Teacher Mommy Life

Create, Inspire, Learn, Lead, Love

Three Time Savers In The Classroom: Using Recordable Buttons

Times saver hack are an invaluable resource in the classroom! With educator expectations increasing each year, it can be difficult to maximize time in the classroom. It is often overwhelming and daunting to try to give students instruction, monitor progress, grade papers, support social emotional learning... the list could go on. Here are three innovative ways to use an easily implement and ... Read More about Three Time Savers In The Classroom: Using Recordable Buttons

Four Ways to Integrate The Arts Into ELA Content

I love arts integration! It has made teaching so much more fun... and students are so much more engaged in my lessons. Using dance, drama, music, and visual arts in content areas allows students to create while they learn, which is the highest level of Bloom's. With that said, starting to implement arts integration can be a bit intimidating at first. Most of us are experts in our classroom ... Read More about Four Ways to Integrate The Arts Into ELA Content

3 Reasons That Kids Love Pop It Toys

Pop It toys have become all the rage at schools, especially elementary schools. I see students walking down the halls, sitting in class, and getting off of the bus playing with it them. Why are they so popular? Why do kids like them so much? After watching my daughter play with them and taking the time to play with them myself, here are my insights on these fun little fidgets. They Have a ... Read More about 3 Reasons That Kids Love Pop It Toys

What Is a Genius Hour and How Can I Start One In My Classroom?

I have recently heard a lot about the buzz word "genius hour" so I decided to take the time to research more about it and provide some insights on how to make it easy to implement in your classroom. In this post, I am going to tell you a little bit about the definition and how to get started implementing it in your classroom. What is a Genius Hour? A genius hour is a way for student to ... Read More about What Is a Genius Hour and How Can I Start One In My Classroom?

How to Support Children When They Fail

Cooping with failure in life is an important skill for children to learn. Recently, I wrote an article on why it is important to let children fail once in a while. I wanted to expand on the article by providing ways to support children during times that they may fail and feel frustrated. Share Your Own Stories Of Failure: Taking the time to relate to children by being vulnerable and sharing ... Read More about How to Support Children When They Fail

Five Ways To Teach Children How To Clean Their Room

As a parent, the topic of room cleaning is an argument of the ages with our children. It starts at four and goes on until eighteen (or whenever they leave the house). There are reminders, consequences, complaining, and negotiations that occur on a weekly, if not daily basis. If I got paid a dollar for every time I told my daughter to "clean your room", I would at least have $5,000 (she is only ... Read More about Five Ways To Teach Children How To Clean Their Room

Five Reasons Why We Should Allow Children To Fail

As parents and educators, we never truly want our children to fail at anything in life. We see the frustration and anxiety that it can cause them and we naturally want to protect them. Their limiting beliefs may cause them to think they are not "good enough" or "smart enough". Let's face it, failing at something never feels "good" or "exciting" for anyone. Adults are also reluctant to fail. If ... Read More about Five Reasons Why We Should Allow Children To Fail

Three Ways To Make Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom Easy

Social Emotional Learning is becoming a growing need in classrooms. The need for SEL learning seems to be increasing, as students continue to struggle with cooperation, communication, collaboration, and empathy. The struggle is finding ways to integrate it without adding extra work in the day. I am always trying to find new ways to integrate in group projects and independent work without feeling ... Read More about Three Ways To Make Social Emotional Learning in the Classroom Easy

5 Main Personality Types and How They Affect Classroom Group Dynamics

Group work is essential in the classroom. It allows students to learn content, learn from each other, and learn valuable social skills from each other. Cooperation, collaboration, communication, problem solving, taking turns, and active listing are just some of the many social skills that group work supports. With that said, often times they go awry. Students argue, some shut down, some try to ... Read More about 5 Main Personality Types and How They Affect Classroom Group Dynamics

Three Easy Steps To Support Self Care!

“Self-care” has become a buzz term in our culture. People use it for everything from massages to drinking water. I talk to many counseling clients, friends, teachers, and family members who say, “I’m too exhausted to do self-care. If I had an extra hour in my day, I wouldn’t be this stressed or burnt out.” I understand. I really do.  As a person who identifies as being in recovery ... Read More about Three Easy Steps To Support Self Care!