I LOVE school supplies! I get excited at the beginning of each school year as much as my kindergarten students do about using new supplies.

What is your favorite teacher supply or item? Something that you use all the time that others may like to know about?

A few years ago, I got a roll of paper from Target and started writing quotes on it to post outside my door for students to read. It turns out that it wasn't just students who were reading it -- adults did too and would stop by to tell me the ways they related to do the quote. What are some ways you commit to the culture of your school?

Celebrating Reading Month with Families! Check out all of the FREE literacy activities at: https://www.ginapepin.com/blank-10-1-1

How do you support phonemic awareness in your classroom? What simple activities do you include with your early learners?

Answer: Sound Cubes! Sound cubes are wooden or foam colored cubes that can be used to help students manipulate the sounds in words.

How would you rate your self-efficacy skills as a teacher?

Teachers who believe in their abilities ( handling tasks, obligations and challenges) increase their level of self-efficacy.

Do you value the importance of continuous professional development?

Do you use reflection to improve your teaching practice?

Do you set attainable goals?

Do you maintain a strong academic focus throughout your lessons and provide
constructive feedback to students?

Do you demonstrate resilience and view knockbacks as temporary stumbling
blocks?

Answering yes to these questions, shows powerful predictors of a teacher’s effectiveness. Self-efficacy means believing in your ability to succeed in any situation.

One of my favorite ways to engage students in critical thinking and error analysis is by doing an activity called "Agree or Disagree with Mrs. T." In these activity, I will give students a word problem and then I will solve it (usually wrong with the most common mistakes students make when solving that type of problem). Students have to read the problem, think about how they would solve it, and then look at how I solved it to decide whether they agree or disagree and why. Usually I'm wrong, BUT I have to be right sometimes or they'll just assume I'm wrong and disregard what I did. I have attached a sample so you can see their reflection piece. What are ways you help students catch mistakes?

We can all learn more.

This is SO accurate!

I am always looking for new brain breaks! What are some of your favorites?

How would you plan a lesson for a standard about teaching second grade reading?

We have adopted enVision for our Math Curriculum and text books this year. We are using Savvy as the adaptive practice for third through fifth grade. I don't know much about the program and as the STEM Coach, I don't have a class to play around with to see what it looks like. Any tips or tricks about using this effectively in the classroom? Teachers aren't happy about using it (our state had paid for Dreambox previously to this year and they are reluctant to change) so I'm looking for advice from others who have used it and seen growth for students.

As a classroom teacher, how can you lead from the classroom?

Getting ready for testing for elementary age students: what are some of your favorite review games?

We love to play Stinky Feet -- I simply use a large chart paper with a foot on it and post it notes. As teams answer questions, they get to pick off one of the post-it notes and see how many points are given or taken. (Not always the best for very competitive groups if they lose points so you can just do various amounts of positive points!)

This blog though makes it more technology-interactive: https://theuniqueclassroom.wordpress.com

MIcrolearning

How do your teams plan together? Is there one teacher that takes the lead more than others or do you all collaborate together?

One of the ways that I encourage other teachers to incorporate quick whole-body movements into their daily routine is to weave in easy songs, chants, and movements throughout the day, every day. Turning your lunch menu into a song, weaving in easy aspects from occupational therapists (i.e. 3 crab walks), and simple call and response approaches help students stay engaged and motivated.
How do you keep students engaged when transitioning between activities in the classroom?

How would you plan a lesson about discussing ways people can improve communities for a kindergarten class?

How do you prepare for the upcoming school year during the summer?

Rick roll physics

What are your favorite new read alouds?