The Thinking Teacher's Toolbox

This little friend was waiting for my students on the handrail on the way to dismissal yesterday. She caused quite the stir! I made sure to guide the students safely around her.
Are you a fan of praying mantises?

I had the chance to join our fourth grade students for a field trip at today and it was phenomenal! (Swipe all the way through to see the most exciting exhibit at the end!)
My little group of students were so engaged and interested in everything we saw! They asked so many questions and were genuinely excited to learn and explore! If you’re in Las Vegas, you should definitely visit!

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The TpT Cyber Sale is almost here! You can save BIG on December 1 and 2, and I want to help you out with a little spending money! Here’s how to enter to win one of two $10 TpT gift cards:
🌟 Like this post and make sure you’re following me !
🌟 Use the link in b i o to follow me on TpT.
🌟 Comment with your favorite thing about December!
That’s it! You’re entered to win! Would you like some BONUS entries?
🌟 Tag a friend in the comments! Each tag is a separate entry.
🌟 Share this post to your stories (don’t forget to tag me!)


Giveaway closes on December 1 at 9pm PST. Winners will be notified by DM.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/the-thinking-teachers-toolbox

Let me tell you why this picture of lettuce makes my heart so happy! 🥬 🥗 ❤️
At the beginning of the school year, I offered some hydroponic gardens to teachers to use in their classrooms. One of our first grade teachers took me up on the offer and her students started growing lettuce, micro greens, and herbs.
The hydroponic gardens grew very well and the students were able to enjoy a tasty salad with the veggies they grew in their classroom! How cool is that?!
Seeing engaging activities like this that get kids excited about science make me happier than I can put into words! Thanks to for the hydroponic gardens and to for taking this idea and running with it!

Hello there! 👋
Since November is my birthday month, I thought it would be a great time for you to get to know me a little better! If we’ve got anything in common, please let me know in the comments!
🌟 🌟 🌟
1. I live in Las Vegas. I moved here in 2001 to start my teaching career and figured I’d stay for a few years… and I’m still here teaching 24 years later! 👩🏻‍🏫
2. My daughter is a senior in high school and she’s the best kid ever. She’s my concert buddy, shopping partner, and my pride and joy! 💕
3. I’m a huge sports fan. College football (Go Ducks!) and hockey (Go Knights!) are my favorites! 🏈💚💛 🏒 🖤💛
4. I’ve been a vegetarian for the last 6 years. If you’ve got any good recipes, send them my way! 🥗
5. I am a big fan of pets! I have a dog, 3 cats, and a horse (and 3 fish who are classrooms pets). 🐾
6. I love a good concert. A few of my favorites have been Taylor Swift, Cher, Garth Brooks, Celine Dion, George Straight, and New Kids on the Block (to name just a few!) 🎶
7. I love sunsets and rainbows and will always stop to take pictures of them no matter what! 🌅 🌈
8. I am a huge fan of working to make the world a better place for everyone who lives in it. Donating, volunteering, voting, and getting involved have all become far more important to me as I’ve gotten older. 🗳️❤️
9. I adore Las Vegas and all the things there are to do here! Shows, sporting events, concerts, great restaurants, shopping, classes for anything you could desire, etc. It’s the perfect place for staycations, and I make sure to do at least one every year! 🎆 🏙️
10. I’m also a big fan of staying home with my daughter and pets. I love enjoying the backyard, reading my next book club selection in the pool, or getting cozy on the couch for a Stranger Things marathon! 🏡
I hope this helped you get to know me a little better! What do we have in common?!

When you promised yourself you were absolutely NOT doing any projects during the week of Halloween… but your teacher table looks like this. 😂
What are you doing in class this week?

Looking for something to keep your kids engaged this week? Try this FREE Pumpkin Roll and Write resource! Just print, copy, and add dice and you’re ready to go! Click on the link in b i o to grab your freebie now!



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Want to help your families feel confident with learning at home when they leave your parent-teacher conferences? Each family handout gives 10 easy, actionable tips for reading, writing, science, and more! Perfect for conferences, open house, or any time throughout the year when parents ask, “How can I help my child at home?”
Click my link in b i o to learn more!




https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Handouts-Reading-Math-Writing-Parent-Letters-Back-to-School-Night-5871624

ABC charts are one of my favorite ways to display vocabulary for a science topic. We’ve been adding to this chart throughout this entire unit and referring back to it as we discuss each new topic.
This chart will remain on display all year, even as we move on with new units. It will also be used for review before testing season!
Have you ever used ABC charts in your classroom?

Two of my fifth grade classes reached their behavior goal this week and earned their first reward! Both classes selected the LEGO Challenge. What’s a LEGO Challenge you ask…?
💡 Students are given a challenge to create a representation of something we’ve been learning in science class using LEGOS and teamwork!
💡 Each table team receives a bin of LEGOS and they have about 12 minutes to build.
💡 Teams walk around and view what others have made, and then they vote (anonymously) for their favorite team (they can’t vote for their own)! The winning team receives a small prize.

I was honestly blown away by their effort, creativity, and teamwork! Teams were having so much fun, but they were also learning! The science vocabulary I heard as they planned and built was phenomenal. This is a new addition I created this year, and it’s definitely here to stay!
Can you tell what we’re learning about? Tell me in the comments!


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The TpT Back to School Bonus sale starts NOW! Save 25% on everything in my store when you use the code at checkout. Head to my link in b i o to start filling up your cart! 🛒


https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/the-thinking-teachers-toolbox