Blog - A Grace-Filled Classroom

Don’t Let Halloween FRIGHTEN You ~ FREEBIE Included

If the thought of Halloween being on a weekday FRIGHTENS you… I am right there with you!

I keep thinking… how will the kids focus?

How will I manage?

How will I survive?

Wait…

WILL I SURVIVE?

Now, I don’t want to sound negative but I am also being realistic and the truth is KIDS LOVE HALLOWEEN! They get excited for it and they will be bursting with energy on Tuesday. But… I have plan!!!! And I’m going to share it with you. ‘Cause really, on this day, we should really help each other out! Am I right?!

Here’s the plan…

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STOP: Don’t tell your students they are smart!

In this growth mindset series, we’ve talked about encouraging mistakes in your classroom, engaging students in meaningful learning, and now we’ll talk about praising students the right way!

Why wouldn’t we want to tell students they are smart? You might be wondering…

Well, friend… being smart is certainly still a goal! However, I’d like for us to delve deeper into the idea of praising students the right way.

Here’s a thought to consider, praising a child for being smart is no different than praising a child for being tall. You either are, or you are not. Being tall or short is something that can’t be controlled. It’s genetic. Similarly, praising a child for being smart, would give the same idea. Either you are (smart) or you are not! The student will attribute success to a fixed trait that he/she was born with.
praising students, growth mindset

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Creating a Growth Mindset Community

Whether you’ve been in school for several weeks or half of the year, it is never too late to create a growth mindset classroom community! Building a better understanding of growth mindset is key!

Teachers words and actions in the classroom carry a lot of weight as to whether or not students develop a growth mindset.

The following are ideas to help you ensure you’re fostering a growth mindset learning environment.

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Secrets to An Awesome Back to School Letter

As you’re heading back to school and looking for something special to do for your students, you should consider sending them a letter! I’m sharing with you the secrets to an awesome welcome back letter!

Just think about it?

Kids never get anything in the mail. Heck…besides emails, kids might never interact with mail. Getting a letter from their teacher before school starts would definitely stand out with your students and will make them feel special!

With these secrets…

…you will be able to write a letter in no time! [Read more…]

Teachers’ Summer Bucket List

First things first… let’s do a happy dance because you are on summer break!

Second, what are you doing this summer?

Big plans? Little plans?

Every summer, I feel like I start off with great plans with all these ideas of everything I want to accomplish, but then at the end of the summer, I feel like I didn’t get anything done. Who’s with me? [Read more…]

The Best Way to End the School Year

It’s that time of the school year…the end of the school year!

Raise your hand if you are ready for the last day of school! I mean ready as in you’re tired-running-out-of-ideas- and-pretty-sure-that-if-you-see-one-more-fidget-spinner-you-will-scream… ready?!

Are you raising your hand?

Me too!

That’s why I have the BEST way to end the school year… are you ready…

FREE end of year activities and ideas that will keep your second a and third graders engaged up to the last day!

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Best Ways to Engage Students in Meaningful Learning

Don’t Pick the First Hand that Goes Up!

I think you know this right?

Of course, we should give everyone time to think.

But have you ever considered the message it sends to your students when you choose the first hand that goes up?

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Get Students Writing with this Saint Patrick’s Day FREEBIE

Saint Patrick’s Day can be such a fun day to celebrate with students.

Just the way they are open to believing in magic elves that come into your classroom around Christmas time, all students are ready to hunt down leprechauns for their pot of gold in March! I love it! [Read more…]