“When a teacher calls a boy by his entire name, it means trouble.”- Mark Twain Two thoughts: Mr. Twain didn’t know a lot about the ladies Here’s hoping for a year of first names only (Thanks to Teaching Heart)

Getting to know your students’ names is an important part of not only the First Day of School, but also the First Week. Use two or three of these games throughout the day or the week to have some fun learning not only students’ names, but also some fun tidbits about them!

Facebook is a great way to interact with your teaching community, and now Teaching Resource Center has a page too! Become a fan today!

Two great deals for this lovely Friday… The first is a travel resource from Rick Steves, who is offering a smokin’ deal on his latest resource. To quote from the email: While I wrote this book to inspire travelers to broaden their perspectives through their experiences, now I see that the book has a value as a [...]

Here’s a free “Family Tree” craft template. Why Family Trees are Important It’s important to really know where our students are coming from. When we take the time to get to know our students they know that we care for them. When they feel cared for, they feel safe and this is the ideal environment for learning. Seeing [...]

The exciting First Day of School can be full of chaos, but having a detailed plan can help diffuse some of the anxiety that goes along with it. Included is a sample plan along with tips to make your own!

Here’s a free template for you to print out and use for “Star Student” Character Awards. Good Character at the Heart of Every Lesson When I taught 2nd grade, I spent time teaching my students about good character. Doing this helped with classroom management, but it also fulfilled deeper purposes. Children feel safe in an environment that encourages good [...]

Find out who last week’s Wacky Wednesday winner is, and enter to win this week’s giveaway, our Making Words Mat! I have my own Top 3 Ways to Make Words – leave a comment to add your own and be entered to win!

First Days of School & Classroom Management We all know that starting the year with detailed directions about classroom management is very important. Teachers spend a great deal of time showing the students appropriate classroom behaviors, procedures and the scheduled routine during the first week.  Here’s a free poster that will save you lots of time and help you streamline your [...]

After a long and (hopefully) relaxing summer, the First Day of School is finally here! If this is your very first year or your 20th, here are some tips to help you have a fun and peaceful First Day of School.