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i found this activity very helpful and intresting to get me thinking about my literacy background, i will use this in the classroom to see students positive and negative experiences and help change the negative.

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I have seen these little cards with cups written on in and helps students check for Capitalizing,Usage, Punctuation,and spelling. Visual reminders while writing.

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This is a guided reading workbook for studnets with different strategies and differnt ways to have students have pre reading strategies, during reading,and their thoughts and reactions

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research about graphic organizing and the reason why they work and how they impact students

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The Great and Powerful Graphic Organizer | Cult of Pedagogy

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Beneath its simplicity lies an absolute dynamo, a vehicle that can cement learning more firmly than a lot of the other stuff we try, in a lot less time.

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I really like that this could be a desk top visual for the students that they can be an active reader and have these constant reminders at thier fingertips

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Having the students do pre-reading strategies / during reading and after reading to become more engaged in the lesson.

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Vocabulary practice and word diagrams worksheets

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Teaching Explicit instruction

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Dr. Anita Archer - Vocabulary Instruction

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Visual strategy for studnets to keep close to them as they read.

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The different tiers of vocabulary words.

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I really like the quick jot strategy for studnets to be able to stop and jot while they are reading.

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Ways to help bring inquiry based learning into the classroom and increase the learning.Tells you the different studnet inquiry and how you can control the learning.

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Bringing Inquiry-Based Learning Into Your Class

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A four-step approach to using a powerful model that increases student agency in learning.

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This can help studnets overcome obstacles in their thinking, help simulate scenarios , and critical thinking can be used in the classroom

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Positioning AI as a mentor or simulator of real-world scenarios can promote student inquiry and aid project-based learning.

Picture students passionately debating about an original inquiry but hitting a roadblock. Disagreements arise, and learners crave solutions.

Next, imagine that students turn to ChatGPT to overcome these obstacles in their thinking. How can ChatGPT be used as such a tool? I'd like to share three ways to harness ChatGPT to bolster student-led inquiry.

1. SIMULATing SCENARIOS

Showing students that ChatGPT can simulate real-world scenarios offers them another way to problem-solve. Students can use strategies and ideas presented by ChatGPT's simulation and apply them to their learning context.

For example, this prompt for ChatGPT is crafted in a way that presents a student project (such as making a newspaper, book, or other product). I share the educational framework I'm using with my students and write, in detail, about what decisions the students get to make within the project or inquiry. I position students as practitioners (e.g., scientists, editors, writers, historians), and I give details about the problem they are facing. I also share important role details, such as how another student may be in a position of authority (the lead historian for the project or the manager of the science lab, for example).

I then share that we want to know what real-life professionals would do when there is disagreement. "Could you please simulate a scenario where two such professionals disagree, and make your response as realistic as possible?" I ask ChatGPT, sharing that students would like to use some of the strategies in the simulation to problem-solve in their project.

The framing of this simulation prompt is applicable across subjects; for example, I similarly managed to prompt ChatGPT to simulate a disagreement about chemical application for a science project.

2. EMPOWERing CRITICAL THINKING

I like to involve students in this process of thinking about how best to gather information and strategies to address problems within their learning context. Scaffolding the process positions students to independently harness ChatGPT to problem-solve. I like to use the " I do, we do, you do " teaching strategy.

For example, I brainstorm one or two problems that may arise from an inquiry in front of the class (I do). Then, students brainstorm possible problems that may arise from a project or inquiry (we do). I add onto their ideas, and we might end up with something like this: Student A strongly disagrees that student B should use certain chemicals in a science experiment.

I show students the prompt and break down its specifics or even distribute the prompt in printed form for group analysis. And then I demonstrate how to use ChatGPT to simulate a scenario. As a class, we select one of the problems that students brainstormed and use ChatGPT to simulate a scenario. After we practice prompting, they try to generate their own simulations and scenarios using new prompts. Eventually, students share their solutions on a Padlet or shared Word document.

ChatGPT may generate inaccuracies, which become learning opportunities for both the students and the teacher. Have a section on Padlet or a shared Word document for students to share possible errors that may need further examination. Here are some questions that educators can use to guide this type of examination: How do we know that ChatGPT gave us a faulty response? Why did these issues surface? Can they be rectified?

When students read ChatGPT's responses and discern inaccuracies, they further strengthen their critical reading skills and learn that ChatGPT is a tool, not a replacement for humans.

3. PROGRAMming AN EXPERT

Visits from experts sustain inquiry in project-based learning (PBL). Experts provide students with firsthand insights on a topic of study. When prompted, ChatGPT can give students an expert experience as well.

For example, students can prompt ChatGPT to become a mentor. Students can then type their questions into ChatGPT and read answers from the simulated mentor. Here is a prompt that I used successfully.

To frame this type of prompt, I ask ChatGPT to become a historian, literature professor, biologist, author, chemist, or other mentor. I tell ChatGPT that students will ask it questions and that it should be as unbiased as possible, making sure to answer factually. I then say that students will be focusing on a given topic-for example, World War II, Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal, or Newton's gravity law.

I tell it that its task is to be an expert about the topic so that students can better understand the objective or goal of the lesson.

SupportING STUDENTS' AI EXPLORATION

When used strategically to provide solutions, mend disagreements, and enhance students' critical thinking skills as they work through different simulations, ChatGPT can become a tool in the classroom.

By practicing the strategies above, students become empowered to make decisions during student-led inquiries that are aided by AI. And in doing so, they learn how to position ChatGPT as a mentor that is supportive of their ideas and questions.

AI is an innovation that will continue to evolve in education. By empowering students with these strategies, we can help them learn more about AI's vastness and capabilities. AI is more than a fact generator. Students can use skills gained from this article (and their other AI pieces as well) to experiment and explore possibilities within this ever-evolving AI landscape.

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Using ChatGPT to Support Student-Led Inquiry

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Positioning AI as a mentor or simulator of real-world scenarios can promote student inquiry and aid project-based learning.

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I think this is a good strategy to get studnets to develop a deeper understanding of why and what you are reading.

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I like reading over the pre-reading stategies and something to look over as i do lesson plans so students are getting the most out of the lesson.

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Pre-Reading Strategies To Boost Kids' Reading Comprehension - Begin Learning

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Pre-reading strategies are all about helping your child prepare their mind for reading. We break it down and offer helpful pre-reading tips and activities!

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This talks about things we went over in Literacy class, literacy in the content areas, disciplinary literacy, Vocabulary, comprehension, and writing strategies

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In one school day, an elementary school teacher will instruct children in reading, math, science, social studies, and more. Children should be reading and writing across all these disciplines, using specific techniques and knowledge to help them navigate different types of texts.Photo by Allison Shelley for EDUimages

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I found this article was a helpful way to promote reading in the classroom. There is a worksheet that students can create to make a reader profile.

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I'm a huge believer in building a school-wide reading culture. Today, I want to share ten simple ways to promote reading in the classroom and across the school. I hope these tips help your students develop a true love of reading!

1. READ.

You read. They read. Everybody reads. Are you picturing that Oprah meme?

Building strong reading habits means making - and protecting - consistent time every day for reading - even on the days when fire drills and assemblies cut into instructional time. Independent reading, literature circles, buddy reading, chapter book read-alouds, interactive read-alouds... it's all good.

2. Provide access to diverse literature.

How do we reach every reader? We can start by providing students a variety of high-quality literature in which they not only see themselves reflected, but learn about other people's experiences, too.

If you haven't taken a close look at your classroom or school library recently, now's the time. Are diverse characters represented on the covers and in the pages? Do you have books written by authors of all backgrounds? Are a range of viewpoints expressed in your fiction books? Will the community you serve feel represented by the books on your shelves? Do you highlight and teach with a variety of books?

If you need recommendations, #weneeddiversebooks on Instagram and Twitter is a great place to start!

3. Offer books your students want to read.

I'm not personally into Minecraft, but many of my students are. If I have zero Minecraft books, that's a problem. Students need a range of print and digital fiction and nonfiction books that they want to read!

I like using a quick reading survey to get to know students' interests. This is really helpful so I can match them with book recommendations.

4. Share about your reading life.

Modeling reading behaviors and positive attitudes about reading can go really far. Reading in front of your students, discussing books you've read, and sharing your reading experiences is huge in helping them see that adults enjoy reading, too!

Posting signs like the ones below makes it easy to connect with students around the books you're reading!

I totally get that not everyone is a reader, and I don't think you should fake it. I'm honest with my students about what genres I like and don't like. I tell them why I abandoned a certain book and even when I'm taking a break from reading at the moment. This is also a great opportunity to ask students to recommend books they think I'll like!

5. Integrate technology.

Using technology to support reading can be really engaging for students. Here are a few ideas!

Skype with an author

Skype with another class who's read the same book as you

Show book trailers and book talks

Have students film their own book trailers and book talks

Have students use Google Apps for Education™ to respond to reading

Have students create book recommendations or discuss a shared book on Flipgrid

Leveled e-book databases, such as MyOn, TumbleBooks, or PebbleGo, are also great options for students to read while at school or at home.

6. Participate in reading initiatives.

You can join national/global reading initiatives or work with your school librarian and reading teacher to create literacy-focused events just for your school. These don't have to be fancy and don't even need a lot of planning. A simple family literacy night or read-a-thon in the school library are great ideas!

If you don't want to start something from scratch, I suggest checking out Global Read Aloud, One Book One School, and #classroombookaday! You can also try Battle of the Books in the upper grades!

7. Showcase books that are pro-reading.

Reading starts to become "uncool" for many students in the upper elementary grades. I love finding books that frame reading in a positive light, especially when they feature characters their age! Here are a few I like:

8. Get creative.

Some kids just aren't going to want to go pick a book off the shelf. Sometimes a little pomp and circumstance can help pique their interest in reading! You can:

Hold a book tasting

Vote on favorite books

Raffle off new books

Read outside

Display student book recommendations

Hold a book character dress-up day

Let students request specific titles/subjects/genres to be purchased

Set up a book tournament (think March Madness with brackets)

Hold a read-a-thon

Do a book scavenger hunt

Start a book club

Read with flashlights

Pair up with another class to do buddy reading

Make a bulletin board to showcase your staff's favorite books

Work with your school librarian to host an author visit

Invite guest readers (parents, older siblings, administrators, etc.)

Celebrate literacy-themed holidays

9. Involve your community.

If your school partners with community organizations, you already have a network of resources to explore! If not, you can try reaching out to businesses and individuals in your school's neighborhood. People from the community are often willing to volunteer to guest read, buddy read, or mentor a growing reader. They might be willing to sponsor a little free library or donate gently used books to your classroom library.

10. Don't make reading a chore.

I saved this tip for last because it's really one of the most important. If we make students fill out a worksheet every time we ask them to read, we may kill their love of reading. If reading becomes all about reading logs and reflections and summaries, we may turn totally them off from books. When reading becomes a chore, we lose readers.

I think that looking at how we set up our reading workshop, and what assignments we give, is really important. Thinking about how we present reading is important. Assessing whether we provide opportunities for student choice is important. It means thinking about how we can make reading an enjoyable activity while still teaching all the literacy skills we need to teach.

Alright, I've come to the end! I hope you've found some new ideas and ways to promote reading in your elementary classroom or library!

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10 Ways to Promote Reading in Your Classroom or School - Alyssa Teaches

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Looking for ways to help your students develop a love of reading? There are lots of simple ways you can promote a reading culture at your school!

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In math class i used these with students they had to read and solve the math problems working with a partner if they liked. There was some that had new vocabulary for the students

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What are Task Cards and Why Should You Use Them — everything just so®

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Task cards are a go-to resource in classrooms across the country. Teachers love them. Students feel successful completing them. They work for nearly any subject. In short, it’s easy to see why task cards continue to gain popularity. If you’re not already sold on using task cards in your classroom o

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I enjoyed doing the novel study from class i think this is a good way for students to promote books in the classroom and teach other students.

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This is another good book to add to the class reading list for read alouds with students and then having them do activites with the readings.

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Families can be all shapes and sizes

It's time to hear Ruby's story! The award-winning and bestselling series picks up a few months after the events of  The One and Only Bob. Now living in a wildlife sanctuary, Ruby's caretaker from the elephant orphanage in Africa where she grew up is visiting. Seeing him again brings back a flood of memories both happy and sad of her life before the circus, and she recounts the time she spent in the African savannah to Ivan and Bob.

This highly anticipated novel is the perfect mix of heartfelt and humorous, poignant and sweet.

Celebrate the Transformative Power of Unexpected Friendship

Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller, this stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point of view of Ivan himself.

In this timeless story, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create a tale of friendship, art, and hope.

Brave Hearts Come in Small Packages

In this stunning sequel to the modern classic The One and Only Ivan, Katherine Applegate continues the story of Bob, Ivan, and Ruby as Bob finds courage he never knew he had, and discovers the true meaning of friendship, family, and home.

Bob, Ivan, and Ruby have touched the hearts of millions of readers, and their story isn't over yet!

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Home | The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

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It's time to hear Ruby's story! The award-winning and bestselling series picks up a few months after the events of  The One and Only Bob. Now living in a wildlife sanctuary, Ruby's caretaker from the elephant orphanage in Africa where she grew up is visiting.

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Good book to add to our class reading list

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Read 764 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. The earth is old and we are not, and that is all you must remember . . . Eleven-year-old ...

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Reading this aloud with the students and could be used in multiple content areas

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Alex Douglas always wanted to be a hero. But nothing heroic ever happened to Alex. Nothing, that is, until his eleventh birthday. When Alex rescues a stray dog as a birthday gift to himself, he doesn't think his life can get much better. Radar, his new dog, pretty much feels the same way. But this day has bigger things in store for both of them.

This is a story about bullies and heroes. About tragedy and hope. About enemies with two legs and friends with four, and pesky little sisters and cranky old men, and an unexpected lesson in kindness delivered with a slice of pizza.

This is Eleven: the journey of a boy turning eleven on 9/11.

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by tom rogers | the journey of a boy turning eleven on 9/11

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These are little literacy ideas too keep in the classroom for students to use.

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Having a cache of go-to literacy activities that are meaningful, flexible, and able to be completed by students independently is a teacher necessity. The best literacy centers build autonomy, help students practice key skills, and free you up to teach small groups or give support elsewhere. We've pulled together this long list so you can have plenty of simple options at your fingertips.

1. "Feed" the mini trash cans.

Whether you ask students to sight words, letters, pictures or words by phonetic pattern, there's just something about a trash can with a swinging lid that makes the task much more exciting!
Source: @msbendersclassroom
2. Spell words with magnetic letters.

Yes, this is an old standby, but wait ... a muffin tin?! So smart.
Source: @playdough2plato
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3. Write before-and-after reading sticky notes.

We love this idea for recording prior and new background knowledge on a topic, but it's easily adaptable to other comprehension strategies, too.

4. Roll. Say. Cover. Repeat.

Make it a race to see which column "wins" or make it a fill-the-board challenge. Here's another flexible upgrade to traditional bingo games.
Source: @theprintableprincess
5. Roll & read words.

For another low-prep center using dice, try this idea for word reading-nonsense or real! Just copy different lists on different paper colors to differentiate.
Source: @tastefullyteaching
6. Read it and keep it.

Yet another take on a dice-rolling center, this one is so easy to prep and customize for different kiddos' needs.
Source: @teachingwithmissle
7. Unlock learning with locks and keys.

What student wouldn't want the chance to open a bunch of padlocks?!

8. Find letters or words in a sensory bin.

Sensory bins are awesome for play, science, and more, but if you're struggling to fit them into your day, turning one into a search-and-find literacy center is a win-win option!
Source: @kinderwithmrsbrooks
9. Race the fidget spinner.

Make fidget spinners work for you with this fun idea that's adaptable for any words.

Source: @atlantareading

10. Practice writing on magnetic drawing boards.

Whether your students need practice writing individual letters or words, adding guidelines with Sharpies is an amazing teacher hack!
Source: @teaching_in_canada
11. Level up tic-tac-toe.

This spin on a classic partner game is adorable, effective, and so easy to prep!
Source: @kinderkish
12. Spoon up some phoneme manipulation.

Turns out a plastic spoon is perfectly sized and shaped to help little hands swap beginning letters!

13. Stack cups with a plan.

This would be perfect for synonyms or matching vocabulary words to pictures, too.

14. Take your word work to the wall.

This setup makes it super easy to update words as needed.
Source: @lucyjaneloveslearning
15. Solve a hands-on word scramble.

Magnetic letters are perfect for moving around while trying to solve a scrambled word. Having each word in its own box keeps it organized.
Source: @teachinginthe401
16. Play Snakes & Ladders.

You can't go wrong with this literacy-themed version of the classic board game.
Source: @teachingwithmissle
17. Use a punctuation "surgery kit" to edit sentences.

Because healing erroneous sentences may help heal the world. (P.S. Including Band-Aids is the perfect touch!)
Source: @sweettoothteaching
18. Read in different voices.

We love this idea for fluency practice with a familiar poem!
Source: @atlantareading
19. Follow a color code using dot paints.

Mess-free painting with a literacy twist? Sign us up.
Source: @theprintableprincess
20. Play Bear Cave.

You can't get much simpler than the setup of this crowd-pleasing partner game.
Source: @creativekindergartenblogonptp
21. Respond to a book using loose parts.

Kids this age still need to play! Set out loose parts and mats for them to answer a reading response question creatively, like this one for "What do you love about fall?"
Source: @creativekindergartenblogonptp
22. Use props to practice retelling a familiar story.

Support reading comprehension with a simple storytelling center tied to a classroom read aloud.
Source: @playexplorelearn
23. Read it and draw it.

Practice reading phonics-based or vocabulary words and emphasize meaning.
Source: @creativekindergartenblogonptp
24. Find it and hole-punch it!

Find letters or words on a list and mark them with a tool that children love. (All that squeezing is great for building hand strength, too.)
Source: @creativekindergartenblogonptp
25. Spell with nuts and bolts.

For another way to mix word work and strength building for little fingers, just hit the hardware store.
Source: @senteacherireland
26. Mark answers with clothespins.

Clipping a clothespin to an answer on a card engages students, avoids a paper worksheet, and acts as yet another fine motor booster all at once!
Source: @youclevermonkey
27. Make word study magical with white crayons.

The simple thrill of writing words or word parts in white crayon and coloring to reveal the "magic" writing never gets old.
Source: @bklandadventures
28. Label it.

Have students label the components of a picture while they work on invented spelling or, as above, using descriptive language.
Source: @youclevermonkey
29. Build words with pool noodle segments.

The laundry basket makes this a self-contained and portable activity.
Source: @gardenstateteaching
30. Use sound knowledge to crack the code.

Secret codes make anything more fun. Leave messages in pictures for children to solve using their knowledge of letters and sounds.
Source: @youclevermonkey
31. Practice segmenting and blending with slinky sounds.

Use the analogy of the classic toy that grows and shrinks to help children practice stretching words to spell them or blending sounds to make words.

32. Build sentences at a pocket chart.

Including environmental print and picture cards allows even emergent readers to make interesting sentences!
Source: @thekeystokinder
33. Mix and fix sentences.

Work in your content area vocabulary for an extra boost of learning!
Source: @teachingwithoutfrills
34. Build compound words with blocks.

Ask students to build real compound words and then challenge them to spell and draw the silliest made-up ones they can think of, too.
Source: @teachingwithmissle
35. Or, use blocks to build contractions.

Clear up confusion on this tricky topic once and for all with a hands-on approach.
Source: @firstgradefinds1
36. Play Vocabulary Pictionary.

This classic game works so well as a partner center.
Source: @elizabethannespires
37. Hunt for words in an authentic text.

Set out books, a piece of titled chart paper, and a stack of sticky notes, and you're good to go for an engaging and authentic center activity. To differentiate, offer a few different book choices.
What are your favorite literacy centers for K-2 students? Share them over at ourWeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook. Also, don't miss: 40 Creative and Simple Sight Word Activities for the Classroom

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Looking for ideas for literacy centers? You've come to the right place! Our list of ideas will provide just the inspiration you need for your K-2 classroom.

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when looking for bilingual,multicultural books to incorporate / add to our classroom library.

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"Axum, an ancient Ethiopian city, once rivaled Persia and Rome in wealth and influence. It was a trade hub through which precious metals, silks and ideas fueled a thriving economy and vibrant culture. A series of fair-minded Ethiopian Kings offered peoples of many faiths to find sanctuary from threats abroad, and for centuries Christians, Muslims and Jews have shared Axum in peace. For thousands of years, Ethiopia has been known around the world as a land of justice and wisdom. Share this heart-warming tale of religious tolerance with your young reader." -- publisher

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Children's Bilingual Multicultural Picture Books | Diverse BookFinder

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Are you looking for bilingual multicultural books? This page features stories and poems for children in multiple languages with English translations.

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I found some good ideas for literacy games for students to come up with a silly story or write about a topic

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As we approach the end of the year, the classroom can feel a little flat. Students are tired and so are you. Try some of the literacy games to fire up the classroom - they are great as do now activities, team builders and rewards.

1. Anagram Aerobics

Objective: To unjumble a group of anagrams before every other group

Procedure:

1. Develop a list of words that are relevant to student learning.

2. Jumble the letters in the word, record them across the whiteboard.

3. Give each group of students a different coloured whiteboard marker.

4. One student from each groups races to the whiteboard to unjumble a word before returning to their desk. The group with the most unjumbles wins!

2. Stop the Bus

Objective: To list words relating to a particular category.

Procedure:

Indicate to students that, when you say "go!", they must record a noun starting with each letter.

Once they have recorded all answers, the group must yell "Stop the bus!"

3. Ridiculous How To

Objective: Students write a procedure on a silly or odd topic.

Procedure:

1. Provide students with a 'how to' topic, such as 'brushing teeth' or 'driving a car'.

2. Students must write out how to complete this task in five easy steps.

3. Once students have written out their 'how to', review the steps and see if anyone was missing!

4. The Never-ending Story

Objective: To build a story as a group.

Procedure:

1. Each group must have a paper and pen.

2. Provide students with the first sentence to the page.

3. One student writes the next sentence to the story before folding the page so that only their last sentence is shown. Each student only ever sees the sentence written by the previous student.

4. After a designated amount of time, students stop and unfold the page. Students can read their writing to the rest of the group or share to the classroom.

Objective: To write a text (poem, song, short story, biography etc) using only words start with a particular letter.

Procedure:

1. Split students into pairs.

2. Each student has a pen, paper, and a text type: poem, song, short story, biography etc.

3. Students are assigned a letter.

4. Students are told that they need to write one of these text types and attempt to use words only starting with the assigned letter. The winner is the pair who writes the most with the letter assigned. Bonus points should be assigned to pairs who can only use the letter provided.

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Five Quick Literacy Games to Energise Your Classroom!

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As we approach the end of the year, the classroom can feel a little flat. Students are tired and so are you. Try some of the literacy games to fire up the classroom - they are great as do now...

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Used to help students build vocabulary and use it in a sentence

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I will use this to see what students know about a topic.

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Summer has finally arrived for me! And somehow one week of summer vacation has me itching to plan for next school year or at least for the cute pinterest inspired part of starting a new school year. Not so much the actual work part though! Keep reading for some awesome classroom organization ideas!

Ready to join me in some vicarious organization enabled by Pinterest?

Here are my favorite classroom organization finds shared by some very creative teachers. Click each picture to head on over to their blogs:
1. Sort construction paper into a filing box.
No more random crumpled edges & you can easily spot any colors you are running low on. So much better than my current system of shoving construction paper into drawers & keeping my fingers crossed that I'll have enough of each color when I need it.
2. Store math games in plastic bags & hang them on a towel rack.
I'm so doing this for my math workshop menu choices next year! I had a hard time keeping enough supplies out for multiple math games at a time without it looking like a small hurricane has blown through my classroom so this looks like a perfect solution.
3. Store base ten blocks in supply caddies.
I spent this entire school year thinking I didn't own any of these blocks until afterschool on our very last day when I discovered my dusty class set of foam base ten blocks! So frustrating but at least I'll be ready for next year. This idea is brilliant! When the kids clean up they get to sort ones, tens, & hundreds one more time.
4. Label, label, label!
I had a really hard time choosing just one adorable & perfectly labeled picture from this gorgeous classroom. Seriously, you must click the photo below and give yourself some time to take it all in! Amazingly cute & functional! As my good friend Liz Lemon would say, "I want to go to there!"
5. Then add more labels!
I don't know how I've been living all this time without knowing that self adhesive chalkboard vinyl exists! So many fun possibilities starting with these fun teacher supply jars.
6. Color code your curriculum files by subject.
One of my big summer goals this year is to purge my files and hopefully eliminate one of my file cabinets. If I survive the file downsizing this will be my next project.
7. Sort extra crayons by color.
Wouldn't it be great if this eliminated some of the daily, "Where's my (fill in any color here) crayon?" Maybe it was just the group of kiddos I had this year but missing crayons was quite a frequent (& dramatic) event. And I love anything that incorporates another rainbow into my classroom!
8. Use plastic dishpans to store classroom library books.
I am a girl who loves her plastic containers a little too much so I thought I had seen all of the classroom storage options at this point. I am so happy to be wrong! These are amazing! I love that they are clear and wide to store odd sized books. This entire classroom is so beautiful & very organized. Click through to see more!
9. Store earbuds in a plastic bead box with numbered sections.
This year was my first year to have the kids bring in headphones to use and it was a hot mess! I had kids losing headphones left & right not to mention that some kids brought really big and really expensive ones to school which were hard to store & gave me some serious anxiety about anything happening to them. I'm hoping to encourage next year's kids to just bring simple earbuds and then we are going to give this box storage a whirl.
10. Store extra scrapbook & construction paper by color.
I love using scrapbook paper but I really hate how spendy it is. And I hate it even more when I see kids destroying the scraps or just dumping them once they are finished. This year I had a tub for kids to save the scraps in but having all colors in one tub made it time consuming to dig through when we needed more for a new project. I don't know if I can fit something like this in my room space wise for next year but I'm going to try to make it work as Tim Gunn would say 😉
11. Set up a check out station for your classroom library
I love how you could reuse this from one year to the next using class numbers rather than names. It might be a little ambitious for my first graders to manage at the start of the school year but I think by mid-year they will be up for the challenge. This is another photo that leads to an amazingly inspiring classroom tour so be sure to click through to see the rest of this room!
12. Label & separate each child's crayons on the group supply caddy.
I always struggle with class supplies and I feel like I've tried everything from individual pencil boxes to store everything for each child to group supply baskets with no names on anything. I like this idea because it meets somewhere in the middle. I'm getting ready for my 10th year of teaching and I'm pretty sure I've used 9 different ways to organize the supplies. Maybe this will be the one to stick!
13. Store emergency sub plans in a well labeled container.
I've always done emergency sub plans in a binder but I like this idea even more- you could put read alouds & any other needed materials right in with the plans. This way it would definitely be easy to spot too!
14. Gather copies & materials for the whole week in one spot.
I used some rainbow dividers from Lakeshore for this same type of storage but I could never fit everything I needed into each day's container. I love how roomy these bins are and that they stack to save on counter space. Especially since I have no free counter space at this point!
15. Store ipods in labeled caddies.
Since I'm busy organizing my imaginary classroom this evening I'm going to store my imaginary ipods in these cute containers. Fingers crossed I'll have some real technology to store in the future!
16. Separate teaching resource books by topic.
I spend way too much time squinting at the teeny tiny titles on the spines of skinny teaching resource books trying to find stuff. This will save me so much time and hopefully eliminate eye strain too!
17. Store puzzles in pencil pouches.
I am in favor of anything that means I can get rid of the severely abused cardboard boxes my rainy day puzzles live in! Such a great idea! I'm putting these pouches on my back to school shopping list.
18. Sort prep materials for aides & volunteers in plastic drawers.
Somehow I think this system will work much better than my current system, especially because my current system is one giant pile of papers with post-its barely hanging on!

Doesn't it all just make you want to head to the Container Store immediately?!

image credits: giphy, KG Fonts, all other images belong to the linked blogger or website owner, please let me know if you would like your photo/link removed from this list

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18 Amazing Classroom Organization Tips & Tricks

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Summer has finally arrived for me! And somehow one week of summer vacation has me itching to plan for next school year or at least for the cute pinterest inspired part of starting a new school year. Not so much the actual work part though! Keep reading for some awesome classroom organization ideas!

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Cultural Diversity in the Classroom | GoGuardian

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Learn what you need to know about teaching cultural diversity and inclusiveness in the classroom from the importance of specific strategies. View our guide!

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A visual to help remember vocabulary words.

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Ive included this for a paper copy for studnet to read and highlight anything on their papers and have them fill out the worksheet based on their comprehension.

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Some of these bulletin boards are interactive and have students display their work, books they are reading or just questions for the students to think about.

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If you're anything like me, bulletin boards can be an absolute pain. Especially in my first few years of teaching, I usually put my bulletin boards up in August and hoped that no one would notice when they hadn't been changed by March.

But as I got further into my teaching career, I realized that all that space could be used way more effectively. Bulletin boards, especially interactive boards, can increase student engagement, be a helpful classroom management tool, help you review or extend knowledge in ANY content area, and build your classroom culture as students engage with you and each other.

Check out the list below to freshen up your classroom decor with interactive bulletin boards that are fun for you and your students!

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38 Interactive Bulletin Boards That Will Motivate Your Students - Teaching Expertise

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Check out the list below to freshen up your classroom decor with interactive bulletin boards that are fun for you and your students!