dough mats

Learning to read others' emotions is a valuable SEL tool. Children can explore and identify nuances of facial features that are paired with emotions by using play dough to draw faces on these free emotions play-dough mats from The OT Toolbox.

4. Play a monster-emotions match game

Download the free game cards here. This fun and engaging game helps kids learn how to identify emotions in other people. The game begins as students walk around the room making the feeling face that matches their card. As they walk, they look for another student who seems to be demonstrating the same feeling. Once everyone thinks they have found their matching feeling friend, let them check their cards to see if they are right. Play a few rounds to give kids a chance to try out different feelings.

5. Make emotion masks

These masks are a great tool for talking about feelings. And all you need is paper plates (cut in half), craft sticks, tape, and markers. The activity will focus on four emotions: happy, mad, sad, and silly. For each emotion (and each mask), make a face and then ask the class to identify the emotion it represents. Once they correctly identify the emotion, have them use the marker to draw that face on one of the plates. You can use these masks during read-alouds (hold up the mask that shows how the main character is feeling) or during class conversations to reinforce their understanding of what different feelings look like.

6. Start each day with a check-in

This chart is a fun one to help students communicate how they're feeling. Position it next to your classroom door, and have students point to the emoji that most closely matches how they're feeling as they enter. Social-emotional activities like this one help students get in the habit of monitoring their emotions and give you valuable information about your students' moods.

7. Draw helping hands

Encouraging students to think about others can make them realize how much control they have over the feelings of others. Have students trace or draw their own hands and reflect or write what their helpful hands can do for others.

8. Do an emotions sort

Linking Zones of Regulation activities to fun experiences helps kids make connections. For example, this simple Emotions Sorting Game inspired by Disney-Pixar's Inside Out helps kids learn and explore emotions. The game is a printable download available from Mom Endeavors.

9. Play emotions Jenga

Attach a collection of emotion words onto Jenga blocks-for instance, happy, sad, angry, frustrated, etc. You can either write on the blocks with a Sharpie or try these pretty labels from Collective Feelings. One at a time, pull one of the emotion blocks out of the stack. Ask for a volunteer to either tell you the definition of that feeling or share a story about a time they felt that emotion. Talking about emotions in a group, and hearing others' stories, helps kids make lasting connections.

10. Make an emotion spinner

If you're looking for engaging social-emotional activities to teach kids more about identifying their emotions, try these emotion spinners. All you need to make them are paper plates, brads, markers (or paint or crayons or colored pencils), and a large circle punch if you have one. For full directions on how to make and use emotion spinners, check out this blog from Meaningful Mama.

11. Play a round of emotions charades

Prepare a set of cards with emotion words and pictures of what those emotion looks like. Then play a round of emotions charades, which helps preschoolers read nonverbal cues, identify and regulate emotions, and learn how to express emotions in a healthy way, all of which are essential elements of emotional intelligence.

12. Make affirmation bracelets

Set out cups of colored beads. In front of each cup of beads, add a sticky note with a positive affirmation. Teach your students what each affirmation says and means. Give each student a pipe cleaner and help them create a bracelet by threading the beads onto the pipe cleaner. Optional: Each time they pick up a bead, have them say the corresponding positive affirmation out loud.

Teach kids strategies to deal with hard feelings

Being able to identify and label feelings is a great start. Knowing what to do when unsettling feelings come up is the next step. Feelings like anger, sadness, and confusion will undoubtedly arise from time to time in the classroom. Here are a few social-emotional activities to help your students learn how to cope in a safe environment.

13. Teach students to use I-statements

Encourage students to be mindful about how they're feeling by helping them practice how to articulate their thoughts without lashing out at others. Give them starters such as "I feel angry when ...," "I feel happy when ...," "I feel frustrated when ...," etc. Once they are able to articulate their feelings, help them strategize ways to handle their feelings.

14. Use strategy cards

These free downloadable cards offer 23 different strategies (with pictures and words) that kids can use to manage their emotions. Print them out, punch a hole in the corner of each card, and attach them to a ring.

15. Download these free posters

Use these posters to teach kids what to do when they feel their emotions escalating. Once they are familiar with the strategies, post the posters in your calm-down corner for kids to reference as they regroup. Included with the downloads are 30 great calm-down ideas like "I can count to 10," "I can blow a feather," and more.

16. Stomp out dinosaur-size feelings

Read Tony Mitton's charming story Dinosaurumpus aloud to your class. Then, play this easy-to-assemble dinosaur game that encourages kids to roar, dance, and stomp out their emotions.

17. Make calm-down jars

Make these mesmerizing calm-down jars for your classroom using just water, oil, and food coloring. Add glitter for a little extra pizzazz. When students are feeling overwhelmed or upset, give them a few minutes to focus on the jar as they turn it upside down and back. Focusing on the movement and colors will help students calm down so they can get back to work.

18. Put together a calm-down kit

Stock a plastic bin with tools to help little ones manage their emotions. Include things such as strategy cards, squeeze balls, calm-down bottles, putty, and breathing exercises. For more ideas, check out this awesome list of 40+ Things To Put in Your Calm-Down Kit.

19. Set up a calm-down corner in your classroom

Kids have a lot of feelings and emotions to process throughout the day. Sometimes it's all too much, and the result can be bad behavior. A calm-down corner gives kids a place to recenter and refocus so they can join the learning again. Check out this article to learn everything you need to know about setting up a calm-down corner.

20. Teach yoga poses ...

Teach your students simple yoga poses to help them get control of their bodies when emotions are running high. For best results, pair poses with deep-breathing techniques. The printable set comes with 50 different yoga poses (including simple descriptions) and suggested sequences of poses to use.

21. ... and breathing techniques

Deep breathing reduces stress and anxiety and helps kids learn to manage their emotions. Check out this source for lots of fun ideas for building breathing breaks into your day.

22. Teach coping strategies

In any social situation, conflict is bound to occur. That's why teaching kids how to peacefully solve problems is essential. Equip your students with the tools they need to manage uncomfortable situations with these coping strategies and free social problem-solving poster set.

23. Tell stories that help kids learn strategies

Conflicts happen, no matter how old we are. The key is learning strategies to help solve conflicts peacefully, and it's never too early to start! These picture books encourage solving disagreements through communication, compromise, harmony, collaboration, and forgiveness.

24. Make a rainbow road

Label six colored sheets of paper with statements like "I feel ___ (sad, happy, angry, frustrated, etc.) when ____." Tape the sheets on the floor to create a rainbow road. To play, have a student roll a die, then count and walk to that number sheet. Help them read their statement and then have them fill in the last blank.

Build in lots of opportunities for kids to work on social skills

Like everyone, little ones learn best by doing. Give them lots of opportunities to interact with peers one-on-one, in small groups, and as part of a whole class, ideally with as little adult interference as possible. As they play during social-emotional activities, they'll learn to navigate among other kids who may have different styles and opinions. Activities like creative play, building projects, board games, and partner reading are great tools to reveal kids' strengths and challenges as they begin to figure out how to manage school in the best way for themselves.

25. Do your homework

As children start learning more about their feelings and emotions, their social skills start to blossom. This social skills checklist is an amazing resource that describes in detail the social skills that children learn in their preschool years. Read the article for more SEL activities for preschoolers from The OT Toolbox.

26. Create a culture of kindness

Create a culture of kindness in your classroom. Read your students the story Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids by Carol McCloud. Then spread the love with a few of these activities.

27. Make kindness trees

Looking for social-emotional activities that provide an opportunity to talk about why being kind is important and how we can practice kindness every day? Draw a large tree trunk on a sheet of chart paper. Then pass out different-colored leaves made from construction paper and ask each student to write an act of kindness they can do on their leaf. After they've finished writing their kind acts, help them tape their leaf to the tree trunk as reminders of how they can show kindness and respect for others.

28. Engage in compliment circles

If you need social-emotional activities that don't require any prep work, hold compliment circles in class. They take very little time but yield powerful results. Create an environment of respect and kindness with this simple activity that teaches kids how to give and receive compliments. Read more here.

29. Play games

Playing interactive games with your students is a great way to start conversations about their feelings. It can make the conversation more centered around fun and less stressful. Read this article from The Art of Education for more SEL tips and a list of 10 Engaging Games To Play That Explore SEL.

30. Read about and practice sharing

In Mo Willems' adorable book Should I Share My Ice Cream?, Gerald the elephant has to make a quick decision about whether to share his ice cream cone with his best friend, Piggy. Read the story to your class and have a conversation about sharing.

Then try this fun game. Make "waffle" cones out of rolled-up sheets of construction paper, then have students practice passing their "ice cream" to a friend. Not only will students learn cooperation, but this game is also a great opportunity to use polite language such as "please" and "thank you."

31. Teach students how to partner share

There are many strategies that teach kids to work collaboratively with a partner. And it's important with little ones to teach these skills explicitly. Read this step-by-step tutorial written by kindergarten teacher Sarah Casady, How To Get Your Students Talking. Also, check out 10 Alternatives to Think-Pair-Share.

32. Use conversation starters

Get the conversation started with questions like "What is your favorite thing to eat at lunch?," "What was the funniest thing that happened to you today?," and the like. Be sure the questions are open-ended to avoid getting short yes or no answers. Here are 20 conversation starters from The Early Childhood Academy to get you started.

33. Hone listening skills

Learning to listen, not only to themselves but to one another, is a critical skill for preschoolers. Set aside time each day to sit quietly with your students and listen for sounds in and around the classroom for increasing lengths of time. Or ring a chime and ask students to see how long they can hear the sound it makes. Being able to signal your students when it is time to listen, and having them respond appropriately, is critical for creating a classroom environment that supports learning.

34. Play listening games

Gameplay is one of the best ways to engage young learners. Try some of these listening games, like Simon Says, Telephone, Freeze Dance and more.

35. Rehearse with role-play

Role-play is a wonderful way to teach your preschoolers and kindergartners social behaviors, rules, and expectations. Rehearsing these skills in a safe space, with a teacher's guidance, helps them learn social norms.

36. Play with puppets

According to Tanja Mcilroy, founder of Empowered Parents, playing with puppets is one of the most educational things you can do with your students. A puppet can be the voice used to correct classroom behavior and teach social skills. Many children will find this less intimidating and more playful than instruction coming from an adult. For more tips, check out The Amazing Benefits of Playing With Puppets in Early Childhood.

Learn about friendship

Learning to make friends is one of the most valuable skills we can teach our preschoolers and kindergartners. Friendships require a plethora of social skills such sharing, compassion, compromise, and honesty.

37. Watch friendship videos

Learning to get along with others takes a lot of practice. Here are our favorite friendship videos that use compassion, wisdom, and humor to tackle what it means to be a good friend. Use them to jump-start conversations with your students as you build your classroom community.

38. Read books about friendship

Friendships are one of the most important parts of childhood-and school. Classroom conversations about making new friends, supporting and appreciating friends, and navigating friendship challenges are always in season, and there's no better way to launch them than with a good book. Looking for books you can use for social-emotional activities? Here's a good place to start: Children's Books About Friendship That Give Us All the Feels.

39. Sing songs about friendship

Music is an amazing way to help your students feel connected and understood. And songs about friendship can definitely foster a sense of community in the classroom. Here, we've compiled 50 Fantastic Songs About Friendship for your students to enjoy and bond over.

40. Read poems about friendship

Poetry often speaks to our hearts in a way unlike any other form. And making friends is one of the greatest gifts in life. So why not combine the two and teach your students in a way they can really connect with? Here, we share 30 Heartwarming Poems About Friendship To Share With Students.

41. Make lots of time for friendship-building activities

Here is a list of 25 ideas to get you started.

Practice mindfulness in the classroom

Mindfulness is defined as a mental state achieved by focusing one's awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. Mindfulness techniques help students handle big emotions (in themselves and others) and cultivate a sense of peace and calm.

42. Introduce mindfulness with children's books

Source: 15 Books To Teach Kids About Mindfulness

If you're looking for social-emotional activities that incorporate reading, there are dozens of brilliant books that teach the lesson of mindfulness for preschoolers. A couple of our favorites, just for little ones, are Peaceful Panda and I Am the Jungle.

43. Make gratitude rocks

Taking time to go inside and think about things you are grateful for is a powerful life skill. For this activity, bring a collection of rocks to class for your students to choose from. Then, using paint, markers, or crayons, give them time to decorate their rocks. Ask your students to take a few minutes and think about something they are grateful for and narrow it down to just one word. Have them write their word with Sharpie on their rock-be sure to give them help if they need it. When everyone is done with their rock, make time for those who are comfortable doing so to share their rock and explain it to their classmates.

44. Go on a nature walk

Take your little ones outside to indulge their five senses. Explore the changing color of leaves, different leaf shapes, pine cones, and more. Listen for birds and other critters. Lie down on the grass and feel the earth beneath you as you look up at the blue sky.

45. Practice progressive muscle relaxation

Most of us, including kids, aren't always aware of the muscles in our body and how they feel or move. But we can all carry a lot of emotions in our physical bodies. Progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) is a coping skill and relaxation exercise that can help us calm our body and mind by slowly and progressively tensing and relaxing our muscles, one group at a time.

46. Listen to music

It's not too hard to tell when young students need a break or need a few minutes to recharge. And you know the old saying "Music soothes the savage beast." Why not pop on this soothing video with gentle guitar music playing in the background for a few minutes? Music makes for fantastic social-emotional activities during snack time, as a brain break, or during transition times.

47. Play in water

Nothing is more calming to the nervous system than water. Set up a water table in your classroom and let students engage in free cooperative play. Include your water table as a station at center time.

48. Play in sand

Just like the water table, a sand table offers the basis for many social-emotional activities to rotate into your stations. Learn about the benefits and try some of these fun ideas from The Early Childhood Academy.

49. Make time for art

There are SO many reasons kids need to paint. Painting is one of the best social-emotional activities because most people find peace and relaxation in art. It focuses their minds and helps them look at the world around them in a much more engaged way.

50. Listen to a rain stick

There's just something so soothing about the sound of a rain stick. Help your students turn their thought inward by taking a few moments to stop and listen. Turn down the lights and invite your preschoolers or kindergartners to lie down on the rug and close their eyes. Turn the rain stick upside down and back again for a few minutes, leaving a few seconds of silence between each rotation.

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50 Fun SEL Activities for Preschool and Kindergarten

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SEL skills are crucial to develop in the early years. Check out our favorite social-emotional activities for preschool and kindergarten.

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Second Step Free Activities

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Elementary Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Committee for Children

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Our Purrble® plush toy, designed to help kids feel calm and manage their emotions, was selected as one of TIME's Best Inventions of 2021.

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Watch Sample Video At Bluejack Kids, we have taken social emotional learning to new heights by offering a high interest media series based on social skills curriculum designed specifically for preschool and elementary aged children. Our animated and engaging content targets core social emotional le…

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Tips for Managing Guided Reading with Large Class Sizes REV

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Target skills and strategies for guided writing

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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What are the best routines and schedules to use in a classroom?

Routines are a way of managing the classroom. They are a set of expectations and procedures teachers can use to save time and ensure a smooth-functioning classroom all school year long. Here are some routines and procedures for you to use in your classroom:

Fire Alarm

Remember the Rule of Five: there should be absolutely no more than five rules posted in the classroom. More than that will be confusing, overwhelming, difficult to remember, and perhaps even perceived as dictatorial by students.

One of the first things you'll need to address early on the first day are the rules and routines of the classroom. Some very interesting educational research suggests that when rules and procedures are established and discussed during the first days of school (and reinforced again during the first three weeks), the class runs more smoothly and behavior problems are minimized.

Ask yourself the following questions, then share the answers with your students on the first day:

How will students respond in class? (raising hands, a signal or sign)

What are the seating arrangements?

How will students enter and exit the classroom?

How will tardiness and absences be handled?

How much can students interact with each other?

How will homework be handled?

How will missed work or makeup work be handled?

What will happen when a rule is violated?

How will classroom visitors be handled?

Equally important is the need to share with students a daily schedule of activities. Post this schedule in the front of the classroom, and use it to let students know a daily plan of action (for elementary students) or a sequence of procedures for an instructional period (for secondary students). This schedule offers students an expectation for each day in your classroom. There's comfort in knowing how a lesson or day will be conducted. Students, just like adults, are creatures of habit, and enjoy having the security of a planned sequence of expectations.

Here are two sample daily routines.

The schedule you set on the first day will obviously be subject to change throughout the year as a result of unexpected events (guest speakers, assemblies, early dismissal, etc.). Nevertheless, students should have some expectations of how their day or a certain period will be framed. These predictable routines assure a well-managed and well-disciplined classroom.

Expert Opinion

For early elementary students, limit the choices to two ("Which book should we read today- In One Tidepool by Anthony D. Fredericks or Into the Sea by Brenda Guiberson?"). Upper elementary students and middle school students can select from three or four choices. Secondary students can be provided with an unlimited menu of choices (within reason).

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Classroom Routines and Schedules for Teachers

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Routines are a way of managing the classroom. They are a set of expectations and procedures teachers can use to save time and ensure a smooth-functioning classroom all school year long. Here are some routines and procedures for you to use in your classroom: Fire Alarm Remember the Rule of Five: there should be absolutely no more than five rules posted in the classroom.

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Due to popular demand, The Math Learning Center is pleased to announce a second one-day virtual Implementation Support Workshop for administrators, coaches, and other instructional leaders. This interactive workshop is designed to provide participants with a clear vision and practical strategies to support the successful implementation of the Bridges curriculum. Participants will develop a vision for high-quality mathematics instruction. They'll consider how to use classroom observation to support instructional shifts. And they'll explore the structure and intent of the implementation guide by engaging with it firsthand to plan the components of a productive grade-level meeting.
Sign up early, as participation is limited and we expect this event to fill up quickly!
Date: Thursday, December 9th, 2021

Time: 7:30 AM - 1:15 PM Pacific Time. (A 45-minute break will be provided.)

Cost: $75 per individual

Open Workshops

Educators using our programs are invited to register for any applicable workshops listed below. Fees are paid per person. Space is limited.

Bridges Intervention Workshop (Remote)

The Bridges Intervention Workshop is intended for interventionists. Classroom teachers, support staff, coaches, and administrators may attend as space allows. This one-day workshop offers guidance for an effective implementation of Bridges Intervention. We'll discuss best practices, placement assessments, progress monitoring, and more.

Before you enroll in this online workshop, it's important to understand that the workshop will not provide guidance on how to use Bridges Intervention for remote learning.
REGISTER NOW

Due to popular demand, The Math Learning Center is pleased to announce a second one-day virtual Implementation Support Workshop for administrators, coaches, and other instructional leaders. This interactive workshop is designed to provide participants with a clear vision and practical strategies to support the successful implementation of the Bridges curriculum. Participants will develop a vision for high-quality mathematics instruction. They'll consider how to use classroom observation to support instructional shifts. And they'll explore the structure and intent of the implementation guide by engaging with it firsthand to plan the components of a productive grade-level meeting.
Sign up early, as participation is limited and we expect this event to fill up quickly!
Date: Thursday, December 9th, 2021

Time: 7:30 AM - 1:15 PM Pacific Time. (A 45-minute break will be provided.)

Cost: $75 per individual

What a fabulous workshop! I came away feeling so much more confident in the curriculum and ready to share what I learned with colleagues who will be new to Bridges this next year!

I enjoyed and learned something from each presenter. I left feeling enthusiastic and excited as we head into our second year of using Bridges. It's great to hear what people in other districts are doing and to learn from it.

We enjoyed having you set such a wonderful tone for our group. Thank you for sharing your expertise, bringing laughter to the room, and cultivating confidence for teachers.

I thoroughly enjoyed this training! Not only did I gain a better understanding of the program, but I also created a plan for my new teacher training. I highly recommend this training for all math leaders using Bridges in Mathematics.

Even though I had been using Bridges for over a year, I was not aware of the many resources available to me. I am excited to dive into them and now feel like I can fully support teachers with their needs.

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Due to popular demand, The Math Learning Center is pleased to announce a second one-day virtual Implementation Support Workshop for administrators, coaches, and other instructional leaders. This interactive workshop is designed to provide participants with a clear vision and practical strategies to support the successful implementation of the Bridges curriculum.

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Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Books, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

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PLEASE SEE THE FAQ IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS. I am a busy classroom teacher just as many of you are. I am simply sharing (for free) what I've taken hours of time to put together using online resources (images, YouTube videos, etc.) , as well as my own artwork (Valentine clipart).

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Create a new spreadsheet and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Sheets to edit Excel files. Free from Google.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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Peace Corner: Creating Safe Space for Reflection

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Candle and Flower Breathing - Mindful and Calming Breathing Technique

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What Is Mindfulness? | The Mindfulness Toolkit

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Under Pressure - 2018 Version - Mindfulness in Schools - Mindfulness for Teens

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"Just Breathe" by Julie Bayer Salzman & Josh Salzman (Wavecrest Films)

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Using Circles to Build Deep Relationships with Restore More

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How to help students connect with each other and unpack emotions using restorative practices PLUS a printable weekly planner of restorative circle scripts. Restorative Circles are a practice of restorative discipline (or restorative justice). Restorative discipline focuses on repairing harm caused by bad behavior rather than punishing the person who exhibited said behavior.

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bottomleynina@gmail.com
Password: Stayfly1

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Watch the video to discover the answer to "How were LEGO bricks invented?" and don't forget to vote for next week's question!

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email: nbottoml@kusd.edu
password: Stayfly1

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Did someone say "SMORES"?! Why, yes! But it's not what you might be thinking. When I first heard of , I was kind of confused about its purpose. Was it supposed to be a virtual campfire? A virtual kumbaya of sorts? A place to learn about outdoor activities? But actually has nothing to do with any of the aforementioned categories. So what IS it and how can it be effectively used by educators or educational leaders?

To quote the website, "Smore makes it easy to design beautiful and effective online newsletters." What I love about that statement is that it is, first of all, true and second, it makes use of the word "effective". The words in the statement the website creators use to tell about their site were certainly carefully chosen. So, let's see how:

This term is fairly enticing all on its own. As educators and leaders, our time is spent ticking off that endless checklist and, unfortunately, can't devote a ton of time to creating the amazing designs that we covet on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. But helps make the creation of newsletters a simple process. You can choose from a large variety of templates or begin with a blank slate. The site allows you to insert a plethora of media components so that you can make each newsletter unique to your purposes. Simply drag and drop your media of choice!

And who DOESN'T want a beautiful design? The first step in piquing a reader's interest is by creating something visually beautiful. Think about your trips to the bookstore, or window shopping, or a drive down the road. Your eyes are drawn to the things in which you find beauty, regardless of the contents or details that are included. Visual marketing is a real thing and should be practiced, even in the field of education. If you're sending a newsletter on a regular basis to the same audience, it might be important to adjust the graphics and design so that your readers remain curious.

And here's what's most important about digital newsletters: they are effective! There's no point in creating an easy and beautiful design if, in the end, it's not effective. But effective can mean lots of different things, and that's okay. What matters is that your newsletter is effective in the ways that you want it to be: Is it effective at gaining attention of the audience? Is it effective in getting accessible information out to viewers? Is it effective in holding an audience accountable? Is it effective in getting readers to come back again and again? Does it have a way for readers to interact? In considering your end goal, you can create a newsletter that is most effective for you and your audience.

Of course, absolutely can be included in your digital newsletter. Obviously, it depends on your audience and purpose. As an instructional coach, I send out a newsletter every two weeks to share about current school events, professional resources, and more. Here's what I usually include:

Every newsletter includes a snippet of professional development. It could be a new professional read, a brief video on a topic of particular interest, or a website link with a blurb included.

Each of my newsletters also includes any pertinent information about upcoming events with me as the instructional coach. For example, last month I had teachers sign up for a "Happy Breaks-Giving" that allowed me to provide them a 30 minute break the week before Thanksgiving.

Specific schools, classrooms, or teachers are highlighted in every edition. It might be a few pictures and captions from various classrooms, or a resource that a teacher has created and has provided permission to share in the newsletter.

Finally, I always embed the google form for my coaching services. It can be completed within the newsletter.

There are SO many different things that can be included in a digital newsletter. While I do believe that variation in design elements is important and can affect the appeal of newsletters, readers also enjoy consistency. A predictable pattern allows your audience to know what to expect. Therefore, I prefer to keep my broad content topics relatively the same, but take as much creative license as possible with what is posted and how it is presented.

Share your digital newsletter designs! Let us know if you use Smore and what makes it easy, beautiful, and effective for you!

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Did someone say "SMORES"?! Why, yes! But it's not what you might be thinking. When I first heard of , I was kind of confused about its purpose. Was it supposed to be a virtual campfire? A virtual kumbaya of sorts? A place to learn about outdoor activities?

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First Day of School excerpt: Signal for Quiet

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Sitting in a Circle (Interactive Modeling)

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Talking to a Partner (Interactive Modeling)

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The past year has added so many additional stressors on educators: virtual teaching, juggling teaching formats, and wearing masks, to name a few. Teachers must find ways to manage stress to avoid emotional and physical exhaustion. Book clubs, fitness classes, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep all help teachers recharge outside of the school day. But what can teachers do to promote self-care the school day?

Self-Care Strategies for Teachers

Even during the busiest of school days, teachers need time to recharge physical, emotionally, and socially. Consider options that are quick, flexible, and fun.

Physically- Recalibrate your energy levels with one of these activities:
Complete some stretching/yoga poses.

Emotionally- Support your senses in your learning space with some of the following:

Socially- Connect with colleagues, or carve out time for yourself, with one of these strategies:
Plan a time for a team lunch. Order from a local restaurant, or pack lunches and spend the time talking about life outside of school.

Self-Care Strategies to Use with Students

Self-care strategies are needed for students' well-being too. Self-care procedures should be scheduled throughout the school day to benefit all members of the community.

Here are some simple ways to promote self-care for you your students at the same time:

Energizers- Use short, playful activities to keep energy levels high before, during, and after a lesson. Consider activities that:

Are lively or calming (depending on the needs of the group)

Allow interaction

Incorporate movement

Calming Strategies- Teach students techniques to manage stress. Some examples:

Quiet Time- Plan a 5-10 minute period where students can choose an independent, quiet activity such as:

Self-care is as important now as ever. Make time - put it on your calendar, set a timer, and hold yourself accountable - to support your emotional and physical well-being.

What is something you can do to benefit and your students? Share examples and ideas in the comment section below.

Additional Resources

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Self-Care Doesn't Have to Wait Until After School! | Responsive Classroom

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The past year has added so many additional stressors on educators: virtual teaching, juggling teaching formats, and wearing masks, to name a few. Teachers must find ways to manage stress to avoid emotional and physical exhaustion. Book clubs, fitness classes, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep all help teachers recharge outside of the school day.

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Consider the energy and intensity that often accompany the middle of the day. Lunch and recess provide students with opportunities to run, play, eat, and socialize, and teachers often see this energy spilling over into the classroom as students reenter for the afternoon.

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Google Forms - create and analyze surveys, for free.

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Instructions Enter email and locate your download link in your inbox. If unable to locate, check your spam folder. Download and print, scale as needed. Use to reflect on your past month!

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Crafted with loving care, this is my collection of classroom surveys, printables, lesson and unit plans, activities, and other tools for your classroom. Most can be used in any subject or grade, including at the university level. If an item is exclusive to one particular age group or content area, that will be specified.

All products are sold through my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Go directly to the categories:
Technology Integration
back to top Getting to Know Your Students
English Language Arts
Other Teaching Tools
Technology Integration
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Finally, something that helps you figure it all out! This 300+-page digital binder sorts over 450 tech tools into easy-to-understand categories, helping you quickly learn what each one does and make decisions about what you need. Includes links to each tool's website and a short video demonstrating the tool in use.

Teachers and students alike can use these templates to create modern, sharp-looking presentations. Each 27-slide template also comes with a separate 2-page template for creating a handout to go with your presentation. Each template includes versions for Windows and Google Slides (sorry, Mac currently not available). Get just one template or save on the bundle that includes all four designs!

Student-created e-books offer so many possibilities for authentic demonstration of learning. If you haven't seen my post about all the things you can do with e-books, read it here, then come back and check out these fabulous templates! Get just one or save on the bundle that includes all six designs! Each template includes versions for Windows, Mac, and Google Slides.

These lessons teach students the legal and ethical use of technology.

Getting to Know Your Students
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This collection of icebreakers will get students moving and talking, helping you build a community in your classroom and making students feel more at home. You can get just one or save by getting all three in a bundle!

These surveys can be used at the beginning of the term when you are first getting to know students, to help you learn more about their learning preferences, hobbies, passions, responsibilities, and family life. Each grade level of the form has been customized for that particular age group, and all forms are FULLY EDITABLE, so you can ask exactly the questions you want to ask.

Student Inventories are available for four different grade levels.

Once you have collected all that valuable student information, keep track of it with a 360 Spreadsheet. This allows you to continue building on your knowledge of students and have all the information on one convenient form.
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This lesson thoughtfully guides students to set measurable goals for the new year. Includes two different kinds of goal-tracking charts and a follow-up reflection form. Available in printable form or an all-digital option for paperless classrooms!

English Language Arts

These best-selling units walk students through the entire writing process, developing a clear focus for their piece, then planning, drafting, and polishing a final copy with craft-focused mini-lessons.

Instead of teaching all the grammar concepts to all students (especially those who have already learned them over and over), give your students targeted, individual instruction in the specific grammar, spelling, and usage conventions they each need to brush up on with these quick, individualized lessons. Each Gap Filler includes a short video, a cheat sheet for future reference, and a quiz to check understanding. Gap Fillers can be purchased individually, but you save a TON by getting them in a bundle. (Only lessons 1-12 are shown here; click the link above to view all 24 lessons!)

Other Teaching Tools

These templates can be used over and over, year after year to create graphic organizers, rubrics, and course syllabi.

Assignment Rubrics

For those smaller, repetitive tasks. Instead of grading every assignment individually, assess overall work habits by scoring work in batches with this holistic rubric. A teacher's manual is included to explain the process.

Reflecting on Your Practice

This category features two tools to reflect on your teaching practice.

The Gut-Level Teacher Reflection is a 5-question exercise that helps you tap into your emotions and physical response to pinpoint exactly which areas of your practice you need to work on, then helps you develop an action plan for improving these areas.

The "How's It Going?" Forms allow you to find out exactly how students are experiencing your class at any time of year. It comes in two versions: Elementary is recommended for grades K-6, and Secondary/College is recommended for grades 6-12+.

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Crafted with loving care, this is my collection of classroom surveys, printables, lesson and unit plans, activities, and other tools for your classroom. Most can be used in any subject or grade, including at the university level. If an item is exclusive to one particular age group or content area, that will be specified.

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Desk Fairy and Desk Monster and Table Fairy Tab

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Teaching resources for a better world.pdf

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Self Care Checkin Handout - Counselor Keri

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Copy of Serravallo Lessons for Standards

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Copy of Patty Jeanne B's Tips & Other than Math Jams