Friday, July 26, 2019

Calling All Science Teachers!

Do you teach science? If so, they you probably stumbled by our blog and realized I (Theresa) teach science and love it. Robyn teaches ELA and couldn't imagine teaching any other subject. I love being departmentalized in school and focusing on one subject matter. I am able to bring clarity to my students because focusing on planning one class (taught three times a day) is much easier than teaching every subject, every day. Props to you elementary school teachers who teach it all, I don't know how you do it.

Anyways, we have an amazing online science curriculum that I love, called StemScopes. We teach through inquiry and use Claim, Evidence, & Reasoning to write about our science learning. I'd love to hear about what you do in science class. I've written a few more blog posts about specific lessons I teach in science, so be sure to search the blog for ideas and lessons.

As I print out materials for my classroom since I moved rooms and our entire school is getting renovated (see my last post). I wanted to share these awesome posters I will be hanging up in my classroom again.

My students come into 4th grade knowing what a claim is and how to talk about evidence, but they do not move into reasoning until the end of 4th/beginning of 5th. We use the same vocabulary in reading and math, so understanding what CER means is very important for success. My students find these posters so helpful and easy to understand.

Today there are over 41 *five star* ratings on this product and some feedback the feedback we have received is so positive:







I love knowing I've helped out other teachers and even better helped SO many students feel successful in science. Let me know what you use in science to help your students explain their understanding.


Thursday, July 18, 2019

**Freebie Inside** Cactus Flower Welcome Banner!

Good morning!

If you liked the cute editable name tags I created yesterday, you should check out this free welcome banner. I love hanging welcome banners above my classroom door. It's a great place to set the tone for your classroom before your students even enter.

My friend hangs a welcome banner on her bulletin board and takes student pictures below the banner on the first day of school. They always come out adorable and the parents really enjoy them.



However you decide to use this, I'm sure it will be great. If you like it, let me know!

Enjoy!


Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Thinking Ahead...

Hello Friends,

It's been quite a while since I've blogged, but I'm excited to have a minute to do so now. So guess what? Our school is getting renovated! Basically torn down to the studs, and built back up again. I won't have a new classroom this year, but next fall (2020) I'll have an amazingly clean room with AC! I am thinking ahead and excited about what's to come. Check out the pictures we received in an update today. We are starting school right after Labor Day, so a lot has to happen before it is safe for students. We do however have to teach and work through a year of crazy renovations. Has anyone else gone through something like this before?



Crazy, isn't it?

Anyways I am starting to think ahead to what my classroom is going to look like. I don't think we will have floors, but will there even be bulletin boards or will the walls be studs? I still want to make my classroom feel like home for my fourth grade students, so I have to be creative in decor. I LOVE the lama, cactus, succulent ideas I am seeing, so I started creating today. I love these cute lama/cactus name tags I whipped up.





They are perfect for any grade because they aren't too babyish, gender neutral, and bright/fun.



**Teacher Hack** I teach 75 students, so three classes of 25. Name tags are a must at the beginning of the year. Don't want to take up too much room on a desk? These name tags will open up into Power Point. This will allow you to print them as slides, four or even six slides to a page. This will leave you with smaller name tags.




Check them out on my TPT page, for just $2, you can download, type directly onto them, and print them out.

Stay tuned for some more fun creations!
Enjoy!