Then and Now

Many things have changed over time. As adults, we notice that a lot more. We start thinking about what changes have occurred and what changed. We also think about how it made our life much better in most cases. 

I love to teach my students about what life was like then and now. We compare many different kinds of topics. Some of the topics are transportation, technology, school, children, homes, etc. After viewing different kinds of photographs as well as reading many different kinds of books, we create our bulletin boards. I love to see what the students gather from my teaching. I have the students write what was different then and what we have today.  For example, we look at what students used then in school like slates and what we use today iPads.  I love to see my students faces and notice how things have changed through time.  I am always thinking of ways to showcase their learning and that way is through bulletin boards. 

I created a few products on Teachers Pay Teachers that I use in my classroom as a way of showcasing the learning that happens. I also use that as an assessment of what my students learned.  I have a few products for this topic. I created separate activities and a bundle. I will link them here for you.

Bundle- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Then-and-Now-Bundle-9325894

Leisure and Chore- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Leisure-and-Chore-10326353

School Then and Now- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/School-Then-and-Now-9233286

Transportation Then and Now- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Transportation-Then-and-Now-9233265

Technology Then and Now- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Technology-Then-and-Now-9233257

Toys Then and Now- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Toys-Then-and-Now-9233296

Happy Teaching!

Donors Choose

As a public school teacher, we spend a lot of our own money to fund our own classrooms. We do not get money to help fund these materials. In order for a classroom to run the right way with the right materials, the teacher has to fund this classroom on their own. This is hard when many things are never on sale and let’s face it, we don’t get paid enough.

One way to help teachers is through Donors Choose. We create a project for our classroom and try to get donors to help fund the projects. It is a simple way and teachers need to be creative in what they want for projects. I have used Donors Choose since 2018 and my classroom has many wonderful materials for my students to use. When I started teaching computer science, the department of education did not have any materials for me. I created projects on Donors Choose and had many wonderful people fund my projects. This helped get materials for my students to learn computer science. From books to games and so much more. I am thankful for Donors Choose and all the donors that have helped me throughout the years. I am always in need of new materials for my students as curriculum changes. Please check out my Donors Choose projects and see if you can share them with someone who would be able to fund it.

https://www.donorschoose.org/classroom/m-kucic?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=page&utm_campaign=teacher_profile&utm_term=teacher_5112165&rf=page-dc-2023-08-teacher_profile-teacher_5112165&challengeid=21132914

Thank you from the bottom of my heart and in supporting my students.

TpT Summer Sale

I’m having a TpT summer sale August 1st and the 2nd. You can get a discount on all of my products. These products can be used in your classroom. I have a few new items that have been added in the month of July. You can use the code BTS23. This is a great time to get your products at a discounted rate and what better way then before school starts. Many of us are starting to go back to school and this is the time to get many of the products cheaper. It saves money as well as time. Check out my TpT store. I have added the link to the whole store for all your needs.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jollica1214

Happy Shopping!

Parent Communication Log

Home school communication is so important. Communicating with families is so important. As a teacher, it is important to communicate how children are progressing in school. Parents have the right to know. As a parent myself, it is important to know how my child is doing. As a teacher, I always communicate with my parents about how their child is doing. As a teacher, you are the one that knows how a child does. We are the ones that assess and teach them. We know what parents can do to help them. I have meetings with my parents as much as I can. I always have talking points and then next steps. This is important for both the teacher and parents to know. I created this parent communication log to keep track of what is talked about. It is so important.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Communication-Log-9881461

Happy teaching!

Student Information

Back to school is a time for routines. I like to set many up routines with my students as well as parents. I like to learn about my students from the parents point of view. This is so important because I like to know what they have to say about their children. What are some likes? What are some dislikes? These are just a few of the things that I like to ask. This gives me a little bit about what my students are like from the parents point of view. This is one way to establish a home school communication log. This is why I like to send out this student information for my families. As first graders, it is hard for them to write so I like the parents input.

Check out my product on TpT!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Student-Information-9871835

Happy Teaching!

Word Wall Alphabet Letters

I love using my word wall as an interactive bulletin board. My word wall bulletin board is the focal point of my classroom. My students are able to use the word wall when they are writing and through out the day. This allows them to use the words that are used in daily reading and writing. I also review the word wall words daily with my students. I love to use my word wall alphabet letters.

I have different colors in my TPT store. I change my colors of my classroom every year and I love to use the different colors in my classroom to make my word wall pop. These letters are no prep and it’s a great way to get started quickly. Here are some of the letters.

Pink- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Wall-Letters-Pink-9840830

Dark red- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Wall-Alphabet-Letters-Dark-Red-9627459

Dark orange- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Wall-Alphabet-Letters-Dark-Orange-9627478

Dark green- https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Wall-Alphabet-Letters-Dark-Green-9627446

These are just a few!

Happy Teaching!

Once Upon A Book

Summer time is a time that I get to read children’s books and discover new books. I love to read them to my own children and then use these books with my own students. I enjoy discovering new authors and coming up with new ideas for my students to do with.

I discovered a new book called Once Upon A Book by Grace Lin. It was a great book about a little girl going through different settings of stories. She visits many different places and learns a little bit about each place. It’s a wonderful book about discovery of different places. I really enjoyed the story. My children loved to see the different places that the girl visits.

I created a creative writing piece for my students. After reading the book, my students will write about an adventure that they went on in a book. This will be a free write for them and for them to use their imagination. Children need to use their imagination and this will spark imagination. Check out my product.

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Once-Upon-A-Book-9840563

Happy Teaching!

New Photos Share

I love to take pictures. I love the memories that I get to capture. It keeps the image there forever. I love to take many different kinds of pictures. It can be the scenery or of items and important things. I want to share it with everyone daily through a few pictures at a time. These pictures will go back in time from when I traveled or visited a different place locally. I found this wonderful website that I can share just my photos. If you would like to visit the website and see what new photos will be posted daily. Check it out.

https://www.clickasnap.com/jollica1214

Summer Reading Adventures

Getting students or your own children to read in the summer can be challenging. I love to sit with a good book daily and just get lost. I want my own children and students to have the same kind of love for reading as I do. I love a good reading challenge. A reading log is one way to get children to track they’re reading. I do this with my own children over the summer. They have to read a new book or for at least 15 minutes a day. I have them color a reading log. I created this reading log for my own children and students to read. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Summer-Reading-Log-9641830 It’s a fun way to get children excited for reading. They get to color in a book after they are done reading. I have noticed that after they finish their reading log, they want more. I also reward them after because its another motivator.

I also created a fun summer bingo log. Children are able to read in various places that are general. It’s another fun way to get children excited to read. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Summer-Reading-Bingo-9622667

I am always thinking of new ways to engage my students and my own children. Reading is a big passion of mine. A reading log and reading bingo are two ways that have helped my own children as well as my students. Check them out at my teachers pay teachers account to get your own.

TpT February 2023 Sale

Want fun products for your students? Like coding? Check out many of my products on Teachers Pay Teachers. I have coding activities for holidays as well as retelling. It’s a fun way to incorporate coding with your students.

I also have bulletin board letters in various colors. I love using them to make my word wall pop out.

Check out my store. Get your products now!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Jollica1214