tips for teachers

  • Best Amazon Teaching Products

    Favorite Teacher Supplies

    Since we’re talking supplies already I wanted to share this post from last year – these are all still my favorite items as a teacher! ver the years I’ve narrowed down my absolute favorite products that I, as the teacher, NEED to have. Here’s my list: (all links are affiliates, your support is TRULY appreciated!) I use these zip pouches for literally everything. They are one of my all-time-favorite Amazon purchases. This size can fit a whole notebook or legal pad, so I can easily keep all of my notes, projects, and copies organized. I’m obsessed with my Bogg Bag and this leopard print one is definitely on my wishlist. I love…

  • Preschool Infant Toddler Assessment

    All Things Assessment for Preschool

    On Friday I shared a video that shows my early childhood assessments and how to use them. As you consider these and prepare to complete your own assessments I wanted to make sure that you had all of my resources in one easy place! Here are all of the posts that I’ve shared on assessments and portfolios over the years: Using assessment results to inform lesson planning Explaining assessments to families Sharing assessment results with families My favorite assessment products What does assessment evidence look like in preschool? Assessment strategies for preschool Collecting assessment evidence Google drive student portfolios Anecdotal Notes Please reach out if there is anything that I…

  • Teacher christmas wardrobe

    Teacher Christmas Must-Haves

    We officially have one more week until Christmas! If your calendar looks anything like mine, then it’s probably packed with all of the festive events – and if you still need some last minute outfits or accessories for all of these, then I’ve got you covered. All of these picks are from Amazon, so they can save the day really quickly (and the links are affiliates, but I truly do love all of these products). Christmas-shaped stud earrings – I’m not a fan of wearing dangly earrings in the classroom, there’s far too much opportunity for them to get caught or grabbed by a little hand. Large, dangly earrings seem…

  • printable christmas thank you cards

    Printable Christmas Thank You Cards

    Here’s a super helpful resource for this time of year! Printable thank you cards have saved me more times than I can count. While I love stationary, and admittedly have a much larger stash than is necessary, I never seem to have enough thank you cards. These can be printed as needed, making it really easy to get those thank you’s out for any student or co-worker gifts before everyone leaves school for the holidays. You can grab your set HERE!

  • ending the year strong

    Finishing the Year Strong!

    We’re so close to December! Can you believe that it’s nearly the end of another year already? This can be such a strange time when it comes to teaching – everything is a bit of a whirlwind because there’s so much going on, it’s the end of a calendar year, but not the end of the school year, and it many cases it feels like you’re surviving until a holiday break. Is it possible to be intentional as we head into December so that everyone enjoys this season, while feeling some closure to 2023 and prepared to start fresh in the new year? Of course it is! Here are my…

  • Digital Preschool Portfolios

    Google Drive Student Portfolios

    I originally shared this post a couple of years ago, and it has been the most popular post that I’ve ever written. I can understand why – we all want easy solutions to conferences and documentation, but no one wants to pay for the expensive platforms that curriculum companies have available. This system is my DIY version of that kind of system. Since most parents are a lot more comfortable with google drive and PDF documents it’s been the best way to share information! Here’s the rest of that original post: I’ve always used three-ring binders to compile my students’ portfolios, but this year my classroom did not have the…

  • November preschool lesson plans

    November Lesson Plans!

    It’s officially here! The November Month of Preschool set is available! This collection of activities just my be my favorite month yet. It can be tricky to navigate Thanksgiving and all of the different family and historical aspects that come with it. The learning experiences included in this set cover the holiday and related themes in developmentally and culturally appropriate ways, while still being tons of fun. There is a heavy focus on the holiday, including themes of families, gratitude and thankfulness, traditional Thanksgiving foods, and baking. I’ve added some brand new activities, and even a few that are only available as part of this set. Here’s a sneak peak…

  • Best Amazon Teaching Products

    Preschool Teacher Products 2023

    I’m giving you even more ideas for your Amazon Big Deal Days wishlists today! Over the years I’ve narrowed down my absolute favorite products that I, as the teacher, NEED to have. Here’s my list: (all links are affiliates, your support is TRULY appreciated!) I use these zip pouches for literally everything. They are one of my all-time-favorite Amazon purchases. This size can fit a whole notebook or legal pad, so I can easily keep all of my notes, projects, and copies organized. I’m obsessed with my Bogg Bag and this leopard print one is definitely on my wishlist. I love the structure of this bag, and that it can…

  • aesthetically beautiful classroom

    Aesthetic Classroom Ideas

    I’m back with more ideas for your Amazon Big Deal Days! Today I’m focusing on the pieces that make a classroom feel like home – and let’s be real, we all spend as much time there (if not more) than we do at home. I firmly believe that a classroom should be both aesthetically pleasing AND functional. In my world that means well organized and super easy to use. Here are my pics for making an aesthetically beautiful classroom! (all links are affiliates, your support is TRULY appreciated!) I stumbled across this poster and it immediately become my favorite thing. It absolutely deserves a space of honor in any classroom…

  • teacher back to school

    Expectations for the first week of school

    TPT shared this image on their instagram this week and it really stuck with me – probably because it’s exactly the kind of reminder that I always need during the first week. There’s so much pressure to jump back into a full-on routine and do all the things, but that’s not healthy for us as adults, and it can create a lot of stress for our students. Setting realistic expectations for the first week of school makes such a difference! I’m a planner, you know that, so for me this looks like getting out my calendar and really assessing what each day will look like and what I can actually…