Dip Starter Pack 2021-2022

As highly requested following feedback on my "Dip Tips" blog post, I created this Dip Starter Pack to save probationary teachers lots of time, effort and money. I've just updated it for the 2021-2022 school year. I couldn't help myself when making it and went a bit overboard in buying shabby chic and bullet journal style clip art! You'll see that theme running through the pack! :)

Here's what's in the 170 page pack: 
(the preview picture below doesn't show everything! Scroll down to read the full contents.)

PLANNING RESOURCES:

• Example short-term (weekly) plans
• Example long-term (termly) plans
• Example cuntais míosúla
• 9 cover sheets for your planning and assessment folders
• Weekly planning checklists (3 sheets, one per term)
• Editable checklists and information sheets (e.g. homework record, information for substitute teachers, birthday record, etc.)
• Teacher calendar sheets (August 2021 - July 2022)
• Editable international Events Calendar (2021-2022)
• A PDF copy of my "Dip Tips" blog post

ASSESSMENT RESOURCES:

• Superhero-themed behaviour management tools including an editable token chart, token sheets, an editable behaviour record cover, goal-setting/reflection sheets, a behaviour frequency record with an example and instructions)
• Two Stars and a Wish self-assessment sheets
• Self-assessment display based on Marzano's Levels of Understanding
• Self-assessment sheet based on Marzano's Levels of Understanding

DISPLAY RESOURCES:

• Laethanta na Seachtaine display
• Dathanna display
• Prionta sa Timpeallacht (28 flashcards, 4 posters)
• Na h-Ábhair Scoile circular display
• Visual timetable pack (with editable cards)
• WALT and WILF signs (for sharing objectives and assessment criteria)

Many of these resources are available individually (paid/free) in my TPT store. The total of the paid resources is $18.50. This bundle allows you to save $6.50 as it's priced at $12 (that's roughly €10.60). The example weeklies, termlies and cuntais míosúla are not sold separately. Those are a bonus just for this bundle! So, in summary, for just over a tenner (not a massive investment!) you'll get 170 pages of example plans, planning and assessment templates and classroom displays. 

Here's a closer look at just some of the things that are inside. Click on the images if you'd like to purchase these separately! Many are suitable for non-dip-doing teachers too!

These calendar sheets (not just for dip teachers!):

These bullet-journal inspired, washi-tape filled checklists to help you keep track of your planning (and fulfill your pretty stationery needs!): 

These editable sheets for your teacher folder including a birthday tracker, editable information sheets for substitute teachers, lots of editable checklists that you could use for homework, phonics, spelling test records, recording specific objectives. (Again, not just for the dip!):

   

These pretty dip folder cover sheets (9 of them in total!). I also have editable versions in different styles for anybody not doing the dip:

These superhero-themed behaviour management tools for tackling individual children's behaviour. This pack includes a fully editable behaviour chart with editable tokens, a behaviour frequency record with an example and instructions and a cover sheet and goal-setting/reflection sheet to make a behaviour record book (FYI, my dip inspector loved seeing that record book!):

This prionta sa timpeallacht pack that contains 28 flashcards and 4 posters:

This dathanna display:

These visual timetable cards (includes editable cards):

 These circular chalkboard-style subject posters as Gaeilge:

This self-assessment chart based on Marzano's Levels of Understanding (with corresponding self-assessment sheets): Here's how it looked in my classroom in the past!

         

PYP Class Essential Agreements / Mission Statement Displays

Creating classroom agreements or a class mission statement is a must-do in your first week with a new class. I've found the book, "If Everybody Did" by Jo Ann Stover a fantastic way to lead into discussion on what we should do in our own classroom. I've always worked with my whole class to create their agreements and split them into groups to illustrate them. Here are some of the ways I've displayed them over the years. Then I'll show you some inspiring examples I've happened upon online.

This Angry Birds display was from my first year teaching in a PYP school (clearly I did not yet know that the word "rules" is not used in PYP schools. Perhaps that should have read, "Our Golden Promises.") The children wrote and illustrated the agreements on giant eggs. Unfortunately I didn't get a photo of the finished display!

Next came these hanging owls. The children illustrated the agreements on their tummies. 

And I'm sure you'll recognise these Lego superheroes from my blog header. They've been used to hold up classroom agreements for the last few years. They were painstakingly and lovingly made so I couldn't part with them after only a year.

 Here they are hanging at the front of my classroom.

Lately I was really inspired by these class mission statements shared by Susan Powers' (author of the PYP Teaching Tools blog) on Instagram.

If you don't already follow Susan online, make sure you do so! She shares fantastic, thought-provoking posts about inquiry-based learning in the PYP.

This gorgeous Class Promise display was shared by Jennifer Jones.

I love how simple this one from Upper Grade are Awesome is! The key words really stand out in colour. Naturally in a PYP school, you would not use the word "rules." However, the process she and her class have carried out to make these agreements is perfectly PYP-friendly!

Miraculous - Ladybug and Cat Noir Flip Sticks

Do you use flip sticks in your classroom? They're a very useful classroom management tool. You have two colours on a lollipop stick. Each child's name is written on one end. It's very easy to choose a child at random (fairly!) for a special job. If you want to keep track of who you have questioned, whose homework you have checked, etc. you can simply turn the sticks upside down and it's very easy to see who has not yet had a turn.





Last year the watermelon theme seemed to be EVERYWHERE on Pinterest. I jumped on that bandwagon and had these ones in my classroom. The children LOVED them. Though I was in love with the watermelon print when I made them, I wanted to make fresh colours for the coming school year. 

(TIP: If you want to reuse the same sticks, simply stick on the child's name on little pieces of paper with PVA glue - then you can peel it off and reuse the sticks the following year). 

I decided to go for a "Miraculous - Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir" theme. I'm really happy with how they turned out! Even if children don't recognise where it comes from, they may still like the contrasting colours/animal print effect. If any of you have other suggestions for possible flip sticks themes with contrasting colours/patterns, please comment below!

Editable Behaviour Management Tools

Hello there,

I hope you're surviving back to school season!

I've made some behaviour management tools, designed for one-on-one use with a child to tackle challenging behaviours by setting goals and reflecting on their behaviour. They are editable PowerPoint files so you can modify text, images, tables, etc. to suit your child's needs. 

There are a few different themes. Each set contains:

• instructions
• a behaviour frequency record
• an example of a completed behaviour frequency record
• 2 fully editable charts
• 2 editable token sheets
• a cover sheet and goal-setting/reflection sheet to make a personalised behaviour record book

Click on the images below to grab them from my TPT store for just $2 (roughly €1.70).

Star Wars Classroom Management Clip Charts and Decor Kit

Hello there,

I hope you are all enjoying August. Clip charts are one of my favourite behaviour management strategies. The concept is so simple. Each child has a clothes peg clipped to it. They all begin in the "Ready to Learn" section every day. Depending on their choices, they must move their peg up or down throughout the day. In my school, we use the same clip chart in all elementary classrooms and it works really well.

I've created two Star Wars-themed clip charts - one in English and one as Gaeilge (in the Irish language). If you'd like to get either, they're available for $2 (roughly €1.80) in my TPT store. Click on either of the images below to view them in the store.

I've also made this Star Wars-themed classroom decoration kit. It contains the following resources:
Page 3: "The force is strong in this class" sign
4-10: Class calendar - days and numbers 1-31 (plus editable squares)
11-12: Days of the week
13-15: "Yesterday was," "Today is" and "Tomorrow will be" signs
16-19: Months of the year
20-26: Word wall headers ("Word Wall" and each letter "Aa" "Bb")
27-33: Welcome banner (pennant-style)
34-37: Classroom management clip-chart (as above - in English)
38-43: Table numbers (1-6)
44-50: How we go home (Header, After-school club, Day care, Walking, Bus, Bicycle, Car)

51-53: Blank EDITABLE labels (lined, not lined and circular)

It costs $6 (roughly €5.40).

You'll also find the days of the week (in English and as Gaeilge) and the calendar set sold separately in the STAR WARS SECTION of my TPT store. Click here to view them!

Lego-superhero-themed essential agreements

Hello there! It has been a busy first week back with the children. Some people were asking me to share how the Lego superheroes turned out, so here goes! Of course, every first week of school involves deciding on class agreements. We democratically decided on 6 and then the children decorated posters. Here they are, being held up by the Lego superheroes. They look quite small in the second photograph but they seem much bigger in reality!

Monster and alien themed classroom decor set

Hello all! I hope you're surviving the first weeks of school! I, for one, have been very glad to relax this weekend!

If you fancy have a space theme in your classroom, have a look at this monsters and aliens themed classroom decoration set. It costs $6 (about €4.50) and is available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. 

The behaviour management clip chart in the pack is available on its own (in English or as Gaeilge) for $2 (around €1.50).

Page 3: "Welcome aboard our planet!" sign
4-10: Class calendar - days and numbers 1-31 (plus editable squares)
11-12: Days of the week
13-15: "Yesterday was," "Today is" and "Tomorrow will be" signs
16-19: Months of the year
20-26: Word wall headers ("Word Wall" and each letter "Aa" "Bb")
27-33: Welcome banner (pennant-style)
34-37: Classroom management clip-chart
38-43: Table numbers (1-6)
44-50: How we go home (Header, After-school club, Day care, Walking, Bus, Bicycle, Car)
51-53: Blank EDITABLE labels (lined, not lined and circular)

Win a classroom management clip chart!

Hi folks!

August is flying by so here's a little competition to help to ease the Back to School Blues. You can win one of my classroom management clip charts, in English or as Gaeilge. There are a few different themes in my TPT store. You can choose your favourite.

Click on this link to go to my Facebook page and enter. All you have to do is like the page, then find the post with the competition and share it! Easy peasy! I'll pick a winner on Saturday.

Owl-themed classroom display kit

Good morning all!

For those who have been following my blog, you'll know that I'm planning an owl-themed classroom. I put a lot of time into making resources for this. I've decided to sell a pack of my owl-themed display materials on Teachers Pay Teachers. It costs just $6 (which is in or around €4.40 for my Irish and other European followers).

The kit contains:

• Page 3: "Welcome to our nest!" sign
• 4-10: Class calendar - days and numbers 1-31 plus editable squares
• 11-12: Days of the week
• 13-15: "Yesterday was," "Today is" and "Tomorrow will be" signs
• 16-19: Months of the year
• 20-26: Word wall headers ("Word Wall" and each letter "Aa" "Bb")
• 27-33: Welcome banner (pennant-style)
• 34-37: Classroom management clip-chart
• 38-43: Table numbers (1-6)
• 44-50: How we go home (Header, After-school club, Day care, Walking, Bus, Bicycle, Car)
• 51-53: Blank EDITABLE labels (lined, not lined and circular)

If you feel that's a bit pricey, why not think about buying my owl-themed behaviour management clip chart for $2 (about €1.50)? This is included in the decor kit so don't buy the two together! It's set on a colourful polkadot background and is embellished with bows and owls - very cute!

Clip charts are a great classroom management tool. Write the children's names on clothes pegs. Every child starts the day on the green section. Then, according to the choices they make and how they behave, the peg is moved up or down.

For any Irish teachers reading this, there's also a leagan Gaeilge (Irish version) of the clip chart. This costs the same amount (about €1.50). I don't know about you but I've definitely spent more on a pack of stickers!

Please check out my Teachers Pay Teachers store for more resources - including some free ones in English and in Irish! There are lots of other versions of clip charts there too!

New TPT store and a secret walker freebie poster

Well hello there, Blogland! It has been a long time since I've been here. I haven't made blogging a priority of mine this past academic year but I aim to change that for the summer months. 

I've decided to open a TPT store. I'm all for sharing free resources and I will continue to do so but I would like to sell some of the items that took more time and effort. 

I have been amazed at the power of the internet and many people I know working in other IB schools in different countries had seen my learner profile posters up on the walls. I'm delighted that they have spread. However, I have seen lots of pins on Pinterest where people have taken screenshorts and edited them and not given any credit to me as the creator. 

The creation of my TPT store was spurred on by link shared on Facebook by Valerie King AKA Múinteoir Valerie. She has been an active Irish teaching blogger for just over a year. Have a look at her blog. If you are job-hunting, some of the most recent posts should be of interest to you.

Anyway, back to the store. I've added my first item to the store and it's free for all. It's a secret walker poster. I use this in school as a classroom management technique to ensure nice behaviour in line when walking to and from the play area and the lunchroom. All of the children's names are in a cup. I choose one at the beginning of break. I don't tell the children who the secret walker is until they come back after their break. If the secret walker behaved responsibly, I reward them with a star sticker (that is placed on a chart under this poster). If not, I don't reveal the secret walker's identity but explain why the mystery person did not receive the reward. 

Behaviour management clip charts

After seeing so many creative clip charts on teaching blogs, I've decided to give this behaviour management technique a go this year. The idea is simple: Everybody has a clothes peg. Everybody starts the day on green. The children are asked to move their pegs up or down according to how they behave.

I am teaching 5 and 6 year olds this year and so far, have found this technique really effective. The children get really excited about moving their pegs up. It's great for trying to target specific behaviours e.g. "I will move everybody in the most cooperative group up after this activity. They also really don't like moving it down. A very calmly worded, "Please move your peg down" is a lot more pleasant than raising your voice and getting angry.

The clip chart I have been using is from Jessica at Under the Alphabet Tree. You can download it for free from her TPT store.

Here are some of my favourite clip charts that I've stumbled upon:

This rock 'n' roll clip chart from The Inspired Apple:

Source

 

 

 

A basketball-themed one from Mrs. Tyner at Create 2 Educate:

Source

 A cute jungle-themed one from Curriculum to the Core:

This pirate-themed clip chart from My (Not So) Elementary life:

Source

Appeal to the children's techie sides - Pinterest finds

I found these two techie-themed displays on Pinterest. 

A fantastic iPhone display for classroom jobs by Sheila at Room 13...

... and an Angry verbs display.

I was then inspired to make an Angry Birds-style display for my room. I settled on an "Our Golden Rules" display. I have yet to add the golden eggs (the children will make these next week). Stay tuned for the finished product!

10 ways to wake up students

Click here to see an article with 10 quirky ways of re-engaging your pupils. 


Thanks to Ms. Tumelty (also an Irish Teacher Blogs contributor) for this link!