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Unlock Hidden Savings with TPT Credits
Are you tired of spending a fortune on classroom resources? As an educator, you know how crucial it is to have access to high-quality materials, but finding them at an affordable price can be a challenge. Luckily, there’s a solution that you may not have heard of yet – TPT credits. These credits offer a way to save money on teaching resources and take your classroom to the next level. In this article, you will learn what TPT credits are, how you can earn and redeem them, and most importantly, how to use them to maximize your savings. So let’s dive in and unlock the hidden savings of TPT credits.
What are TPT credits?
TPT credits are essentially a reward system for educators who make purchases on the Teachers Pay Teachers platform. By earning TPT credits, you can save money on future purchases and stretch your budget further. But how do you earn these credits in the first place? It’s actually quite simple. Whenever you make a purchase on TPT, you’ll receive a certain amount of credits based on the price of the item. For example, if you buy a resource that costs $5, you may earn 3 TPT credits. These credits are automatically added to your account and can be used towards a future purchase. It’s a win-win situation: you get the teaching resources you need, and you earn credits to save money on your next purchase.
How do you redeem TPT credits?
Whenever you make a purchase on Teachers Pay Teachers, you have the opportunity to earn TPT credits. These credits can be redeemed towards future purchases, allowing you to save money and get the resources you need. So, how do you redeem your TPT credits? It’s a straightforward process. When you’re ready to checkout, your shopping cart will display the amount of TPT credits you have available to use. Simply click the box next to “Apply TPT Credits” and the system will automatically deduct the corresponding amount from your total. That’s it! You’ve successfully redeemed your TPT credits and saved money on your purchase. In the next section, we’ll dive into all the ways you can use TPT credits to unlock hidden savings on Teachers Pay Teachers.
How can you use TPT credits to save money?
First, make sure to leave feedback on your previous purchases. Teachers Pay Teachers rewards you with one TPT credit for every dollar you spend, but you can earn additional credits by leaving feedback on your purchases. This is a great way to acquire more TPT credits, which can be used towards future purchases.
Next, consider purchasing resources during sales events. TPT frequently has sales events where you can purchase resources at a discounted price. During these events, you can use your TPT credits to further reduce the cost of your purchase. This can provide you with significant savings, allowing you to purchase more resources for your classroom.
Additionally, consider purchasing bundles or sets of resources. This is a great way to save money and maximize your TPT credits. Bundles often provide a discounted price on a collection of resources, so you can use your TPT credits to further discount the price.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can make the most of your TPT credits and unlock hidden savings on Teachers Pay Teachers. In the next section, we’ll share some additional tips for getting the most out of your TPT credits.
Need ideas for your next TPT purchase? Check out these posts.
In short, TPT credits are a teacher’s secret weapon for saving money while still accessing high-quality resources for their classrooms. By understanding how to earn, redeem, and use these credits, you can unlock hidden savings and take your teaching to the next level. Remember to maximize your credits by using them strategically and always be on the lookout for new opportunities to earn them. As you explore the world of TPT credits, keep in mind that saving money doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality. So go ahead and take advantage of this valuable tool to achieve your teaching goals and empower your students to succeed. As the saying goes, “A penny saved is a penny earned,” and in the world of education, every penny counts.
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How to Teach Reading with Expression: A Simple and Silly Game
As an educator, you understand the importance of fluency and teaching reading with expression when it comes to reading. However, it can be tough to make the lessons engaging and fun for your students. That’s where this simple and silly game comes into play. By using expression and sentence cards, your students can practice reading with different tones and inflections, which helps them understand the importance of punctuation and how it can change the meaning of a sentence. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to prepare and play the game, discuss the significance of punctuation, and provide tips on how to incorporate this activity into your lesson plans. Your students are sure to have a blast while developing their reading skills!
Step 1: Prepare the expression cards and sentence cards
To get started with the game, the first step is to prepare the expression cards and sentence cards. The packs in my shop make this easy to print and go! There are a variety of expressions, such as happy, sad, angry, surprised, and confused, as well as a variety of sentences that will allow your students to practice different tones and inflections.
Step 2: Divide the class into groups
To make the most out of this reading with expression game, it’s important to divide your class into groups. This will not only create a more interactive and engaging environment, but it will also allow your students to practice and improve their reading skills with their peers. Depending on the size of your class, you can divide them into groups of three to six students. You can either assign groups randomly or allow your students to choose their own groups. Once the groups are established, it’s time to move on to the next step: playing the game.
Step 3: Play the game
Watch this short clip to see how to how to teach reading with expression!
Bonus Extension Activity
For a fun extension activity, each group should choose a short story or a paragraph from a book that they want to read with expression. The book can be either fiction or non-fiction. Once the groups have selected their reading materials, they can assign roles to each member of the group. For instance, one student can be responsible for reading the dialogue, while another can focus on the descriptions. The rest of the group can help with sound effects or background noises to make the story more engaging.
As the groups begin to read, encourage them to use their voices to create different characters and emotions. Remind them to match the tone of the story with the expression in their voice. Encourage them to use different intonations and vocal inflections to convey different moods and feelings. After each group has completed the reading, you can ask the class to vote on the team that demonstrated the best reading with expression.
Step 4: Discuss the importance of punctuation
As the students become more comfortable with incorporating expression into their reading, it’s important to discuss the role of punctuation in conveying meaning and expression. Punctuation marks like commas, periods, and exclamation points can provide cues for pausing, emphasizing, or changing the tone of a sentence. For example, a comma can indicate a brief pause, while an exclamation point might signify excitement or urgency.
Encourage the students to pay close attention to the punctuation while reading, and to use these signals to guide their expression. You can also provide examples of how different punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence, and how varying expression can enhance or detract from the intended tone.
By emphasizing the importance of punctuation in reading with expression, you’ll help the students develop a deeper understanding of how language works and how to effectively convey meaning and emotion through their voices.
Step 5: Repeat and reinforce
With the foundation of punctuation and expression in place, it’s crucial to reinforce these skills through repetition. Consistent practice is key to ensuring that students internalize the concepts and apply them automatically when reading aloud.
One way to do this is to incorporate regular reading exercises into the curriculum that focus specifically on reading with expression. For example, have students read short passages and then ask them to identify which words or phrases should be emphasized and how they should be articulated.
Another effective strategy is to provide ongoing feedback and encouragement. Praise students for using punctuation effectively and for conveying the appropriate emotions in their readings. Offer constructive criticism when necessary and provide specific examples of where improvements can be made.
By incorporating these strategies into your teaching approach, you will help students develop a true mastery of reading with expression. They will become confident and competent readers who are able to effectively communicate the full range of meaning and emotion in written language.
Read about another fun language arts game: Summary Safari
Incorporating fun and engaging activities into reading lessons can have a significant impact on students’ fluency and expression skills. By playing the silly expression and sentence card game, teachers can effectively teach the importance of punctuation and tone. Remember, practice makes perfect, so be sure to repeat and reinforce this game in your lesson plans. As the great Dr. Seuss once said, “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” So let’s encourage our students to explore the world through reading with enthusiasm and expression.
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Easy and Fun Summarizing Practice with Summary Safari!
Do you find students struggling with summarizing non-fiction texts? You’re not alone. Summarization is a vital skill that can make all the difference in improving reading comprehension. So, how can you make summarization fun and easy for your classroom? Enter, Summary Safari – an interactive and engaging activity that allows students to practice summarization while having fun. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how Summary Safari works, why it’s effective and how you can use it in your classroom. With the help of the included Google Slides presentation, this activity is sure to become a hit in your classroom. Get ready to watch your students’ summarization skills improve!
Summary Safari: The Perfect Activity for Teaching Summarization
This summarizing practice is the perfect activity for teaching summarization to students. It’s an interactive and engaging activity that makes summarizing non-fiction texts fun and easy. With the help of a Google Slides presentation, students can practice summarization while having fun.
Summary Safari is not your average writing exercise. It’s a unique and engaging lesson that can help students sharpen their writing skills and comprehension abilities. By placing students in the driver’s seat to summarize content, Summary Safari promotes active learning and participatory engagement.
This interactive activity is perfect for students who find traditional writing exercises boring or overwhelming. It’s a fun way for students to practice their writing skills while learning about new subjects. Summary Safari encourages creativity and experimentation while also reinforcing key writing concepts.
Through this summarizing practice activity, students develop a deeper understanding of the content they are summarizing. They are prompted to think critically and to identify the most important details in a text. This helps students to develop strong analytical skills that will serve them well in their academic and professional careers.
Overall, Summary Safari is an excellent tool for teachers looking to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment. By incorporating this activity into their lesson plans, teachers can help students develop the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond.
Why Summary Safari is Effective
You might wonder why a simple activity like Summary Safari can be so effective. The answer lies in its ability to engage students in a new way of learning. By using a fun and interactive game, learners stay motivated and invested in the lesson, which leads to better retention of information.
Furthermore, Summary Safari incorporates key writing skills such as summarizing and paraphrasing. These skills are essential in academic and professional settings, and practicing them in a game-like setting encourages students to take risks and try new approaches.
In addition, Summary Safari allows for differentiation in the classroom, as students can work at their own pace and level. The game offers various levels of difficulty, enabling teachers to challenge advanced learners while providing support for struggling ones.
Overall, the effectiveness of this summarizing practice lies in its ability to promote active learning, engage students, and develop key writing skills. By incorporating this fun and interactive activity, teachers can create a dynamic learning environment that fosters student achievement.
Through Summary Safari, students can develop and practice the essential writing skills they need to succeed both in school and beyond. This activity sets the foundation for successful academic and professional careers by offering an engaging, educational experience that fosters a love of learning.,
In conclusion, Summary Safari is a fun and effective way to teach summarization and improve reading comprehension skills in your classroom. By utilizing this interactive activity, students can easily identify the main idea and key details of a text and summarize it in their own words. The Google Slides presentation adds an element of excitement to the lesson, making it easy to implement in any classroom. So why not give Summary Safari a try? Your students will thank you for the fun and engaging way to improve their summarization skills.
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Why Your Elementary Classroom Needs Visual Supply Cards Now More Than Ever
A calm, organized, and productive classroom can be a daunting task. What if there was a simple solution that could improve focus, increase participation, and enhance student performance? I have what you’ve been looking for! These Visual Reminder Cards feature colorful images that help students remember what supplies they need for different tasks. They have become an essential tool in modern elementary education by looking at the benefits they offer. This includes everything from improving focus to helping students with disabilities. So, get ready to discover the power of Visual Reminder Cards and how they can transform your classroom today!
Visual Reminder Cards Improve Focus
One of the many ways that Visual Reminder Cards improve student performance is by increasing participation. These cards serve as a visual cue for students to stay on task and keep the necessary supplies within reach. When students are equipped with the tools they need to complete a project, they are more likely to participate actively and stay engaged in the lesson. In the next section, we’ll take a closer look at how Visual Reminder Cards can help increase participation among students of all abilities.
Visual Reminder Cards Increase Student Participation
One of the key benefits of utilizing Visual Reminder Cards in your elementary classroom is the potential to increase student participation. These cards provide a clear visual reminder of the necessary tools and supplies for each activity, allowing students to stay focused and engaged. When students are equipped with everything they need to succeed, they are more likely to actively participate in class activities and discussions. In the next section, we will explore how Visual Reminder Cards can further enhance student performance.
Visual Reminder Cards Enhance Student Performance
One of the most important factors in student success is engagement. When students are engaged and participate actively in class, they are more likely to learn and retain information. Visual Reminder Cards can play a key role in enhancing student performance by providing a clear visual cue for what students need to participate in class. This is particularly effective for students with disabilities, who may struggle with following verbal instructions or remembering what supplies they need for each activity. In the next section, we will explore how Visual Reminder Cards can be particularly effective for students with disabilities.
Visual Reminder Cards are Effective for Students with Disabilities
Visual Reminder Cards can be a game-changer for students with disabilities. These students may face challenges in following verbal instructions or remembering what they need for each activity. Visual cues, such as the ones provided by Visual Reminder Cards, can help these students participate actively in class and stay engaged.
For example, a student with a learning disability may struggle to remember what supplies they need for a project. With Visual Reminder Cards placed in their workspace, they can quickly glance at the cards and grab the supplies they need without interrupting the flow of the class.
Similarly, students with visual impairments or hearing impairments may benefit from Visual Reminder Cards that feature pictures or written instructions to supplement verbal instructions.
By providing clear, visual cues, students with disabilities can be more independent and active participants in their learning. This not only improves their performance in the classroom but also boosts their confidence and self-esteem.
In conclusion, incorporating visual supply cards into your elementary classroom can be a game-changer for both you and your students. By improving focus, increasing participation, and enhancing overall performance, these cards provide a simple yet effective solution to staying organized. And with the added benefit of being particularly useful for students with disabilities, it’s clear that visual supply cards should be a staple in every classroom. So go ahead and introduce them to your students today – you’ll be amazed at the positive impact they can have on your classroom! As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words” – and in this case, it’s worth even more.
Find more teaching essentials here.
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My Mission as Teacher Author
Hey teacher friend! My name is Aimee, I am a teacher author and educator from Utah who is passionate about inspiring other educators. I want to share ideas that will help your students succeed whether you are a classroom teacher, online tutor, or homeschool mom.
Why I Started Aimee’s Edventures
It started back in college when I decided I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. I spent hours scrolling through Pinterest and dreaming about my future classroom. Through Pinterest, I stumbled upon Teachers Pay Teachers. TPT is an online marketplace that allows teachers to share the resources they have created for their students with the world. I downloaded every freebie I could find and put them in a Google Folder.
Read my advice for starting a Teachers Pay Teachers Store.
When I started my teaching career in 2020, I didn’t have a penny to spend on resources, so each day after I finished teaching, I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning teaching myself how to make my own worksheets and projects for my students. I uploaded them to Teachers Pay Teachers and started a second job as a teacher author. Most importantly, I connected with other teachers online and realized that I could bring my creativity into more classrooms than just mine.
Read about why I started my teacher Instagram page here.
How I Want to Help You
I make teachers’ lives easier by sharing innovative classroom management strategies, teacher organization ideas, and engaging lesson plans. Teaching is truly a work of heart. I know that as teachers, we put our whole selves into our jobs. It’s incredibly rewarding and exhausting. My hope is to provide resources that keep the joy alive in teaching and set students up for success.
How to Find My Resources
You can find everything I have created to help teachers and students succeed by clicking here! I can’t wait to connect with you!
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Weekly Lesson Planning Routine
Having a weekly lesson planning routine is essential to eliminating stress as a teacher. Did you know that teachers make more minute-by-minute decisions than brain surgeons? Creating routines and having your materials ready to go for the week will help with decision fatigue. I recently shared my routine on Instagram, let’s dive into the details of my process!
My Weekly Lesson Planning Routine
I have created a binder system that helps me organize all of the materials I need to teach my third graders. I like to collect the binders on Friday and find the activities I need to teach the following week. I write the days of the week on sticky notes and mark the pages I need to print off. When they’ve been printed, I take paper clips out of my teacher toolbox* and group them together. Once everything is in a group, I put the papers in my 10-tier rolling cart.* I love that my cart is labeled with the days of the week! That’s it! It doesn’t take very long and it sets me up for success.
What is My Average Lesson Plan Length?
My lessons are typically an hour and a half to forty-five minutes. I love using the I do, we do, you do method when introducing a topic. I spend about 10 minutes explaining and modeling, 10 minutes allowing my students to help me answer higher-order thinking questions, and 10 minutes of independent work time. If students finish early, they use my ketchup mustard pickle fast finisher system.
The Best Resources for Lesson Planning
At my school, we use the Wonders Curriculum. I wasn’t given any resources to teach it, so I found a bundle on Teachers Pay Teachers. I create most of my own third-grade lesson plans that you can find on TPT or Esty. When I have gift cards, I use them on TPT to find monthly lesson plan bundles for third grade. There are lots of options so you can find the one that works best for you! You can also find editable binder covers in my store to create a beautiful look for your organization system!
Having a Weekly Lesson Planning Routine is the Key to Success for Teachers!
*This contains an affiliate link. I get a teeny tiny commission for telling you about the product at no extra cost to you.