I love incorporating centers into my lesson plans. They offer a fun and effective way for students to practice, explore, and master the skills and concepts I teach. Several years ago, I watched an amazing art teacher at my school. I noticed that she allowed her students to select from a class menu. I was immediately drawn to the idea and tried it out. I quickly found students were more engaged and thus classroom management was easier. So I started to trade out my centers for “menus.” Here’s how it works: *The pictures included are from a lesson I did with Career Menus, but you can do this wit ..read more

The brain- we couldn’t do our jobs without it! Here are 2 new books from NYCI that provide resources and tools you need to help teach kids about their brains and better manage your classroom. Book for You: Light Up The Learning Brain Disruptive behavior in classrooms is a common complaint among educators. Many feel unprepared to support students and teachers. This book is so timely because it offers helpful solutions to creating a supportive environment where students will safe and secure. I strongly support the idea of educating students about their brains and encouraging them to take respon ..read more

Last year I switched schools and I am anticipating another change this year. I’m also split between schools, which means I have to introduce myself to a lot of new faces. There are many ways to introduce yourself and your role, but here are a few ways I have found that are time savers and effective. 1. Read a book I love to read a book that leads to a discussion about what the school counselor does. Sometimes, like with my K-1 students, I need to be explicit so we read a story like “Mrs. Joyce Gives The Best High Fives.” In my older grades, they know me and my job, so I choose a story that li ..read more

BOOK REVIEW and GIVEAWAY I have often said that the most significant “classroom management class” I ever took was putting @brooklynandboss through puppy school and my greatest lesson in empathy in regard to behavior was when I fostered and adopted Brooklyn. Similarly, Dan St. Romain is taking all the lessons he learned from LaRoux and pouring them into this wonderful book about behavior and cognitive development. This book is different from other behavior books, in that the personal stories may it a relatable and perfect summer read. I’ve had the opportunity to hear Dan St. Romain speak seve ..read more