Kelly.McLaughlin self reflection

My Final Post as a Heart and Art Blogger

After many years of blogging, I will finally be “putting away my blogging hat”. It has been such a great experience sharing things that I have done in my classroom which has helped me reflect on things that have and haven’t worked over the years. It is also such a great way to hopefully inspire other educators as many of us know re-inventing the wheel can be tiring and unnecessary. I have so enjoyed reading other bloggers’ posts and getting comments from educators. I will miss this experience so much and am so grateful for the opportunity. I wanted to take the opportunity to share my top five blogs that I enjoyed writing as many of them have been lost through the many pages of Heart and Art Blog Posts.

  1. ‘I like this math better than real math”

 https://heartandart.ca/i-like-this-math-better-than-real-math/

This post was so much fun to write as I finally had success with helping my students realize that math is fun! I got the hang of teaching a specific program that I have now used for many years. An incorporation of games, whiteboards, student-led teaching and group activities has made math a much more enjoyable experience for my students. Starting the first month of school with exciting activities from websites such as: wodb.ca, Would You Rather Math – ASKING STUDENTS TO CHOOSE A PATH AND JUSTIFY IT WITH MATH, Estimation 180 – Building Number Sense has students feeling that this math can’t be real math because it is “too fun!”

4.”I have been forced to celebrate Valentine’s Day all my life!” 

https://heartandart.ca/i-have-been-forced-to-celebrate-valentines-day-all-my-life/

This post was very important to write as I had my first experience when one of my grade eights felt that certain celebrations had always been forced upon her. We turned this comment into a class conversation about what we felt should be celebrated in our class. It was such an eye-opening experience as getting my class ready for each holiday had always been something I had never given a second thought to. After this, I paid closer attention to the importance of celebrations. 

  1. “Curtis Carmichael, an inspiring teacher and activist”

https://heartandart.ca/curtis-carmichael-an-inspiring-teacher-and-activist/

This post I wrote after we had an incredible guest speaker come to our school to talk about how he had avoided a specific path in life by getting out of the “trenches”. He spoke about his book as well as his ride across Canada to help raise awareness to his cause. His connection to students and teaching was eye-opening and definitely worth a read. If you enjoy this blog post, check out his book “Butterflies in the Trenches”. 

  1. Collaborative Inquiry Celebration:

https://heartandart.ca/collaborative-inquiry-celebration/

This post was about the school business my class started, selling smoothies and starting their own business with funds from a grant we received. If you are interested in doing a special project with your class, take a look at how my grade eights pulled off an incredible project on their own!

1.Ten Years Later…

https://heartandart.ca/10-years-later/

I wrote this post after realizing it was my tenth year teaching and that this year would be my final year blogging. I reflect on all the things I felt needed to be said and looked forward to my final year of blogging. I put my heart into this blog a bit more than the others as I really do believe that teaching is the greatest job on earth. 

Thanks so much everyone for reading, writing, teaching and inspiring. I hope to blog again someday but for now this is farewell and thank you!

 

Kelly.McLaughlin Before School Starts, Start of the year

September Start-ups

Getting to know each other is a crucial part of building a positive classroom environment, especially in the early days of school. Here are some fun and engaging activities that can help elementary school students break the ice and start forming connections. Here are some fun icebreakers that I have used in the past in classrooms grades 5 and up:

All About me Brags:

Ask each student to bring a small bag filled with 3-5 items that represent themselves. These could be photos, toys, or anything significant to them. Each student takes turns sharing their items with the class and explaining why they chose them.

Two Truths and a Lie:

Each student thinks of two true facts about themselves and one lie. Students share their statements with the class, and their classmates have to guess which one is the lie.

Classroom Bingo:

Create Bingo cards with different statements like “Has a pet,” “Loves pizza,” or “Has traveled to another country.” Students walk around the room and find classmates who match the statements, filling in their Bingo cards as they go. The first to complete a row wins.

Find a Friend Who:

Make a list of prompts such as “Find a friend who has the same favorite color as you” or “Find a friend who has the same number of siblings.” Students mingle and find classmates who match the prompts, learning about each other along the way.

Name Game:

Start with a simple name game to help students learn each other’s names. For example, “My name is [Name] and I like [something that starts with the same letter as their name].” Students go around the circle repeating the names and likes of previous students before adding their own.

Classroom Scavenger Hunt:

Create a scavenger hunt with clues about different areas of the classroom or school.

Students work in small groups to find all the items or places on the list, learning about their environment and each other. This is ideal if you have a new group of students getting to know their new space.

Although I will not be returning to the classroom this September as I will start my maternity leave, I am happy to pass on these activities as I hope they will bring you that classroom community that makes your classroom so special. All the best!

Kelly.McLaughlin Before School Starts, Celebrating Success, Constant Learning, Curriculum Planning, Inspiring Teachers, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Questioning, self reflection, Start of the year, Teacher Wellness, Wellbeing

Relaxing and Preparing- how can we do both this summer?

Hey there, fellow educators! As the summer sun blazes on, it’s the perfect time to soak up some rays, enjoy a good book, and… get ready for the new school year! I know, I know – summer is your time to relax and recharge. But trust me, a little preparation now can make a huge difference once the school year kicks off. Here are some laid-back tips to help you prepare for the classroom during the summer while still enjoying your well-deserved break.

Reflect

Take a leisurely stroll down memory lane and think about what worked and what didn’t last year. Grab a cool drink, sit in the shade, and jot down your thoughts. What were your biggest wins? Where did you struggle? This reflection can guide you in making tweaks and improvements for the upcoming year.

Get Inspired

Summer is the perfect time to gather fresh ideas. Check out some educational blogs, Pinterest boards, or YouTube channels for creative classroom activities and decor ideas. You can do this from the comfort of your hammock or while lounging by the pool. Inspiration can strike anywhere!

Get Organized

Set aside a little time each week to organize your teaching materials. Sort through your files, tidy up your digital resources, and maybe even do a bit of decluttering. It’s a satisfying task that can be done while binge-watching your favorite show.

Update your Lesson Plans

Take a look at your lesson plans and see if there are any updates or new activities you’d like to add. You don’t have to overhaul everything – just tweak and refresh where needed. This can be done at your own pace, with plenty of breaks for ice cream.

Supply Check

Summer sales are a great time to stock up on classroom supplies. Keep an eye out for deals on stationery, art supplies, and organizational tools. You can even make a fun day of it with a friend or fellow teacher – shopping and lunch, anyone? (Always check with your school team and principal about how the budget works in case there are guidelines on what vendors can be used for costs covered by the board.)

PD

If you’re feeling ambitious, consider taking a short online course or attending a workshop. There are plenty of free or low-cost options available that you can complete at your own pace. It’s a great way to boost your skills without cutting into your relaxation time too much.

Self Care

Don’t forget that taking care of yourself is just as important as preparing for your students. Read for pleasure, spend time outdoors, and make sure you’re recharging your own batteries. A well-rested teacher is a more effective teacher!

Check in on your teacher pals

Reach out to your fellow teachers and see what they’re up to. Share ideas, plan collaborative projects, or just catch up over coffee. Building a support network is invaluable, and summer is a great time to strengthen those connections.

Remember, the key is balance. Mix a little prep work with plenty of relaxation, and you’ll be ready to hit the ground running when the new school year begins. Enjoy your summer, and here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

Happy summer, and happy planning!

Feel free to share your own tips and tricks in the comments. How do you prepare for the classroom during the summer? Let’s help each other out! 🌞📚✨

Kelly.McLaughlin Assessment and Evaluation, Before School Starts, Curriculum Planning, Start of the year

How to write long range plans

Creating long-range plans can be a complex but essential part of effective teaching. I find when I write long range plans using these steps, it makes my year flow much easier and helps me feel organized daily. 

    1.Understand the curriculum:

  •    Read and understand the curriculum documents for your subject and grade level.
  •    Identify the key expectations, big ideas, and specific learning goals.
  1. Know the assessment and evaluation guidelines:
  •   Understand the assessment and evaluation strategies outlined in Growing Success.
  •   Integrate assessment for, as, and of learning in your planning.
  1. Set goals and timelines:
  •    Define what students need to know, understand, and be able to do by the end of the year.
  •    Break down the overall expectations into manageable units.
  1. Create a timeline for the entire year:
  •    Outline the entire school year, marking key events, holidays, and reporting periods.
  •    Allocate time for each unit, ensuring a balanced distribution of content.
  1. Plan the units:
  •   Organize content into units or themes that align with the curriculum.
  •  Ensure that each unit builds on the previous one and prepares students for the next.
  1. Integrate with as many other subjects as you can:
  •    Look for opportunities to connect your subject with other subjects.
  •    Plan activities that incorporate literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills.
  1. Diverse instructional strategies:
  •    Plan a variety of instructional strategies to meet the diverse needs of your students.
  •    Include whole-class instruction, small group work, independent activities, and hands-on learning.
  1. Use a variety of inclusive resources
  •     Identify and gather resources that will support your teaching.
  •    Plan for the use of technology, textbooks, library resources, and community connections.
  •    Make sure these resources represent students from all lived experiences
  1. Plan assessments:
  •    Develop assessment tools that align with the learning goals and objectives.
  •    Include formative assessments to monitor progress and summative assessments to evaluate learning.
  1. Review and reflect:
  •     At the end of the year, review your long-range plan to evaluate what worked well and what needs improvement.
  •     Use this reflection to inform your planning for the following year.

Doing all these steps will help you but also, make sure to be flexible and remember that some groups of students can take longer to grasp subjects/move quicker so your plans may not follow the exact timeline you create for them. Also, you may want to do this with your teaching team if you team- teach or work closely with another person. That way, you can incorporate each other’s ideas into the long range plans. By following these tips, I always feel so relaxed at the beginning of the year and it helps as well with preparation for Teacher Performance Appraisals (TPAs) as well as if you have a student teacher – you can show them where you are at when they arrive. 

Hope these tips help you with your planning!

 

For ETFO’s Tips and Advice on preparing for TPAs check out this podcast and website.

Kelly.McLaughlin Constant Learning, General, Music, self reflection, Wellbeing, Year End Reflection

A Farewell to Grade 7/8 and a Journey into Motherhood

As the school year draws to a close, I find myself standing at the threshold of two profound journeys: one into motherhood and another into the realm of teaching music. Packing up my classroom, filled with the laughter and learning of my grade 7/8 students, stirs a mix of emotions—excitement, nervousness, and a hint of sadness as I prepare for maternity leave.

Saying goodbye to my students is never easy. Their eager faces, the buzz of discussions, and the moments of revelation when a concept clicks—all these have filled my days with purpose and joy. Yet, as I gather lesson plans and organize materials, I find solace in knowing that while I embark on this new chapter of motherhood, the classroom will patiently await my return.

The anticipation of becoming a mother is a rollercoaster of emotions. Nervousness about the unknowns mingles with excitement for the miracle unfolding within. Will I be a good mother? How will I balance this new role with my passion for teaching? These questions linger in my mind, yet I am buoyed by the support of family, friends, and colleagues who assure me that this journey will unfold naturally.

When I return, I will begin a brand new journey as a music teacher! The prospect of teaching music brings with it a fresh canvas—a chance to introduce my students to the world of melodies, rhythms, and harmonies that have always been my passion. The notes may change, but the joy of teaching remains.

Teaching music offers a unique opportunity to inspire creativity and foster a love for expression through sound. I look forward to sharing my enthusiasm for music with my students, guiding them as they explore the intricacies of instruments, composition, and the emotional power of music itself.

As I look forward to all of these new chapters, I am grateful for the experiences that have shaped me in the homeroom classroom and look forward to what is ahead. So here’s to embracing change, to the excitement of new beginnings, and to the melodies that await us all. Although this is almost the end of my time blogging, I look forward to sharing in a different way in the future and reading the blog posts of the teachers that will come after we at Heart and Art. I am so grateful that I had this experience and await the new stories of teachers to come.

 

Kelly.McLaughlin 2SLGBTQ+, Health & Safety

Teaching Health for the first time

I just had my first go at teaching health class, and let me tell you, it was quite the adventure. Now, I know what you’re thinking, health class can sometimes bring up topics that may make others uncomfortable. But, diving into topics like healthy relationships and sexual health was actually pretty interesting and such an important topic for our grade eights to explore.

One of the strands we delved into was all about gender expression, gender, sexual orientation, and your sex. We talked about how each of us expresses ourselves in unique ways and how important it is to respect and celebrate those differences.

One of the coolest parts of our discussion was all about making others feel included and supported, especially when it comes to gender-related topics. Whether someone is questioning their identity or just needs a friendly ear, being there for each other is key. It’s all about building a community where everyone feels valued and loved for who they are.

And you know what? The timing couldn’t have been more perfect because guess what month it is? That’s right — it’s Pride month! 🏳️‍🌈 So, we took a moment to reflect on how we can make our school a place where everyone feels welcome and included, regardless of who they love or how they identify.

To spread some extra positivity, we decided to get crafty. Students partnered up and created posters with a positive message about embracing diversity and celebrating Pride month. Then, we plastered it all over the school, spreading those good vibes far and wide. These lessons I took from the OHPEA Health Lessons which are what we are using to direct all of our health lessons and to keep us on track.

I look forward to exploring more topics and connecting them to relevant topics for our students.

Kelly.McLaughlin Language Learning, Literacy

Word Study using a fun game

The Fun Way to Ace Spelling: Playing a spelling game using “Reading Rods”

Hey there, word wizards and spelling enthusiasts! 

Today, I want to share a super fun and effective way to improve your student’s spelling skills, especially those tricky high-frequency words we use every day. Using this game is a great way to get your students spelling. I find my students are asking me “Is this a word?” when creating different words so they still need practice identifying words. 

Why Spelling High-Frequency Words Matters

High-frequency words are the building blocks of our daily communication. Getting these words right is crucial because:

  1. They enhance readability: Misspelled high-frequency words can make your writing hard to understand.
  2. They build confidence: Mastering these common words boosts your overall confidence in writing.
  3. They improve literacy: Strong spelling skills contribute to better reading and comprehension.

But let’s face it—drilling spelling words can be a bore. That’s where using “Reading Rods” comes in! Using “Reading Rods”  is a game designed to make spelling practice both fun and interactive. The game can be played solo or with friends, and it’s perfect for classrooms or at-home learning. Here’s how it works:

The Basics

  1. Materials Needed:
  •     The actual game which comes with snap cubes for: vowels, consonants, common word endings (ex: ing, in, le, ed…) and common word beginnings (ex: sh, ch, th, sn…)
  • Paper to write down the words they created on with a spot for the score on the bottom
  1. Set Up:
  •    Provide students with a few cubes from each category

How to Play

  1. Students create words using different combinations of cubes for example:
    1. Round 1- Create as many words as you can using the green word beginning cubes and the yellow word ending cubes (set timer for one minute)
    2. Round 2- Create as many words as you can using the red vowel cubes, the consonant cubes, and the word ending cubes (set timer for two minutes)
    3. Any combination of the above 
    4. Students pass their paper to me at the end and I count up their score (one point for each word)
    5. I always make sure I have students who are the same level playing at the same time so nobody is spelling 100 words where their friend has spelt three.

Why this game works

Not only are you getting your daily word work in for the day in your literacy program, this game isn’t just about fun—it’s rooted in educational benefits:

  • Engagement: Turning spelling into a game keeps you engaged and motivated.
  •  Hands-On Learning: Using blocks adds a tactile element that can help with memory retention.
  • Competition: Friendly competition (even with yourself) encourages quick thinking and reinforces learning.

Feel free to share your word work experiences or any other fun spelling games you love in the comments below. Let’s make spelling fun together!

 

Kelly.McLaughlin 2SLGBTQ+

International Day of Pink 2024

This year, our OPHEA team (teachers and students) planned some events to celebrate the International Day of Pink. Although it fell on April 10th, we moved it to April 19th to not conflict with the celebration of Eid. Teachers could share videos and explore activities in their classroom on Pink Day (April 10th) as well as wearing pink on both days.

 

We met several times before our event to plan out exciting activities for our students in grade K- 8. Before selecting activities, we browsed the Home (2023) — Intl. Day of Pink website and watched videos, read ways to be involved and explored the themes for the year. This year, there were some key anniversaries to celebrate:

  • The 50th Anniversary of the Brunswick Four
  • The 25th Anniversary of the Trans Flag

 

After our planning sessions, we came up with the following activities in the gym for April 19th:

  • Photo Booth with Day of Pink back drop 
  • Colouring with Pride- Coloring pages provided by the day of pink website Colouring with Pride — Intl. Day of Pink
  • Visibility Rainbow- writing on a sticky note what it means to be visible 
  • Face painting- students received a rainbow or heart on their face at the facepaint station 
  • Pink Day Pledge- students put a thumb print on the pledge to sign their agreement with the pledge DoP_Poster_EN.indd (squarespace.com)
  • Positive fortunes- we had some students in the middle of the gym providing positive fortunes to students 
  • Friendship bracelets- each colour standing for a specific personality trait

 

The day ran smoothly, starting with a group reading of the pledge and then students could transition between each activity with their classmates. At the end of the day, the OPHEA student leaders cleaned up the gym. The day went well and students had a great time planning and carrying out the event. I look forward to seeing what they come up with next year! 

 

Kelly.McLaughlin General, Inquiry, Start of the year, Student-led projects

Display Case Ideas

At the beginning of the year, it was decided that the display case in the front of the school would be designed each month by a specific grade or class. They would determine what they would present for the month to focus on a specific thing happening that month. April was our turn and I left it up to my class to determine what we should do. 

A few students took the lead by researching prominent holidays, events in our board as well as awareness that was occurring during the month of April. They came up with a long list and presented it to the class. They did a bit of math to determine that the display case could be easily divided into five sections (four corners and the middle area) so they allowed each student to vote for five of the topics. The five topics that received the most votes were:

  • Autism Awareness Month 
  • Ramadan 
  • Easter
  • Earth Day 
  • International Day of Pink

After the results, it was time to get to work. My students were asked to work in groups of five to collaborate and come up with a display section for the topic of their choice. Each group was asked to come up with a creative way to display some visuals, research and ideas to celebrate/reflect on each topic. They had about 120 minutes and did a great job. They created posters with relevant information about the topics as well as eye-catching visuals for all students and staff that will be walking by the display case. For Earth Day and the International Day of Pink, students generated lists of ways our school will be celebrating/that they could celebrate. Then, one student from each group came down to the display case to hang their work. See photo of finished product. 

Does your school have a display case? Consider allowing a class/grade team to decorate the case each month for the next school year. 

(IMAGE: Photo of display case with student work as described in blog.)

Kelly.McLaughlin Celebrating Success, Inspiring Students, Mental Health, Mindfulness, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Learning, physically active, Student-led projects, Wellbeing, wellness

Winterfest

Our school is an OPHEA certified school- which means, “Healthy Schools Certification gives your school the tools to promote and enhance the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader school community.” More information about being an OPHEA certified school can be found here

Last year, our focus was on physical activity and this year, our focus is on wellness. So, our OPHEA team (which consists of ten teachers and over 40 students) planned a day called “Winterfest”. This day ran during school hours and was planned completely by our OPHEA student leaders. They planned activities indoors and outdoors for the school- students in grades 1-6. The intermediate students ran each student or led a group around the school to each station. Stations included:

  • Bobsleigh: students on a mat guiding their way through a course of pylons
  • Biathlon: a fake skating activity where students have to bowl to hit some cones at the end
  • Hot chocolate: students enjoy some hot chocolate while a fake fireplace sparks in the background
  • Ring Toss: an outdoor activity 
  • Directed Drawing: a mindful activity indoors
  • Box Igloo Building: students compete to build an igloo against other students with boxes 
  • Cooperative games: students work with their classmates to reach a common goal (silent line up, octopus, parachute)
  • Spoon & Egg relay: students race again their classmates to not drop the ping pong ball off the spoon
  • Obstacle Course: students run through a ground ladder and around pylons to race to the finish 
  • Capture the flag: class vs. class style, two classes play a game of capturing the other teams flag 
  • Ball Hockey: students compete against their classmates to score goals outdoors in a Canadian favourite

These activities were 25 minutes long in length and were a combination of indoor/outdoor games. The day went off without a hitch as intermediate students received compliments all day long for their excellent leadership skills! Thankfully, it was 8 degrees so the weather was not a negative factor. We look forward to doing another wellness day similar to this in the Spring. Try it out with your school!