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The Kinderhearted Classroom

Weather Journals – Real Life Science

We are up to our heads in weather . . . AND it's so much fun!  During our weather unit I love to teach my students about an important part of being a scientist - data collection.   Weather is the perfect place to teach your students about observing and collecting data.  Whether you track the weather each day as part of your morning routine, or are heading into a full weather unit of your own - you need to keep reading.  I've got the perfect tool for you! Weather Journals!!! How I use the Weather Journals Before we begin, we talk about the important job that scientists have.  We ... Read More about Weather Journals – Real Life Science

Easy Christmas Crafts for the Classroom

Whether you are reading this the week before Christmas or 2 months before Christmas, there's always time for some fun and easy Christmas crafts.  I don't know about you, but I love helping my students make a craft that can be given to their parents or loved ones for Christmas.  The students love it too!  So today I'm sharing some of my favorite EASY-PEASY Christmas crafts. Easy Ornaments These cute ornaments are a great idea I found in Parents magazine.  When I saw them I knew they were perfect for school.   All you need are clear ornaments (plastic or glass will ... Read More about Easy Christmas Crafts for the Classroom

Teach Math Using Stories?

You guys - something magical happens when you open a read aloud.  The students sit up a little straighter, their ears perk up and their attention span seems to increase exponentially.  There is power in stories.  So why not use the power that comes from a simple storybook and harness it for deeper learning. That is the thought behind Storybook Math!  Engage students in more abstract concepts using the power of literature. Now I'm not just some crazy teacher that loves read alouds (although I do), but there is research based evidence to show that this works.  You can read more ... Read More about Teach Math Using Stories?

Operation Christmas Child in the Classroom

Every year my school participates in Operation Christmas Child.  But, this does not have to be a school wide activity.  In fact, you could do it just in your classroom, grade level or even just as a family. Operation Christmas Child is an outreach of Samaritan's Purse and it is a wonderful way to begin the holiday season.  If you have not heard of Operation Christmas Child, it is an effort to provide Christmas gifts to children around the world.  The gifts are packed in a small box, the size of a shoe box.  {It's pretty amazing what you can fit in that small box!} ... Read More about Operation Christmas Child in the Classroom

Countdown in the Classroom

Like it or not, the holidays are coming and our students know it!  This means they're a little more excited, a little less focused and things in general are a lot more busy and crazy.  So as teachers we can ignore it, try to keep things "normal" and end up a lot frustrated - OR - we can join the fun and embrace it in our classrooms. I love bringing the holidays into the classroom.  In my classroom we call it an Advent Calendar and we use it to countdown to the Christmas holiday.  I use it as an opportunity to help shift my students' focus (even if only for a few minutes) from ... Read More about Countdown in the Classroom

Why I Teach

I'm a believer that underneath every smiling face is a story.  We each have a story and our students have stories too.  And sometimes, just sometimes, our teachers play a huge role in our stories.   Here's my story. Shortly after I was born, my mother relapsed and went back to a life of addiction. At three months old I was removed from her home and put into foster care.  During the next three years, I lived in 5 different foster homes.  I saw nurturing loving foster homes, and those that simply used the foster care system as a means of getting a paycheck. Let's just say that ... Read More about Why I Teach