Teaching Creativity

3 Powerful Ways to Prepare Your Classroom for the New Year

The new year is always a fun and exciting time. It’s full of new beginnings and fresh starts. It’s both refreshing to the soul and invigorating to the mind.

So how do we make the New Year special in the classroom? Here are 3 powerful ways to prepare for the new year in your classroom:

1. Change Things Up

One way to make the new year special for your students is to simply change some of the decor in your classroom.

Now this one doesn’t have to be anything big. It can be as easy as moving something from one wall to the other, changing the order of the students’ desks, or giving them new name tags.

Whatever you do can be fairly cheep and won’t cost you a lot of effort, but it’ll be just the thing to refresh your classroom for the year ahead.

2. Carry Your Students in Prayer

Now I know I say this a lot, but you never know what an impact your prayer and support will have for a great year ahead!

“I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.”~Psalms‬ ‭17:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

When we ask for help with a challenging child or for wisdom on how to deal with a worried parent, God hears us. Don’t underestimate the power of prayer in the new year!

3. Cast a Vision

Here it comes—you knew it would—setting goals!

“Where there is no vision, the people perish…”~Proverbs‬ ‭29:18‬a

Setting goals for your students gives you a vision for where you want them to be at the end of the year. It gives you a target to aim at, work towards, and eventually hit. The goals you set give you motivation to keep progressing forward and inspiration to look back and see that you’ve made a difference in your students’ lives.

Your goals for your classroom don’t have to be anything big like, “the whole class getting A’s on their final exams,” (although what teacher wouldn’t love that right).

Just simply make sure your class goals are measurable and achievable.

Ex of a Spiritual Goal: I will endeavor to ensure that each student will have a clear understanding of the gospel by the end of first grade by making sure I am presenting the gospel clearly and reviewing it weekly. This will be measured based upon the students’ answers to various review questions.

Ex of an Academic Goal: Each student will be able to say their 1-10 times tables by the end of the quarter. This will be reviewed and measured by tests and quizzes.

There you have it! 3 Powerful ways to a Prepare your Classroom for the New Year! Change things up! Carry your students in prayer! And Cast a vision!

Which one did you find the most helpful? Comment below and feel free to share with a friend. Let’s help each other teach creativity!

3 Must-Ask Questions to make Choosing Christmas Gifts for your Students Easier

Choosing what to get your class for Christmas is never an easy task. It seems as if there’s tons of options to choose from and yet only a few that don’t break the bank. So how do we choose between it all? How do we look past all the twinkle and garland in order to find the perfect gift?

Here are 3 questions to help you find (or create) the perfect Christmas gifts for your students:

1. Is it in your budget?

Now when I use the word, “budget,” I don’t want you to think only money, but time as well. You only have so much time before Christmas break, so you don’t want to choose a gift that takes forever to make or a long time to ship out. As far as money, calculate how much you can spend per student and go from there.

Use your time and finances wisely. You’ll be glad you did.

2. Is it personal?

This is my favorite part of creating/choosing Christmas gifts!

Make it something special by putting their name or photo on it. You could even incorporate a picture they created by photocopying it or shrinking it down.

Have fun with it! They’ll absolutely love seeing their name or that special touch that you took time to do!

3. Is it meaningful?

I love using this time of year to teach my students how to write letters to each other. Each day before the holiday, we choose a student’s name from our Santa hat and I write it on the board. Then each child writes a letter to the student whose named. I compile all the letters, read them to make sure they’re kind, and proof them by writing the correct spelling underneath their handwriting. All of the pages are then bound with the student’s name and class picture on the front. It’s a gift that’s made by the whole class and special enough for the parents to keep for a lifetime.

So what do you pick out for your students during the Christmas season? Are their any questions that I missed? Comment below and share with a friend. Let’s help each other teach creativity!

5 Budget-friendly, Magical Ways to bring Christmas to your Classroom

Christmas time is officially here and I couldn’t be more excited!!

This month will be filled with fun favorites and memorable moments. You’ll watch Christmas movies and curl up in warm blankets. You’ll smell gingerbread in the air and see snowmen in front lawns. There’ll be hot chocolate by the fireplace, ugly Christmas sweaters worn by the most festive people we know, and (my personal favorite) Christmas carols sung both on and off key.

So how do we bring this magic to the classroom? How do we incorporate fun into the daily routine? How do make the most of the time with our students without breaking the bank?

Here are 5 cheap, simple yet magical ways to bring Christmas to your classroom:

1. It’s Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

One of the best ways to get Christmas vibes in your classroom is simply by decorating it!

Use leftover construction paper to make paper chains to hang up around the room. Let the children use cotton balls to make snowmen pictures that you can put on the walls. Take your old Christmas lights and hang them around your whiteboard. Piece it all together and you’ll have a beautiful, inexpensive, Christmasy Classroom that any student would enjoy!

2. Let It Snow

Put up fake snow in the classroom! This can be anything from spray snow on the window seal to soft cotton on your class tree.

You could also have the students make their own snowflakes and hang them up around the room. It makes for a memorable art project with no cost or hassle to you and also reminds the students that God made everyone different—just like their snowflakes.

3. Oh Christmas Tree

Get a Christmas tree for your classroom! Now this can be an old, free, hand-me down one or a cheap $20 one from your nearest craft store. A Christmas tree adds all the vibrance and warmth you’ll need in your classroom.

Make it an incentive for the children to put decorations on it. If they have a good day with their behavior, let them put an ornament on the tree. Or if you see them doing a kind deed for another student, then let them put an ornament on the tree. Or if they get an, “A” that you know they worked really hard for, let them put an ornament on the tree. Let them decorate it and enjoy it! Have fun with it and you’ll find they will too!

4. Do You Hear What I Hear

Singing Christmas carols is one of the most fun and easiest ways to celebrate Christmas in the classroom! Not only is it free, but it’s also a loads of fun and great way to share God’s truth with your students!

If you’re not big on singing or perhaps you don’t think you’d have the time for a complete singing break, feel free to simply play a CD. Talk to your administrator or principal about which one would be approved for your school. Play it in the morning as the students are coming in or during handwriting time. The kids will love it and you’ll instantly enjoy the benefits of the joyous season!

5. Joy to the World

The last way to make Christmas come alive is to simply share His story with your students.

Talk about how Jesus came as a baby to the world because He loves us so much. Share your heart with the students as you read Luke 2 together. Watch their eyes light up as you discuss Mary and Joseph. Act out different parts and help them remember that Jesus is the reason for the season.

That’s it! A list of 5 simple, fun, and cheap ways to make Christmas magical in your classroom! I hope you have the best holiday yet and I can’t wait to hear all about it! Merry Christmas from my classroom to yours! 🎄

10 Entertaining Ways to Pass the Time while you heal your broken arm

Let’s be real it’s hard to find fun things to do while you’re waiting for your arm to heal up.

This past week, I was in a serious(almost life threatening) car accident. Although it was quite shaking, we were all just thankful that we were able to see each other again. Everyone was safe. Everyone survived. And that’s what’s important.

I walked away with minor bruises, serious head trauma, and a broken wrist. There is now a long list of things that I simply can’t do on my own, but there are tons of things I’m relearning to do and I can’t wait share those with you!

Here’s a list of 10 fun things to do with a broken arm:

1. Drawing on your cast

Nothing passes the time better than drawing and doodling! I can’t wait to do this one! My arm is still in a splint, but this’ll be the first thing I do as soon as I get my cast later this week.

2. Learning to write with your opposite hand

Not easy, but a lot of fun and totally worth it!

3. Practicing getting dressed

Unfortunately, you’ll have to get out of the house sometime, and, since you don’t want to cut holes in your best shirts, now would be a great time to practice getting dressed!

No joke, try it! Time yourself and then challenge a sibling or roommate to see how they do. I bet you’ll both have fun and you’ll be the one who wins!

4. One-Hand Man Charades

I tried this one with my family and it was a huge hit! We were cracking up for hours!

Basically it’s just like regular charades except everyone pretends they have only one arm when they’re acting out their cue cards.

5. Playing a card game

Ever try playing Uno with one hand? It’s hilarious and tons of fun! You should try it 😀

6. Pillow fighting

Be careful for this one! It’s great entertainment, but it’s also dangerous…

7. Painting or Sculpting

You never know how much talent awaits unless you’re willing to use it and develop it. So why not try painting a picture or sculpting a masterpiece?

8. Watching a favorite movie

Honestly, watching a favorite movie, is a great way to pass the time with or without a broken arm. So curl up with some tea, a comfy blanket, and the nearest remote and let’s go!

9. Sleeping

I’ve never met a single person who doesn’t enjoy sleeping. We all love it! But, you know what? We love it even more when our body is broken, worn down, and in desperate need of rest. So in order to have some fun with your broken arm, go get sleep! Trust me, your body will wind up thanking you for it.

10. Calling a Best Friend

We all have that best friend who just cheers us up, makes us laugh, and gets us motivated. Perhaps yours is your spouse, a roommate, or a co-worker. Whomever your best friend is, try giving them a call. You’ll find your spirit uplifted and your heart encouraged.

I can’t wait to share everything that God does in our lives during this time as I personally heal up. He kept us safe during the accident and gave me some time to heal this season so I can be at 100% for my students in the new year and I’m eternally thankful for that! ❤️

So what are you doing to pass the time? What other suggestions do you have? Which one was your favorite? Comment below to let us know! Let’s support each other! Let’s get creative!

A New Way to Think about Motivation in the Classroom

What motivates you? Why do you do what you’re doing? What keeps you going?

Are you encouraged by praise? Are you inspired to change the world one student at a time? Are you trying to reach that one person with your writing? Or are you simply motivated to keep going in order to pay the bills?

Whatever your answer is, the point is that you have an answer in the first place! You have something or someone that keeps you motivated and keeps you going! It might be a paycheck or a kind word, but it motivates you and pushes you forward.

Our students are the same way! They need a reason to keep going and do their best!

Sometimes we have those students who are self motivated. These are the kind of students that every teacher loves to have in their classroom. They study without being asked. Their hand goes up for practically every question. And their grades look great on state testing evaluations.

Then there are students who are externally motivated. These are students who typically don’t push themselves, but require someone or something to bring out their best. They’ll thrive under pressure with a timer or perhaps they’ll get the best scores in order to earn a sticker or a prize.

Which one were you in school? Personally, I was the self motivated student. I always strived to get A’s and usually pushed myself way too hard. But now, as a teacher, I realize that most of our students simply aren’t like that.

Most students need some sort of external motivation in order to do their best. They’re like us. They need something to look forward to, something to hope for, and something to wish for.

So what external tools are you using to develop self motivation in your classroom? What are you using to help the students to stay engaged in the lesson? What makes them want to do their best on tests?

Perhaps it’s stickers, a behavior chart, or the ever loyal prize bin. What ever it may be, try to study your students’ personalities in order to help them keep going. Get to know them. Find something new that motivates them and watch them become their best selves!

Let’s get creative and help each other teach creativity!

Why I love using Hats as Visuals

Each teacher is different. Some love writing and drawing on the board. Others like showing educational videos. Some enjoy giving out snacks that correlate with their lessons. Each one of us is different and, although many of us may use all three, very few of us use hats in the classroom.

First, let me just personally say I love hats! Hats are one of my favorite visuals by far!! But why? Well, let me tell you…Here are the top 3 reasons why I love using hats in the classroom:

1. It’s Hilarious

How many of us love to laugh? Love to chuckle, giggle, or just burst out with an embarrassing mixture of snorting and tears? We all do!

All people, all around the world, love laughter. Laughter is a universal language that shows one of the highest forms of joy a person can experience. Therefore, making your students laugh by wearing a funny hat is not only a win for the students, but also a win for the teacher because you get to join into their joy.

2. It’s Memorable

Any time someone laughs about something, they feel the need to go tell someone else about it.

Let’s be honest here. We’ve all heard something that made us laugh and then instantly wanted to share it with the person sitting next to us or the friend we’re going to go see.

The same works for your students. They love sharing the things that make them laugh. They’ll tell mom all about how their teacher wore a sombrero when the class “traveled” to Mexico in history class. They’ll tell their little brother all about the American Flag that their teacher told them about as they wore a patriotic hat. They’ll brag about how cool their teacher was in the hard hat when they taught about construction workers.

Seeing a teacher dressed up in a hat makes the lesson both fun and memorable. It turns it into a lesson that lasts not only for a day, but into one that lasts for a lifetime.

3. It’s Exciting

When we’ve been surprised by the unexpected, we always want more. We become excited for it and thirst for it in anticipation.

If your students are surprised by the new visuals in the room, by seeing their teacher wear hats, they’ll become excited for the lessons. They’ll thirst for more knowledge. They’ll naturally desire more education. And they’ll hunger for more learning.

By building excitement in the classroom, you’ll make them love learning.

Remember not to use any hats on students, due to sanitary reasons—hats are for the teacher’s head only, lol.

So try it out, use hats in the class and see how your students respond. Comment below and let me know how it goes! Let’s teach creatively together!

The Real Reasons why Teachers love getting Coffee from Parents

Here’s the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth: ALL TEACHERS LOVE COFFEE!! Especially this chic!

Okay…I could be wrong. Perhaps there’s one singular teacher who’s reading this right now, thinking, “I don’t like coffee. I’m more of a tea or soda person.” If that’s you, don’t fret. I get that. Just take the word “coffee” in this post and replace it with your favorite beverage of choice.

So whether your a coffee lover (like myself) or a coffee hater (like my older sister),this blog post is for you!

Here’s why teachers love getting coffee from parents:

It’s Encouraging!

All gifts or “good notes” have the power to encourage and uplift the heart. Coffee is one of those!

It’s a simple gift under $5.00 that puts a smile on the teacher’s face and show’s how much you care! It shows the teacher that you were willing to remember what they like, order their favorite coffee, and take the time to pick it up!

Wow! So easy, and yet it means >>so much to the person receiving it! It uplifts their morning and sparks joy into their day, by simply reminding them that they are supported and cared for.

It keeps them Awake!

Believe it or not, that teacher who’s helping out all of those 24 kiddos at once was probably up late last night.

Were they watching a movie with a friend, staying up with their own child, or grading the class’s papers? We may never know. Therefore you may never know how much they really needed a, “pick me up,” to start their day off.

Now, should they have gotten more sleep? Okay, yes…but shouldn’t we all? It’s something we all struggle with, so help them out! Understand what they’re going through. They’re only human.

Give them something that will not only make them smile, but also help their eyes stay open.

It motivates them to Keep Going!

Working with children is never easy. We would all like to believe that it is, but that’s simply not the case. Students can be messy, draining, and sometimes a bit harsh. But you know what? Working with them is totally worth it!!

However, some of us teachers miss that once the year is under way and we simply need some encouragement.

When a parent passes that coffee cup into the teacher’s hand, they’re silently saying, “Hey, I support you. I see what you’re doing in my child’s life. I see the difference you’re making. Keep going.”

All of that from one cup of coffee? Yes!! All of that encouragement and motivation can come from just one cup of coffee. It’s easy. It’s simple. It’s doable.

So what are you doing? What ways do you encourage teachers or the people around you? Comment below and let me know. I’d love to hear how you’re out there getting creative!

The Top 3 Ways to Solve Behavior Problems

Being an elementary grade school teacher is never easy. We face constant lesson planning, late night grading, and endless times of needing to use the restroom. Yet, the hardest things that we face are the daily behavior problems that come across us during the day.

We face a student struggling with pushing through tears. We interact with a student who screams and yells at the top of their lungs. We encounter a student who throws things out of their desk and refuses our help. So how do we handle these situations? What do we do to continue through our day and keep our class focused and on schedule?

Here are the Top 3 Easiest Ways to Solve Behavior Problems:

1.Check it Out

Check the Situation and ask yourself these questions:

What’s causing their conduct? What started it? Was it another child? Is the student feeling frustrated because they don’t understand the material? Are they angry because of a mistake they made? Are they internally battling something? Why is the child exhibiting this behavior?

Are they stopping other children from working or learning? Is their behavior distracting the other students? Are the students unable to focus? If so, then make sure the behavior is dealt with right away. Any behavior that inhibits learning is a detriment to the class’s productivity.

Are they going to hurt other students? Are they kicking or hitting? If so, make sure they’re separated from rest of the class and everyone is safely out of the way.

Are they going to hurt themselves? Are they hitting themselves up against something? Are they saying something that sounds like they may danger themselves? If so, restrain the child from hurting themselves and inform the principal and parents right away.

2. Call Out for Wisdom

Ask God how to handle it!

Seriously though, every child and situation we face will be different. Ask God not only what to do and how to do it.

What will work best for the student and the scenario? Honestly, the easiest thing to do is to ignore it. Most of the time (not all of the time), the student is doing it for attention. When they are ignored they usually stop, regroup, and join into the lesson.

However, that doesn’t always work. Sometimes (well…let’s be honest, all of the time) we need to ask God for help. Asking Him to give us wisdom on whether to use a stern voice or a comforting tone. Asking Him to give us wisdom on whether or not to keep teaching or to tune into the child. Asking Him to give us wisdom on what kind of discipline to implement or whether we should contact the parents or get the principal involved. Asking Him to give us wisdom, power, and strength enables us to do our best for Him.

3. Continue!

Get together with the parents, the principal, and the administration and come up with an action plan. Make sure the action plan includes a punishment for misbehavior, an incentive for good behavior, and a way to keep a child accountable to the parents and teacher. Once you have an action plan, stick to it!!

Don’t give up on your action plan after day two or three. Stick with it for at least two weeks before adjusting or making changes!

Many times, teachers change their discipline tactics around time and time again because they don’t results right away. But why don’t they see results right away? Easy, it’s because the child doesn’t know what to expect next. The child continues with their behavior simply to see what happens. Children need consistency, so give it to them. Make sure the repercussions are clear ahead of time, that they have something to motivate them towards good behavior, and that they understand that their parents and the principal are involved in rooting them on.

Those are the Top 3 Ways to Solve Behavior Problems! So don’t give up! Don’t give in! God can use you in your students lives to change them, mold them, and shape them for His work and His use!

What works in your classroom? What tips and tricks have you used? Comment below and share with a fellow teacher. Let’s help each other teach creatively!

3 Powerful Ways to Encourage your Child

Encouragement>>it’s simple and yet so powerful. You can use it to make someone smile, to shift a mindset from negative to positive, or to simply show how much you care.

We all need encouragement. It helps us remember how much we’re loved and how much power we have inside of us to keep going. This especially goes for children! During the time that they’re growing and learning, their lives are changing. They’re tasked with new responsibilities and introduced to new physical adjustments. They’re including new friends, developing different mindsets, and battling the world’s culture.

So how can we encourage them during this transforming time? What can we do to help these children succeed?

Here are 3 Powerful Ways to Encourage Your Child:

1. Lead in Prayer with Your Child

If you know me, you’ll know that I’m not only a teacher, but I’m a Christian school teacher. This means any tips and tools that are on these pages are written from a Christian perspective. One of these tools being, you guessed it, prayer!

Many parents do a wonderful job of praying for their children (which is a fantastic thing to do and something to be commended for), but many of them fail to pray with their children. The difference? Praying for your child allows you to share your heart to God for them. Praying with your child allows you to hear their heart towards God and others.

I remember praying with my mom when I was a little girl. She would set aside time each night to pray with me. They’re moments I will never forget>>feeling my knees touch the warm carpet, folding our hands together, closing our eyes as we talked to our Heavenly Father. It reminded me that my mom truly cared about my desires, my feelings, and my future. It inspired me. It motivated me. It encouraged me.

Praying with your child will do just that. It will allow them to hear your heart and love for them. It will inspire them to continue during the hard moments. It will create memories that will last a lifetime and encourage them in ways you could never imagine.

2. Leave Notes For Your Child

How many of you already do this? I absolutely love this one and it’s a really easy one to do!

Simply leaving notes in your child’s folder, lunch pail, or backpack can really make their day! Their face absolutely lights up, they show it off to their friends, and they hold onto it throughout the day(sometimes throughout the week).

As a teacher, I see many students who receive notes in their lunch pails. They vary from handwritten notes to drawings or small jokes printed out on colorful paper. Whichever one it is, the student absolutely loves it and cherishes it!

They usually come right over to me to show it off. They’ll make a comment about mommy or daddy and then skip back to their table. Then my favorite part happens. I watch as their smile widens from ear to ear as they hide it away. Hide it? Yep. That’s exactly what they do. They hide it away in their desk and pull it out time and time again. They read it, fold it, open, and close it until the edges are practically worn and the words seem blurred out from their little fingerprints.

They’ll read it and reread it over and over and that one note that you leave for them will encourage them more times than you’ll ever know.

3. Listen, Ask Questions, and Give Hugs

Listen to how your child’s day went. Be the parent that they confide in. Be the friend that they look up to. Be a good listener!

This means knowing that you don’t always have to have all of the answers or a response for everything. Sometimes, they just want you to listen without adjusting or fixing the problem. They want to know that you’re on their side. They want to know you care and sometimes the best way to do that is just to simply listen.

Ask questions about their day. Once they’re done talking, you can finally start to ask questions. Questions let your child know that you were truly listening and that you care about the small details in their life.

Now, if your child is what I like to call a, “One Word Responder,” and they answer by saying things such as, “Fine,” “Good,” or, “Okay,” then make sure you’re asking specific questions that involve who, what, when, or why. For example:

Who did you play with today? What games did you play? Who won?
How does ________ work?
How did you solve that problem?
What did _________ mean when they said __________?
What did you do after that?
Why do you think_________ did that?
How do you think God views what you did today?

These kinds of questions require longer responses, enable your child to think through their day, and encourages them by reminding them how much you value those small moments in their life.

Give your child a hug. After listening and asking, it’s time to start giving. Give your child a hug!! I’m surprised at how many parents don’t do this!

Did you know that giving hugs actually boosts your health, stimulates your senses, and arouses joy of both the giver and the receiver? It’s true! Don’t neglect giving your child a hug! Being wrapped in their parents’ arms both comforts and encourages them. It tells them of your love without you even having to say a word.

There it is! 3 Powerful Ways to Encourage your child! Pray with them. Leave notes for them. Listen to them. Your child’s heart will be encouraged by your efforts and you’ll be encouraged by their joy!

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine,” (Prov. 17:22a).

5 Simple Things you can do to bring Fall into your Classroom

I absolutely love fall! What teacher doesn’t right? It’s the time of the year when you see the most change. The leaves start to change colors, your students start to change in maturity, and the schedule starts to change as you approach your first fall or Thanksgiving break.

Fall is all about change and it’s the perfect time to change our classrooms! Here are 5 easy ways to prep your room for fall:

1. Fall Scents

This one is a small detail, but it’s also super simple, really easy, and the students love it! Did I say students? I meant students, parents, teachers…well, let’s be honest, everyone loves fall scents!

There are so many ways to incorporate different scents into your classroom. You could use your favorite fall candle and a candle warmer. You could use house sprays. One of my friends uses an essential oil diffuser in her classroom with drops of cinnamon—which smells amazing and is totally perfect for this time of year.

My personal favorite is Bath & Body Works’ Wallflower scents. The basic wallflower itself costs only $5.50, and I can promise you that I always use the Pumpkin Pecan Waffle. It’s a really sweet fragrance and I love it—seriously addicted to this scent! It’s usually the first thing that people compliment when they walk into my classroom and it leaves the atmosphere feeling warm and cozy.

Whatever your favorite fall scent is, use it! Make the room delight the senses. I promise you that parents and students will love it and other teachers will probably ask where you got it.

2. Bulletin Boards

As all of the change takes place, it’s time for us to change our bulletin boards!

There’s nothing better than seeing your students’ eyes light up after you’ve changed the room decor around.

Personally, I usually do one academic bulletin board and one spiritual board for the season. I find cheesy sayings like, “Fall in love with Jesus,” or, “Fall in love with a good book.”

Doing a play on words is always great, but for my specific age group I try to make sure that the words are all spelled correctly for the phrase. Sayings such as, “Leaf it all to Jesus,” are really cute but might confuse some children with their spelling/word skills. So just know your age group and your students before making a saying. Then pick a theme, create it, piece it together, and watch your students’ eyes light up!

3. Pumpkins

Yay pumpkins! Again, another favorite! Did I mention that I love fall? I might have said it a few times. 🙂

Pumpkins are a great way to bring fall into your classroom, and they don’t have to be real ones either. You can use pumpkin stickers on hook/cubby tags, paper pumpkins on desks, or poster pumpkins on your wall. You can even have your students color some to make a bulletin board about, “Growing together in Christ,” or having the greatest “patch” around. Whichever way you choose to do it, have fun with it! Make the pumpkins something students get excited to see or find as they explore your newly decorated fall classroom.

4. Dollar Store Items

The Dollar Store, whether it’s Dollar Tree or your local $0.99 Store, is a teacher’s best friend. There are so many wonderful and overlooked items that you can incorporate for a beautiful fall classroom.

Check out your local dollar store for flowers. You can usually find orange, yellow, and tan flowers that you can use as an accent on your desk or to hang up throughout the classroom. 🌻

What else do they have? FALL LEAVES! Yes, your dollar store usually sells fall leaves 🍁 in packs of twenty or more. They typically come in a variety of colors and, trust me, you’ll want to get them. Your students will get a kick out of seeing them cascade down your walls and your parents will think you’re the most dedicated person ever for simply putting these beautiful leaves on display.

Lastly, they usually have cute pumpkin items! This ties in so well with the last step that I mentioned. Go check out pumpkin stickers, small statues, or sometimes even plushies!

Each dollar store has different items depending on where you’re located, but I can promise you that your dollar store has something specifically for you to use in your fall classroom.

5. Prep Yourself

Yourself? Yes! You! You who are reading this blog right now. Prep yourself!

What do I mean? I mean relax yourself into the fall season.

Ready your wardrobe. Pack away the summer outfits and bring on the sweaters and cute boots! Make sure you’re physically ready for the season ahead. Give yourself comfy clothes and pack warm meals. Help yourself continue in the best ways possible.

Ready your heart and mind. Change like the leaves, and refresh your outlook on your students. Set their faults aside and see their needs. Help them process these changing moments and encourage them through it. Help them fall in love with God and fall in love with learning all at the same time.

Have fun this fall! Decorate your classroom, bring in the fall scents, put on the comfy sweaters. Enjoy every changing moment, and allow the moments to change you.