Teaching With Haley O'Connor

Let's build a better world together-one classroom at a time!

Books for Teaching Self-Control

Books for Teaching Self-Control

Today I wanted to share some of my favorite read-alouds for teaching self-control. When we teach our students to have self-control, they are more able to handle big emotions. An overly excited student might run around the room or yell. An excited student who’s showing self-control might feel the same emotions, but be able to tell their friend how excited… Read More

Non-Verbal Reminders for Students

Today I wanted to share some ideas for students who need frequent reminds to stay on task, complete their work, and use safe hands and feet. During my first few years of teaching, I focused a LOT on positive relationships with my kids. That meant I really focused on the way I talked to my students. Instead of “sit down,”… Read More

Gratitude Read-Alouds

Gratitude Read-Alouds

Gratitude is a challenging skill for so many students. So many families focus on “saying thank you” as soon as toddlers can talk. However, we don’t often talk about what it means to be grateful and how we can really show that. Students become robotic and teachers say, “What do you say?” when we give them something. But that does… Read More

Favorite Fall Books

Favorite Fall Books

Today I wanted to share some of my favorite books for celebrating Fall in the classroom. I LOVE Fall. I’m not sure what my favorite season is…but I know it’s not summer. I’m always so happy when it’s over! I do NOT like the heat. So as soon as I can start celebrating Fall, I am ready! Depending on your… Read More

Teacher Gift Free Download

Teacher Gift Free Download

This post contains affiliate links. I receive a small stipend when you purchase using my link. It doesn’t cost you anything, and I only recommend things I use and love. Hi! This week my daughter, Everly, started preschool. I planned for her to start a little earlier, but the past 18 months have been so crazy! As a teacher, I… Read More

Alternatives to Clip Charts

Alternatives to Clip Charts

Over the past few days, I’ve shared two other blog posts about clip charts in the classroom. First, I shared reasons why teachers choose to use clip charts. I feel like when we know what problem we’re trying to solve, we can come up with better solutions. Why Do Teachers Use Clip Charts Then, I blogged about what the experts… Read More

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  • Gratitude is a hard skill for students to learn but with picture books, they are able to better understand and learn how to be grateful. In this post, I am sharing 4 books about gratitude for kids. These kids books about gratitude are great to read around Thanksgiving. These are some of my favorite November read alouds. They are not necessarily Thanksgiving books but they do tie in very well into the month of November. These are great to read during classroom meetings or readers' workshop.
  • Are you looking for reindeer books or caribou books to use as part of your arctic animals unit? I am sharing 8 caribou books and reindeer books you can use with any caribou activity or reindeer activity in your kindergarten, first grade, and second grade classroom. Use these books for your nonfiction books unit as well as for teaching students about nonfiction text features. Read these during readers workshop, keep in your classroom library, or have in browsing boxes for independent reading.
  • Teaching students about self-control is a huge part of social-emotional learning in the classroom. Today I wanted to share some of my favorite read-alouds for teaching self-control. These children’s books about self-control will help students to regulate their emotions, especially kids with big feelings. You will not only find picture books about self-control, but you will also find regulating emotions activities. These self control books are great for your calm down area in the classroom.
  • Are you looking for digital activities for vowel teams and diphthongs? These digital resources are easy to use and no prep on your part as an elementary teacher. Use these phonics activities during literacy centers, Daily 5, or guided reading groups. These literacy activities can be used on any device. There are magnetic letter activities, vowel team activities and diphthong activities. Students can work on creating sentences, cvc word activities, and finding missing words.
  • Looking for mindfulness books for kids? Look no further! In this post, I am sharing 8 mindfulness books for kids that tie into my mindfulness activities and resources. These mindfulness picture books for kids will help students to regulate their emotions and find calm in their day. Use these mindfulness children’s books in your calm down corner in your classroom. They are great for teaching students self control and calm down strategies during your social emotional learning block.
  • Are you looking for a fun way to spice up your reindeer week or caribou study? Students love learning about reindeer, and this unit allows you to reinforce important comprehension and writing skills! Use these reindeer activities to teach students all about inferences, main idea, and asking questions. There is a list of educational videos and nonfiction books about reindeer and caribou to go with this study. Use this during readers workshop nonfiction unit or add to your arctic animals study.
  • Looking for a teaching binder that will actually help keep you organized this school year? These teacher binders are great for keeping track of student data, parent contact information, parent forms and more. You can do all of your lesson planning right inside these editable teacher binders. Find teacher binder covers and teacher planner templates and ideas. You can also use these teacher planner covers for guided reading groups, your grade book and for guided math. Learn more!
  • Today I wanted to share my favorite activities for learning about caribou. I am sharing my favorite arctic animal activities for caribou. You will find thematic vocabulary words to help students begin to learn context clues. You will also find directed drawings and nonfiction books about reindeer and caribou to use in this thematic unit. Students also get to work on an all about book for nonfiction writing. Find comprehension activities and nonfiction anchor charts! Great for readers workshop.
  • Looking for sensory toys for your elementary classroom? I am sharing some of my favorite sensory input toys that are great for students that need help staying on task. For sensory needs in the classroom, I love to let students use these at their desk, during morning meeting, or mini-lessons. You can use them in a calm down corner. I share sensory bracelets and pop it fidget toys which are great classroom management tools. Weighted stuffed animals are also great for students with anxiety.
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