It’s hard to believe, but the school year is nearly over. You and your class have worked hard to learn new things, overcome challenges, and celebrate successes. Now your time together is coming to an end, so why not send your students off on a high note? Share some laughs they’ll enjoy during the long break with this list of fabulously funny summer jokes for kids. 1. What did the pig say on a hot summer day?  I’m bacon. 2. How can you tell that the ocean is friendly? It waves. 3. Why do fish swim in salt water? Because…

As the end of the school year approaches, many of us are preparing for summer break. Some of our colleagues, however, are preparing for retirement. It’s important to celebrate the teachers among us who have given so much of their lives to this profession. With that in mind, we gathered some inspiring retirement quotes for teachers that you can print, send, sign in a card, and more! Thank you for all that you’ve done and continue to do. Funny Retirement Quotes 1. I enjoy waking up and not having to go to work. So I do it three or four…

Saying goodbye to students can be so hard. After spending a whole year working together, it’s impossible to imagine our classrooms without them! One of the best ways to show them how much they mean to you is to write end-of-year letters to students. Take a look at some terrific examples from other teachers, and learn how to write your own. Plus be sure to fill out the form on this landing page to get a bundle of three printable end-of-year letters you can customize for your students. How To Write End-of-Year Student Letters Keep it short We make a…

We know that building strong student-teacher relationships isn’t the magic antidote to every classroom problem. That being said, knowing who your students are, their strengths and weaknesses, and their likes and dislikes is an extremely powerful tool. Knowing how to best communicate with each of your students can have a huge impact on the way they feel about being in your classroom (and how they behave while they’re there!). With that in mind, we’ve created student interest surveys for every grade that will let you discover a bit more about each of the kids in your classroom. Exploring the Student…

Graduation is one of the most important transitions we go through in our lifetime. With all the pomp and circumstance, it can be a time of great excitement, and it can also be a little scary. After becoming so familiar with our surroundings, what comes next in our story? Are we ready? From preschool to high school and beyond, these wonderfully inspirational graduation quotes are perfect for sharing with students as they step into the future. Preschool and Kindergarten Graduation Quotes 1. All our dreams can come true—if we have the courage to pursue them. —Walt Disney 2. Wherever you…

There are as many IEP goals as there are students. But the longer you teach special education, the more you’ll find yourself searching for just the right reading comprehension goal for a student with a learning disability or a behavior goal for a kid who has ADHD. That’s where an IEP goal bank, also known as a goal database, comes in. Below you’ll find a list of over 100 IEP goals covering a variety of focus areas. Plus be sure to fill out the form on this page to get access to a free, editable Google Doc version of the…

We rounded up some of the best teacher Instagram accounts to follow for great ideas, great content, and classroom inspiration. You’ll find teacher hacks, book recommendations, lesson ideas, free printables, and so much more from these teachers to brighten up your feed! Plus, be sure to give @weareteachers a follow on Instagram, where we regularly share awesome ideas from various teachers just like those featured here! Check out these teachers on Instagram and teacher influencers, and get ready to scroll until your thumbs hurt! Jump to: Elementary Teacher Influencers on Instagram Instagram/@teaching3rdwithmrg @teaching3rdwithmrg Mr. G’s page is all things 3rd…

Dear We Are Teachers, I’m in my 10th year of teaching 3rd grade. I used to love the end of the year, but now I find myself dreading it. Not only are there more celebrations—whole-class graduations, individual graduations, in-school parties, out-of-school parties—but every event is just so exhausting and excessive. I find myself having to deal with vendors, clear space so the DJ can set up his station in our classroom, and become the de facto Slide Monitor for the bounce house. Not to mention having to pose in what seems like a thousand pictures instead of being present and…

We know that building strong student-teacher relationships isn’t the magic antidote to every classroom problem. That being said, knowing who your students are, their strengths and weaknesses, and their likes and dislikes is an extremely powerful tool. Knowing how to best communicate with each of your students can have a huge impact on the way they feel about being in your classroom (and how they behave while they’re there!). With that in mind, we’ve created a student interest survey for your grade level that will let you discover a bit more about each of the kids in your classroom. Exploring…

What: Fresh ideas for using graphic novels in your classroom Who: You! If you teach grades 3-6 Where: On demand right here at weareteachers.com Yes! I Want to Watch! Watch our special webcast in which we talk about creative ways to engage students across the curriculum using graphic novels. Featuring popular and award-winning books from Penguin Young Readers, our education experts will give you fun and easy ideas for extending the stories into other curriculum areas—especially for grades 3-6. Here are the books we’ll feature: Learn how graphic novels work really well across curricula and get tips for how to…