Make It Your Best School Year Ever with a Sale!

TpT is hosting a 2-Day Back to School Sale to help teachers head into the 2017-2018 school year feeling inspired, confident, and prepared. 

I will be offering a discount of 20% AND TpT will provide an additional 5% promo code to be used during checkout.  That means you will get a total of 25% off EVERYTHING in my store! 

The sale starts Tuesday, August 1st at 12:01 a.m. ET and runs through Wednesday, August 2nd at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Happy shopping!

Something Big is Coming....

Shhhh!  It's a secret!  Something big is coming and it involves.....

Check back tomorrow to see what the big surprise is.

Healthy and Quick Teacher Lunches

Would you like to have quicker and healthier lunch choices this school year?  I'm sharing my favorite mix-and-match menu options in this post. 

Tuna Salad

1 pouch/can tuna or wild caught salmon

1/4 avocado, mashed

1 cup diced veggies: pickles, bell peppers, zucchini, etc. 

Mix all ingredients in a bowl with a lid and take it in your lunch box. 

Hard-Boiled Eggs in a Rice Cooker:

Add 2 cups water to the rice maker. 

Put 6 to 12 eggs in the steamer basket. 

Set it to 15 minutes.  

Remove the eggs and put them in ice water for 5 minutes. 

Peel them and take a couple with you for lunch each day. 

Mason Jar Veggies and Dip

Make this portable treat in minutes by putting your favorite, healthy dip on the bottom and adding sliced veggies.

Mason Jar Black Bean Salsa Salad

Click the link to get the full description of how I make this. 

Pumpkin Pie Protein Bowl

This seriously takes 5 minutes to make and tastes like pumpkin pie. I add 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder to give it a week-rounded meal. 

I make it in a Pyrex dish, let it cool, and store it in the fridge with the lid on it. 

Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal

No cooking, portable with mason jars, and added health benefits with the fruit and chia seeds. 

Chocolate Veggie Muffins

They're packed full of veggies, but you'll never be able to tell!  Make a big batch of these on the weekend and store them in the fridge for packing your lunch. 

What's on your quick and healthy lunch menu?  I'm ready for some new ideas!

Debate and Opinion/Persuasive Writing Mentor Text: Let’s Think About Sustainable Energy

Would you like to teach debate and/or persuasive/opinion writing in your science class?  Are you looking for a mentor text that provides evidence for both sides of the debate?  Then Let’s Think About Sustainable Energy by Vic Parker is your go-to book!  

Part of the “Let’s Think About” series, this title continues to challenge readers to consider alternatives to the status quo. This time, the controversial topic is sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. Pros and cons for environmental impact, cost, and sustainability for each form of energy: Geothermal, hydropower, solar, wind, biofuel, tidal, and nuclear. 

“Did You Know?” boxes break up the main text with facts from other reports and opinions that support both sides. 

After reading all the facts and opinions, the book prompts the reader to take their learning to the next level by researching and debating the issue with friends in the “What Do You Think?” boxes. 

Multiple pictures with captions and graphics help make this content-rich book easier to read, so it would be appropriate for upper-elementary and middle school.  Additional print and electronic resources on the topic, as well as suggestions for further research are included in the back of the book. 

The five steps to follow when preparing for a debate are included at the end of the book.

Do you have mentor texts for teaching debate/opinion/persuasive writing?  I'd love to hear what you use!

Using Classroom Organizational Strategies on Vacation

Teachers work so hard all year long to organize their classroom in a way that is both functional for the teacher and creates independence in students.  It got me thinking: Why not use that system when it comes to our summer vacations?

The following are organizational rules I live by in my classroom that also serve me well when I'm vacation.

Rule #1: Keep the most important supplies visible
For this, I use Sterilite drawers.  I prefer the 2-drawer cart for vacations because its drawers are large enough to carry bulky items and they come out of the cart for easy transport to various rooms.  The carts go right in the back of the car.

NOTE:  I do NOT use the wheels because I don't want them rolling around in the back of the car.  If I was using them in the classroom, I would definitely put the wheels on.

Rule #2: Label EVERYTHING 
Since the contents of the drawers are likely to change during the vacation, I use packing tape and a Sharpie to label the drawers.

NOTE:  I use a more permanent labeling system in my classroom.  I print, laminate, and cut out the labels and hot glue them to different baskets and drawers throughout the room.  That way, I can easily change the label if I change or move the contents.

You can read more about how I use these items in my post about Hanging Posters so They Don't Damage Walls.

LIFE HACK: Fold a corner of the tape before cutting and/or putting the tape down permanently.  This helps the tape come off the drawers easily AND you'll never lose your place on the tape roll again!

Rule #3:  Keep lesser-used materials in storage until needed.
The materials we won't be using during the trip go in vacuum bags and stored in our car top case.  We bring our vacuum so we are able to re-seal the bags when we leave.

Pillows and bedding go in the XL space saver bags.

Extra clothes go in the Large space saver bags.

LIFE HACK:  If you can't bring a vacuum, just seal the bag until there's only a little space open and lie down on top of it to get the rest of the air out.  Quickly seal it up and it will lie ALMOST as flat as it would if you had vacuumed the bag.  NOTE:  This won't work with fluffy items, like pillows.


Have you ever found yourself using the organizational strategies from your classroom in your home or on vacation?  I'd love to hear how!

B-O-Y: Class Schedule Cards and Clocks

Would you like to give your students more independence by providing them with a classroom schedule they can read on their own?  Check out my Class Schedule Cards!

 

Analog clocks are included to help students practice their clock-reading skills, or you can simply write the digital time above the activity. 

 

The clocks and activity cards can be printed and laminated to use for showing your daily schedule. There are 15 different subject cards, ranging from "Arrival" to "Social Studies", and 20 blank analog clocks so you can draw the times in for each subject.

 

You can pick up a copy by clicking here. 

What do you use for scheduling?  Do you think it's important to have something like this in the upper grades?  What about Middle School?  I'd love to hear your ideas!