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My book about the Solar System! (Caroline Doherty) 

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My book about the Solar System! (Caroline Doherty) 

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“Our Solar System!” - Free stories online. Create books for kids | StoryJumper

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This is an example of a lesson plan we use in our classroom. Along with the lesson plan we have attached the worksheet and powerpoint that goes along with it!

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Lesson Plan - Caroline Doherty and Kaitlyn Smith

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Place Value Handout - Caroline Doherty and Kaitlyn Smith

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Lesson Plan - Caroline Doherty and Kaitlyn Smith

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This is another example of a lesson we do in class. We will have our students post their final projects which will be storybooks!

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This website is for all age levels, it has many different types of games that cover different topics. It's a website that students can learn from while also having fun!

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ABCya! • ABCya! • Learning Games and Apps for Kids

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Educational games for grades PreK through 6 that will keep kids engaged and having fun. Topics include math, reading, typing, just-for-fun logic games… and more!

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This website provides videos, quizzes, activities and more about all the subjects we teach in school.

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This website is both fun and informative. Along with games, fun facts and videos. There is lots of information that can help children with research over many different topics. Its very easy to use and is organized well.

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Fact Monster - A Trusted Reference Site for Kids

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Fact Monster is a free reference site for students, teachers, and parents. Get homework help and find facts on thousands of subjects, including sports, entertainment, geography, history, biography, education, and health.

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This website helps students practice their math skills while also having fun by playing interactive games.

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Practice addition, subtraction, place value and multiplication with our popular math games.

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This website is a good resource for kids because is provides many different types of games that can help students review, study or learn topics in different subjects.

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3/23/24 - Teachers and Parents - Access the ad-free, full-content, unlimited students, plus much more MrNussbaum.com when you subscribe. Click "Sign up" in the upper right corner to start. Join thousands of teachers and parents and countless students who now enjoy the site with no distractions, tons more content and way more options! Only $29 per year.

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Language Arts & Spelling Games - 47 Original, Interactive Games

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MrNussbaum.com features over 50 language arts games reinforcing spelling, phonics, reading comp., parts of speech, punctuation, and much more!

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This website has lots of games, videos, articles, and more. This site has a range of topics you can learn about like animals, our planets, and even historical figures and events. It's a website that students can easily navigate and interact with.

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This website is a great resource for students who learn visually or with audio! You can search for videos over a wide range of topics or subjects and they age appropriate for children.

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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This website allows teachers to connect with their students and build a sense of community. You can share photos, videos, messages and so much more. There are tons of other features on this site that helps teachers keep their classroom engaged.

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ClassDojo helps teachers, parents, and students build amazing classroom communities.

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This website provides teachers with different types of worksheets covering all the subjects.

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Browse 2nd Grade Educational Resources | Education.com

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Browse 2nd Grade Educational Resources. Award winning educational materials designed to help kids succeed. Start for free now!

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This website provides access to many e-books, learning videos, quizzes/tests, and so much more. There is also an interactive whiteboard teachers can use to help teach specific lessons or stories.

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Free for educators! Give students unlimited in-class access to the best books & videos on Epic

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This website has tons of different resources for each grade level starting from PreK - 12th grade. It has different topics, weekly plans, skill plans, activities, and much more. This is a great source for teachers who need help with planning their week and having activities for certain topics they are teaching.

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IXL | Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Spanish

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IXL is the world's most popular subscription-based learning site for K-12. Used by over 13 million students, IXL provides personalized learning in more than 8,500 topics, covering math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish. Interactive questions, awards, and certificates keep kids motivated as they master skills.

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This website allows teachers to create games for their students to play. They can create as many questions as they want and students can log on to their technology and play the game as a class. This is a great resource to review material or even prepare for a test.

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Kahoot! | Learning games | Make learning awesome!

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Kahoot! is a game-based learning platform that brings engagement and fun to 1+ billion players every year at school, at work, and at home.

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This website provides teachers different kinds of books they can choose from and then activities that they can use with the book. It describes what grade levels to use this with, a summary of the book, and then different activities that you can do with your students with the book. There is a lot of different hands on and engaging activities that you can do with your students!

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This website provides teachers with several different video options to choose from. If the teacher is talking about a specific topic to their students, they can play a video from TED talk to have them listen to someone else. There is a lot students can learn from and take away from these videos.

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Get a daily email featuring the latest talk, plus a quick mix of trending content.

By subscribing, you understand and agree that we will store, process and manage your personal information according to our Privacy Policy

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TED Talks are influential videos from expert speakers on education, business, science, tech and creativity, with subtitles in 100+ languages. Ideas free to stream and download.

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Please remember picture day will occur on Thursday March 3rd for grades K-3 and Friday March 4th for grades 4-6!

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1. Have fun!
2. Give whoever is talking your full attention.
3. Keep your hands and feet quiet.
4. Try your best!
5. Ask questions.
6. Help others.

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Create Your Classroom Rules WITH Your Students for a Powerful Start to the Year

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Create Your Classroom Rules WITH Your Students for a Powerful Start to the Year

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Here is an additional resource that can help teachers with creating rules in their classrooms! This is something we find extremely important when we create our classroom rules for the year.

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The hustle and bustle of a new school year can get overwhelming. This is true because of things like curriculum planning, attending meetings, and organizing supplies, but also because you have to teach students the routines, procedures, and rules of the art room.

Because we have so many classes, the repetitive nature of this can grow tiresome. That's why, in my classroom, I believe in creating expectations with my students.

Creating expectations with students is an empowering activity to help build the community and culture of the art room.

Allowing students to take ownership over their environment shows them you value their thoughts. In the book, The Classroom of Choice: Giving Students What They Need and Getting What You Want, author Jonathan Erwin says, "One of the most effective and practical ways teachers can give students a say in the classroom is by allowing them to participate in developing the classroom rules or behavior guidelines."

From experience, I find teachers value leadership that takes their ideas and opinions into account when creating building norms or making changes in the school environment. So, you can see how this would work well with students, too!

Here are 3 benefits to creating classroom expectations with your students.

1. Your students will feel valued.

Many times in school, students are told what to do or how to think. Erwin supports this statement when he writes, "In academic classes, students are told how to behave, what to learn, when and how to learn it, and they are assessed in ways that may not take into account the diverse intelligences that exist in every student population."

Giving students a say will allow them to feel valued. As they contribute to the classroom expectations, they are more likely to follow them. They also will be able to use their critical thinking skills as they develop ideas to share with the class. It is beneficial to have student investment to promote a positive and safe learning environment.

2. Your students will understand the power of collaboration.

Getting students to collaborate on the first day is a great way to show how much you value students working together. As the teacher, you are modeling collaboration as well by getting students involved in developing classroom expectations. Instead of the usual "sit and get" structure, you are providing your students with a meaningful and interactive learning experience.

3. Your students will have a clear understanding of the expectations.

Having students directly involved in the creation of classroom expectations leaves less room for confusion. When students are a direct part of the process, they comprehend everything better. Students won't just be listening to you explain the expectations, they will be direct participants, brainstorming, discussing, and refining!

Let's talk about exactly how to generate expectations together.

Here are 3 ways to create shared classroom expectations.

1. Hold a Group Discussion

If this idea is new for you, having a basic classroom discussion is helpful and a comfortable way to start. This method also works especially well for younger elementary students who can't yet write well. Simply give prompts about rules you have had in the past and ask for additional suggestions.

For example, respect is a typical rule you will find in most classes. Bring up the topic of respect. Ask students, "Why it is important to be respectful in art class?," or, "What are ways for the class to be respectful in art class?" This questioning technique allows you to guide the discussion but allows for students to gain a deeper understanding and add input about expectations for the classroom.

2. Have Your Students Create Web Charts

To get even more collaborative, allow your students the opportunity to work and brainstorm together.

First, split your students into groups.
Each group will need a large piece of paper and a writing utensil.

Then, show your students how to create a web chart.
The center circle on the chart should be labeled something like, "Art Room Rules." Then, show them how to add lines going from the center circle to another circle. These secondary circles will house what they feel are good rules for the art room. For example, "Use supplies correctly." Let students get to work.

Finally, have students share out to the class.
After about 5-10 minutes of work time, have students share what their ideas with the class. Write common themes on the board and create a list of classroom expectations from what your students added to their web charts.

3. Conduct a Collaborative Sticky Note Activity

This activity is great for older students who can handle more movement around the room and more independent work.

1. Start with a brief discussion about the importance of expectations in the classroom. Write the main expectations your students discuss on the board.

2. Create a sticky note for each expectation. These might be things like Respect, Be Kind, Work Hard, etc... Place each sticky note on a different table in your classroom.

3. Give your students sticky notes (or even small pieces of scrap paper). Then, ask them to consider each expectation. For each expectation, have them write some specific ways students could follow the expectation in the classroom or why the expectation is important. Have students leave their thoughts at the corresponding tables.

Holding Students Accountable

No matter how you go about creating your classroom expectations, it's important to come up with some sort of visual or document for your students.
Here are two ways to do that.

1. Create a classroom visual.
Your classes will likely come up with similar expectations. Therefore, you can create a poster to lay everything out and display it in your room. You could also create a verbal pledge for your students or have them recite the expectations and acknowledge that they will follow them.

2. Create a contract.
If you want to save your wall space, have students sign a contract with the expectations they designed for the classroom. You can give each student an individual copy or have a copy for each class with a line for each student's name. You can post this in the room or refer to it when needed. If you are low on paper, try a verbal agreement.

Both of these methods allow you to have an easy reference if students forget the rules. If things are going awry, you can point to your poster or contract and conduct a mini-class targeted toward the expectations that need attention. It's powerful to be able to refer to the expectations and remind students they were involved in the creation of them.
What do you do on the first day of class when it comes to classroom expectations? What other benefits are there to creating shared classroom expectations with students?
Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

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Create Your Classroom Rules WITH Your Students for a Powerful Start to the Year

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Create Your Classroom Rules WITH Your Students for a Powerful Start to the Year Relationship Building % %

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This website has tons of resources for parents and guardians that have kids going back to school. It has information about how to connect with your child's teacher, how to transition you and your child back to school, and so much more!

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Find information on easing transition jitters, managing kids' tech use, getting involved in the school, and more.

©Shutterstock.com/Monkey Business Images

19 Meaningful Questions You Should Ask Your Child's Teacher: Mine this list for inspiration before talking with your children's teachers. (Edutopia, updated 2016)

9 Back to School Tips for Parents: Explore these simple tips for helping your kids return to the classroom ready to learn. After the back-to-school rush, use this month-by-month guide to enhance your kids' school experience throughout the year. (Department of Education, 2016)

5-Minute Film Festival: Building a Parent Toolkit: Watch curated videos on topics like stress reduction, healthy eating, homework, and more. (Edutopia, 2015)

15 Questions to Replace 'How Was School Today?': Questions to ask to gain deeper insights into your kids' learning experiences. (Edutopia, 2016)

Back-to-School Health and Safety Tips: Browse advice about issues like backpack safety, transportation, bullying prevention, nutrition, before- and after-school child care, study habits, and more. (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2016)

Best Back-to-School Tips: Listen to this podcast about preparing students to head back to school and developing morning routines. For more on this topic, check out "Getting Back in the School Year Routine." (Greater Good Science Center, 2012)

Back to School: Find information about back-to-school shopping on a budget, getting organized, and supporting children academically in this collection of articles. You may also want to take a look at "Back-to-School Night Basics." (GreatSchools)

Back-to-School Advice and Checklists

How to Ease Your Child's Kindergarten Jitters: Use these tips from Dr. Michele Borba as you prepare your child for kindergarten. Learn how to ease your kindergartner's anxiety, establish a goodbye ritual, and ensure that the first days of school are positive. For similar resources for students of all ages, see "Transition Resources for Parents, Teachers, and Administrators." (Edutopia, 2016)

Guiding Our Children Through School Transitions: Transitions can be both exciting and anxiety-inducing for children and parents. Discover tips for helping students transition into elementary school, middle school, high school, and post-secondary education. (Parent Toolkit, 2014)

Start School Strong: A Back-to-School Guide for Kids With Learning and Attention Issues: Find a variety of resources-including live chats with experts, downloads, and more-to help children get organized, process their feelings, and establish routines. (Understood, 2016)

Helping Students With Autism Transition Into a New School Year: Gain insights into how you can work with teachers to help kids with autism transition to a new teacher, a new school, or a new curriculum. (Edutopia, 2017)

How to Cope With Back-to-School Anxiety: Learn how to detect if your child is experiencing back-to-school anxiety and get actionable tips to help ease their worries. (PBS Parents, 2016)

Back to School Books: Read a book with your child as a springboard to discuss feelings about returning to school; this guide includes recommendations for preschool through grade six. For more book suggestions, check out Understood.org's "5 Great Back-to-School Books for Kids in Grades 1-4." (Bank Street School of Education)

Easing the Transition
©Shutterstock.com/PureSolution
Tech Tips for a New School Year

For more tips and guidance about managing media and technology use, check out these articles:

Conquering the Multitasking Brain Drain: The constant stream of digital media has fractured many kids' sense of focus. Learn how you can help your kids avoid multitasking and regain a sense of focus before the start of school. (Edutopia, 2016)

Teaching Good Study Habits: Minute by Minute: Explore advice, timed exercises, and games to help adolescents study effectively. (Edutopia, 2016)

Hack to School: Getting Your Kids Back Into a Routine: Starting a routine-building regime late in the summer can help your kids start school fresh and ready. Here are some easy-to-implement tips for building a back-to-school routine. (Parental Toolkit, 2016)

Homework and Developing Responsibility: Building good study habits early is crucial for long-term academic success. Find tips and ideas on encouraging effective habits in reading, writing, and math. (American Academy of Pediatrics, updated 2015)

Five-Minute Film Festival: Nine Boosts for Summer Learning: Watch videos with fun ideas to re-engage kids in the learning process during the last days of summer. (Edutopia, 2013)

Milestones: A collection of videos aimed at helping parents understand grade-level expectations for children in grades K-12. (GreatSchools)

Gearing Up for Fall Learning

For more parent strategies around homework, take a look at these articles:

The Power of Parental Involvement

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Find information on easing transition jitters, managing kids' tech use, getting involved in the school, and more.

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This website provides parents and guardians some great academic advice for their child at any grade level and subject. You can find a bunch of different resources within the page by different categories such as Back to School, By Grade, By Subject, Learning Differences, Parental Involvement and so much more!

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Find smart academic advice for helping kids in every grade and subject.

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National PTA - Parents' Guide to Student Success 

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National PTA - Parents' Guide to Student Success 

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This website provides parents and guardians with different types of guides to help them with their child's education experience. It contains a general guide to help them and specific grade level guides as well! Within each of the guides for each grade level, it provides parents background on what the child is expected to achieve in this grade and some helpful suggestions that they can do at home with their child too!

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The Parents' Guides to Student Success were developed by teachers, parents and education experts in response to the Common Core State Standards that more than 45 states have adopted.

Created for grades K-8 and high school English, language arts/literacy and mathematics, the guides provide clear, consistent expectations for what students should be learning at each grade in order to be prepared for college and career.

Overview Guide

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Parents' Guides to Student Success - Family Resources | National PTA

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The guides, developed by teachers, parents and education experts and created for grades K-8 and high school English, language arts/literacy and mathematics, provide clear, consistent expectations for what students should be learning at each grade in order to be prepared for college and career.

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Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

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I think this website provides some great resources for parents and guardians that have children in Elementary schools. The website focuses a lot of attention of the pandemic and how to best support your child in school during these times which I still think is important since we still in the middle of a pandemic.

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Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

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Resources for Parents and Families - Office of Elementary and Secondary Education

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This section highlights “Learning at Home” resources and provides activities for parents and families to support continued learning outcomes with their children at home during the coronavirus pandemic. The resources below are grouped and organized by content, including General Resources, Literacy, Writing and Math Resources and resources for Helping Children and Families Process COVID-19. General […]

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This website has a wide variety of things that parents and guardians can use. You can select what age your child is and then what they need help with. This can be their social skills, math, emotions and self awareness, science and so much more. There are also shows, games, and articles!

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Explore parent resources to help you raise kind, curious and resilient children. Find parenting tips, hands-on activities, games, and apps featuring your child’s favorite PBS KIDS characters.

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This websites contains a ton of activities and printables, book lists, school success advice, and access to to the Scholastic store! There are tons of reading resources for all ages!

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Expert advice on children’s books & reading, arts & crafts, activities & school achievement. View the parent’s newsletter, articles, & weekly picks for Preschool, Grade School, & Middle School

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This website provides parents and guardians access to specific content for each milestone in their child's life starting from Pre-K through college. Each grade level provides information about each subject that they will be taking and what is expected from them. It also goes into detail about physical changes, self management skills, nutrition tips, relationships and much more. There is so much you can do with this resource!

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Find educational benchmarks, social emotional milestones, tips and advice for children at school in each grade.

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This website provides a variety of resources that parents and guardians can benefit from. You can find information about Early Childhood Education, Reading, Special Education, Helping your Child Learn, and Paying for College.

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Many of the pages on the site moved to new URLs during our recent redesign. If you reached this page by using a bookmark or a link from another site, please search for the updated url using our Bookmark Search below.

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Richard: December 4th
Nicole: December 22nd
Ms. Doherty: January 23rd
Sarah: January 26th

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Michael: February 14th
Carrie: February 21st

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Faith: March 2nd
Kylie: March 13th

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Luke: April 4th
Jared: April 11th

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Jake: May 1st
Ms. Smith: May 5th
Holly: May 16th

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Eric: June 3rd
Lucy: June 10th
April: June 25th
Michael: July 6th
Dominic: July 9th

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James: August 1st

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Tyler: September 5th
Jenna: October 6th
Danielle: October 29th

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Nancy: November 4th

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Hello! My name is Kaitlyn Smith, a sophomore at Westfield State. I am an elementary education major and a part of the honors program and dance team! I cant wait to get to know my students!

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My name is Caroline Doherty! I am a sophomore at Westfield State University. I am majoring in Elementary education with a concentration in psychology. I am really excited to work with my students!

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Ms. Doherty: doherty.carolinek@gmail.com
Ms. Smith: smithkaitlyn5502@gmail.com

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On this website there are tons of resources you will be able to find! We will have teacher resources, kid-friendly resources, parent and guardian resources, our class rules, our school information, and class birthdays! We hope you find our website helpful and if you have any questions or comments, you can reach us at our emails in "Meet the teachers"!

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- Half Day: March 5
- Faculty Meeting: March 18
- Vacation: April 12-17

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We believe that technology plays an important role in education. Technology is growing more and more everyday and it is becoming a big part of our lives. We want our students to experience this and be experts in technology. There are tons of resources for them to use on the internet to help with their learning. They are also given the chance to be creative, communicate, and share with others!