Thus, my reviews of four teacher blogs:

Blog Title/
Website
The 1:1
Classroom
https://mrpullen
.wordpress.com
/

Grade
Level
Mostly
third grade
ideas are
found here,
but other
elementary
grades are
addressed,
including
kindergarte
n and their
assessments
.

Activities

Organization of Materials

Mr. Pullen not only

discusses websites that
can be used during
instruction, but also
math manipulatives.
His blogs about
various methods of
assessments for
various age groups is
informative and
reviewed. His addition
of
www.themathfacts.co
m and the argument
for how it aids math
teachers is impactful.

Sunny Days in
Second Grade
http://sunnyday
sinsecondgrade.
blogspot.com/

Although
this teacher
is currently
a second
grade
teacher and
the teacher
resources
may be
aimed at
this age,
other ideas
are
inclusive
for early
childhood
classes.
Michelle
focuses on
the primary
(K-3rd
grade)
classrooms
in her
postings
and teacher

Denise includes
information about
back-to-school
activities in which
students learn more
about each other, but
also includes
information about how
to obtain copies of the
curriculum-linked
teaching resources she
produces (many are
first and second grade
level activities), with a
link for each resource
to the Teachers Pay
Teachers store.
Lessons are provided
through connection to
the Teachers Pay
Teachers store with
child-friendly designed
materials. Substitute
Plans are even
included in the TPT
store! Some ideas are

Teach 123
www.teach123
school.com

Classroom Arrangement

Classroom Plans

Summary

The blog Things it took 10

It was not clear that there is a clear
years to learn provides
explanation for classroom physical
different information such as
arrangement, but there is a 2007 blog
how to use rubber cement to
about Grouping Across Grade
hang posters within the
Levels which addresses how
classroom (making perfect
students should be grouped for most
sense when you cant use
effective instruction. He even states
thumbtacks in cinderblocks)
that during articulation meetings,
and how to purge materials that students should not have the students
are not in use in an effort to
with the highest level abilities and
have a clean, organized
the lowest level abilities grouped
classroom. One idea that I am
within the same classroom as
not certain I would use is the
teachers can only differentiate to a
placement of student name tags certain degree, and this situation may
on the front of the desk as I
exceed that degree.
wish for nametags to have key
tools for student use and that
placement would not be helpful
to the students.
In the blogs containing pictures Denise shared of her classroom
arrangement, she also shared how to best organize the numerous
materials with which teachers may teach. Although she could not
provide direct access to the bin labels within the classroom library, she
indicated where others organizational printables could be located. She
would detail where she obtained certain things within the classroom,
including the leaf above the classroom sink. The photos clearly
demonstrate a class dcor theme related to the educational environment
in which the school resides. She even addresses how the use of tables is
better for her than desks for student work spaces. How motivating!

Mr. Pullens examination of

recess as a subject in which
students can receive some
instruction for improvement is an
idea of which I had not
examined. His points about how
students may receive some social
development from the free play
and require information about
the games they are choosing to
play are not commonly
considered. He also speaks of
expanding lessons to small
lessons about student interests,
such as computer programming
in Basic, in small lessons.

This blog offers clear

directions for organization of
student work and ensuring that
all students achieve the
mastery needed through
completion of all assignments.
Her ideas of highlighting
names on sheets for each
assignments as a way of
tracking student work is neat as

Michelle provides information

about objects that can be used to
help support students and their
development: a speeding ticket
for rushing through work, a slip
to get more pencils from home,
etc. These are communication
tools to eliminate distractions or
ineffective educational
opportunities. She also provides

Mr. Pullen is obviously

an experienced educator
who is offering ideas on
professional
development, technology
within the classroom,
recent political and
educational news-worthy
developments, and
reviews of texts for
student learning.
Although this site is
meant for elementary
level educators, mentions
are made of ideas, such
as morning meetings, and
assessments related to
early childhood
education.
This bright, sunny blog
includes much interesting
information. I was most
impressed by the number
of pictures she included
of multiple years
classroom arrangements
with clear details about
how I could reproduce
some elements. The
materials she creates are
not only child-friendly,
but available in first and
second grade levels,
which is wonderful for
classes who need
differentiation.
I was initially interested
in the interesting teachercreated materials, but
found that the materials
provided for teacher
organization and student
motivation were
compelling. The
simplified methods of
communicating with

Ideas of physical arrangement of the

classroom are not clearly apparent,
but there is focus on the social
development of children and
classroom discipline. Motivation of
students to produce quality work is
included as a key component of class
discipline.

This great second grade Talented

& Gifted teacher offers links
through labels on the right side
of the page to information about
Common Core, centers, activities
for some holidays, writing,
technology use and read-aloud
opportunities. She even offers a
video about her favorite planner,
Plan.Teach.Live. by A Modern
Teacher.

Kleinspiration
http://kleinspira
tion.com/blog/

created
materials.

posted for increasing

literacy.

it can be displayed within the

classroom to keep all on the
same page.

Erin Klein,
an award
winning
educator,
has created
a blog
covering
ideas for
classrooms
in all grade
levels,
including
primary
grades.

One unique blog post

for teaching students
includes the best
methods to encourage
cooperative learning:
Class Dojo Groups and
Kagan Structures.
Technological
resources are also
introduced or
reviewed, such as
Spelling City,
Quizalize, IXL, and
TenMarks.

One blog detailed how Erin

Klein offered a webinar about
classroom organization in
which students would learn
best. Unfortunately, this blog
was offered in 2015 and it is
not clear if it was recorded for
further teachers to obtain the
information included in the
webinar.

the Morning Messages for

various grade levels reducing the
time teachers require for finding
appropriate messages or writing
their own to further plan more
effective lessons.
One intriguing blog, written by Tom
Murray, details how traditional
classrooms resemble cemeteries with
the lines of desks. There is a link to
his blog with a free download of a
book about how to redesign
classrooms for todays students. She
has posted nine additional ideas to
prevent this cold, old-looking type
classroom. Pictures accompany her
ideas.

Discussion about resources that

can help teachers plan for
cooperative learning lessons are
also found in some blogs.
Inspiring blogs are the one
recognizing the ways in which an
interactive white board are
helpful in teaching as well as
how to include the use of tablets
in lessons. Additional blogs are
inclusive of information about
professional developmental
opportunities and educational
meetings to help teachers
become greater instructors and
better planners can also be found
here. Most importantly, key
ideas are found for improving
parental involvement in learning
as well as the five tips to prevent
teacher burn-out.

students and parents

about student needs, such
as the speeding ticket and
pencils needed slips, are
also worth consideration
to help teachers focus on
student learning.
This is a comprehensive
and detailed blog site
powered by a very active
and award winning
teacher who has affected
education in many ways.
She offers not only
reviews of educational
technology and
programs, but also leads
teachers to educational
opportunities for their
development as well as
elements providing
teachers tools for lessons
and lesson planning.