I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but.... summer is almost over. Can you feel it?  If not, you can certainly see it. Large crayon displays are blocking aisles and commercials are talking about back-to-school.  Where did the summer go?  I mean, just last week (I think) I was teaching lessons, organizing and cleaning my classroom. Time to go back? Already?

So, now I'm in panic mode. Trying to get all of my projects finished before The Day.  It isn't that I haven't been doing things. I've kept a pretty tight schedule all summer, but my list was too long.  So, I'm prioritizing and trying to be realistic.  Some things are going to have to wait until next summer. Probably the same things that have waited for the past four years. There just aren't enough hours in the day.

And, I need to get back on a decent sleep schedule. Although I don't call waking up at 6 am sleeping in, by school hours it is. I'll need to readjust to getting up before daylight.  I'm already exhausted! I have to start practicing my morning drill. You know the one that starts the night before. Clothes picked out. Breakfast decided on or ready to warm. Lunch sitting in fridge ready to grab.  Everything ready for my feet to hit the floor. Make sure my alarm is set to the correct time. And put new batteries in my second alarm clock. I need new batteries!

What about my back-to-school lessons? What will the kids do? I want to change it up this year and have them do something different, but what?  I needed my husband's help with a project, but it looks like I'd better switch gears and plan on something else (he hasn't caught my panic yet). Have my classroom supplies arrived? Should I take a day and go organize them or should I just wait for the back-to-school work days?

Decision! Decisions! Maybe I should just catch my breath and sit down. After all Christmas break isn't that far away.


Here's a fun resource for back-to-school!  Everyone loves a mystery!

Can you solve these mysteries?

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This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on May 25, 2018. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

What qualifies someone to teach? A certificate. A degree. Experience.  Well, it does take a degree in education and the experience will follow.  But, what really makes a teacher?

If you don't like kids you'd better find a new profession. This one isn't it.  You have to like kids. All of them. Not all of the time. You won't like the way they act or the things they say. All. The. Time. They will get on your nerves. Even your last nerve.  But deep down you don't just like them, you love the little rascals. You see promise in each one. They all have potential. What about the kid that you secretly wish would move away? Far away. Yes, even that kid. 

If you don't like learning, bail out now. A teacher that isn't learning shouldn't be in the classroom. A teacher learns something new every day.  And, here's an interesting fact. Teachers love learning. Teachers are curious.  Why? That's their favorite question. With How? Who? When? Where? What? all following close behind.  

A teacher's curiosity is never really satisfied. Nothing is beyond their scope. Or their imagination. Teachers love to  imagine possible scenarios.  Their imaginations allow them to travel all around the world before lunch and then take a trip to space following afternoon recess. Following lunch is the time for quiet, soft dreams. Dreams that will encourage a child's naturally curious nature.  

If you don't like working with adults, head on to the next profession.  This one isn't for you. You not only will work with kids, but the adults that raise them. Parents are not always fun. Sometimes they make you cry. Sometimes they make a bad word slip out. Sometimes they make you mad.  And, if you are blessed, they will be your best supporter and advocate. They will understand the word TEAMWORK.  But, if they don't, you have to be cordial and nice anyway. You can think all the bad things about them that you want, but you can't ever let them know. Put your game face on and handle that conference like a pro. 

If you don't like collaborating, become a hermit. Everyone collaborates.  We all have to work together. You know... play nice. No pinching, hitting, name calling, or spitting.  Someone says something you don't like or asks you to do something you don't want to do... get over it. You may not want to be on the grading-written-response-committee, but if your administrator puts you there, you are stuck.  You may not like the new teacher's suggestion, but put on a smile and play along. She'll find out soon enough that you tried the same thing 30 years ago. It didn't work then. And it didn't work when every new teacher suggested it. Every year.  It won't work now. But everyone smiles and gives it a try.

If you don't like being outdoors in all kinds of weather, find yourself an office job. Teachers are like mailmen.  Rain, snow, sleet, and 100+ degree temps don't phase us. You don't want duty standing on the corner in the freezing rain or merciless sun watching for kids to dawdle onto the playground. Get a doctor's excuse or get a heavy coat and a handheld fan.

So, what does it take to be a teacher. Anyone can pick up a book, read directions, write stuff on the board, and sit behind a desk. But a teacher teaches. A teacher lives and breathes school. A teacher sees into the heart of each child and tries to reach them. A teacher loves lightbulb moments. A teacher makes learning fun, challenging, and exciting (not necessarily in that order and not necessarily every lesson).  A teacher has heart. The biggest heart. Why is it so big? Because they give away a piece everyday and still have plenty of heart left over. 

Never too early to make a literacy center.  Make it now. Use it All Year Long!

Words Every 3rd Grader Should Know!

Fun Literacy Games!!

Words for 4th Grade!

Or if want to create your own,  watch this free video on how to create a literacy center. 

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on May 25, 2018. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

Typically no. Not hardly, if ever. Nope.  Teachers are wired to care for others first.  That doesn't mean that we are all completely selfless wonders. We are human. But teachers have an instinct that calls them to be nurturing, considerate, thoughtful, caring, forgiving individuals. At least until it comes to themselves. Who is a teacher's worst enemy? Herself.

Kids and parents may disagree, but a teacher will usually go out of their way to make sure that they have done their best.  A child that is disciplined will not think so much of that statement, but it is true. I'm sure I spent more sleepless nights worrying over kids that I had corrected than they did worrying about their behavior.  I spent hours trying to figure out ways to reach them where they were and help them.  I wasn't so worried about my health or lack of sleep. All that mattered was how could I turn things around for the student.

I can't even count how many late night emails or week-end phone calls or after school conferences I've written, made, and attended. Long after my work day officially ended, I was contacting parents. For anyone who thinks a teacher's day ends at 3:30 they are wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Never does it end when the kids leave. That is when the second phase begins.  Planning, parent contacts, meetings, collaboration time, conferences.  For the parent that thinks that all a teacher cares about is getting out to the parking lot, jumping in their car, and heading home, think again. That is not the case. If we're in a parking lot right after school it is because we are heading to a meeting across town or a night class.

And then there's summer. Teachers and summer are the butt of numerous jokes. Just a word to the wise... teachers don't find them amusing. And, no, we're not laying by the pool sipping on lemonade. We're spending quality time with our families, planning lessons, purchasing materials for our classroom, writing lessons, printing name cards, organizing our classrooms, taking classes, and catching up on our educational reading lists.  Not much down time.

You see a teacher, who is a teacher by birth, doesn't ever stop teaching.  Or learning. We live and breath the classroom.  Our thoughts are about improving our lessons, our classroom management or our relationships with colleagues.  If we have a random thought about reading the newest novel by our favorite author, we immediately feel guilty for using that time on ourselves instead of our kids or our classroom.  Our personal lives are centered around our professional lives. Actually, our professional lives control our personal lives. I even planned my wedding and honeymoon around a school break. Let that sink in. Who wants to get married in the middle of March? Exactly.  But we do it because it is what is best for our kids. For our schools. For our professional lives.

 After years of living like this, here's my advice to all the teachers out there. Slow down and give yourself a break. Take some "me" time this summer and on week-ends. Read that book. Sneak in a movie. Sleep in. You're going to need fully charged batteries when your feet hit the floor running this fall.


Here's another tip. Take advantage of teacher resources and teacher education sites that will save you some time.

Here are some of my favorites!

Kids are not always ready to come back to school. This story is about 4 teens that are ready to escape summer!

Students have to make decisions to find their way out! 

If you haven't tried Boom Cards... well... you are missing something. I'm not 100% sold on using tech in the classroom, but this approach is teacher and kid friendly.  Boom Cards allow you time to teach small groups, differentiate, and it provides feedback (depending on which plan you choose- all are affordable) on student progress.  This is really an educational program.

Nonfiction Boom Cards about Hawaii

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on May 25, 2018. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers

I'm a teacher. What do I teach? Kids. I teach kids. I teach them to reach for the stars and dig deeper than they ever thought possible. I teach kids to believe in themselves.  I teach kids to have confidence in their abilities and how to use those abilities to achieve their goals.  That's what I do. Every day. All day.

Why did I become a teacher? Because I love teaching kids. My career started with a Playskool ™️
chalkboard and four dolls sitting in a row. I passed out left over worksheets and Weekly Readers™️
 and proceeded to instruct them.  I expected them to listen and to learn. After all, learning was very important if they wanted to be grown-up dolls.

My school was portable. I played on the back porch. The yard. My room. The living room. Anywhere and everywhere. A shade tree worked just as well as a ceiling. I never ran out of materials thanks to teachers that let me dumpster dive and parents who provided books to satisfy my love of reading.

My dolls progressed through the years.  Old ones graduated. New ones took their places.  My four seats were always full.  Sometimes a stuffed animal had to fill a space. It didn't matter. I had a captive audience.  Sometimes I mimicked my teachers. Sometimes I taught the way I wished they would teach.

Then I went to college and things changed. I became a ... fashion merchandiser with a business degree.  What!?  A fashion merchandiser with a business degree. What happened to the little girl having school under the trees. Well... she was gone and a young adult thought that childish things needed to be put away. She couldn't have been more wrong.

I spent some miserable years outside of the classroom. Teaching is my calling. It is my mission field. My home away from home. It is in my heart. It took a few years, but I found it again.  I almost let it go after working under some, what I'll just say, were corrupt administrators.  I left, but soon found myself in a another classroom. Teaching.

That's what I am. A teacher. What do I teach? Kids.

This month I'm a TpT teacher who is participating in a $100 give away! Perfect for back to school! Take time to visit the stores (including mine!) who have contributed to put this giveaway together.
. a Rafflecopter giveaway

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:  

Prize: $100 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card

Giveaway Organized by: Kelly Malloy (An Apple for the Teacher)

Co-hosts:   An Apple for the Teacher, Resource Ranch, Tanya G Marshall The Butterfly Teacher, It's Kinder Time, Learning Inspired, Kamp Kindergarten, Teacher Gone Digital, TheBeezyTeacher, Samson's Shoppe, Guide Teach Inspire, Peas In A Pod, KB3Teach, TheBeezyTeacher, The Chocolate Teacher, Mrs Wenning's Classroom, Dreams Teach, A Plus Kids, Chocolate 4 Teachers, A Library and Garden, Reading and Writing Redhead, and The Froggy Factory.

Rules: Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  Giveaway ends 7/13/18 and is open worldwide.

Are you a Teacher Blogger or Teachers pay Teachers seller who wants to participate in giveaways like these to grow your store and social media?  Click here to find out how you can join our totally awesome group of bloggers! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Privacy Policy

This blog does not share personal information with third parties nor do I store any information about your visit to this blog other than to analyze and optimize your content and reading experience through the use of cookies. You can turn off the use of cookies at anytime by changing your specific browser settings. I am not responsible for republished content from this blog on other blogs or websites without my permission. This privacy policy is subject to change without notice and was last updated on May 25, 2018. If you have any questions feel free to contact me directly at kimberlyfrencken@gmail.com

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Chocolate 4 Teachers