All I Want For Christmas is STEM (Classroom STEM Activities for the Holidays)

Lately, I have been really interested in integrating more STEM activities in my classroom. I love that my students are engaged, and they love the hands-on aspect of STEM.

I just completed a bundle 4 of STEM activities for December. You can check them out in my TPT store HERE. 

What I love most about these STEM challenges is that they are presented to students in the form of a letter from the STEM elf. In each letter to the students the elf states the problem for the students and gives them the list of materials with which they may use in order to solve the problem.

The bundle includes:

Christmas Tree Challenge: Students must build a Christmas tree out of plastic cups.

Santa's Sleigh: Students must build a wind powered sleigh for Santa out of paper and a straw.

Silent Jingle Bells: Students must figure out a way to silence a jingle bell.

Make a Dreidel: Students must create a dreidel for Hanukah using only the materials provided.

If you have your students learn about Christmas around the world be sure to check out my Holidays Around the World STEM activities. Learn about how they celebrate the holidays in America, England, Israel, Germany, and Sweden. 

This product includes all of my Christmas STEM challenges and connects them to holiday traditions in other countries. Click on the picture to learn more. 

For other STEM activities check out the STEM section of my TPT store. 

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!

We would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave your feedback in the comments. We can't wait to connect with you!

-Carly

Why I Finally Took A Vacation Day As A Teacher (And Why You Should Too)

I have been a teacher for six years. During my time teaching I can't recall a time that I have ever taken a vacation day. 

Sick days, I can remember a few of those, but I have never taken a day off just because. Well, that is, not until yesterday.

As a teacher I know the burden and guilt that comes from taking time off of work. Not to mention the fact that writing sub plans can be a pain. 

However, as a teacher it is important that we make time for our families and that we make time for ourselves. After all if we are coming to school tired and stressed out we will not be in the right frame of mind to help our students anyway.

This realization is one that has been a long time coming for me. It  actually took a promotion this year from teacher to teacher mom to help me get my priorities in order. As a part of this priority shift I have been spending less time at school and more time at home with my family (and I feel happier and less stressed because of it). 

In fact the reason I took a day off was so I could spend time with my daughter. I was also able to get caught up on some TPT projects.

Teaching is a tough profession, and I know that some of you may be reading this thinking there is no way I can afford to take time off of work. Well, I am saying that you CANNOT afford to NOT take time off of work. 

In fact I challenge you this school year to take at least one vacation day or mental health day. Let me know how it goes. I guarantee you will return to work refreshed and that you will be a better teacher for taking the time for yourself.

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!

We would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave your feedback in the comments. We can't wait to connect with you!

-Carly

5 Ways to Use Clip Charts Other Than Behavior

Clip Charts are very useful classroom tools. Although they are most commonly used for classroom management, they have many other uses as well. I have been successfully using Clip Charts in my classroom for multiple purposes none of which have to do with behavior. 

The following is a list of 5 alternate uses for Clip Charts in the classroom. 

1) Increase Fact Fluency

One way that I have used Clip Charts in my classroom is as a motivator for students to learn their math facts. Students love clipping up the chart as they master each set of facts. You can check out my math fact fluency Clip Charts in my TPT store by clicking on the pictures below (available in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division). 

2) Teach Sight Words

Another way to use Clip Charts in the classroom is as a motivator for students to learn sight words. Students clip up the chart as they master each list of words. Learn more by clicking on the image below. 

3) Track Data

Like it or not data is such an important part of teaching these days. One way to make it fun and motivate students is to use clip charts to track data. In my classroom students track their personal data in data binders, but we also use clip charts to track our whole class data. One example of how this can be used is to track NWEA data. Click on the image to learn more.

4) Increase Student Motivation

As teachers it is important to set up a routine so that students know what to expect each day in the classroom. Although a predictable routine is essential, it can lead to students getting bored. For example at my school students are on the same technology programs each day during their math and reading blocks. Once the novelty of these programs wears off the students tend to get bored. My solution to this was to increase student motivation on these online programs by having students track their progress using Clip Charts. To learn more about how I increase student motivation on Lexia click on the image below. 

5) Track Reading Levels

Another way to use Clip Charts in the classroom is to track student reading levels. Students love passing the next reading level and clipping up the chart. It is a great way to increase student reading motivation and celebrate student successes. To learn more click on the image below. 

Hopefully, after reading this post you have some great ideas on how you can utilize Clip Charts to help motivate students in you classroom. If you have any questions or need help feel free to reach out. We love hearing from and collaborating with other teachers.To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!

We would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave your feedback in the comments. We can't wait to connect with you!

-Carly

How to Create Awesome Writer's Workshop Folders in 3 Easy Steps

This week in third grade we are launching Writer's Workshop. I absolutely LOVE the Writer's Workshop model, and I am so excited that we have adopted it school-wide this year!

In preparation for our launch I create a folder for each of my students to keep their writing pieces along with other writing tools that they may need throughout each unit of study. 

I am so excited about these folders, and my students love them as well. There is very little prep work involved and they can be assembled in just 3 simple steps.

STEP 1: Get 3-Prong Folders for Each of Your Students

You only need one folder per student, and for durability I recommend using the plastic folders over the paper ones. 

STEP 2: Place 3-4 Plastic Sheet Protectors in the 3-Prongs

I have seen teachers create Writer's Workshop folders by binding multiple folders together. The sheet protectors give you added storage without the extra prep work of figuring out how to combine multiple folders.

STEP 3: Fill the Folders with Writing Tools that Your Students Will Love 

In my folders I have a portable word wall. Students love it, because they have their own mini-dictionary. I love it because it eliminates me having to hear, "How do you spell...?"

In my folders I also have mini posters for each of the six traits that the students can reference as they write and revise their work.

I have also included help tents in my folders that students can set out when they get stuck and are in need of a conference.

Throughout the Writer's Workshop launch I will introduce each of these tools to my students and explain how each one can be effectively utilized.

To learn more about my Writer's Workshop folders check them out in my TPT store by clicking on the image below.

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!

We would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave your feedback in the comments. We can't wait to connect with you!

-Carly

Team Building STEM Activities and a FREEBIE!

Arguably the most important thing to do at the beginning of a new school year, other than teaching procedures, is building classroom community. One of my favorite ways to build community is by introducing my students to STEM activities. 

Not only are these activities engaging to students, they also help teach problem solving as students are introduced to the scientific method. 

The following are my top four STEM activities to build teamwork in the classroom. 

#1) Paper Chain STEM Challenge

During the Paper Chain STEM Challenge students are given the task to create the longest paper chain in the given time frame with only the materials provided.

You can check out this STEM challenge for FREE in my TPT store by clicking on the image. 

#2) Marshmallow and Spaghetti STEM Challenge

During the Marshmallow and Spaghetti STEM Challenge students are given the task to create the tallest tower in the given time frame with only the materials provided. To learn more click on the picture. 

#3) Foil Boat STEM Challenge

During the Foil Boat STEM Challenge students are given the task to create a foil boat that will hold the most pennies or marbles without sinking. To learn more click on the picture. 

#4) Marshmallow Tower STEM Challenge

During the Marshmallow Tower STEM Challenge students are given the task to create the tallest tower in the given time frame using only the materials provided. To learn more click on the picture. 

To learn more about using STEM activities to build teamwork in your classroom check out my Team Building STEM challenges resource on TPT by clicking the image below. 

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!


We would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave your feedback in the comments. We can't wait to connect with you!

-Carly

First Week of School Plans and a FREEBIE!

Hello teacher friends! It is that time of year again. The back to school season is upon us, and it is time to start thinking about those dreaded lesson plans again. 

Nevertheless, I have some good news! I have compiled all of my first week of school lessons and activities in one BUNDLE so that you can get your year started off on the right foot without spending hours planning.

With this bundle all you need to do is select the activities that will work best for your students along with the days that you plan to do each activity. 

Then, using Post-It notes, complete the first week of school lesson plan template (pictured above). I love this method of planning, because the first week is always difficult to plan for. By using the Post-Its you can easily rearrange your schedule as needed. 

The bundle includes:

• Read-Aloud Lessons
• Reading Mini-Lessons
• Team Building Games and Activities
• STEM Activities
• A Flip Book to Help Teach Procedures

You can check out the bundle by clicking on the image below. 

Enjoy your first week back at school, and have some fun with this FREEBIE to help students find their way around the classroom. Click on the image below to grab the freebie!

I hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!


We would love to hear your thoughts. Please leave your feedback in the comments. We can't wait to connect with you!

-Carly

My Fixer Upper Classroom Reveal

Have you watched the show Fixer Upper? It is definitely on my Netflix binge watch list. I just love Joanna Gaines' style, and I wanted to bring some of those rustic chic elements to my classroom this school year. I found this industrial chic classroom decor set from School Girl Style, and I quickly got to work. Welcome to my 2016-2017 classroom reveal.

This is the front of my classroom. I just love this wood grain paper that I got from Amazon. The alphabet cards, number line, lightbulbs and calendar are from School Girl Style. I used black and white polkadot ribbon for the border which you can also get on Amazon. 

This is one of my tables. The name tags are from School Girl Style. I am so excited about my new classroom rug that I got from Target. 

These are my procedure posters. I use a modified version of the Whole Brain Teaching procedures. You can get them from my TPT store. I attached them together with the same black and white ribbon that I used on the bulletin board.  

This is the area behind my desk. One of my goals for this year is to stay organized so there is plenty of storage. That little angel on the wall is my baby girl. This is my first year balancing being a teacher mom so if you have any tips I need all the advice I can get. 

These are my students' book bins. I absolutely adore these rustic shiplap labels from School Girl Style. I laminated them and attached them to the book bins with a glue gun. 

I love how these schedule cards turned out. I also love that they will reduce the amount of times I hear questions like, "What time is recess?" and "When is gym?" You can check them out in my TPT store.

At my school we use a lot of online programs. One of those online programs is Lexia. I created this tracker that matches my classroom theme so that we could track our class progress and set goals. I love how it turned out. You can check it out in my TPT store here.

For more rustic chic classroom design ideas be sure to check out School Girl Style, and for back to school ideas be sure to check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store. 

That concludes my classroom tour. I think that this is my favorite classroom design yet, and I look forward to spending the year in this room with my third graders.

I would love to hear about your classroom in the comments section. Have a great school year teacher friends!

To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!

-Carly