'Star Wars Reads' Month Coming This October

If you have students who aren't motivated to read, here's an event that might excite them: "Star Wars Reads," a month-long celebration of reading and Star Wars books.

Teacher Honored by American Girl with Custom-Made 'Frontline Hero' Doll

A teacher is among five real-life frontline workers recognized by American Girl with a custom-made doll in their likeness!

Art Project: Disney-Themed Pencil Holders!

 

Students can keep their workspace organized with these do-it-yourself Disney-themed pencil holders!

Buy a Kellogg's Product - Get a Free Book!

 

Here's a fun way to encourage students to read outside of the classroom - by showing them how to get a free book by mail!

Imperial Sugar Offers Educational Resources for Young Kids

The Imperial Sugar website has an educational section offering a number of fun projects for young students. 

CLASSROOM TIP: Engage Shy Students with Rubber Ducks! Here's How!

Many students are often reluctant to raise their hand when a teacher asks a question. For shy students, it's even harder to engage in classroom participation.

Joanna Cole, Author of 'The Magic School Bus,' Has Died

Joanna Cole, author of "The Magic School Bus" book series, has died at the age of 75.

Her passing on July 12 has just announced by Scholastic, the publisher of her books. A cause of death was not released.

Cole released "The Magic School Bus" in 1986, and told the story of a group of schoolchildren and their teacher Ms. Frizzle, who took fantastical journeys into science aboard a school bus that was more than what it seemed.   

With iconic illustrations by Bruce Degen, "The Magic School Bus" book series sold over 93 million copies worldwide and won a number of awards. It also spawned a popular PBS animated television series that has aired for over 18 years in more than 100 countries. Actress Lily Tomlin voiced Ms. Frizzle, a character Cole said was inspired by her own fifth-grade teacher.

In 2017, a reboot of the series premiered on Netflix. New episodes of the series will premiere this August, with actress Kate McKinnon voicing Ms. Frizzle.

Over her lifetime, Cole wrote over 250 books.

In noting her passing, Degen said "What Joanna has meant to the world, what there is in the world because of her, is well known. What she meant to me I can’t describe. Everyone who knew her, worked with her, loved her, knows what a loss it is."

Our condolences to her family, friends, and fans.

Source: NPR

Fun Incentive: A Gumball Machine Filled with Erasers!

Add a little fun to your classroom with this gumball machine filled with pencil erasers! Here's how to get one!

Here's How to Get a Free Star Wars Activity Pack!

Looking for some fun activities to give your kids this summer? Disney has your back with a great Star Wars activity pack! Best of all, it's free!

Here's a Great Tutorial for Using Microsoft OneDrive! (VIDEO)

With so many digital services out there, it's hard for many teachers to realize which ones could actually make their work easier. So let's talk about OneDrive.

Here Are Some Great Teacher Resources For The Coronavirus Pandemic

With the coronavirus epidemic testing our educational system, everyone is looking for effective resources.

Thankfully, there are websites out there that can help. We've assembled links to some of the best, listed below.

WideOpenSchool.org
Established by the nonprofit organization Common Sense, this site has combined the best of a lot of great companies into one online resource. It includes content from the American Federation of Teachers, Amplify, Head Start, Khan Academy, National Geographic, Noggin, PBS, Scholastic, Sesame Workshop, and YouTube.

CoronavirusHomeschooling.com
Actress and radio talk show host Sam Sorbo, wife of "Hercules" actor Kevin Sorbo, has been active in the homeschool movement even before the outbreak. Her new website is filled with tips, ideas, and resources she's learned along her journey that can help parents doing this for the first time. You can sign up for a free email to get tips and lesson plans.

EngineerGirl.org
Here's a great Check out the "Try This" section for fun projects, and the video section highlighting female engineers.

BabbleDabbleDo.com
Lots of fun projects and crafts for elementary students.

Simple K12 Offers Free Online Training for Teachers During Coronavirus Shutdown

With schools across the country closing due to the COVID-19 (or coronavirus) outbreak, SimpleK12 is stepping up to help some schools and teachers facing uncertainty and extended time out of their classroom.

The online educational development company is making their webinars available for free to schools who haven't signed up for their services. That includes training for teachers facing the prospect of having to teach virtually over the web.

The webinars will be available for live or on-demand viewing.

SimpleK12 released this announcement after school districts began announcing mass closures to stop the spread of coronavirus.

SimpleK12 is helping organizations and academic institutions who are preparing for prolonged campus closures due to COVID-19. We are offering schools and districts free access to our premium eLearning professional development so that teachers and staff can remain productive during their time away from campus. 

In addition, SimpleK12 is putting together a brand new webinar series designed specifically for teachers covering topics that help educators prepare to teach virtually.  

The virtual training webinars will begin this week, and the free access will be available for 30 days.

For more information on the program, click here to visit the SimpleK12 website.

These People Should Be Included in Your Black History Month Lessons (Printables)

As part of our Black History Month efforts, we've worked to include individuals who often don't get the attention they deserve. 

Arts and Crafts: Make Your Own Watercolors with this Recipe!

If you want to add a fun element to your art time, have your students make their own watercolor paint! Yes, it can be messy if you aren't careful, but for the right students, it can be a unique learning experience.

This watercolor paint recipe is pretty simple, but it is better suited for older children.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Yield: about 1/4 cup

INGREDIENTS:
*1 tablespoon white vinegar
*1 tablespoon baking soda
*1 tablespoon Argo® Corn Starch
*1/2 teaspoon Karo® Light Corn Syrup
*Food colors of your choice
*Styrofoam egg container

DIRECTIONS:
*Combine vinegar and baking soda in a small bowl
*When the mixture stops fizzing, add corn starch and corn syrup. Blend together; the mixture will have a thick syrup-like consistency.
*Divide the mixture among 3 small bowls.
*For each color, blend in a few drops food color. Mix with a paintbrush. Note: The more food color you use, the more intense the colors will be.
*Use the colors immediately, stirring frequently. Note: If paints dry up, simply swirl a paintbrush moistened with water and start painting. Finished painting should dry in 5 to 10 minutes.

For extra easy clean up, use a styrofoam egg container to mix the paints. Children will also enjoy experimenting with mixing food colors to create different colors.

How to Get Started in Google Classroom

Google Classroom has become a popular way to enhance the learning experience for students, but it also provides tools to make a teacher's life easier.

Since its launch in 2014, Google Classroom has been used by over 30 million students worldwide and hosted over a billion online assignments.

Liven Up Your Art Class With This Bouncy Ball Recipe!

These "bouncy balls" are a simple but fun project that you can do in class, with a handful of easy-to-get materials! We suggest this project for older elementary students, because of the mess and the ingredients involved.

Bouncy Ball Project
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 bouncy ball

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon Borax® Detergent Booster
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 tablespoons white school glue OR clear school glue*
• 1 tablespoon Argo® Corn Starch
• Food Coloring - Various Colors, as desired

Directions

• Note:  This is enough to make one bouncy ball.
• Add Borax® to the warm water and stir well.
• In a separate container, mix corn starch with glue.  Add food coloring.  (Use as much as needed to get the desired shade).
• Scoop the colored glue mix into the Borax® mix and stir well for about a minute, for the glue mixture to absorb some of the water.  There will still be water remaining.
• Using a spoon, scoop the glue mix out and start to form it into a ball with your hands.  It will feel messy and sticky at first, but will slowly start to come together and firm up as you keep rolling it.  The more you roll the ball, the firmer it becomes.  It should have the consistency of thick silly putty.  Bounce away!
• Store the ball(s) in a resealable plastic bag so it doesn't dry out.  The balls can lose their shape, but can be easily reformed.
• *You can also use glitter glue, but it makes a more textured ball.

H/T: ChicagoParent.com

Fire Prevention Week Classroom Resources Available Online

It's Fire Prevention Week, and there are a number of resources online for teachers with some important lessons to students.

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) has partnered with Disney to create resources featuring Timon and Pumbaa of The Lion King. They offer a 30 page teacher activity kit with lessons, worksheets, classroom activities, and games, all with a "Safety Smart" theme. It's geared for students between four and eight years of age.

The activity kit, as well as guides for parents and ambassadors (fire safety program coordinators) are also offered. They can be downloaded by clicking right here.

This YouTube video featuring Timon and Pumbaa includes important lessons for young students.

UL also promotes the "Close Your Door" campaign. Open doors are one of the main reasons fire spread through a house quickly (especially at night). Closed doors can buy a family time to escape when seconds count. Teachers can find "Close Your Door" resources by clicking right here.

A "Home Escape Plan" is essential in any fire safety program. The National Fire Protection Association has printable resources for families to devise a plan that can avoid tragedy. They can be found by clicking right here.

The Hartford's Junior Marshall Program includes downloadable activities, coloring sheets, and teacher guides. You can see all the resources by clicking right here.

The Safe Kids campaign offers a fire safety program for teachers and schools, as this video details.

We'll add more resources as to this guide as they become available.

Here's How To Make Slime From Corn Starch!

Making slime is a popular classroom project, and here's a simple recipe to make the gooey stuff, using corn starch!

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup Argo Corn Starch (any brand can be substituted)
• 1/4 cup water
• Optional: food coloring 

ITEMS YOU'LL NEED

• Disposable Bowls (or bowls that won't stain with coloring)
• Placemats or plastic tablecovers (to protect work surfaces or tables)
• Optional: Disposable latex gloves, aprons (to protect student's clothes), and cleaning supplies.

INSTRUCTIONS

• Stir corn starch and water together in a small bowl. Add a drop of food coloring if desired.
• When it's wet and smooth, pick it up and play!  The slime can be rolled into a ball and should ooze through fingers when held. More corn starch can be added to change the consistency based on preference.
• The slime can be refrigerated in a sealed container to be used for later play!
• IMPORTANT! This mixture can clog drains. Please dispose of carefully. Let the mixture settle, then pour off excess water. Dispose of slime in a plastic bag and place in trash.

You can order Argo Corn Starch from Amazon by clicking right here.

You can order Argo Corn Starch from Walmart by clicking right here.

Let us know of other recipes for slime or similar projects we can feature on the site!

Puck Lights Make a Great Classroom Management Tool!

If you have a rowdy class, puck lights can be a great tool to help establish order in your classroom!

Educator Dan Mault posted this great idea on his website (and we recommend you check him out) that uses the lights as a way to establish authority. The lights (which are available on Amazon by clicking here) can alternate colors thanks to a remote, allowing a teacher to use a particular color to set the level of student activity.

Mault revealed how he uses the colors.

I am using a color coding system to let students know what the color means when it is on:
Red- No talking.
Blue- Low talking with 1 partner.
Green- Low talking with your group.
White- Low indoor voices.

Mault has also made the signs seen in the photo available for free download through his Teachers Pay Teachers store (click here to get them).

The lights are available to order from Amazon by clicking right here.

Sesame Street Postage Stamps Now Available!

In honor of Sesame Street's 50th anniversary this year, the United States Postal Service has issued a set of 16 Forever stamps featuring the Muppet characters from the show.

Big Bird, Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, Rosita, The Count, Oscar the Grouch, Abby Cadabby, Herry Monster, Julia, Guy Smiley, Snuffleupagus, Elmo, Terry, Grover, and Zoe are all featured on the stamps.

First airing on November 10, 1969, the educational program has entertained and inspired millions of schoolchildren. Its innovative approach to learning has certainly helped teachers for over a generation.

The Sesame Street stamps are just now hitting post offices, and they can also be ordered from the U.S. Postal Service website by clicking right here.

Dirt Cheap Stores Offer Big Discounts on Classroom Supplies

You might be familiar with Dirt Cheap stores, the chain of discount/closeout stores with locations throughout the South.

The chain recently posted on Facebook that they have received huge shipments of classroom supplies, with most priced at $2 or less. In response, some teachers reported finding lots of useful supplies for themselves, from notepads to grading pens, all at great prices.

If you have parents who need to find discounted supplies, be sure to let them know about Dirt Cheap, and if you need to fill out your own supply closet, be sure to check them out yourself.

You can click here to find a Dirt Cheap location near you. Be sure to let us know in the comments section below or on social media of any bargains you may find!

Amazon's STEM Discovery Boxes Now Available for Ordering

Amazon is now offering an exciting subscription box: STEM Discovery Boxes!

STEM Discovery Boxes are exciting science kits for boys and girls ages 7 to teen. Sent out monthly to subscribers, each STEM Discovery Box is filled with hands-on activities and experiments that are fun and educational. These boxes could serve as a resource for the classroom when you need it, or as a recommendation to parents to extend student learning to the home.

Each box is geared to challenge young minds though Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math, so despite the name, it actually follows the STEAM approach. Age-appropriate astronomy, robotics, motors, hydraulics, aerospace, physics, and chemistry are among the subjects covered in each box. For example, the whale model in the picture above is powered by a small motor the child can build, which moves it on land and water!

Every box, delivered by mail each month, will include three exciting STEM projects. Children will learn how things work, why they work and how to create them. According to Amazon, the boxes won a Parent's Choice Award for their ingenuity.

STEM Discovery Boxes list these experiments and projects that they have featured in their boxes:

• Robotic bug, electronic dough, working carnival game, hologram, solar system model
• Fizzing science, hydraulic claw, laser mirror maze, crystals, Water-powered clock
• Gooey Experiments, remote control elevator, Drawbot, sun art, fiber optics, digital microscope
• Walking robot, neon lamp, germ experiments, terrarium, structure design, geodes
• Jelly marbles, amphibious vehicle, propeller-powered car, fossil, bubble science
• Color science, instant snow, balloon helicopter, seltzer rocket, periscope, build a generator

Boxes are automatically billed each month at $30, with the first box discounted to $25. You can place an order to try out a box by clicking right here.

We have yet to try out these boxes ourselves, so if you do, let us know in the comments section below what you think!

Save up to 25% on our products with our latest sale!

When you visit our Teachers Pay Teachers store through May 8, you can save up to 25% on our products!

Click right here to check out our store - and the savings - right now!

Barnes & Noble Offers Discounts to Educators

Barnes & Noble Booksellers has a discount program for teachers, even if you homeschool!

The Barnes & Noble Educator program offers a 20% discount on most purchases of books, music, toys, games, movies, and more that are made for classroom use.

Best of all, April is Educator Appreciation Month, with extra discounts and freebies. Every Saturday and Sunday, you can get a 25% discount, and treat yourself to a free Tall Starbucks Fresh-Brewed Hot or Iced Coffee when you present your educator card. You can also get 10% off all cafe treats. If you sign up for an educator card in store, you'll get a free tote.

You can click here to sign up on the Barnes & Noble website. If you're a homeschool educator, you'll need to sign up in store.

Turn Your Classroom Into Dr. Seuss Central With These Great Products

With Dr. Seuss' birthday coming up March 2, here are some great items available from Amazon that can give your classroom a Seussian feel and compliment his books. With Prime shipping, you can get these items in just two days, if not sooner!

Dr. Seuss Bulletin Board Calendar Kit

This fantastic 122-piece bulletin board kit from Eureka includes a large calendar grid and all of the extras to give it the Dr. Seuss look your classroom needs. You can click here to order it from Amazon.

Dr. Seuss Quotes Bulletin Board Kit

This kit from Paper Magic includes 35 quotes from Dr. Seuss books, and are perfect to use on your bulletin board with the calendar kit. Click here to order it from Amazon. 

Dr. Seuss Reusable Letters

This set of 200 reusable letters are printed on coated paper for durability, features red striping, and measure 4 inches high. It's another great bulletin board resource. Click here to order a kit from Amazon.

Dr. Seuss School Selfies Kit

This set of 10 Seuss-themed paper props are great for your students to use to take some classic pictures! Click here to order a kit from Amazon!

 Dr. Seuss Hat

Styled after The Cat in the Hat's signature stovepipe headgear. This is great for a student (or a teacher) to wear while they read a Seuss book to the class! Click here to get it from Amazon!

"Cat in the Hat" Pencils

This is a bulk set of 144 "Cat in the Hat" pencils. At around 27 cents each, these are great reward or incentive items for students! Click here to get it from Amazon!

Dr. Seuss Sticker Book
This great book includes over 500 Seuss-themed stickers featuring all of your students' favorite characters and encouraging phrases. Click here to order it from Amazon.

Dr. Seuss Double-Sided Scented Mini Stampers

This set of ten stampers (each featuring a different Seuss book) includes two stamp designs on each stamper, and the ink is even scented! Great for adding a little something special to graded papers! Click here to get this item from Amazon!

Celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday With These Fun Crafts!

Celebrate Dr. Seuss's Birthday on March 2 with these fun crafts in your classroom!

Tips to Set Up a STEAM Lab in Your Classroom

Setting up a proper STEAM lab for your elementary classroom involves getting the right equipment and supplies, and Sarah Lalonde of StemActivitiesForKids.com has written a nice starter guide for teachers who need advice and tips.

One of Lalonde's best bits of advice to educators is to not go it alone. Teachers can often fill their list of needs from other teachers or from their school's storage room, who may be able to provide the materials for a lab. "In many districts, science is getting squeezed due to the emphasis on ELA and math test scores," she said. "Teachers often have equipment that they are willing to donate!  Many of the materials that are used in a STEM lab are things that are readily brought in by fellow teachers and students."

Tables may seem like a simple selection for a lab, but SchoolSpeciality.com recommends that they allow for a different way of teaching. They think "student stations (should be) modular, allowing for the project-based, multimodal learning outcomes that STEAM requires. Student spaces can be grouped or spread out in the event of a large-scale demonstration."

As far as equipment, here is a list of items Lalonde recommends to get your STEAM lab started.

Here is a list of supplies that teachers can have donated to the lab.

Click the links below to get more recommendations for STEAM lab setups.

Sources: Stem Activities for Kids, SchoolSpecialty.com

Website Offers Tools to Use 'Star Wars' in the Classroom

A website is offering videos and resources to use the Star Wars films as a tool to teach classroom lessons.

StarWarsInTheClassroom.com is a website and YouTube channel that seems geared towards older students, as it explores themes in the films and their relation to themes in literature. However, there are lessons suitable for some upper elementary classes, including creative writing prompts and social studies lessons.

The site includes both original content and links to other resources, including Star Wars-themed educational projects like "Star Wars: Science, Myth, and Imagination" and "Star Wars Reads Day."

Click here to visit StarWarsInTheClassroom.com.

The Key to Successful Schools: Let Teachers Innovate!

A column by John Spencer is saying what most of us have been saying for years - the best prospects for innovation in the classroom will come from the teachers inside of it.

Spencer, a college professor who blogs about education and discusses ways to turn classrooms into "bastions of creativity and wonder."

"The future of education can’t be found in a gadget or an app or a program or a product," he says in the column. "It doesn’t require a think tank full of pundits. No, the future of education can be found in the classroom. Every classroom is packed with creative potential and teachers have the power to make it happen."

Spencer advocates for an educational system defined locally, rather than one dictated by a bureaucracy that stifles creativity. "If we want to see innovation happening in our schools, we need to trust, encourage, and empower teachers to transform their practice," he said. "Too often, teachers are forced to teach inside the box and it can feel frustrating."

This video was posted by Spencer with his column.


You can read Spencer's entire column by clicking here.

Post your thoughts on the column in the comments section below.

Here Are Two Free Worksheets Featuring Christmas Writing Prompts!

If you're looking for some last-minute writing activities for students that are already in a "Christmas vacation" mindset, here's a nice solution: holiday-themed writing prompts!

Below are links to two writing prompt worksheets at Education.com, each with a Christmas theme that might inspire your students!

The first Christmas writing prompt worksheet (shown on the left in the picture above) asks students to define what the "holiday spirit" means to them. Click here to download it from Education.com.

The second worksheet (shown on the right in the picture above) can be particularly effective if your students are already experiencing winter weather or taking part in Christmas traditions. Click here to download it from Education.com.