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Life Between Summers

Elementary Teaching Blog

latest from the blog

Small Group Classroom Management: How to Keep the Rest of the Class on Task

Classroom Management Strategy for Keeping Students On Task During Independent Work

Valentine’s Day Card from Students to Parents

New Year’s Resolution Writing Craft: 2022 Balloons

Simple Grammar Crafts and Activities for Every Season

Winter Centers for Language Arts and Math

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Games are a win any time of the school year, but E Games are a win any time of the school year, but ESPECIALLY toward the end of it! 

They’re a great way to engage students in those final days/weeks, and still get some review & math practice in at the same time. 

Guess Who games are also great for developing math vocabulary! In addition to fractions, there are versions of this game for:

•Place Value
•Addition
•Subtraction
•Counting Money
•Telling Time 
•Geometry
•Decimals 

Plus an editable template to make your own games for any skills you want! 

Could also be something to save to prep for next school year (think math centers, early finisher activities, etc.) 👌🏼

The link for these is in my profile, or just let me know if you’d like me to message it to you 😊💗

#mathgames #mathgamesforkids #mathcenters #teachingfractions #earlyfinisheractivities
Many teachers have already had their last day with Many teachers have already had their last day with their kiddos, and did this activity with them along with reading the book…and I’ve LOVED hearing all of their positive feedback! 🥰

I also love the variety of different ways that teachers have been doing this activity! Here are just a few ideas that I’ve heard from them so far:

•Display everyone’s mailbox (or even hang up/tack them up on the wall), and students can look forward to delivering & receiving mail over multiple days.

•Have students do the writing part as an at-home activity, kind of like Valentines. Just send home a class list and stapled packet of the letter templates. Everyone can deliver their letters together in class on the last day.

•Mail home the teacher letter via snail mail. Students will be excited to get mail in their “real” mailbox at home!

Have you already done (or plan to do) this mailbox activity with your class? 📬 Any special ways you plan to implement it? Feel free to help out fellow teachers by sharing your ideas in the comments! 💞

P.S. If you still need the link to this, it’s in my profile or just let me know if you’d like me to DM it to you! 

#aletterfromyourteacher #aletterfromyourteacheronthelastdayofschool #lastdayactivity #lastdayofschool2022 #endoftheyear #endoftheschoolyear #elementaryteacher
One of my favorite things about our new house is t One of my favorite things about our new house is that there’s enough space downstairs for my girls to have a playroom! 💛 

Our previous place was very cozy (aka small) 😉 and usually overtaken by toys, books, and crafting projects everywhere 🤪 Any mamas who can relate??

I’m so happy that we now have a more designated space to help keep it all contained 🙌🏼 and for my kids to have fun & make memories at home 🏠💕

#momswhoteach #teachermoms #teachermamas #teachermommies
😳 I had one of those “if you know, you know” situations! 

While at an event at my daughters’ school, I was using the “adults only” bathroom (one that the teachers/staff use). I thought I had properly locked the door, but obviously not 🤦🏻‍♀️

If you’ve ever needed to go to the bathroom while wearing a romper/jumper, you can see where this is going…let’s just say the teacher who opened the door got an “adults only” eyeful 🙈🤣

Oh well, add it to my list of embarrassing moments! Thankfully the teacher was sweet with a good sense of humor, which made it way less awkward 😅

I swear, more women’s jumpers need some sort of zipper or buttons along the bottom, like baby onesies! 😜

What’s been your most embarrassing moment this year??

#teacherlife #teacherstyle #teacherfunnies #teachermoms #teachermamas
I’ve shared 10 end of the school year ideas in a I’ve shared 10 end of the school year ideas in a new blog post! 💡💕

Including the one shown here 😊 Students brainstorm & share their favorite memories from the year, and each of them writes one on a sticky note (or any die cut or cutout shape). 

Arrange those into any sort of shape or picture you want- a heart, a rainbow, etc. This hot air balloon one was made with one of my past classes 🎈 

Display it on your door or wall the last few weeks or days of school- kids love reading all of their special memories from the year! 💕

More EOY ideas are in the blog post I mentioned- the link is in my profile, or just let me know if you’d like me to message it to you! 🥰

#endoftheschoolyear #endoftheyearideas #elementaryteachers #classmemories
Some of you might remember the same version of thi Some of you might remember the same version of this to go with my book for the first day of school ❤️ Wellll, McKay from @gradesandgrace just made one to go with the new last day of school book too! Yay!! 👏🏼

In addition to hearing it read aloud in the classroom, students might also love listening to their teacher read it as a “bedtime story” after saying goodbye to their class on that last day 🥰

If you’re wanting to try this for the first time and you’re non-techy (like me) 😆 no worries! The resource includes an easy tutorial on how to create the QR code 👍🏼

It’s listed in her TPT store (Grades and Grace) under the featured products at the top. Hope your kiddos love hearing you read to them on the last day! 📖💕
Do you ever send postcards to your kids during the Do you ever send postcards to your kids during the school year (back to school, etc.)? They are just as thoughtful to send home with students on the last day of school! 💕 

Or if wanting to do something extra special, they could even be mailed to students over the summer…kids are sooo happily surprised to hear from their teacher after the school year ends! 

All designs are also available in bundles with matching welcome postcards for back to school time 💌 The link is in my profile, or just let me know if you’d like me to message it to you 🥰

#teacherpostcards #endoftheyearideas #lastdayofschoolideas #lovetoteach #teacherinspo
A photo booth is always a fun addition to any end A photo booth is always a fun addition to any end of the school year festivities! 📸😄

And I use the term “photo booth” very loosely. In this picture from a past school year, I was clearly so teacher-tired that the booth was just a big piece of butcher paper I had thrown haphazardly on the wall 🤷🏻‍♀️😂

Another year (swipe to see), I didn’t even bother with putting up any sort of backdrop 🤣 On the last day, I just had the kids take photos in front of a classroom wall as is! 

No matter what your backdrop though, kids LOVE holding photo props! 📸 It’s also easy to just throw in some festive stuff for them to wear, like sunglasses from a party store, Hawaiian leis, etc. to celebrate summer vacation on the way. 

Have you ever done a class photo booth at the end of the year? If you’re interested in using these same photo prop signs, they come with options for grades preK-6th. 

The link is in my profile (or I can message you the link, just let me know)! 💕

#endoftheschoolyear #lastdayofschoolfun #teachingideas #schoolphotobooth
Maybe a little cliche, bordering on cheesy 😛 bu Maybe a little cliche, bordering on cheesy 😛 but still some good food-for-thought as the end of the school year starts to draw closer 💛

The EOY is always busy, and can often be burnout & stress-inducing. When you cut through all the “extras” that a teacher’s job requires though, the most important thing simply boils down to:

Making a positive difference in the life of a kid during your time with them. And sometimes that can be accomplished in a simpler way than one might think 💛

Hopefully this quote about turning a life around (from Leo Buscaglia) could also help turn your week around 😉 (even if in just a small way)! Have a good one! 💕

#quotesforteachers #teacherquotes #teachingquotes #teachingwithheart #lovetoteach #caringteachers

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Life Between Summers

2 weeks ago

Life Between Summers
New book companion to go with Our Class is a Family! Class Family Memory Books for the end of the school year 📖💕This is a nice & simple writing activity for students to work on during those final weeks/days leading up to summer break 👌🏼 It’s a meaningful way to reflect on all their memories from the year, and they can take it home as a special keepsake on the last day of school! If you’re thinking you might want these memory books for your students, the timing couldn’t be better because they’re 25% off today & tomorrow (along with all other resources in my TPT store!) with the code THANKYOU22 💛 This comes available on its own, or in a discounted bundle with more extension activities for all 3 of my books 📚 I will share the link in the comments! 💕 ... See MoreSee Less

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Check out these top 5 favorites from Lakeshore Learning! They are having their biggest sale of the year for back to school. Use the coupon code 6392 for 20% off any non-sale item! bit.ly/2Usm24T Coupon valid ‪through 8/31/2021 for one-time use in stores or online. Limit one coupon per customer. Not valid on items with shipping restrictions. Other exclusions may apply. Visit bit.ly/3bbUXIj for details. #LearnwithLakeshore #ad #Sponsored ... See MoreSee Less

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Standard Form, Expanded Form, Word Form. Maybe not the most exciting math concept to teach, but definitely an important one…so why not make it fun and engaging?? 😄Guess Who math games encourage higher level thinking/reasoning and using math vocabulary verbally. They’re an instant favorite for math centers and early finishers!Find this game and others at bit.ly/guesswhomathgames ... See MoreSee Less

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  • These mini 2D and 3D shape books can be used to introduce shapes and their attributes. You can pick and choose specific shapes to include in the book, or use them all. Have students keep these books to use as a reference tool throughout your geometry unit. This is a great shapes activity to use at the start of your math unit or at the end. These emergent readers are great for students to keep in their book box. You can use these during math workshop or math centers.
  • Having a Star of the Week or Star Student to spotlight in your class each week is a great way to build community and student self-esteem, as well as encourage leadership responsibilities in the classroom. This star of the week book is a great writing activity for the whole class. If you are looking for star student ideas this one is for you! It is low prep and easy to use.
  • Are you looking to plan a virtual author visit this school year? You can now invite the author of "Our Class is a Family" & "A Letter from Your Teacher," Shannon Olsen into your classroom. These visits are best geared for K-3 students. Get a visit including a Q & A plus interactive community building time. There are so many Our Class is a Family activities you can do before or after the visit. You can do A Letter From Your Teacher crafts or create a bulletin board. B
  • Are you looking for back to school community building activities you can do with your elementary students? Today, I am sharing some of my favorite getting to know you activities and building community activities you can incorporate into your first week lesson plans. These back to school activities will help you build positive teacher student relationships from the start. Find Our Class is a family activities, back to school icebreakers, and back to school games!
  • Are you looking for a must-read back to school read aloud for your first week of school? A Letter From Your Teacher: On the First Day of School by Shannon Olsen is a great way to build positive relationships with your students and start building a solid classroom community. In this post, I share a back to school activity to go with the book. Students get to write a letter to their teacher and create an all about book to go with. Add this to your first week lesson plans today!
  • Are you looking for back to school community building activities you can do with your elementary students? Today, I am sharing some of my favorite getting to know you activities and building community activities you can incorporate into your first week lesson plans. These back to school activities will help you build positive teacher student relationships from the start. Find Our Class is a family activities, back to school icebreakers, and back to school games!
  • You and your students will have a blast with these back to school-themed photo booth props for the beginning of the school year! These back to school photo props are easy to use and great for the 2022 school year. This allows you to do DIY back to school photos. You can do whole class photos or individual photos of students. Make this part of your first week lesson plans to help build your classroom community.
  • Looking for back to school activities that will help you build a strong classroom community? This book companion for A Letter From Your Teacher: On the First Day of School will give you some immediate insight about each of your students. This get to know you activity is a must for your first week lesson plans. This is not only a reading comprehension activity but a great first week writing activity as well for your elementary students.
  • Having a Star of the Week or Star Student to spotlight in your class each week is a great way to build community and student self-esteem, as well as encourage leadership responsibilities in the classroom. This star of the week book is a great writing activity for the whole class. If you are looking for star student ideas this one is for you! It is low prep and easy to use.
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