EASY MEALS: Crockpot Cube Steak

 Here's another quick and easy meal for the tired teacher. 😀

Ingredients:

cube steak (approx. 1 lb)

2 cans cream of mushroom soup

1 envelop onion soup mix

3/4 cup of water

salt and pepper to taste

1. Place steak in bottom of crock pot.

2. Stir all other ingredients together in bowl until well mixed.

3. Pour over steak.

4. Cook on low 6-8 hrs.

5. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

Enjoy!! 

P.S. Don't forget to use a crockpot bag to make cleanup a breeze!!

Straight Talk: Don't Act Like You Know Everything (you don't)

 

One of the biggest mistakes I've seen teachers (both rookies and veterans) make is trying to pretend like they know all the answers. CLUE: They don't. No one does. 👿 If you are flummoxed by a grammar question, tell your students. Say, "That is a tough one. Honestly, I'm not really sure. Let me find out." If you can't figure out the symbolism in a particular story, ask them if they have any thoughts. (Of course, being well-prepared for class helps, but sometimes you can get blindsided by something you hadn't even thought of. Been there. Done that.)

I've learned that students appreciate your honesty. And if you try to fake your way through, someone always knows. If you misspell a word on the board or make some other error on a test or handout, and a student catches it, give 'em a reward. Say, "That's awesome!!" 👍Give them bonus points. Or a free homework pass. Whatever you have. I used to give out stickers. Yes, even high schoolers like to get stickers. lol! And you can see the pride on their faces that they have caught something the teacher missed.

When my students would spot an error I had made, even if it was just a typo, I used to say, "I always make one mistake a year, that that's it." Then when it happened again, I'd say the same thing. It would become a running joke in the classroom, and the kids appreciated that I could laugh at my own errors. 😎 They thought I was cool. 

Teachers who get angry with students who correct their mistakes are teachers who lack confidence in their abilities. And students see that right away. And they will rapidly lose respect for teachers who act like that.

They need to see that you recognize you are not perfect. It makes it easier for them to accept corrections of their own errors. 💁You are modeling for them how to handle being corrected. Let them see it's not the end of the world to make some errors. It's just life. 

I can't tell you how many times I'd take an item from the grammar textbook in the hall and consult my fellow ELA teachers. And you know what? Sometimes none of us could figure out the right answer. 👀

This is all a part of creating a climate in your classroom of mutual respect and honesty. You don't want an antagonist relationship with your students. The best classroom management occurs when students know that their teacher is there to help them learn and grow. 

DIY Clipboards for Teachers (or anyone really)

 It's the time of year for getting rooms set up for the coming school year. One thing I always looked for when setting up my room was some way to give my room a bit more oomph. I am 100% in favor of personalizing your classroom to make it more interesting and comfortable. For me, there is nothing more boring than going into someone's classroom who has done nothing but add a few ugly posters to the wall (which are covered with dust) and posted rules/procedures on the bulletin board. Ugh! I mean, come on. You have to stay in there all day.  Decorating and personalizing helped save my sanity, and my students liked it, too. It helps establish a tone for your class. Students know you take pride in your space, and they tend to be a bit more respectful of it.

I used clipboards regularly in my classroom. They're a great way to have a mobile writing surface, especially if you're someone who moves around the room a lot. So, one thing I did was a little DIY clipboard activity. I can't remember where I first saw the idea, but I jumped on it immediately. Let me start by saying, I am not the greatest DIYer around. lol! So this is a VERY EASY  craft.

Here is what you'll need:

1. a plain clipboard: You can get these in a variety of sizes and for pretty cheap. There are even some clear acrylic ones that you can use.

2. something to decorate the back: This can be scrapbook paper, contact paper, wrapping paper, even paint, etc. 

3. some way to apply the paper to the back: If you're using contact paper, it is generally self stick, but scrapbook paper or wrapping paper will have to be adhered to the back. I used Mod Podge. It is very easy to use and can be purchased at Dollar Tree for a buck. If you're painting, you might want to Mod Podge over it for protection

4. ribbon, charms, string, etc.: whatever you want to add to the clip to jazz it up a little. Obviously you can be as simple or as elaborate with these as you like.

I made this one with some contact paper that I fell in love with. It was ALL over my classroom. lol! 

These I found online and were my inspiration. Unfortunately, I have no idea where I got them, so I can't give credit to the original creators. As you can see, these were made by decorating the front. I actually found that pretty tough because you have to work around the big clip at the top. And then it is covered up by the paper you are using, so I didn't really see the point. But do whatever makes you happiest.

So, give it a try. And don't be afraid to let your students see your personality coming through. A big Disney fan? Go for it? Collect frogs? Ribbit!! The possibilities are endless. Just go for it.  I think you'll like it.