education Archives - Page 2 of 13

Jingle All the Way to Learning: 5 Enchanting Christmas Activities for the Classroom

November 17, 2023 teachersbrain education, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Teaching Tips, Winter, Writing

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and it’s time to sprinkle a bit of holiday magic into your classroom with some Christmas activities for kids or holiday activities for elementary.

Christmas and the winter holidays are just around the corner, and I want to share some festive resources and activities that will turn your classroom into a winter wonderland of learning and joy!

If you are looking for Christmas activities for elementary students, you’re in the right place!

Teaching during the holiday season is a special opportunity to infuse the spirit of Christmas into your lessons while keeping the focus on education. Here are some of my favorite Christmas activities for kids!

Christmas Math and Literacy Worksheets

Are you looking for some holiday worksheets for your K-1 students? I have you covered with over 100 various types of worksheets, games, and printables that cover many kindergarten and 1st grade skills.

Holidays Around the World Escape Room

Looking for a GREAT activity for your students to help your students practice problem-solving and learn about different winter holidays with a focus on the main idea? Digital Escapes™ are a fun way to get students to learn without even realizing it. NO Printing and No Prep needed for this digital escape! Super EASY for in-person or Distance Learning.

Students will click an audio button for a short story and directions to help with their first clue. During the escape, students will be tasked with solving 4 lock clues in order to escape the room and break the spell a bad elf placed on them. There is a PDF included in this download with directions, the link to the site, an answer key, and an optional note-taking worksheet for students. This activity takes about 20 to 30 minutes to complete.

Christmas Ornament Poem (FREEBIE!)

Are you looking for a great poem to easily download, print, and add to an ornament filled with a ribbon the same size as the student? I have you covered. 🙂 These make perfect gifts for the family!

Christmas Door Decorations

Christmas classroom decorations Christmas activities for kids

Ready to have the cutest door at school for the holidays? This is a simple door or bulletin board you can create using these printables. Pair Santa’s Vacation display with student writing samples or have students add a personalized bulb to the palm tree.

Santa is gone to the beach!

Ugly Sweater Christmas Writing Activity

Christmas activities for kids writing activity ugly sweater

Are you looking for a great way to do an engaging virtual OR in-person Holiday WRITING lesson with students? I have you covered with these interactive, editable Google Slides to easily have students copy and paste movable parts to DESIGN their own Ugly Sweater. Then, they will write a narrative, persuasive, or opinion paper about ugly sweaters.

‘Tis the season to be jolly and learn together! I hope you and your students love these resources as much as I do.

Looking for more Christmas fun? Check out my post here!

Why Teachers Play an Important Role in Kids’ Eye Health

November 16, 2023 teachersbrain education, Teaching Tips

IMAGE: [https://images.pexels.com/photos/261895/pexels-photo-261895.jpeg]
Credit: Pexels

Vision problems among kids are more common than many people realize. According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, around 450 million children globally have eye conditions that need treatment, while 90 million children are already living with some form of vision loss. While most believe that protecting children’s vision falls only under the responsibility of parents and healthcare workers, teachers actually play an important role in it as well. Below are the reasons why and several ways to do it.

Why students’ vision matters and the role teachers have in it

One of the most important reasons why eye health matters to young kids is its impact on their academic performance, learning, and overall development. These factors are extremely crucial at this stage in life, as young kids are still developing and growing. According to a UCLA study, 80% of a child’s learning occurs through visual means, whether it’s reading, writing, or using educational materials. As such, having good eye health enables children to explore the world around them, engage in physical activities, and develop their spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination.

Clear vision is also essential for a child’s social and emotional well-being. Kids with poor vision may struggle to recognize faces, make eye contact, or interpret facial expressions, which can hinder social interactions and the development of non-verbal and verbal communication skills.

One of the primary reasons why teachers play a role in keeping children’s vision safe is due to the fact that they are in a unique position to identify potential vision problems early on. As children spend a lot of their waking hours at school, teachers are able to interact with them on a daily basis and are able to observe their behavior and performance up close. This enables them to notice any signs of vision issues such as squinting, rubbing of eyes, or sitting too close to the board. By being vigilant and proactive in spotting these signs, teachers can help ensure that any vision problems are addressed promptly, preventing long-term damage to the children’s eyes.

How teachers can help protect kids’ vision

Collaborating with parents to enforce healthy eye habits

Besides educating their students, teachers can also educate parents regarding vision health and suggest how to reinforce healthy eye habits at home. They can provide parents with resources on how to protect children’s vision, like booking eye exams and procuring kids’ prescription glasses for those who need them. These types of glasses are just the same as prescription glasses for teens and adults. They can be customized with specific prescriptions, from single lenses to progressive lenses, and can be added with additional protective properties like anti-reflection and UV protection coatings.

Older elementary kids can also be introduced to disposable contact lenses, so long as they’re at least eight years old and have a guardian’s supervision. Since these can drastically improve social and cognitive development as fuss-free vision corrective options. Regardless, all these interventions can greatly improve student eye health and academic performance, especially if introduced early—hence, the value of being able to suggest them as soon as possible.

Making adjustments to create eye-friendly classrooms

Another way teachers can help protect kids’ vision is by taking proactive steps to create a classroom environment that supports good vision health. This can include ensuring that classroom lighting is adequate, minimizing glare from windows or electronic devices, making classroom materials like visual schedules big enough for easy reading, and arranging seating arrangements to accommodate kids with vision problems better.

Making use of classroom aids such as large-print books or handouts of lessons can also be less straining for kids’ eyes, while simultaneously helping increase their engagement and attention. By prioritizing optimal learning conditions, teachers are not only helping to prevent potential vision problems but are also promoting their overall well-being.

Fun Ways To Celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day

September 8, 2023 teachersbrain education, Teaching Tips

Johnny Appleseed Day is coming up on September 26th, and that means it’s the perfect time to teach your students about who he is and celebrate apples!

This holiday is all about appreciating apples and the legacy of a remarkable individual who planted apple trees across the country. If you are looking for some Johnny Appleseed Day activities and resources to have an engaging lesson to celebrate Johnny Appleseed and his favorite fruit, you’re in the right place!

How do you celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day?

Learn about who he was

Start by learning about the life and adventures of Johnny Appleseed! You can read books, watch videos on YouTube, or have a special lesson in class about this important historical figure. Understanding his love for apples and his contributions to our country is a great way to begin your celebration!

Do some apple themed arts and crafts

Get creative with apple-themed arts and crafts activities. Try making apple prints, drawing Johnny Appleseed’s character, or creating colorful posters that showcase the importance of apple trees. These hands-on projects will help your students express their creativity while celebrating Johnny Appleseed.

Go Apple tasting at an Apple Orchard

If possible, take a field trip! Explore the world of apples by tasting different apple varieties and, if possible, visiting a local apple orchard. Create a mini apple tasting event where you and your classmates can sample various apples and discuss your favorites. If you go to an orchard, learn about the apple-growing process and pick some apples to take home.

Plant your own apple seeds

Consider planting your own apple seeds or small apple tree saplings. This hands-on activity can help you understand the process of growing apple trees and appreciate the work this historical figure did. Over time, you can watch your apple trees grow and even produce apples of your own!

Try out some apple themed snacks and treats

End your celebration with some delicious apple-themed snacks and treats. Make apple pie, apple crisp, or apple muffins in class or at home. You can also enjoy a healthy snack of sliced apples with caramel or peanut butter. Sharing these tasty treats with your classmates is a great way to wrap up your celebration.

Looking for some easy, print and go Johnny Appleseed resources that you can easily incorporate into your lessons? I have you covered!

Check out this Johnny Appleseed Activities Bundle!

This bundle has it all! Crafts, writing, a digital escape, reading, math, science, and art activities!

7 Products Bundled

Craft Hat & Journal

Apple Glasses

Apple Math

Digital Escape Room (Reading and Problem Solving)

Puppet & Pop Art

Apple Sauce & Apple Pie Recipe

Biography (Week-long unit)

Opinion Writing & More

Celebrating Johnny Appleseed is such a fun activity for the fall! I hope you and your students love these Johnny Appleseed activities and ideas as much as I do! For more activities to do with your students this fall, check out my post here!

5 Reasons to Use Morning Work in Kindergarten

September 1, 2023 teachersbrain Back to School, education, kindergarten survival, Sight Words, Teacher's Pay Teachers, Teaching Tips

Picture this: It’s a bright, bustling morning in your kindergarten classroom. The tiny tots are shuffling in with sleepy eyes and contagious energy. As a teacher, you know that the first moments of the day set the tone for everything that follows.

That’s where the magic of kindergarten morning work comes into play. It’s like the secret ingredient in your morning routine that can transform chaos into calm, hesitation into confidence, and groggy minds into eager learners.

If you’re looking for morning work ideas for kindergarten or morning work worksheets, you’re in the right place!

But first, let’s discuss the advantages of having morning work in your kindergarten classroom.

Smooth Morning Transitions

Morning work is like the secret sauce that makes our mornings smoother than a fresh jar of peanut butter. It gives our little ones a structured start to the day, helping them transition from home to the classroom routine with ease. Less chaos, more focus!

Independence Boost

You know that feeling when a kindergartener proudly completes a task on their own? It’s like a warm cup of coffee for our teacher hearts! Morning work encourages independence. They’re tackling challenges right away, building confidence as they go.

Skill Reinforcement

Think of morning work as a daily dose of learning vitamins. It reinforces the skills we’ve been teaching. Whether it’s reviewing letters, numbers, or shapes, these quick exercises keep their growing brains engaged and active.

Time Management Skills

In the real world, time management is a superpower, right? Well, morning work helps our little ones develop those skills early on. They learn to manage their time by completing tasks within a set period. It’s like a mini time-management boot camp!

Teacher Prep Time

Last but not least, morning work can be a lifesaver for us teachers. While the kiddos are busy, we can take a moment to assess their progress, prepare for the day, or have a quick chat with parents. It’s like a small gift of time in a busy morning schedule.

You may be wondering what to do for kindergarten morning work?

This resource is all you need!

This engaging morning work for kindergarten covers reading and math skills and is super easy to implement. These no prep packets are perfect. They will help keep your class calm while reviewing skills at their own pace for the entire school year.

You’ll never find yourself scrambling for morning activities again!

This resource covers:

❀ Handwriting Uppercase and Lowercase Letters

❀ Sight Word Practice

❀ Beginning Letter Sounds

❀ Months of the Year

❀ Days of the Week

❀ Handwriting Sentences

❀ Word Families

❀ Silent /e/

❀ Digraphs

❀ Number Sense

❀ Ten Frames

❀ Counting

❀ Number Lines

❀ Writing Numbers

❀ Counting On

❀ Shapes

❀ More and Less Than

❀ 3D Shapes

❀ Graphs

❀ Place Value

What’s included?

Pg 1-42 – Aug. and Sept. (Handwriting, Letters, Numbers, Colors, Sight Words, Counting)

Pg. 43-84 – Oct. and Nov. (Handwriting, Letters, Numbers, Ten Frame, Counting, What Comes Next)

Pg. 85-126 Dec. Jan. (Word Families, Vowels, Counting, Greater than, Less Than, Handwriting)

Pg. 127-168 – Feb. and March (capital letters, lowercase letters, word families, shapes, counting on, less than)

Pg. 169-210 April and May (digraphs, tens and ones, 3D shapes, graphs, and silent /e/)

Each page has an extended activity for students to do on the back of the page for early finishers. It is designed to model once to the whole group, and students should be working independently for each set (4 Weeks.)

There are only mild changes in this packet each month to make it easy for students to follow the pattern each morning. I provide different fonts, so students get used to seeing letters that look different.

The number and the number word is used so students get familiar with number word recognition. I tell students to look at their crayons to find the color word to help them figure out the color on their own to create independence.

I print my pages out to create a journal to easily store papers, leaving the back blank for the extended activity. My students could move on to the next page if they finished. You can just give one individual sheet, if you like to ensure students don’t move on to the next page.

Check it out here!

For more kindergarten morning work activities, check out my post here!