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5/24/2022 0 Comments

Top 5 Websites for Classroom Management

By: Mallory Lundien
#1 Classroom Screen
This website is free to use and has SO MANY amazing tools. I used this website for virtual, hybrid, and in person instruction! Features include timers, random name generator, noise volume images and tracker, clock, drawing, text boxes, dice, and more!

#2 Bouncy Balls
I love to use this website during small group time so that students can self monitor the sound level in the classroom. When you first introduce the website, allow the students to get silly with it. Challenge them to get loud and challenge them to see how still they can get the balls to be. This will help to keep your class clown from wanting to test it out in the future.

#3 GoGuardian
If your school has this installed into students' devices, USE IT! You can easily see every students’ screen and monitor their activity. Love being able to have eyes on every student and every screen at the same time!

#4 ClassDojo
Many schools use ClassDojo for behavior management because it is a quick and easy way to give students positive or negative points, while sharing information with their families and even has messaging for teacher/parent contact.

#5 Nearpod
Honestly, this website was a saving grace for me during virtual learning. Students join from their own device and their participation in the lesson is even calculated for you, you can include open ended questions, multiple choice, and even drawing responses. The grading was automated which saved me so much time, and my favorite feature was that the lessons could be teacher led or self paced! Perfect when you have an absent student who needs to make up an activity, or you want to quickly create individual work for your class.

Leave a comment and let us know what tech tools help you! … and remember that you are treasured and loved by the AtoZ fam ❤️️

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5/2/2022 1 Comment

Celebrating May Holidays

Below are resources and activities you can incorporate into the classroom for the Holidays that last all month long!

Month Long Holidays
Teen Self-Esteem Month: This holiday is sponsored by “I Am Worth More,” a non profit that works to connect teens with resources and support. This holiday is centered around the importance of helping teens voice their needs, share their perspective, and work towards building a healthy life. To celebrate in your school:

Practice Mindfulness to find a sense of calm, stay focused, and help students to be their best self.
Amazon has a great book called “Mindfulness for Teens in 10 minutes a day.” These exercises will help you and your students connect and build your relationship.

National Inventors Month: This holiday was created to promote the contributions that inventors have given to our society. Inventors create, build, and fuel the innovations in our world. Lots more information can be found at Invent.org, which includes the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Some activities you could do with your class in celebration of Inventors month include:

STEM lessons such as Walking paper horses, Paper helicopters, and straw rockets.
Create a Maker’s Space and allow student to build and design completely through their imagination. Allow students the agency to have control over what and how they will build.
Read and discover how many items we use every day were invented. Create your own Inventor Hall of Fame in the classroom. There are LOTS of great books on Amazon!
Brain breaks on youtube about guessing the inventor. Here’s a fun video to get you started! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qdSWReaRlg

Asian American & Pacific Islander Month: This holiday pays tribute to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history, and are fundamental in its future success, going back generations. To learn more click here. Celebrating this holiday will help to build inclusiveness in your classroom. Activities you can do in the classroom include:

Learning about the countries in Asia
Practice Origami, perhaps making a traditional paper crane.
For read aloud books click here and scroll down for 10 fantastic books that can be added to your classroom library to enjoy year round!

Haitian Heritage Month: Throughout the month of May, we celebrate the culture, art, fod, and traditions of Haiti and its people. Haitian Heritage Museum has events, programming, and lectures to learn more! To celebrate in the classroom try:

Reading books about Haiti
Learning about the rich culture
Dance to traditional Haitian music
Pick a read aloud from Scholastic to add to your library!

Jewish American Heritage Month: The National Archives has “put the power of primary sources to work in the classroom” with ready to go lessons, activities, and so much more! We honor the huge role that Jewish communities played in America’s formation, a history of over 350 years of achievements by Albert Einstein, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and so many more! To honor Jewish American Heritage in your classroom consider:

Discover the rich culture and history of Judaism
Read about the history of Jewish Contributions to America
Open up a safe space for conversation about the Holocaust and the hardships many Jewish people faced.
Add The Hero Two Doors Down By Sharon Robinson to your library!

National Pet Month: This month is celebrated to honor our pets and all the joy they bring to our lives. Here are some fabulous ways you can celebrate in your classroom:

If you have a class pet, it is time to appreciate them. Maybe an extra yummy snack or treat.
Have students create their own Desk Pet, if they don't have one already. Many teachers use Desk Pets for behavior management so this could be a fabulous time to introduce a new strategy in your room.
Make bird feeders to hang around the school.
Encourage students to talk about and share pictures of their pet or a pet they would want to have.
Learn about animals with jobs, like service dogs. This could be a great opportunity to build those reading skills and build student engagement.
Lots of fun animal related brain breaks on youtube!

National Foster Care Month: This month, we take time to acknowledge the families and professionals who help our precious youth find foster and adoptive homes. Use this month to actively educate your students on various family structures. Building understanding will foster an inclusive classroom of students that will advocate for each other. Here are some suggestions to bring awareness to your classroom:

List of picture books about Adoption and Foster Care at Everyday Reading.
To learn more about Foster Care, visit the National Foster Parent Association website
For adoption support groups and more information, click here.
Connect with local foster parent associations and have students make thank you cards or letters for the families supporting children in need.

Get Caught Reading Month: Sponsored by Every Child A Reader, has free, fun, and easy to use resources to bring the magic of reading into your classroom. To celebrate in your classroom:

Start a reading challenge between the classes in your grade level.
Post “Get Caught Reading” pictures of your students’ favorite celebrities and athletes!
Give a little extra *fun and free* reading time for you and your students.

Mental Health Awareness Month: In May, we bring awareness and understanding of those living with mental or behavioral health issues. We lower the stigma that many people experience when trying to get help, and we normalize continued best practices for our mental health in everyone. To incorporate into your classroom:

Take time to take care of yourself!
Go to the American Hospital Association website to learn more.
Set time in the day to celebrate the good things and share joy with your class.
Try meditation. For adults we recommend Soulful Juls, and for students we suggest Awake and Mindful.
Take time to stop and ask how a student is really doing, beyond the answer “ok.”
Create posters for the room/hallways to advocate for mental health
Host a Q&A with health professionals or the school counselor to open a safe space for students to ask and learn about mental health.
Child Mind Institute has a great list of picture books about mental health you can add to your library!

Latino Books Month: Led by Rhode Island Latino Books Award, during the month of May they work to promote literacy through the celebration of Latino authors, illustrators, and books. Highlight the Latino culture and Latin American Identity. Below are links to articles listing the best books to incorporate into your library!

List by Penguin Random House
Article from the New York Times
Collection from Reading Rockets

Military Appreciation Month: Each May, the President gives an annual proclamation to Americans to remind us to honor those who have served and to give their thanks. There are several specific holidays within the month including Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, VE Day, and Loyalty Day. To celebrate Military Appreciation Month in your classroom consider some of the options below:

Make cards or letters for soldiers stationed abroad.
Have a Q&A with a Veteran or Active duty professional for students to learn about the military.
Collect items to send care packages.
Coordinate with your local Operation Welcome Home to support soldiers on their arrival back into the US.
Article by Here We Read listing 21 fantastic picture books.

... and remember that you are treasured and loved by the AtoZ fam ❤️

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4/11/2022 0 Comments

J is for journal

We all remember those bright, fuzzy journals we would ‘use’ way back when we thought we would journal our whole days. For some, they may have held fast to this practice, but for others it slipped through the cracks. But, journaling can be an influential tool in our everyday lives. Whether it’s moment for moment recollections, or just a quick line for the day- reflecting can help with setting goals, having a place to store memories, or just somewhere to pour all your thoughts and feelings. There are SO many different methods for journaling, and here are a few you can look into to try yourself!

Diary This is the ‘classic’ type of journaling many of us picture. Very personal, many thoughts and feelings on things happening in your personal life. This typically is where writers share their ideas they aren’t comfortable sharing with others in your life, but need to get these words out.

Bullet Journal This method has become EXTREMELY popular as it is structured, yet there is so much room for creativity. With this type of journal you can organize to do lists, goals, calendars, milestones, truly anything in your life! Many people use habit trackers in these if they have certain habits they want to start, or to track a goal they are reaching for. Except you are creating these things yourself so you can make it look however you would like to! This is a great type of journal for a doodler!

Gratitude Writing what you are grateful for each day is an excellent way to bring positive thinking to your life. This can be so simple as a quick list of 1-2 things you are grateful for right when you wake up, or right before you go to sleep. These things can be as big as a new job, buying a home, starting a business or as small as making your bed, getting yourself a coffee, or cooking dinner!

These are a few different methods of journaling to introduce into your daily routine. It is a great way to center yourself for the day if you prefer to journal in the morning. Or a wind down method at the end of the day to reflect on all you have done. Whichever one works best for you, so long as you give one a chance, we promise you that you’ll feel a personal shift as you take this time for you!

With love, The A to Z Fam

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4/8/2022 0 Comments

G is for goals

Goals; It may seem so silly taking goals seriously, but they are hugely important in increasing your motivation to attain the goal that you set. Not only as teachers or students, humans in general thrive on goal setting if it’s done correctly and in a way that motivates you!
One type of goal setting that is largely used is a SMART goal! These can be used in ANY situation, as simple as taking a walk 3 times a week or as complex as starting your own business. Here are the steps to take to create your SMART goal.

S- Specific    When setting your goal, be VERY specific about what it is you want to accomplish. What is it you want to do?

M- Measurable    Create a timeframe for when you want this goal to be reached or when each step needs to be taken. How are you going to know when you reach your goal?

A- Achievable    Your goal has to be something that is within your power to achieve. Setting a goal that is not within your reach will only create resentment in yourself and cause negative thoughts in thinking it’s something you can never attain. Goals should be challenging, but not impossible. Is this goal in your power to accomplish?

R- Realistic    Your goal should not cause unnecessary stress, it should be something that is relevant to you and your life. Can you realistically achieve this goal?

T- Time-based    Give your goal an end date. Having a set date will help you to stay focused on your goal and inspire you with something to work towards. When do you want to achieve your goal?

This can seem like a lot of steps, but when we are intentional about setting our goals we are so much more likely to achieve them! Now think of something you have wanted for so long, yet haven’t taken the time to achieve yet. Set your goal and start a trend in your life to achieve them!

With love, The A to Z Fam!

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4/2/2022 1 Comment

Autism awareness day!

April 2nd is a specific day dedicated to bringing awareness to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The entire month of April is also the time we are called to support those with ASD.

So, what is Autism??
           As defined by the American Psychiatric Association, “ASD is a complex developmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behavior. While autism is considered a lifelong disorder, the degree of impairment in functioning because of these challenges varies between individuals with autism.”
During this month, we are called to support, celebrate and acknowledge those who live with ASD. There are so many ways you can bring awareness to ASD!

Wear Blue!
The color blue was chosen because it is associated with a calm feeling and acceptance in an otherwise loud and busy world for people on the spectrum.

Learn the History!
   To understand ASD, it is so helpful to know how those with ASD think and communicate. Here are a few websites with helpful, accurate information on ASD:
-    https://autismsociety.org/
-    https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html
-    https://autismawarenesscentre.com/autism-news/blog/

Read About ASD
There are some incredible books on ASD, including books written by those who live with ASD.
-    The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida
-    Thinking in Pictures: My Life with Autism by Temple Grandin
-    Uniquely Human: A Different Way of Seeing Autism by Dr. Barry M. Prizant
-    An Early Start for Your Child with Autism by Sally J. Rogers

Teachers
    Start the conversation with your students! Define ASD as what it is and be honest and open about what it looks like. Here are some ideas to learn more on the topic and how you can help your students.
-    https://www.autism-society.org/10-things-every-teacher-know-autism/
-    1001 Great Ideas for Teaching and Raising Children with Autism or Asperger’s by Ellen Notbohm
-    Create an Infinity Loop Craft!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z83dajt1Is4
-    Puzzle Piece Craft (symbol of ASD)
https://www.drugstoredivas.net/autism-awareness-puzzle-piece-toilet-paper-bracelet-craft/

We hope this inspires you to learn more about ASD and spread your learning to others as well!
With love,
The A to Z Fam

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3/22/2022 1 Comment

April Holidays to celebrate!

By Mallory Lundien
From the big to the small here is a list of holidays in April you can celebrate or learn about with your students! Read below for ideas of how to incorporate these into your classroom!

Month long holidays
Autism Awareness Month: Awareness and inclusion are popular words in education, this month is a great opportunity to participate in fun activities that make your classroom more inclusive!

Dress up in blue! The organization Autism Speaks uses it’s campaign “Light it Up Blue” to increase awareness and theme fundraisers.
Read books to educate your students and learn about Autism. Reading Rockets has a great article with books and ideas for implementation!
Organize a No-Bullying Campaign in your classroom or school. You could have students make posters, talk on the announcements, or even have a community circle with other classrooms in your school.

National Poetry Month: If my classroom library is lacking anything, its poetry. This month is a great opportunity to read, write, and learn about poetry! Poets.org has a HUGE selection of resources and activities, and they include virtual or in person options. I always love to use this month to have my students write or read a poem everyday to expand their knowledge and build their confidence as a poet. Not all poems have to rhyme :)

April Holidays
World Autism Awareness Day (2nd)
   Wear blue to spread awareness and use a read aloud book to spark discussion with your students.
National Library Week (3rd - 9th)
   This holiday is sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA). The theme for 2022 is “Connect with Your Library.” Talk to your school librarian or visit the ALA website for more information.
National Wildlife Week (3rd- 9th)
   Celebrate wildlife’s diversity in your classroom with books, drawings, and discovery of their favorite animals. Click here to learn more.
Qingming Festival (5th)
   Celebrated in Chinese culture, this festival has over 2,500 years of history. In English the festival is referred to as “Pure Bright Festival.” On this day many will go and sweep the tombs of their ancestors to show respect. Little Passports has crafts ideas and provides more information about this long standing holiday!
Read a Road Map Day (5th)
   Great opportunity to review the cardinal directions or learning about maps!
National Walking Day (6th)
Take your class on a walk, whether you go around the school or outside it can be a fun time to get up and move. Have students make observations on their walk and turn the activity into a science lesson or community circle on perspective!
World Health Day (7th)
   Annual celebration around the world to promote a healthy lifestyle and awareness of health. Celebrate in your classroom with a science lesson about healthy eating habits, encouraging physical activities, following a guided meditation, or having a community circle about the importance of health.
National Zoo Lovers Day (7th)
Check out the Smithsonian’s National Zoo website to see webcams of animals and download their “Animal Cam Bingo Cards” to play with your class!
Day of Silence (7th)
   A national student-led demonstration where LGBTQ+ students and allies vow to be silent in protest of issues in school related to discrimination and harrassment. At the end of the day students participate in Break the Silence rallies to share their experiences and discuss ways for their communities and schools to be more inclusive. While this may be difficult to celebrate in the classroom, it is important to be aware as a teacher, ally, and advocate for inclusivity in your school.
National Encourage a Young Writer Day (10th)
   Phenomenal opportunity to dust off those pencils and encourage our young authors to enjoy writing again! Support creativity and promote community by having the students share their work.
Palm Sunday (10th)
   A Christian holiday in honor of Jesus entering into Jerusalem. This holiday falls on the Sunday prior to Easter.
Ram Navami (10th)
A Hindu festival to celebrate the birth of Lord Rama. There are many ways that this holiday is celebrated, from fasting, to creating a family shrine with offerings. In some parts of India, a pot full of money will be tied to the top of a tree and local youth work together in teams to reach the top by forming human pyramids!
National Pet Day (11th)
Perfect holiday to celebrate during your morning meeting, encourage students to share about their pet or a pet they wish to have in the future.
National Librarian Day (12th, 16th, or 25th)
   Okay, so there are multiple days online that are listed as National Librarian Day. Talk to your school and figure out which day your community will be celebrating the Librarians! Students can write cards or create posters to show appreciation.
National Scrabble Day (13th)
   Not many students know how to play scrabble anymore, but it is great for practicing spelling and trying to think ahead. There are even math skills involved. Consider adding this game to your centers or have students play in small groups.
International Moment of Laughter Day (14th)
   Learning is meant to be fun! Take today to add some extra giggles and laugh along with your students. Encourage them to come up with jokes or share funny memories.
Jackie Robinson Day (15th)
   April 15th marks Jackie Robinson’s debut into the MLB. Honor the day by having students learn about Jackie Robinson and the impact he had on communities.
Pesach (15th)
   Also called Passover, is a Jewish Holiday that celebrates the liberation of slavery in Eygpt. Passover will begin on the 15th and continues until the evening of Saturday the 23rd.
National Volunteer Week (17th- 23rd)

During this week you can have your students write thank you notes for volunteers in your schools
Spark student conversation about what it means to volunteer and how they could volunteer at the school or in the community.
Scholastic has a fabulous article linking read alouds about the Power of Volunteering

Easter (17th)
A Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Often celebrated with the legend of the Easter Bunny and an Easter Egg hunt.
International Haiku Poetry Day (17th)
Challenge your students to try out this short style of poetry. Have fun and get creative!
Wear Pajamas to Work Day (19th)
   Okay, who doesn’t want to do this? Let your administration know!
National Look-Alike Day (20th)
Twins day would look good on this day.
National Kindergarten Day (21st)
   Show those Kinders some love! Have older students cheer for them, read to them, play together, or even just give them cards.
Earth Day (22nd)
   There are many ways to celebrate Earth Day. This holiday is a great opportunity for your school to work together as a community to clean up, host an Earth Day campaign, or plant some flowers. Prodigy Game has a great article outlining 20 activities that could be done in the classroom or at home in honor of Earth Day.
World Book Day (23rd)
Share your favorite read aloud or give students some extra free reading time!
Get Organized Day (26th)
Great day to have students clean out those desks!! Who even knows what’s in there!
National Tell a Story Day (27th)
Fun holiday to celebrate during morning meetings or to be used for a writing activity!
Babe Ruth Day (27th)
   Dating back to April 27th, 1947, the Yankees hosted “Babe Ruth Day” as a national event to honor this baseball legend. You can honor Babe Ruth in your classroom by encouraging students to learn about how Babe’s impact goes far beyond the baseball field.
Administrative Professionals Day (27th)
   Write cards or posters to Admin at the school, let them know we appreciate them!
Great Poetry Reading Day (28th)
National Poetry Month is almost over so if you haven't had a chance to celebrate, today is the perfect opportunity to add in a fun poetry lesson or activity.
National Superhero Day (28th)
Easy holiday to celebrate in morning meeting, community circle, writing, or reading. Add in some of your students favorite superheroes to the math problems of the day and it'll help to shake up the day.
National Arbor Day (29th)
This holiday is celebrated by planting trees! You can celebrate in the classroom by reading about trees, a science lesson about trees, or a nature walk. If you’re able to plan ahead, maybe the school can celebrate by planting trees! My elementary school once did this and I love to drive by and see my tree still standing tall and strong!
International Dance Day (29th)
   Get up and groove today! Learn about the history of dance, celebrate different kinds of dance, and most importantly, turn up the jams so your class can shake it off!
Leave a comment and let me know what holidays your class loves to celebrate!
… remember that you are treasured and loved by the AtoZ fam ❤️️

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YOUR CART

OUR BLOG

Top 5 Websites for Classroom Management

Celebrating May Holidays

Below are resources and activities you can incorporate into the classroom for the Holidays that last all month long!

J is for journal

G is for goals

Autism awareness day!

April Holidays to celebrate!

By Mallory Lundien
From the big to the small here is a list of holidays in April you can celebrate or learn about with your students! Read below for ideas of how to incorporate these into your classroom!

Categories

Author

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YOUR CART

OUR BLOG

Top 5 Websites for Classroom Management

Celebrating May Holidays

Below are resources and activities you can incorporate into the classroom for the Holidays that last all month long!

J is for journal

G is for goals

Autism awareness day!

April Holidays to celebrate!

By Mallory LundienFrom the big to the small here is a list of holidays in April you can celebrate or learn about with your students! Read below for ideas of how to incorporate these into your classroom!

Categories

Author

Archives

By Mallory Lundien
From the big to the small here is a list of holidays in April you can celebrate or learn about with your students! Read below for ideas of how to incorporate these into your classroom!