Pre-K Classroom Management Professional Development

Kagan believes that groups of four students are optimal. Let's face it, forming good cooperative learning teams can be a chore. Not anymore! To create effective teams, we must juggle a lot of variables: We want teams of four, but must form some teams of three or five to handle "extra" students. We want two boys and two girls per team, but when we run out of balanced sex teams we want same sex teams so the solo boy or girl is not given too much or too little attention. We want a high, high-medium, low-medium, and low ability student on each team to optimize tutoring and achievement. Creating teams can be a brain-racking, time-consuming process. This can be a helpful solution without making everything from hand or buying thier useful, but expensive software.

Each group should have two boys and two girls. This isn't always possible so I do as many as I can and then make all boy or all girl teams. If there is an odd number of students in the class then there will be a group of five or sometimes two groups of three with the remaining groups having four students. I did vary this last year with a couple of students that were boys. They were non-stop off task students when with another boy so they were placed in groups of all girls. Those girls kept them in line and they definitely had better behavior to impress the ladies. (This was not a Kagan suggestion. Just something that worked for me.)

To create my groups I needed my class rosters, the list with student Civics EOC scores, a pile of these cards that I printed on cardstock and color pencils that match the colors of the groups.

On the top of the index card I placed the student's name and their Civics EOC and reading scores and if they were a second language learner. With my second language learners, I place another student who speaks the same language if possible.

Next, I placed all of the index cards in order according to math Civics EOC scores from highest to lowest. The I divided the index cards into 4 groups, HIGH, HIGH MEDIUM, LOW MEDIUM and LOW scores.

Each group has one of each level student. Take a card from each of the groups of index cards and you have your teams.

On each index card I use a colored pencil to mark the team the students are placed in. In my classroom I have different colored stars above each of the team's, yellow, green, red, purple, pink, orange, blue and salmon. By placing the colors on the index cards I can make sure that when I change groups the students aren't place with the same peers again.

When placing the students in the groups you have them seated like this:

LOW MEDIUM LOW

HIGH HIGH MEDIUM

The high student next to the low medium can help that student when they work as shoulder partners and the high medium can help the low student in their understanding. Also having students with similar levels across from each other helps them to feel comfortable with students who are closer to their levels when working as face partners. I always had these students sitting next to each other but staggered the arrangements in the groups so they couldn't figure out who was the low or high one in each team. Groups should be changed about every six weeks.

There are desks not tables in my room which works out very well. When they take assessments I have them move to rows. We practice this the first week of school. I also noticed when I lecture they didn't pay attention so now when I lecture I have them facing forward and not in groups. (I don't lecture too much but when I do this seems to work for my kids.) It will be interesting having students this year who know the Kagan structures and expectations.

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Let's remember to prioritize our own well-being! Use these fun Staff Affirmations - Teacher Self Care Notes to empower your colleagues, educators & especially your teacher bestie. Perfect for Teacher Appreciation Week! This set includes 48 uplifting affirmations and 20 humorous teacher quotes, providing a well-rounded dose of motivation and laughter. Crafted with care, these Affirmation Cards for Staff are tailor-made for schools committed to nurturing wellness, self-care, and fostering a sense of community. By integrating these affirmations into your daily routine, you can enhance your self-esteem and motivation both inside and outside the classroom. These self care notes will uplift your spirits and serve as reminders to celebrate your strengths and accomplishments. Place them around your workspace, in staff bathrooms, workrooms, lounges, hallways, in your teacher planner or diary, on your desktop, and even on mirrors. By infusing your surroundings with positivity, you can transform your environment into a sanctuary of encouragement and self-appreciation.

Why embrace affirmations? They provide a powerful tool for reshaping your inner dialogue. By replacing negative self-talk with empowering affirmations, you can boost your confidence, overcome doubts, and cultivate a strong sense of self-worth. These user-friendly design ensures easy printing and downloading, making it effortless to infuse your teaching journey with a dose of positivity and camaraderie. Make the choice to prioritize your well-being and join us in celebrating the incredible impact educators like you have on the world.

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This bundle includes a teacher manual with 18 mindfulness activities to use in the school day OR with families in the home! It also comes with a 30 minute video of founder, Lara Hochiser, explaining how to integrate mindfulness, and how to do the 6 activities that are included within the 18 of the manual.

Imagine an academic year where students and educators alike grow, learn more about themselves and others, integrating mindful activities seamlessly throughout the school day. 

Imagine a classroom that is regulated, calm and present. 
Everything you need in one product. 
When practiced regularly, witness improved behavior outcomes, social skills, and overall social-emotional development of students.
We know you don’t want to have to learn another initiative.
We know you want something that works.
We know you don’t have a lot of time to spare.
Believe me, working in schools the past 17 years has taught me that educators need proven techniques that they can use simply.
We have your back and we understand the pressures of time, testing, busyness, distraction, and stress!
If you can do a little each day for yourself and your class, you will see the shift happen.

What does the shift look like?
It's returning to focus with less drama and emotional outbursts.
It’s putting a pause between impulse and action...in other words, self-control.
It’s freeing up your time from behavior management to connect with students.
It's easier transitions.
It’s learning along with your students, growing together.
It's your students feeling your love and presence.

How to Integrate Mindfulness into the K-5 Classroom is a comprehensive and practical mindfulness resource written specifically for children in grades K-5 and their teachers. Explore how mindfulness can improve self-regulation, self-awareness, autonomy, and social awareness in the classroom. Blended with proven research and best practices, this manual contains tools enabling teachers and students to build key skills like focus, compassion, and self-acceptance through mindfulness. 

Reduce Stress and Anxiety in the Classroom

Research has shown positive outcomes when we practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is proven to reduce stress and anxiety in both teachers and students alike. In the classroom, mindfulness promotes calmer students and improves both social-emotional and academic learning. 

Teachers using our resources have reported better class management and happier students! Students will be given the tools to develop their own mindfulness practice, empowering their development and relationship with themselves and others. Commit to practice mindful moments throughout the school year and watch your students grow.

Learning and Teaching Mindfulness

Developing a mindfulness practice takes time. With the proper resources, such as this manual, teachers can develop their own practice while learning how to teach mindfulness to children. This resource gives you the ability to build a mindfulness culture, right in the classroom, along with the students!

In this manual, we cover:

• What is mindfulness
• How to establish your own mindfulness practice
• How to integrate mindfulness into the K-5 classroom
• A method for developing your daily practice and extend this practice to your students
• How to teach mindfulness activities in a safe, engaging and compassionate way
• Use of the gradual release of responsibility
• 18 mindfulness activities
• Tips and good times for each activity

Teachers, school counselors, specialists, and social workers can use this resource as part of their daily classroom lessons and/or social-emotional curriculum. Learn eighteen mindfulness activities that can be easily integrated into your school day–as brain breaks, transitional activities, or daily lessons. Use our printable mindfulness yoga cards to practice activities at any time, at any place!

What’s included:

• What is mindfulness and how to teach mindfulness
• 18 mindfulness activities with instructions, written for kids (K-5)
• 6 mindfulness cards
• 5 mindfulness planners and worksheets perfect for classroom and daily practice planning
• 2 mindfulness activity posters
• 1 worksheet

How to Integrate Mindfulness into the K-5 Classroom is a 44-page PDF made for educators helping contextualize the use of 18 mindfulness activities in the classroom. You can view this PDF on your phone, tablet, computer or print to paper.

Want to teach this content to other educators?
If you want to present this as professional development or share with other educators, you must complete the 4-hour private online training to become certified to share this. Schools agree to pay the licensing fee to use the content. Discounts are available for schools on a case by case basis. Please contact us for more information. 

Licensing Pricing
License is good for educators teaching their students and does not cover educators training other educators. Educators are required to take our training course online as stated above.

• Individual license: $175 (sale $99)
• 2-5 educators: $100/person (sale $75/each)
• 5-10 educators:  $80/person (sale $60/each)
• 11-20 educators: $65/person (sale $50/each)
• 21-50 educators: $55/person (sale $40/each)

Training to certify to teach to other educators, $450, including 4-hour private training, and the schools sign a licensing and fee agreement base on the above licensing fee structure.

Excited about the content but need extra support?
Let us help you go through the handout and familiarize yourself with each activity.

Let’s talk about your school and your plans and your students to make this work for YOU!

The private training is perfect for those looking to gain these skills starting from any point! Beginners or regular practitioners alike, join us and help roll out your most mindful year yet.

Private 4-hour online training with the author AND license to content $450 (valued at $700)

Schedule 2x 2-hour calls with Lara to go over the process, methodology, and activities and ask questions. Receive the recordings.