Make Your Own Pointers

Pointers have endless uses in the classroom. They channel student attention, allow teachers to emphasize key skills, promote left to right directionality, and more. Mundane skills like practicing word wall words, reading the room, and reading the morning message are a little more exciting when students have the opportunity to choose a pointer and be the “teacher.” Incorporating positive feelings and utilizing novelty stimulate the brain and serve as a catalyst for learning.

Pointers are available commercially through many educational companies and discount stores. They are also easy to make. Making a special pointer is a fun way to incorporate a theme or highlight a sight word or letter. Wooden dowels can be purchased from discount, craft, or hardware stores. Simply glue an object (such as a foam shape, letter cut-out, spider ring, so on) to the end fo the dowel, and you are ready to roll.

Getting More From Your Puzzles

Teachers invest in their classrooms. We invest our hearts, our time, our talent, and our money. Like any professional, we want those dollars to do as much good as possible.

One way to get more from our puzzles is to use both sides. The possiblities are endless. Matching puzzles (often these are available for letters and numbers) lend themselves to becoming manipulatives to practice math facts, compound words, numbers and symbols, and many other skills.

Other puzzles can be flipped over and used as a canvas for nearly any skill you want students to practice or review. Math properties can be written for students to put together, mitosis can be drawn out, vocabulary words and definitions can be listed . . . the possibilities are endless. These puzzles can be teacher created, or challenge students to upcycle by creating review puzzles for the class.

Puzzles are tactile, hands-on, and great for visual learners. Get more from your puzzles by using the flipside.

Preschool Premeire

Dear Preschool Staff,

Thank you, thank you for filling my daughter's first day of formal schooling with joy. I am forever grateful.

Love,

The Monster Queen's Momma

What was the best part of school today?

“Um, I like drawing . . . I like playing with the girls. We rode the bus. We just had to HOLD ON. I sat with my best friend.”

“Who was your best friend?”

“I don’t know her name yet.”

When you played outside, what did you do?

“I goed down the slide alot.”

What did you think of your teacher?

“I called her Mrs. Christian. She gots other teachers. They ring their bells and they’re the readers.”

What story did you read?

“Chicken one. She didn’t listen; she she thought she was on the farm and not at school. She thought the ball and bat were a nest and egg. She thought the pencils were straw. She was so funny.”

When dad came home . . .

“Dad! DAD! I have to tell you something. I went to school and I rode the bus and I holded on and I was awesome!”