Simplify Your First Week of School in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grades

Make Your First Week of School Relaxing and Stress Free!

The first week of school can be a whirlwind for both new and veteran teachers. The excitement of meeting new students is often paired with the challenge of setting the tone for the year and ensuring everything runs smoothly from day one. 

Those can be some pretty big challenges.

I understand these challenges, and that's why I created a solution to help you start the school year with ease: theFirst Week of School Survival Kit.

This comprehensive First Week of School Survival Kit is designed for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th-grade teachers. This differentiated unit includes everything you need to kick off the school year without the stress and hassle. 

Differentiated for 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Grades

Each grade level has its unique needs and challenges. The survival kit is tailored to meet these needs, ensuring that every student is engaged and learning right from the start. Whether you're teaching 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade, you'll find materials that are just right for your classroom.

No Prep Required

Say goodbye to hours of preparation! This kit is designed to be print-and-go, saving you valuable time. With everything ready at your fingertips, you can focus on what truly matters – connecting with your students and creating a positive learning environment.

Comprehensive Lesson Plans

Detailed and easy-to-follow lesson plans will guide your teaching throughout the first week. These plans cover all academic subjects. With clear instructions, you can confidently navigate each day without feeling overwhelmed.

Engaging Activities

Captivate your students with fun and interactive activities included in the survival kit. These activities are designed to be both educational and enjoyable, helping you establish a positive classroom atmosphere from day one.

Valuable Tips

Benefit from expert advice that will help you manage your classroom effectively.The survival kit includes tips and tricks for a successful first week, ensuring you’re well-prepared for any situation that might arise.

All Subjects Included

This survival kit covers all academic areas, from math and reading to science and social studies. You can rest assured that you’re providing a well-rounded education to your students right from the start.

Grab a few tips and a no prep bulletin board for FREE.

A stress-free and relaxing first week of school can be yours for less than the cost of your favorite latte and will be, oh, SO worth it!

Helping you to be on top of your game before the school year even begins is just...

My Kind of Teaching!

Eight Easy Ways to Differentiate in the Classroom

Differentiation is necessary to ensure that you are meeting all your students' needs.

However, the question is…

“How do I differentiate when it’s not explicitly given to me?”

The activities you use in your classroom don’t always tell you how to differentiate for lower or higher students.

Scaffolding your students and using a ticket out the door can really help you understand your students' needs.

You can differentiate in several ways as you learn more about your students’ needs and deficits.

1) Worksheets

Print fewer copies and then cut them into rows or columns. Do students really need to complete 50 problems to prove they can do so? Assign students less problems to complete by choosing only even numbers or odd numbers. (When you think about it, do you really need to correct hundreds or thousands of problems?)

2) Differentiate by need

Create needs-based groups to reteach a concept or skill to small groups of students who need more support.

When you group students for centers and activities in your classroom, you differentiate if you group by need. However, don’t make a habit of grouping in this manner. Students must be with students of all levels because learning from peers is essential!

3) Let students differentiate themselves.

Use the “Show Me Your Fingers” system  and ask students who need help to join one side of the room. (After you do this a couple of times, they won’t be embarrassed because they will know that asking for help is beneficial to them.)

4) Differentiate by interest 

 If you are researching, have students work together on the topic that interests them most.

5) Differentiate by size

Are you working on handwriting? Differentiate by size! Students still needing help with fine motor skills can have activities printed in a larger font size. For students who have it under control, print the activity in a smaller font size to challenge them, as well.

6) Change the assignment

You can often use the exact same activity in different ways for differentiation. Let’s take task cards, for example. You can change the number of task cards for different students to complete. You can have your students who need support only write the answers, such as the letters. Your average student can write the answers, and your higher students can explain or show their answers through steps or pictures. You could also ask those students who finish early to write their own questions and answers for five more task cards.

7) Present the information in different ways

*Visual – Use videos to see and listen to the information for the students.

*Cognitive – Let your students read the information.

*Hands-on – Let your students create something.

8) Student's Choice

For a cumulative assignment, let students choose how they want to present their understanding. It could be through book reports, written assignments, graphic organizers, explaining the information, etc.

You are probably differentiating all day long, but it’s not always conducive to writing it down in your lesson plan book. List ways you differentiate learning throughout the day, type it up, make copies, and staple or glue it in your weekly lesson plan unless your administrator requires you to.

This will show all the many ways you differentiate in your classroom without taking extra time each week to write down every tiny detail because that is time-consuming and detrimental to getting out of your classroom on time each day.

Take action now. Brainstorm a list of the different ways you can differentiate in your classroom.

Share this pin with others when you save it to return to these tips.

Finding simple ways to differentiate and meet students' needs is just...

My Kind of Teaching