Education To The Core: Where The Primary Things Are

Latest Episodes:

What Should I Put on my Classroom Walls Sep 02, 2021

Show notes

Are you a brand new teacher staring at those blank classroom walls? Or perhaps you are a veteran teacher looking to mix things up a bit with a new theme or a new look. You have your entire room set up, but that big empty classroom wall is staring back at you just waiting for some fun resources! Wondering what you should put up there? This is the episode for you!

So let’s face it, our classrooms are pretty much our second home. Like our own homes, we want our classroom to be inviting, comfortable, and a representation of ourselves. However, here is the catch… our classroom walls also should be accessible to our students and provide meaning.

For text, pictures and direct links provided throughout this episode. Check out our corresponding blog:

https://educationtothecore.com/2021/08/what-should-i-put-on-my-classroom-walls/

7 of the Best Classroom Management Systems Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

Classroom management… is always the big elephant in the room. You know that if you don’t have a grip on the daily runnings of your classroom, that it is very hard for learning to take place. Building relationships with your students, creating expectations, and maintaining routines and procedures are all very important when creating your classroom management system. So, whether you are a new teacher getting ready to put your system into place, or a veteran teacher who is ready to change things up a bit, we have some great classroom management system ideas for you! Janessa Fletcher will be joining me in this jam-packed episode to cover 7 of the Best Classroom Management Systems. If you are wondering how to manage behaviors in the classroom or how to use rewards and consequences effectively, then this is the episode for you!

30 Preventive Strategies to Do Before a Behavior Aug 26, 2021

Show notes

Are you looking for some classroom management strategies? Some more things to add to your bag of tricks? Do you have that student in your classroom this year that is just pushing every single button of yours? Then this is the episode for you!

What’s one thing I can do for student behavior that I can see almost an immediate response? Incorporating quick and easy preventive strategies into your classroom or household! Preventive strategies are put into place before the behavior occurs to prevent it from occurring at all. Let’s face it, the best time to intervene on problem behavior is when the behavior is not occurring.

The following 30 Preventive Strategies can easily be incorporated into any classroom with your students or even in your daily home routine with your own children.

For text, pictures and direct links provided throughout this episode. Check out our corresponding blog:

https://educationtothecore.com/2021/03/11-activities-for-emergent-readers-to-practice-fluency/

Free Behavior Course: https://educationtothecore.com/behavior-course

11 Activities for Emergent Readers to Practice Fluency Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

We always have students at varying levels sitting in front of us with different interests and strengths. Are you looking for ideas and activities to not only engage those emergent readers, but support them? Then this is the episode for you!

While activities for emergent readers to practice fluency can look slightly different in all of our rooms, the basic concepts are the same – helping students to lessen their focus on decoding words so that they can comprehend the meaning of the text and make connections.

With the importance of the fluency-comprehension connection, the team at ETTC wanted to share some of our favorite activities for emergent readers to practice fluency!

For text, pictures and direct links provided throughout this episode. Check out our corresponding blog:

https://educationtothecore.com/2021/03/11-activities-for-emergent-readers-to-practice-fluency/

Say You're A Teacher, Without Saying You're A Teacher Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

Oftentimes our “lingo” spills out into the real world. You know that one sentence that says you are a teacher, without saying “you’re a teacher”! I am sure we all have those moments when your spouse or friends say “what did you just say?”

Just last week, while I was in the grocery store I heard a woman say to the child with her “Please use your walking feet”. I just knew she was a teacher. Do you often say popular sayings like: “1, 2, 3 – eyes on me” or “Clap once if you can hear me”. We asked our Facebook group in Fearless First Grade Teachers what says you’re a teacher, without coming out directly saying you’re a teacher? While listening to this list, I hope I am not the only one that says “I say that…and that…oh yeah and that one!” My goodness, I just said, “Please don’t lick your desk yesterday!”

For text, pictures and direct links provided throughout this episode. Check out our corresponding blog:

https://educationtothecore.com/2021/03/say-youre-a-teacher-without-saying-youre-a-teacher/

13 Ways to Kick Off the School Year Right Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

13 Ways to Kick Off the School Year Right | Education to the Core

Perhaps you are excited to be starting the new school year, or maybe they are pulling you kicking and screaming from the pool. Either way, the students are walking through those doors and we need to be ready. Looking for some guaranteed ways to start off the school year on the right foot? This is the episode for you!

Alright… Our alarm clocks are set (or if you are like me then you have about 7 alarms set-I am the KING of the snooze button), bags are packed, and we are ready to take on the new school year! To help you kick off on the right foot, Janessa came up with a list of 13 ways to kick off the school year right.

For text, pictures and direct links provided throughout this episode. Check out our corresponding blog: https://educationtothecore.com/2021/01/13-ways-to-kick-off-the-school-year-right/

Creating A Calming Corner For Your Primary Classroom Aug 12, 2021

Show notes

Creating A Calming Corner For The Primary Classroom | Education to the Core

Are you thinking about creating your own safe space within your primary classroom for students to cope and destress? Or perhaps you already have a space dedicated for this, but are looking for a few more activities or items to add to the space. Or even maybe you never thought about including a space like this before within your room. If you already have a space or are looking into creating one, this is the episode for you!

Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or both; creating a Calming Corner is a great addition to any primary classroom or home environment. This is a safe designated space where children can regulate their emotions and provide an opportunity and an outlet for the chance to calm themselves down. We are all aware that children could have really big emotions that can quickly escalate into a tantrum or meltdown.

To start on the right mindful foot, here are five things you might want to consider when creating your very own calming corner, whether a physical part of your classroom or on a virtual platform.

For text, pictures and direct links provided throughout this episode. Check out our corresponding blog: Creating a Calming Corner for Your Primary Classroom | Education to the Core

To The Teacher At Their Breaking Point Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

To The Teacher At Their Breaking Point | Education to the Core

In this episode, I will be taking more of a personal touch speaking to The Teacher at their breaking point. Are you stressed out or so anxious about returning to the classroom this upcoming school year? Perhaps for the past several years you are just tired of the ever-changing laws, changing initiatives and ever growing list of duties and expectations. If you are looking for some tips and tricks to start improving your own mental wellness, this is the episode for you!

To the teacher at their breaking point, I see you. I hear you. I understand you. For the past year and a half, on social media, I have been noticing an increase of stressed-out posts, frustrations, and uneasiness of the unknown. Unfortunately, this was even before the pandemic hit. Many teachers, not just you, are calling out for help. I mean come on...when a teacher reaches out for help… they truly need it! More importantly, when a teacher reaches out for help… they are looking for items or activities to improve their condition, not just an uplifting message! Let’s check out some of these tips and tricks below to start improving our own mental wellness and to avoid that breakdown.

For text, pictures and direct links provided throughout this episode. Check out our corresponding blog: To The Teacher At Their Breaking Point | Education to the Core

Social Emotional Learning or Character Education Aug 05, 2021

Show notes

Social Emotional Learning or Character Education | Education to the Core

What are your initial thoughts about returning to the classroom this upcoming school year? Do you have any concerns or reservations? Uncertainty? Excited yet a little nervous about what this upcoming school year will look like?

All of these feelings are typical! We, as educators, always get those “butterfly feelings” to start up a school year. However, after the school year we just had (that I am not mentioning), we may have a few more obstacles ahead of us moving forward. Personally speaking, anxiety levels are up, and I am apprehensive about what I will face walking into the next school year. So what can we do?

A common theme I keep hearing from educators and administrators regarding this upcoming school year is the importance of Social Emotional Learning (SEL). School districts across the country are looking towards SEL curriculum, resources, and activities to address what students and families may be walking through the door with.

In many of our classrooms, respect, responsibility, and honesty are weekly topics or discussions. Isn’t this enough? Don’t we cover SEL topics when we talk about Character Ed? Well…not quite. SEL and Character Ed. have some similarities; however, they are very different programs designed for various reasons.

For text, pictures and direct links provided throughout this episode. Check out our corresponding blog: Social Emotional Learning or Character Education | Education to the Core

20 No Prep Math Activities Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

20 No Prep Math Activities | Education to the Core

This episode discusses 20 No Prep Math Activities. Are those daily math lessons just not cutting it and you are looking for more variety? Perhaps your students are getting bored with the same math activities each day. Whatever the reason, if you need NO PREP math ideas, then this is the episode for you!

Wait, 20 Math Activities that are NO PREP as well as ENGAGING, thank you Sarah... sign me up! I know as a teacher I am always looking for some quick and fun activities to not only get my students up and moving, but also that are interactive! Let’s be honest, we need some activities in our back pocket to fill in a few extra minutes throughout the day. Whether your students flew through a lesson (which you planned on taking a bit longer than it did) or your students may need some extra practice with a skill they didn’t quite master just yet.

For text, pictures and direct links provided throughout this episode. Check out our corresponding blog: 20 No Prep Math Activities | Education to the Core