Sunday, December 13, 2015

Merry Christmas and FREE Christmas Handouts from Educator Helper


The countdown is on! Keeping students focused in the classroom during this time is difficult, so include some holiday fun in your lesson plans with these FREE products! Click the links to download your FREE holiday products. 

Nostalgia Christmas Tree: Make Your Own Tree Ornaments FREE!!!













From Beth the Educator Helper

For more great teaching ideas and products, visit Teacher's Studio!

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Celebrating Pearl Harbor with Cause and Effect, Comic Books, and Critical Thinking Activities

Take time to honor those who served at Pearl Harbor on December 7! 


My grandfather told many stories about Pearl Harbor and the time he served while in Hawaii. Take time to remember those who lost their lives and those who survived the attack at Pearl Harbor. 

"Thank you" to those who served at Pearl Harbor!
Beth, Educator Helper

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It's a special day in history, and it's important to educate our students about our country's history, so click below to find your Pearl Harbor Day activities:

Pearl Harbor Day Cause and Effect and more at Teacher's Studio:




Monday, November 30, 2015

Cyber Monday Sale at TpT! HUGE Savings on all Items thru Dec. 1!

Happy Holidays from the Educator Helper!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Earnin' My Feathers...Doin' Good Deeds at Thanksgiving


Fostering giving and encouraging thanks is a daily occurrence for teachers, but what about for our students? Thanksgiving is the time to reflect on how we can help others in need. To help students get into the giving season, below is a handy Earnin' My Feathers activity. Also included are free Thanksgiving journal prompts that will encourage students to reflect upon the meaning of the holiday. Click here for more Thanksgiving fun!

Happy Thanksgiving!
Beth, the Educator Helper



















Sunday, October 25, 2015

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Using Skills Charts in Peer Workshopping Classrooms

"Everyone is good at something", so capitalize on your students' skills by starting your first peer workshopping session with a Skills Chart. Use the filled in version below, or make your own by using the blank chart. Then, Xerox one of the Skills Chart and the Workshopping Notes chart front to back (2 sided). Have students complete the Skills Chart.  




Use large chart paper or the below handout to create a Master Skills Chart:


Now, it's time to implement peer workshopping! Use the Skills List as a peer workshopping list, and introduce skills one at time with mini-lessons. Give students time to practice the skills through writing activities then peer workshoppings. 

Be sure students utilize the Master Skills Chart by going to peers for help with skills. As students master skills, add their names to the Master Skills Chart.  Be sure to provide handouts or reference materials for those listed as master teachers. It takes practice to teach rules to others, and you may have to model this for in small group settings until students get the hang of how to go over rules with one another. As you conference with students, complete the Workshopping Notes sections to chart writers' growths. 

In the end, students benefit from peer workshopping because they need meaningful practice to improve and master skills. 

Happy Peer Workshopping!
Educator Helper


Other Peer Workshopping Activities:









Writing a Rough Draft (Lower Level)



Writing a Rough Draft (Upper Level)







Sunday, September 6, 2015

Are You Ready for National Grandparents Day?

September 13, 2015, is National Grandparents Day! It's great to celebrate grandparents every day (yes, I'm a Meme!), Sunday is set aside to honor grandparents. What activities will your students create to form lasting memories? There's no need to spend money for a gift. Instead, print out the activities below to make National Grandparents Day extra special!

What's your favorite memory of time spent with your grandparents? I have so many wonderful memories that it's hard to choose just one, but I'll give it a try:

My Memaw and Big Papa (Mom's Parents)
    It was in the 1970s when my grandparents, my mom, my brother, and I loaded into a pick-up with a camper on its bed and headed off to Yellowstone. Along the way, we had many outrageous adventures: the night Memaw dressed in white and looked like a campground ghost; the afternoon the pick-up broke down at Big Piney; traveling off the beaten path to tourist destinations, and the highlight of the trip--Old Faithful. These are wonderful memories that I cherish!

My Grandpa and Grandma (Dad's Parents)
   When a devastating tornado hit Wichita Falls, my grandparents lived on the edge of Maysville near the river where there was an orchard of pecan trees. As we walked under the shade, we spotted items we thought were trash. They turned out to be checks, mail, and pictures, and most were in good condition. The address on the checks was Wichita Falls, and we surmised the checks arrived from the area by the killer tornado and its strong winds. We gathered the items and sent them to the Chamber of Commerce in Wichita Falls. This taught me several things: be sure to store pictures in ready to grab boxes in case of natural disasters, always put your name and dates on backs of pictures, and be a good neighbor and return items that belong to others.  

National Grandparents Day is a great time for sharing memories, and for making new ones! 

Happy Grandparents Day!

Free Grandparents Day Activities to Make and Give: