Best of 2016 Sale!

When I was a teenager I always looked forward to MTV's end of year countdown of the best videos on New Years.  So, when Amy from Planning Playtime suggested that we have a Best of 2016 sale, I was happy to join in!

Each of the participating TpT sellers have put our top sellers of 2016 on sale - 20% off!  You just have to search #bestof2016Sale to find the participating sellers and products.

Here are links to my Top 5 Sellers in 2016:

Kicking It Addition and Subtraction Bundle

Kicking It Multiplication

Kicking It Multiplication and Division Bundle

Capitalization Packet

Daily Math Review 4th Grade

And... don't forget to enter to win a $25 Teachers pay Teachers gift card in our giveaway!

Merry Christmas and a $25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway

Just in case Santa didn't bring you EVERYTHING you wanted - we have you covered with our weekly $25 Teachers pay Teachers gift card giveaway so you can buy those things that weren't under the tree!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  

Prize: $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card

Giveaway Organized by: Kelly Malloy (An Apple for the Teacher), 

Co-hosts:   An Apple for the Teacher, Mickey's Place, Mrs Hansens Helpfuls, A Place of Story, Kathryn Watts, Kari Hall, Victoria Moore, and Hello Teacher Lady.

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter. Giveaway ends 1/2/17 and is open worldwide.

Are you a Teacher Blogger or Teachers pay Teachers seller who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your store and social media?  Click here to find out how you can join our totally awesome group of bloggers!

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Weekly $25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway

Many of you are already on your Christmas/Winter Breaks while some of you, like me have another few days to go!  Either way, winning a $25 Teachers pay Teachers gift card can make your break a little more merry!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  

Prize: $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card

Giveaway Organized by: Kelly Malloy (An Apple for the Teacher), 

Co-hosts:   An Apple for the Teacher, Mrs Hansens Helpfuls, A Place of Story, and Kathryn Watts.

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter. Giveaway ends 12/26/16 and is open worldwide.

Are you a Teacher Blogger or Teachers pay Teachers seller who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your store and social media?  Click here to find out how you can join our totally awesome group of bloggers!

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Christmas Activity Ideas For Your Classroom and Weekly $25 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway

Christmas Break is on the horizon, and your students are probably a bit antsy! Here are a few ideas for Christmas related activities to keep them busy while celebrating the festivities! And stick around to the bottom of the post because there is a giveaway for a $25 Teachers pay Teachers gift card to help you out as well!


This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love. 

We will be using these Perimeter and Area Brain Teasers from The Primary Gal.  You can grab this freebie here.

If you are looking for a simple and easy craft idea, these Christmas trees are perfect.  

I love the detail on this one!  See the little squirrel at the bottom?

We used the instructions below from Krokotak, and these green Astrobrights paper to make our trees.

Did you know that Macy's donates $1 to Make a Wish Foundation for every letter to Santa they receive? 

 Every year my students write persuasive letters to Santa explaining why they should be on Santa's good list!  

We send them to Macy's so that our wishes can go to a good cause.  You can find out more about this amazing program here.

Students can always use more practice with their math facts!  My students love to play this Cookies for Santa game during the holidays to practice math fact fluency!  

I print the cards out on card stock and then put them in an empty cookie can.

We always take a class photo to make holiday Christmas Cards for families, our specials teachers, the principal, school secretary, etc.  Here is this year's picture - I still need to make our card.

An example of a prior year Christmas card.

Color by Number is a great activity for keeping students happily busy and engaged.  I love using them to help my students practice their math facts.  You can find my Christmas versions here.

And now... time for the Giveaway!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED - Enter our Current Giveaway here!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  

Prize: $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card

Giveaway Organized by: Kelly Malloy (An Apple for the Teacher), 

Co-hosts:   An Apple for the Teacher, Amanda Kristofferson, Miss Pentagirl Kinderpuzzle, Third Grade Giggles, kelseynhayes, and

Glistening Gems

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter. Giveaway ends 12/19/16 and is open worldwide.

Sorry this giveaway is over!  Please visit our Giveaways Page to find current giveaway.

Are you a Teacher Blogger or Teachers pay Teachers seller who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your store and social media?  Click here to find out how you can join our totally awesome group of bloggers!

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Monthly $75 Teacher pay Teachers Gift Card Giveaway December 2016

Every month we get to spoil an amazing teacher with a $75 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card!  It is one of my favorite things to do, and December seems like an even more special time to do it!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Prize:  $75 Teachers pay Teachers Gift Card

Giveaway organized by: Kelly Malloy (An Apple for the Teacher).

Co-hosts: Kelly Malloy (An Apple for the Teacher),  Paula's Preschool and Kindergarten, Amanda Kristofferson, A Plus Kids, Heart 2 Heart Teaching, Reading and Writing Redhead, Teach with Hope, Rebekah Sayler, Peas In A Pod, A Library and Garden, Schoolhouse Treasures, Brynn's Teacher Bag, Simone's Math Resources, Ms. K, Jackie Crews, ZippadeeZazz, The Chocolate Teacher, Planet Happy Smiles, Growing Grade by Grade, Elementary at HEART, La-Nette Mark, Teacher Gameroom,  Teaching Biilfizzcend, and Claudia's Classroom.



Rules: Use the Rafflecopter form to enter.  Giveaway ends 12/13/16 and is open worldwide.

And don't forget to enter our weekly $25 Teachers pay Teachers gift card giveaway as well!

Sorry this giveaway is over!  Please visit our Giveaways Page to find current giveaway.

Are you a blogger who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your blog?  Click here to find out how you can join a totally awesome group of bloggers!

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5 Tips for Successful Co-Teaching

I have been lucky enough to have two amazing co-teaching experiences. Last year I had one of our Special Education teachers pushing into my classroom and this year I have one of our ELL teachers pushing into my classroom.  Although I have been happy with my own experience, I know that not everyone has been able to find that happy balance.  In this blog post I will be sharing some tips that may make it a little less challenging.  

Our ELL teacher leading our whole group lesson

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.    Co-teaching is defined as two teachers working together with groups of students; sharing the planning, organization, delivery, and assessment of instruction, as well as the physical space. (Bacharach, Heck & Dank, 2004).

If you are wondering how to make co-teaching effective or more effective in your classroom, here are a few tips:

1. Get to Know One Another - Before the students arrive, take some time to meet each other and establish a relationship with one another. I find it helpful to discuss educational philosophies and preferences for co-teaching.  You may also want to share personal information such as hobbies, interests, etc. to help establish a bond.

2. Establish A Co-Teaching Set of Norms and Routines. Discuss your beliefs about teaching practices and discipline ahead of time.  Decide together policies that will work with both of your styles.  I have always been more comfortable with hands on instruction using manipulatives, while both of my co-teachers have preferred to use worksheets as student evidence of learning. 

 We have managed to blend our styles through our lesson plans.  We have even added taking pictures of student work as an alternative evidence of learning.

You may want to check out these different models of co-teaching for ideas as well.

In order for the situation to be successful, both teachers must always be thinking, "We are both teaching!" (Bacharach, & Heck 2011).

3. Plan Together - It is so much easier to be on the same page when you plan your lessons together.  I have worked together with my co-teachers to look over the particular goals of students they service (IEP and ELL), and develop ways to meet those needs through our co-taught lessons.  We also include the needs of the class as a whole.  As we plan, we decide together if it would be best to teach a certain lesson whole group, or in small groups. We usually take turns presenting whole group lessons and each take a small group afterwards.

4. Be Consistent.  Students depend on a routine and a schedule.  If you deviate to often it can really throw them off behavior wise and academically.  We have a set time Monday - Thursday that my co-teacher comes in to the classroom.  If she is absent, she has a sub that covers her.  My students have gotten used to having her in our room, so they treat her the same way they do me.  They know that we are BOTH their teachers.

5. Take Risks and Grow. My favorite part of co-teaching has been my own teaching growth.  I have learned so many strategies for teaching from observing my co-teachers in practice!  I have also been able to modify my own instruction and validate successful practices through our reflections after lessons.

Have you had experience with co-teaching?  Good or Bad?  I would love to hear about it in the comments below!