Back to School Differentiation Tips

Here are my top five back-to-school tips for getting started with differentiation:

1. Get to Know Your Students Early

Differentiation starts with knowing who’s in your room. Take time during the first week to do quick interest surveys, learning style inventories, or even simple “get to know you” conversations. These don’t need to be fancy—just asking about favorite books, subjects, or hobbies can give you clues about how to connect learning to their lives. The more you know, the easier it will be to tailor lessons to their unique interests and needs.

Here are my 6 favorite Getting to Know You Activities.

2. Pre-Assess Before You Dive In

Before teaching a new unit, give students a short pre-assessment (even something as simple as 5 quick problems or a short writing response). This isn’t about grading—it’s about finding out what they already know and where the gaps are. Trust me, it’s a game-changer when planning. Why reteach what half your class already mastered?

Get FREE Standards-Based Data Collection Sheets to track your students’ progress on assessments.

3. Start Small with Choice

You don’t need to overhaul every lesson with ten different pathways. Start by offering just one simple choice. Maybe it’s how students show what they’ve learned (poster, slide deck, or written response) or a choice of two texts on the same topic. Small doses of choice give students ownership without overwhelming you.

4. Use Flexible Grouping

Avoid labeling kids as “high” or “low” groups all year long. Instead, mix it up often. Group students by interest, by readiness level, or even randomly for different activities. Flexible grouping keeps students from feeling stuck in a box and helps you target instruction more effectively.

Learn how to use flexible groups for guided math and reading strategy groups.

5. Plan for Scaffolds and Extensions in Advance

One of the biggest time-savers is thinking ahead: “What will my students who struggle need?” and “What will my students who finish quickly need?” A quick scaffold might be sentence starters, visuals, or guided notes. An extension might be an open-ended challenge problem or a creative project. Having these ready keeps the class flowing smoothly.

These Early Finisher Choice Boards are the perfect way to keep your students engaged when they finish work before their classmates.

Final Thought

Differentiation doesn’t have to be overwhelming, especially if you start small. The goal isn’t to create 25 separate lesson plans—it’s to create access points so every student feels challenged and supported. Start with just one of these tips, and you’ll already be building a classroom where every learner can thrive.

If you’d like step-by-step guidance and ready-to-use differentiated resources, join The Differentiated Difference Club! Everything you need for differentiation will be at your fingertips, including video lessons to walk you through the steps to differentiate your lessons, yearlong guided math units, and reading lessons for every reading standard.

You’re Invited!

Looking for more ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

Which of these tips do you want to try first this year? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear how you’re starting differentiation in your classroom!

The post Back-to-School Differentiation Tips That Are Easy to Implement appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

The Most Effective Differentiation Strategies for Elementary Teachers

As an elementary teacher, one of the biggest challenges is trying to meet the needs of all your students. These 10 strategies will help you adapt your lessons to the diverse needs of all your learners.

1. Choice Boards

Imagine giving your students a menu of learning activities—sounds fun, right? That’s exactly what a choice board does.

For example, during a unit on habitats, you could offer options like creating a diorama, writing a story from the perspective of an animal, or putting together a fact-filled poster. Each option targets the same learning goal but lets students pick the one that excites them the most. This simple tool can work wonders in keeping students engaged because they feel like they have a say in their learning.

Check out these Early Finisher Choice Boards. They will keep your fast finishers engaged and learning while the rest of your class keeps working. Plus, you won’t have to hear “What should I do now?” a hundred times a day.

2. Reading Strategy Groups

Grouping students by their specific needs can make a huge difference.

Let’s say you have a few students who struggle with fluency while others need help with comprehension. Create small groups where you focus on each group’s specific needs.

For example, you might work on phonics and decoding with one group, while another tackles inference skills using a chapter from a favorite book. This allows you to provide just the right level of challenge and support.

Learn more about forming strategy groups in this post. 

3. Guided Math

Guided math is like having a mini-math workshop in your classroom.

Set up three centers – a meet with the teacher center, a technology center, and a problem solving center. Group your students into three groups – an enrichment group, an on-level group, and a remediation group. Have your students rotate to all three centers each day to practice the new math skills at their level. 

By focusing on small groups, you can tailor your instruction, provide immediate feedback, and really hone in on what each student needs.

Get guided math units for your grade level by clicking the links below.

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

4. Scaffolded Instruction

Think of scaffolding as building a ladder for your students to climb. You provide the supports they need to reach the next level of understanding.

For example, when teaching essay writing, you might start with sentence frames, move on to paragraph templates, and eventually have students writing full essays on their own. By gradually removing these supports, you’re helping students build confidence and independence.

5. Tiered Assignments

Tiered assignments are all about offering different levels of challenge.

Let’s say you’re teaching a lesson on the water cycle. Some students might draw and label a diagram, others might write a detailed explanation, and a few might create a presentation including how climate change affects the cycle. Each task is aligned with the same learning goal, but they’re tailored to different readiness levels.

Try this tiered math performance task that allows your students to practice the same skills at three different levels of difficulty. 

6. Pretests

Using pretests is one of the most effective differentiation strategies. It’s important to find out what your students already know about a topic before starting to teach it. 

Give a pretest at the beginning of a unit, and use the results to create small groups. This allows you to challenge your students who already know a lot about the topic and provide extra support to your struggling students. 

7. Learning Centers

Learning centers are a great way to keep things fresh. Picture your classroom buzzing with activity as students rotate through centers—one for hands-on experiments, another for digital learning, and a third for small group discussions.

For example, during a lesson on main idea, the students might work with you to practice the skill at one center, do independent reading and apply the skill in their books at another center, and complete an online activity to practice main idea at a third center.

Centers are engaging and allow the students to experience the concept in different ways.

8. Student-Selected Projects

When students work on projects they’re passionate about, the results can be amazing.

Allow your students to choose their project topic or format. Maybe one student wants to write a play about historical events, while another creates a video documentary. Provide clear expectations and guidance, but let them explore and present their learning in a way that feels meaningful to them.

9. Use of Technology

Technology is your best friend when it comes to differentiation.

Tools like adaptive learning software can tailor content to a student’s level, giving them extra practice or accelerating the pace as needed. Apps and websites like Khan Academy or Prodigy can offer personalized learning experiences that adjust to how students are progressing.

Plus, using videos, podcasts, or interactive simulations can make learning more engaging for students who have visual or auditory learning styles.

10. Ongoing Formative Assessment

Formative assessments don’t have to be formal. Quick checks for understanding, like thumbs up/down, exit tickets, or even a quick chat, can give you insights into where your students are in their understanding of a concept.

Use this information to adjust your teaching in real-time. If most of the class didn’t grasp a concept, you can revisit it. If a few students need more challenge, you can provide enrichment. It’s all about staying responsive to your students’ needs.

Using standards-based formative assessments is a great way to track your students’ progress and plan lessons based on what they need. Click the links below to grab standards-based assessments for your grade level.

1st Grade

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

5th Grade

Differentiation doesn’t mean you need 25 different lesson plans. It’s about offering a variety of ways for students to access content and show what they’ve learned. Start small—maybe with a choice board or a reading strategy group—and build from there. Your students will not only appreciate it, but they’ll also thrive.

What to Learn  More about Differentiation?

Become a member of the Differentiated Difference Club! You’ll get access to the Differentiated Difference Course with more than 20 lessons to help you learn more differentiation strategies so you can meet the needs of all the students in your class.

Plus, you’ll get access to the Resource Library, which is filled with hundreds of differentiated resources you can use in your classroom.

Join the club now!

You’re Invited!

Looking for more ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What is your favorite differentiation strategy?

Let us know in the comments. 

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.

The post The Most Effective Differentiation Strategies for Elementary Teachers appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

Top 10 New Year’s Activities for Your Classroom

Even though winter break only lasts a week or two, it’s just enough time to get your students out of their normal school routine. They forget the classroom rules and need some reminders when they return to your classroom. The days after winter break are the perfect time for a reset.

Use these 10 activities to welcome your students back to school and to reestablish your classroom routines and expectations.

#1 – New Year’s Escape Room

Your students will love doing an escape room on the first day back from winter break! It will allow them to interact with their classmates and get up and moving. 

In this New Year’s Escape Room, your students will work in teams to solve four clues related to the new year. When they solve the last clue, they will get the code to unlock a number lock and open a box to get a surprise. 

Learn more about how to set up this activity in this blog post.  

#2 – January Reading Challenge

The day after winter break is the perfect time to introduce a reading challenge to your students. Encourage them to set a goal and read lots of books this month with the “Curl Up with a Good Book” reading challenge.

Work with your students to set a class goal for the number of books they’ll read during January. Then, each time your students read a book, they will create a quilt square to show their favorite part of it, and they’ll add it to a class quilt. 

At the end of the month, celebrate if your class met the goal. You could have your students bring blankets and pillows to school for a cozy reading party. 

#3 – Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Winter Math Performance Task

Not ready to jump right back into your math curriculum? This math performance task will help your students review important math skills in a fun way.

They will :

• Review addition and subtraction of money by “buying” parts to build a snowman.
• Practice dividing by sharing supplies with their friends.
• Review the names of geometric shapes by drawing and decorating their snowmen.

There are 3 different levels of activities in the Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Performance Task, so you can meet the needs of all your students. 

#4 – January Early Finisher Activities

Get ready for students who finish activities before the rest of the class with these January Early Finisher Activities. End the days of being asked, “What should I do now?” Your students will just pull out these activities, and they’ll be engaged and learning while you help other students.

The early finisher choice board is filled with 24 winter-themed activities that will help your students practice important reading, writing, and math skills. The students will love choosing the activities they want to complete!

#5 – New Year’s Goal Setting Freebie

Rather than having your students make New Year’s Resolutions that they probably won’t keep, teach them to set goals that are achievable. 

My New Year’s Goal Setting Freebie walks you through the steps to help your students set reading goals for themselves. They will think about what they already do well as readers and what they want to improve.

By setting goals, making a plan to achieve them, and tracking their progress, your students will grow their reading skills in the new year.

Just join The Differentiation Conversation Community to get this resource for FREE!

#6 – New Year’s Vision Board

After your students have written their goals from #5, you can take it a step further and have them create a whole vision board for the year. They can use words and pictures to show the things they want to accomplish in the new year. 

#7 – New Year’s Scavenger Hunt Activity

Read the book Shante Keys and the New Year’s Peas and talk about traditions for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Allow the students to share any traditions their families have. Then, have them complete a New Year’s scavenger hunt to learn about different New Year’s traditions around the world.

They will use the included websites to read about different New Year’s traditions. Then, they will count down from 10 to 1 by matching the countries with their special ways to celebrate. 

#8 – New Year’s Writing Activity

This writing activity builds off of number 8. After your students research the New Year’s traditions, have them either write about their family’s traditions for celebrating the New Year or choose one of the traditions from another country and write a story about celebrating the New Year with that tradition. 

All the prewriting, drafting, and publishing materials are included in this resource. Your students can complete the writing activity on paper or on the computer. 

#9 – Rules and Routines Kahoot

Review your classroom rules and routines with a fun game of Kahoot. Make up questions related to the expectations in your classroom and school. Then, challenge your students to play the game to see what they remember.

Spend some time practicing procedures and routines, like bathroom expectations, transitions, and center procedures. Make sure everything is running smoothly before jumping back into curriculum.

#10 – New Year’s Make the Year Math Activity

Have your students write the new year at the top of a piece of paper. Then, have them write ten different number sentences that equal that number. Challenge them to use the skills you’re learning in math class right now and include as many different operations as they can. 

You’re Invited!

Looking for new ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What are your favorite New Year’s activities to do with your students?

Let us know in the comments.

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.

The post Top 10 New Year’s Activities for Your Classroom appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

How to Use Makeblock STEAM Robots in Your Classroom

*This is a sponsored post. I received the Makeblock mBot2 and Rover Robotics Kit for free in exchange for this review. All opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I only recommend products that I use and love.*

When the mBot2 and Rover Robotics Kit arrived in the mail, we were so excited! The pictures on the boxes clearly showed what the robots look like, and my daughter couldn’t wait to find out how they worked.

mBot2 Robot Assembly

We started by assembling the mBot2. All the pieces were neatly packaged, and the directions clearly outlined the steps. My daughter is 11 years old, and she was able to do most of the assembly by herself. She just needed a little bit of help lining up the holes to insert the screws. A small screwdriver is included, and it has two interchangeable ends to allow you to tighten both types of screws. 

The full assembly of the mBot2 took us about 30 minutes. If you buy a set of mBot2 robots so your students can use them in small groups, you can have them collaborate to build the robots.

Once the robot is correctly assembled, you will be able to access some ready-to-go features. Turn on the robot, and use the menu to select “Switch Programs.” You can choose from a variety of activities, like voice recording, light displays, and even a fun math game where your students have to solve addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. There are also a few pre-programmed actions your robot can do, like moving along a line.

These ready-to-go features are perfect for your students to explore on the day they assemble their robots. This will allow them to make sure everything is put together correctly, and they’ll have fun seeing all the things the mBot2 can already do.

Software Set-Up

After the robots are completely assembled, plug them in to charge their batteries. The battery lasts about 5 hours, so you will want to recharge them after using them for the day. 

This is also the perfect time to set up the mBlock coding software. I recommend doing this yourself so you can check to make sure everything is working before teaching your students how to use the coding software.

You can dowload the coding software on a computer, tablet, or on your phone. I used the app on my phone to set everything up, and my son downloaded the software on his computer so we could see how that would work. 

Robot Coding

As we started coding the mBot2,  it quickly became obvious that my daughter was more experienced with this than me. She used a block coding system at school, so she was far more familiar with the drag-and-drop system.

Before I knew it, she had the robot talking, lighting up in different colors, and playing music. She was able to control everything from the app on my phone. 

Even if your students don’t have any coding experience, they will be able to quickly and easily use the drag and drop blocks. My daughter explained it to me once, and I was able to program mBot2 to light up in different colors, meow, move, and say “bye.” Before long, mBot2 was rolling around our kitchen, talking, and doing light shows.

I highly recommend mBot2 for elementary students who are just getting started with coding and robotics. With some guidance, they will be able to assemble the robot and use the block coding.

Get your mBot2 robot now!

Robotics for More Advanced Students

If your students are older or more advanced in their knowledge of coding, Makeblock has some great options! First, mBot2 can grow with your students. They can start with the basic drag-and-drop coding and then graduate to Python all in the mBlock coding software.

That makes differentiation really easy. Your beginning coders can stick with the drag-and-drop system while more advanced students can move on to Python.

Another option is to get the mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit. You will get the mBot2 robot and the add-on kit to transform it into a Rover.

After our successful assembly of the mBot2, I was eager to dig into the Rover Robitics Kit. I quickly realized that I was a little bit in over my head as I paged through the assembly directions. I reminded myself that I always want my children and my students to persevere and put forth their best effort. So, I took out all of the neatly wrapped pieces and got to work. (One thing you will never have to worry about with a Makeblock robot is missing pieces. Everything is packaged so well, and they even added extras of some of the small pieces that could easily be misplaced.)

After about three and a half hours, my Rover was ready. I built this one while my daughter was at school, and I was kind of glad because I really needed to focus to figure out where all the parts went. The directions were extremely clear and walked me step-by-step through the whole process. I almost couldn’t believe it when my Rover looked like the one on the front of the box!

Using the Rover

The mBot2 Rover Robotics Kit is definitely for your more advanced students, but once they get it assembled, they’ll find that it can do some really neat things! 

Here are a some of the amazing features of the Rover:

• Can Be Controlled with a Remote Control – If your students just want to use the robot without any coding at all, it comes with a remote control. Just add batteries, sync it with the robot, and you’re ready to explore.
• Perfect for Outdoor Use – The mBot2 works best on an indoor surface, like tile or carpet, but the Rover can go outside and explore different terrains and slopes up to 40 degrees.
• Customizable Expressions – You can program your robot to have the same facial expressions as you or choose from AI generated images.
• Many Different Actions – The Rover can follow lines, sense lights, dance, and even play music. 

Like mBot2, the Rover allows your students to practice block-based coding and move on to Python when they are ready. The mBlock software you download for mBot2 also works for the Rover. 

So Much More Exploring to Do

My daughter and I have just scratched the surface on what is possible with the Makeblock STEAM Robots. There are so many more incredible things they can do. We’re excited to keep exploring and discovering new features. 

Adding mBot2 and the Rover Robotics Kit to your classroom will create a unique learning experience for your students. They will learn engineering skills as they follow the detailed directions to assemble the robots. They will move from beginning coders to experienced coders who know how to use Python. Plus, don’t forget the hours of creative exploration as they uncover all the amazing things these robots can do!

The Makeblock robots even come with free lessons and projects to get you started.

Grab the bundle that includes both mBot2 and the Rover Robotics Kit! 

You’re Invited!

Looking for more ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What are your favorite STEAM activities to use in your classroom? 

Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.

The post How to Use Makeblock STEAM Robots in Your Classroom appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

In today’s education landscape, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is more important than ever. STEM classes are becoming a core part of the curriculum to help students build critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving skills, and digital literacy. To make the most of STEM education, it’s essential to have access to high-quality resources. Whether you’re a classroom teacher or a school administrator, here’s a roundup of some of the best educational STEM tools that can enrich your students’ learning experience.

The Best Educational STEM Tools for Your School

**This post contains affiliate links. I will receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. 

#1 – xTool S1 Screen Printing Kit

Your students will love creating their own designs with the xTool S1 laser cutter and screen printer! They can use colorful screen printing to make art projects and posters. They can print their designs on coasters, T-shirts, or canvas bags. 

The S1 laser cutter allows your students to engrave their own designs on tumblers, metal necklaces, and acrylic earrings. They can even make their own wooden puzzles!

The xTool S1 Screen Printing Kit comes with an educator guide to help you successfully use these resources in your classroom. It also includes the software for free and over 5,000 projects your students can edit and create. There are also tutorials to walk you and your students step-by-step through the creation process. 

Special Features:

• High-Power Cutting Efficiency – Using laser compression technology, the eight 5.5W lasers can cut through up to 18 mm of solid wood.
• Enclosed Design – A large high-transparency cover filters all harmful light and allows you to observe every step of the process without protective glasses.
• Engraves on a Wide Range of Materials – The 2W 1064nm IR laser module allows you to engrave on all metals, acrylic, and plastic. 
• Pin-Point Positioning^TM – Easily position your patterns, and create designs with remarkable precision up to 0.01 mm.
• 3D Curve^TM Engraving – Get perfect results on curved surfaces.
• Five-Tier Safety Protection – We all know how important safety is in the classroom, and this laser cutter has amazing safety features, like emergency stop design and lid-open safety-stop. It also has a laser key lock that prevents the laser from operating, which prevents students from using it when they are unsupervised.
• Beginner Friendly – Even if this is your students’ first time using a laser cutter and screen printer, they will be able to use them with your guidance. Your students will love watching their creations come to life with this screen printing kit! 

Get your xTool S1 Screen Printing Kit now!

#2 – xTool P2 Desktop Laser Cutter

Make your STEM classes engaging and fun with the xTool P2 educational laser cutter! Your students will become designers as they make 3D creations, learning tools, and other STEM projects.

When you purchase the xTool P2 laser cutter, you will get complementary lesson plans that fit perfectly into your standards-aligned curriculum. The software to use with the laser cutter is also completely free, and you can install it on any devices you’re currently using in your classroom, like PCs or iPads. Your students’ designs will be stored in XCS Cloud storage, so they can access them anytime and anywhere. 

Special Features:

• Supurb Cutting Ability – Cut through 18 mm black walnut and 20 mm acrylic with one pass. 
• Endless Possibilities with Hundreds of Materials – Cut designs in wood, acrylic, metal, and leather. The xTool P2 can even engrave on coated metal, anodized aluminum alloy, and anodized titanium steel. 
• Passthrough Function to Make Large Creations – The large size allows you to work with 26 x 24 inch materials. 
• Fast Cutting Speed – The maximum engraving speed is 600 mm/s. This fast speed will allow all of your students to use the xTool P2 even if you only have one of them.
• Create Projects in 3 Easy Steps – Import your image, add an outline, and set up your engraving, cutting, and material settings. Then, you’re ready to get started.
• Promote Open-Ended Learning Experiences – Your students can create anything they can dream from 3D models of curved objects to engravings on objects up to 2.7 inches thick.
• Amazing Safety Features – The enclosed design and automatic lock create a secure environment for students and educators. 

Get your xTool P2 Desktop Laser Cutter now!

#3 – QIDI MAX3 3D Printer

Turn your students’ 3D creations into reality with the QIDI MAX3 3D Printer. They can create intricate designs, small-scale prototypes, or artistic creations.

Special Features:

• High-Speed – Print up to 600 mm/s. 
• Large Size – Print designs up to 325 x 325 x 315 mm. 
• High Precision – The enclosed chamber heating system and dual cooling fans allow you to capture small details with precision.

Get your QIDI MAX3  3D printer now!

#4 – Makeblock mBot2 Coding Robot

Teach your students mBlock programming. The Makeblock program will help your students learn block-based programming and advance to Python with this fun STEM robot! Your students can assemble the mBot2 robot in under 30 minutes with step-by-step guidance. Then, they are ready to explore all the amazing things it can do!

The mBot2 comes with 22 standards-aligned lessons that will help your students develop essential STEM skills through engaging activities. That makes it perfect for a STEM club or enrichment class. If you have larger STEM classes, you can buy sets of 3, 6, or 12 robots. The robots can even communicate and collaborate with each other!

Special Features:

• Long-Lasting Battery – With a 5-hour battery life, mBot2 will never run out of power during your class or club.
• Precise Movements – Program your mBot2 to move specified distances and angles.
• Perfect for Beginners – Eight basic courses will help your students master basic robotics. 
• Scaffolded Lessons – After your students master the basics of robotics, they can work their way through higher-level lessons to develop more advanced coding skills.

Get your mBot2 Coding Robot now!

#5 – Squishy Circuits Group Kit

Teach your students about electrical circuits with this fun Squishy Circuits Group Kit! Your students will create designs with play dough and bring them to life with electrical circuits. 

Special Features:

• Limitless Possibilities – Some ideas for creations are included with this set, but your students can use their imaginations to create anything from a caterpillar to an airplane. 
• Enough Materials for Your Whole Class – There are enough materials in this kit for 10 individual students. If you have a larger class size, you can have your students work in groups of 2 or 3. The kit includes LEDs, battery holders, motors, switches, and beeping buzzers. The only thing you need to add is play dough.

Get your Squishy Circuits Group Kit now!

Investing in high-quality STEM resources can significantly enhance the learning experience and better prepare students for future careers in STEM fields. Whether you’re looking for coding platforms, hands-on engineering challenges, or interactive science simulations, these resources will help you build a dynamic and engaging STEM program in your school. By leveraging these tools, you’ll foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, setting your students up for success in a tech-driven world.

You’re Invited!

Looking for new ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What are your favorite STEM resources to use with your students?

Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.

The post The Best Educational STEM Tools for Your School appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

5 Reasons to Differentiate Your Lessons

1. Addresses Diverse Learning Needs

Take a minute to look around your classroom. (You can do this in your mind if you’re not there right now.) Think about your students’ strengths and weaknesses, their different interests, and their different learning styles. 

Every student in your classroom is unique. Every student in your classroom is also capable of learning. Some students may grasp new concepts quickly, while others need more time and support. Differentiation is going to help you meet the learning needs of all your students.

There are so many different ways to differentiate by content, process, and product. Whether through scaffolding, tiered assignments, or flexible grouping, differentiation ensures that all students can access the material in a way that makes sense to them. This prevents students from feeling overwhelmed or disengaged and allows everyone to make progress at their own pace.

2. Increases Student Engagement

As you look around your classroom during a math lesson, what do you see? Are students actively listening and participating or are some students daydreaming or putting their heads on their desks? When students feel frustrated or bored, they often disconnect from the lesson and are not engaged.

When students are given tasks that resonate with their strengths, interests, or preferred learning styles, they are far more likely to be engaged in the lesson. Differentiation makes learning more relevant and personalized.

For example, offering choice boards allows students to select activities that appeal to them, whether it’s through hands-on projects, visual presentations, or written reports. By tapping into your students’ passions and preferred modes of learning, you can increase motivation and foster a love of learning in your students.

3. Promotes Equity in Education

As you give your students assessments throughout the school year, you can clearly see that your students have different areas of need. Some of them have already completely mastered concepts, and others need a lot of reteaching and support.

In a diverse classroom, a one-size-fits-all approach to instruction often leaves some students behind. Differentiated instruction promotes equity by ensuring that all students, regardless of their background, learning needs, or abilities, are given equal opportunities to succeed.

By offering varied levels of support, adjusting the pace of instruction, and providing multiple ways for students to demonstrate their understanding, you are able to level the playing field for your students. You can create an inclusive environment where every student has a chance to thrive.

4. Fosters Independent Learning

Do you have students who won’t do any work independently? They constantly need you beside them or they get no work done. Differentiation can help to solve this problem.

Some students want your help because they truly don’t understand the new concepts. However, others just don’t want to try on their own either because they are afraid of getting the wrong answer or because they just don’t want to work.

If you use small groups, like guided math groups, to differentiate your instruction, you’re able to give students time to work with you at one center. You also build independence by having them try other centers independently or with a small group. Remind your students to try their best at the other centers and not to interrupt you because you are working with other students who need your help.

When your students see that they are getting support from you and they’re able to be successful at other centers without you, they will become more independent learners.

Another way to use differentiation to foster independence in your students is to give them choices. For example, you could allow them to choose a way to practice their math facts. They could use flashcards with a friend or choose an online game to practice. This allows your students to learn to make decisions about how they learn best. Whether it’s selecting a project that matches their interests or working at their own pace, differentiation empowers students to take ownership of their learning. 

5. Improves Student Outcomes

At the end of the day, differentiation is about improving student outcomes. When you tailor your instruction to meet the individual needs of your students, you create an environment where all students can succeed. Research has consistently shown that differentiated instruction leads to better academic performance, increased confidence, and overall growth. By challenging advanced learners and providing the necessary support to struggling students, you can help all your students reach their full potential.

By incorporating differentiation practices into your teaching, you can create a more inclusive, engaging, and effective learning environment for all students.

Learn More About Differentiation

Join the Differentiated Difference Club. You’ll get a full course walking you through the steps to differentiate all parts of your curriculum and all the resources you need to easily implement what you learn.

Find out how to use a guided math model.

Switch from guided reading groups to strategy groups with the tips in this post.

You’re Invited!

Looking for more ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

Why do you think differentiation is important? Have you seen any positive results from using it in your classroom?

Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.

The post 5 Reasons Why You Need to Differentiate Your Lessons appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

What Are the Types of Differentiated Instruction?

There are four main types of differentiated instruction. Each one is designed to address the needs of all the students in your class. Let’s take a closer look at each one.

• Differentiation by Content – Change what your students need to learn. This could mean your students choose topics they are interested in for a science project. One student who loves animals might research pandas while a student who likes the solar system researches Mars. It could also mean that students are learning different content based on their current ability levels. For example, one math group might be working on basic multiplication principles while another group is applying what they already know about multiplication to solve more complex problems.
• Differentiation by Process – Change how your students learn the material. Your student have different learning styles. Some of them are visual learners who like to watch videos or read books. Others are auditory learners who want to listen to a story or a lecture. Some students are kinesthetic learners who learn best when they are up moving around or engaged in an activity. By providing different ways for your students to learn, you can meet all of their needs.
• Differentiation by Product – Change how your students demonstrate their understanding. Not all your students are good test-takers. By providing them with other ways to show what they know, you help them gain confidence and feel successful. Choice boards are a great way to differentiate by content. You can provide several different ways for your students to show their understanding of a specific unit or topic. 
• Differentiation by Classroom Environment – Change the classroom conditions that impact learning. Make your classroom a safe environment that provides all of your students with everything they need to experience success. This could mean allowing your students to choose the way they learn best – independently, with a partner, or in a small group. You could also provide flexible seating for your students so they can choose to work at their seat or at a comfortable spot around the classroom.

Why Is Differentiated Instruction Important?

Before we move into the steps that will make it easy to use differentiated instruction in your classroom, let’s talk about why it’s so important.

1. First of all, differentiation promotes equity in your classroom. It ensures that all students, regardless of their current levels, can access the curriculum in a way that meets their needs. Your strugging learners feel supported and successful when you use differentiated instruction. Your higher level students feel challenged and motivated.
2. Next, differentiated instruction boosts engagement. When you take your students’ learning styles and interests into account when planning your lessons, they are more likely to participate and be actively involved in their learning. Your students are also more likely to be engaged when the material is at the perfect level for them.
3. Differentiated instruction also improves your students’ outcomes. They will feel more successful when the instruction is aligned with their readiness levels, interests, and learning styles. When you give your students different ways to show what they know, you’ll be able to truly see whether or not they understand the content.
4. Finally, differentiating your instruction builds confidence. When your students feel successful, they also feel more confident. This confidence will lead to a more positive attitude toward learning.

How Can I Differentiate My Instruction?

If you’re convinced that differentiated instruction is important, now it’s time to dig into easy ways to use it in your classroom. Differentiation often feels overwhelming because you have more than twenty unique learners in your class, and you teach so many different subjects.

These 5 easy steps will help you start differentiating your lessons.

Step #1 – Get to Know Your Students

Before you can differentiate your lessons, you need to know your students – both academically and personally. 

The first week of school is the perfect time to learn about your students. Have them complete these getting to know you activities. Ask them questions about their learning styles and interests. This will help you plan engaging lessons that will allow their strengths to shine.

You should also use the first few weeks of the school year to learn about where your students are academically. Give them reading and math assessments to check their current levels. It’s also a great idea to give a pretest before a unit to see what they already know and what you need to focus on in your lessons.

Step #2 – Plan Your Whole Group Instruction

Now that you have some data about your students’ current levels, it’s time to plan your instruction. If you have a specific curriculum you have to follow, start with that. Teach short whole group mini lessons to expose your students to all the standards they need to know. Your mini lessons should last between 15 and 20 minutes.

Use the data you gathered to see which lessons you should spend more time on and which ones you can move through quickly. If a pretest shows that most of your class has already mastered the content in a lesson, you can move through it quickly and use any extra time to review skills the whole class needs to practice.

Step #3 – Plan Your Small Group Instruction

While whole group instruction is important, the real magic of differentiation happens in small groups. Whether you’re using reading strategy groups, guided math groups, or both, you are really able to meet the individual needs of your students through small group instruction.

Start by looking at your pretest and other assessment data. Look for students who have similar needs. For guided math, I use a preassessment to form three guided math groups – an enrichment group, an on-level group, and a remediation group. Those three groups move to three centers – a meet with the teacher center, a problem solving center, and a technology center. Each center is differentiated so they are practicing the concept at their level.

For reading, I look at standard assessments and benchmark data that is broken down by standard to see which students have mastered a standard and which students need more practice with it. I pull the students who need more practice in small strategy groups of three or four students. This really allows me to focus on their individual needs and help them make progress toward mastering the standard.

Your small groups should be flexible, since one of the goals of differentiation is to build our students’ confidence. If a student is always stuck in a “low” group, he/she will notice that and start to lose motivation if there is no hope of moving to a proficient or above-level group. That’s why I switch my guided math groups at the start of each unit after I give a new pretest. For reading, my strategy groups change based on the reading standard we’re working on that week. 

Step #4 – Build in Differentiation by Process, Product, and Classroom Environment

Okay, so steps 2 and 3 were really based on differentiation by content. We want to make sure we’re meeting our students where they are and helping them make progress toward their goals.

However, we don’t want to forget the other types of differentiation. You can build these into your lessons by considering your students’ learning styles and their interests. 

Here are a few ways to differentiate by process, product, and classroom environment.

• Give your students choices about how they would like to access the lesson material. Allow visual learners to watch an online video to learn the content. Allow auditory learners to listen to a podcast about the topic. Your kinesthetic learners could do a hands-on activity to learn the new content. 
• Use project-based learning in your classroom. This works really well in science, but it can be applied to other subject areas as well. Give your students an open-ended question and allow them to use any process they choose to solve it. 
• Choice boards are a great way to differentiation by product. At the end of a unit, give your students a choice board filled with different activities that will assess their understanding of the content. The students can choose activities based on their learning styles and interests. One student might write a song to show that they understand what they learned. Another student might create a diorama to show their mastery of the same content. 
• Allow your students to choose where they would like to work to differentiate by classroom environment. Some students will choose to stay at their seats and work independently. Other students will choose to move to flexible seating options around the classroom where they can work more closely with their peers. 

While we most often focus on differentiation by content, you should try to build in the other types of differentiation so your students are able to learn in ways that interest them and fit their needs.

Step #5 – Watch as Your Students Gain Confidence and Experience more Success

When you add differentiation to your lessons, you will see a definite change in your students. They will feel like an important part of your classroom community when they see the effort you are making to meet their individual needs. 

Here’s a quick personal story to show you what I mean. I had a third grade student who was so surprised when he wasn’t always in the lowest reading group. The first week we started reading groups, I put the students with other students who were reading at a similar level just to go over reading group expectations and to get them into the routine. This student came to group looking really sad and without any confidence. I figured he didn’t like reading and made a mental note to find ways to help him develop a love of reading.

It turns out I was completely wrong. The next week when I switched up the reading groups based on a standard assessment, he was with different students, and I could see a complete change in him. When I asked him about it, he told me that he was sad to be in a “low” reading group with students he had been “stuck” with for the past two years. He actually loved reading, but he never felt like his hard work paid off because he was always in “that group.” 

When we differentiate our instruction, we give all our students a chance to shine. They feel empowered when they have choices. They feel motivated when they get to select the ways they learn best. And all of that leads to feelings of success and achievement of goals.

Do You Want Help Differentiating Your Lessons?

Join me in The Differentiated Difference Club. I’ll walk you step-by-step through the process of differentiating your lessons. 

You’ll learn: 

• How to differentiate by content, process, product, and classroom environment.
• How to use your assessment data to plan your instruction and meet the needs of all your students.
• How to differentiate your lessons in reading, math, writing, science, and social studies. 

Plus, you’ll get all the resources you need to implement everything you learn!

You’re Invited!

Looking for new ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What is your favorite way to use differentiated instruction in your classroom?

Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.

The post Differentiated Instruction: Unlock Your Students’ Success in 5 Easy Steps appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

The Best Teaching Supplies for Your Amazon Wish List

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I only recommend products that I use and love.

If you haven’t started your wish list yet, read this post first for a step-by-step walkthrough of how to create one. Then, come back here to get some ideas for the best supplies to add to it. 

For the Classroom

#1 – Dry Erase Whiteboard

A dry erase whiteboard is a necessity for your small group lessons. When you’re sitting at a small group table or on the floor, you usually don’t have access to your large blackboard or whiteboard. That’s why this small dry erase whiteboard will come in very handy!

It’s small enough to fit on a table, and it has a stand that will keep it from falling. You can use it to model math problems, display vocabulary words, or practice phonics skills. Plus, it’s light and portable, so it can travel with you as you move around during the day.

#2 – KleenSlate Whiteboards

Individual white boards are another necessity. You can use them to formatively assess your whole class or to have your students answer questions in small groups. My favorite individual whiteboards are KleenSlate Whiteboards. You can tell they were designed by a teacher.

My favorite features of these whiteboards are:

• Their handles – When your students hold up their answers, their fingers won’t cover their writing anymore. They can hold onto the handle and keep their hands out of the way.
• The included supplies – KleenSlate whiteboards come with markers and erasers, and they attach to the whiteboards so your students will never lose their supplies. The erasers attach to the bottom of the handle, and there is a holder for the marker on the back of the whiteboard.
• A pocket for templates – The back of the whiteboard has a special pocket that will hold templates, like part-part-whole diagrams and cause and effect charts. There are many different templates available online that you can print and use with the whiteboards.

#3 – Innox Sticky Notes

If you love using post-it notes in your classroom, you are going to want to try Innox Sticky Notes. These are game-changers because they are reuseable, and they’ll stick to any surface forever. 

I love using sticky notes for exit tickets. Innox Sticky Notes work really well because your students can keep them on the sides of their desks until they’re ready to use them. They should write their names on the colored side, which will make it permanent.

Then, they can use dry erase markers to write their answers on the white sides of the sticky notes. After you check their answers, they can erase them and reuse the sticky notes.

#4 – Post-It Super Sticky Easel Pads

Another amazing teaching supply you should add to your Amazon wish list is an easel pad. I love using these to make anchor charts during reading and math mini lessons.

The Post-It Super Sticky Easel Pads are my favorite because you can easily display them around the classroom. Just pull off the page and stick it to the wall or a whiteboard in your classroom. You can easily switch them out throughout the school year.

#5 – Best-Rite Wheasel

If you don’t have an easel in your classroom yet, it’s time to get one. Put the easel in your whole group meeting area, and use it to create anchor charts with your students.

I love the Best-Rite Wheasel because it has wheels so you can easily move it around your classroom. It also has a shelf on the bottom where you can store your markers and other supplies. Plus, it’s double sided, so you can use it for two different subjects simultaneously.

For the Students

#1 – Class Set of Headphones

If your students have devices, like Chromebooks or iPads, a class set of headphones is a necessity. They will allow your students to listen to videos or books while your classroom stays silent. 

This set of 30 pairs should have enough for all the students in your class. 

#2 – Pencil Boxes

Help your students stay organized by giving each of them a pencil box. This is the perfect place for them to store their pencils, crayons, scissors, and other school supplies.

This set of 24 pencil boxes will provide one for each of your students. 

#3 – Pencils

Let’s be honest. You can never have too many pencils, so it’s a great idea to add them to your Amazon wish list. 

These Ticonderoga pencils are my favorites because they are already sharpened.

#4 – Folders

Keep your students organized by giving them a folder for each of their classes. I like to use a different color for each subject, so I can say, “Take out your blue math folder.” That makes it a lot easier for the students to find it in their desks.

You can add a set of folders in several different colors to your Amazon wish list. 

#5 – Fidget Toys

Some of your students may need fidget toys to help them focus throughout the school day. Adding them to your Amazon wish list is a great way to get them. 

I love this 50 piece set because it has a lot of different options for your students. 

For You (the Teacher)

#1 – Flair Pens

As you’re creating your Amazon wish list, don’t forget to think about things for yourself. If you have a favorite brand of grading pens, add them to your list. 

I love these flair pens because there are so many fun colors, and they make grading a little less boring.

#2 – A Mini Fridge

If you’re allowed to have a mini fridge in your classroom, I highly recommend getting one! It’s a great place to keep some healthy snacks, like fruits and vegetables. It’s also a great way to keep your lunch from being accidentally taken from the fridge in the faculty room.

If anyone asks you why you have a mini fridge on your wish list, you can tell them it’s for ice packs for your students because this Igloo mini fridge has a small freezer area.

#3 – A Wireless Doorbell

Save your voice by getting a wireless doorbell for your classroom. Just ring the doorbell to get your students’ attention instead of raising your voice.

This one has 36 different chimes, so you could use different ones to mean different things.

#4 – A Personal Laminator

Avoid standing in line to laminate by adding your own personal laminator to your wish list. This will save you so much time when you have small laminating jobs to do.

This Scotch Thermal Laminator is my favorite. Don’t forget to add some laminating pouches to your list, too. 

#5 – A Printer

Having a printer in your classroom will allow you to print pages you need quickly and easily. You won’t have to wait in line for the school printer anymore, and if it’s broken, you can still print the pages you need.

This Epson EcoTank is my favorite printer. Remember to add some extra ink and printer paper to your wish list, too. 

#6 – Your Favorite Read Aloud Books

Add a few of your favorite read aloud books to your Amazon wish list. I have too many to list all of them, but here are just a few.

Do Unto Otters

Jabari Jumps

What Do You Do With an Idea?

If you want more book suggestions and more ideas for items to add to your Amazon wish list, check out my Amazon storefront. 

Amazon Wish List Tips

Creating your Amazon wish list is a great first step. Now we need to get people to buy things from it. Here are a few ways to share your wish list.

1. Post your wish list on your social media channels. Your family members and friends would love to support you and your classroom. Use the hashtags #clearthelists, #clearthelist, and #support_a_teacher to get even more reach.
2. Send your wish list link to your students’ parents at the beginning of the school year. Many of them are looking for ways they can help you, so they will order things for your classroom.
3. Watch for posts on social media that allow you to share your wish list. In some teacher Facebook groups, there are opportunities to share the link to your wish list. You never know when you’ll get something from someone you don’t even know.
4. See if any companies are helping to clear teacher wish lists. I know Erin Condren purchases items from teachers’ wish lists during Teacher Appreciation Week. Other companies do the same thing at other times of the year. Submit your wish list and see if any of your wishes are granted.

One last tip: Make sure the items you added to your wish list are at a wide range of price points. Some people will just want to get you a small item while others will be willing to spend more money. 

You’re Invited!

Looking for more ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What else will you add to your Amazon wish list?

Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.

The post The Best Teaching Supplies for Your Amazon Wish List appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

7 Fun and Engaging End of the School Year Activities

The last few days of school can be chaotic. Your students are full of energy and are counting down the hours to summer break. You’re trying to clean up your classroom and get everything on your to-do list done so you can head out the door on the last day of school and not look back until school is starting again.

These 7 activities will keep your students engaged as they reflect on the school year. They’ll even help you tackle some of the tasks on your to-do list!

#1 – Letters to Next Year’s Class

Your students will love giving advice to the students who will be in your class next year. Have them brainstorm their favorite things they did this school year to help the new student get excited on the first day of school.

They should also include some advice about what to do and what not to do in your class. You’ll love reading the tips they give your future students!

Put the letters in a safe place, and when you’re getting ready for the new school year, put one on each student’s desk. (If you will have more students next year, you can either have a few students write two letters or photocopy a few of them so you have one for each student.)

A fill-in-the blank letter template and publishing paper are included in the End of the Year Activities Pack.

#2 – Memory Book

Have your students think about their favorite parts of the school year. Over the last few days of school, have them answer questions about things they want to remember about this year. 

Put one prompt on each page. They could write about their best friends, their favorite units, their biggest accomplishments, or anything else they don’t want to forget. 

I also like to include a page for autographs in the memory book. That way, the students can remember who was in their class. You can write each of your students a special note on this page, too.

Get a ready-to-use memory book in the End of the Year Activities Pack.

#3 – Math Review Scoot

Allow your students to become the teachers as they plan a math review scoot game to practice everything they’ve learned in math this year. 

Here’s how to play:

• Start by having each student write some math problems their classmates should be able to solve. Then, choose one or two questions from each student’s paper. 
• Use them to create a scoot game by putting each question on a different piece of paper. Put the question cards around the classroom or on the students’ desks. 
• Have your students move from one card to the next and solve the problems using what they remember from math class. 
• Once your students have finished the scoot, check their answers by having the student who wrote the question become the teacher and explain how to solve it.

Get everything you need to set up the scoot game in the End of the Year Activities Pack.

#4 – Summer Book Recommendations

How many times have you had parents ask you to recommend some books their children could read over the summer? If it hasn’t happened to you yet, I’m sure you’ll get that question soon. 

Rather than trying to come up with a list of books, why not have your students recommend their favorite books they read this school year? 

Have each student choose a book they really enjoyed reading this year during independent reading time. They should complete a book recommendation form by telling the characters, setting, problem, and a few sentences that would make someone else want to read it (without giving away the ending). 

Then, have your students give book talks to share the information with their classmates. This will get them excited about reading over the summer. You can do a book talk for one of your favorite books, too.

Finally, everyone should add their recommendations to a page that you can send home with the students. Just make enough copies of it so each student has one. That way, parents will have a list of books they can buy or check out at the library, and their children will have plenty of reading for the summer.

Get the book recommendation form and the page to send home with your students in the End of the Year Activities Pack.

#5 – Classroom Clean-Up Scavenger Hunt

Ready to tackle some of those things on your to-do list? Why not have your students help?

Create a classroom clean-up scavenger hunt. Make a list of all the things your students can do to help you clean up your classroom.

Here are some ideas:

• Empty their desks
• Clean up supplies
• Organize supplies
• Organize the classroom library
• Wipe down their desks
• Take things off the walls

Give your students a paper with different tasks on it. You can also add in some other activities to break up the work. For example, they could tell a friend why they’re glad they were in the same class this year. 

Have the students complete the activities in any order they would like, and when they finish the scavenger hunt, give them a small treat. 

Get a ready-to-use scavenger hunt in the End of the School Year Activities Pack. (It’s editable so you can add things from your to-do list.)

#6 – MINGO

End the school year with a fun game of MINGO. Your students will mingle with each other and try to fill in the boxes on the MINGO board. 

Give each student a copy of the MINGO board. Have them walk around the classroom and ask their classmates the questions. They should see how many people they can talk to, and they should have a different classmate sign each box on the MINGO board.

Get the MINGO board in the End of the School Year Activities Pack.

#7 – End of the School Year Unlock the Box Mystery

This end of the year escape room is a fun way to wrap up the school year. (And it’s easy to set up!)

1. Start by putting a surprise for each of your students inside a locked box. 
2. Put your students into groups, and give them the first clue.
3. Use the included answer key to check each group’s answer, and give them the next clue when it’s correct.
4. After the groups solve all four clues, they will get the code to unlock the box and get their surprise.

You can read more about how to set up an Unlock the Box Mystery in this post. 

This is such a fun way to send your students off for summer break! Get the escape room by itself or buy the bundle and get all the activities you’ve read about in this post.

You’re Invited!

Looking for more ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What are your favorite end of the year activities to do with your students? 

Let me know in the comments below.

If you enjoyed this post and think your teacher friends will, too, please click the button to share it on your favorite social media platform.

The post 7 Fun and Engaging End of the School Year Activities appeared first on Teach Without Tears.

Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and that means it’s time to pick the perfect valentines for your students. The most exciting part of Valentine’s Day is exchanging valentines, and your students look forward to seeing what they will get from you. Keep reading to find the best non-candy valentines for your students.

The Best Non-Candy Valentines for Your Students

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I only recommend products that I use and love.

As you’re planning for Valentine’s Day, there are a lot of things to consider. What fun lessons will you teach? What activities will you do at your Valentine’s Day party? 

And most importantly of all. . .what valentines will you give your students? There are so many different options, and it can be difficult to choose. These are some of the best non-candy valentines that your students will love!

#1 – Valentine’s Day Cards and Zipper Bracelets

These Valentine’s Day Zipper Bracelets are so much fun! Your students will love wearing them and using them as fidget toys. They come with adorable Valentine’s Day cards that are perfect for your classroom exchange. Just attach the zipper bracelets to the cards, sign your name, and you’re ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your class! This set comes with 30 valentines, so there will be enough for your whole class.

#2 – Valentine’s Day Cups

If you want something a little larger, these Valentine’s Day Cups are the perfect treat for your students. Fill each cup with stickers, a pencil sharpener, stamps, stickers, erasers, and pencils. Your students will get a cute valentine from you, and they’ll be stocked with school supplies to use for the rest of the year. This set comes with enough supplies to make valentines for 28 students.

#3 – Mochi Squishy Toys

If your students love desk pets or mochi toys, these mochi squishy toys will be the perfect valentines. Put a mochi toy inside of a little heart for each student. You could even give them time during your Valentine’s Day party to create homes for their new desk pets. This set comes with 28 mochi toys, plastic hearts, and valentine cards.

#4 – Dinosaur Egg Hatching Valentines

If you study dinosaurs with your class, they will love these hatching dinosaur egg valentines. Each student gets a card with a little dinosaur egg. When they put the egg in water, it will hatch, and a dinosaur will grow. There are 30 valentines in this set.

#5 – Building Block Valentines

If your students love building with LEGO blocks, these building block valentines will be a hit! There are 36 different designs with land animals, marine animals, and dinosaurs. You could even match your students with their favorite animals.

#6 – Erupting Volcano Valentines

Use your valentines to instill a love of science in your students with these erupting volcano valentines. They come with a volcano model, eruption powder, and glitter pigment – everything your students need to create an erupting volcano. Just tell your students to add water after they put the other materials into the volcano, and it will erupt. This set comes with 24 volcanoes.

#7 – Pop-It Fidget Valentines

Pop-its are fun and popular. If your students enjoy playing with pop-its, they will love these pop-it fidget valentines. The heart shape is perfect for Valentine’s Day. There are 24 valentines in this kit, and they come with keychains, so your students can attach them to their backpacks.

#8 – Foam Airplane Valentines

Turn your students’ valentines into a fun party activity with these foam airplane valentines. Your students can assemble their airplanes and have a contest to see which one flies the farthest during your Valentine’s Day party. This set comes with 28 valentines.

#9 – Invisible Ink Pen Valentines

If your students have been learning about mysteries, these invisible ink pen valentines will help them feel like detectives. They can write secret messages to their classmates and use the UV light to read them. There are 24 valentines in this set.

#10 – LED Finger Light Valentines

These finger light valentines will provide hours of fun for your students. They can keep the lights at school for reading glow parties. My students love tracking the words they read with the lights. This set comes with 28 valentines.

A Fun Way to Hand Out Valentines

If you’re looking for an interesting way to hand out your valentines to your students, try this Valentine’s Day Unlock the Box Mystery. Your students will work in teams to solve 4 Valentine’s Day clues. After they solve the last one, they will unlock a box and get your valentines. You can even have your students hand out their valentines after they solve the second clue to avoid the chaos of everyone handing them out at the same time. 

Want More Valentine’s Day Ideas?

Valentine’s Day Activities for Your Elementary Classroom

You’re Invited!

Looking for more ways to differentiate your lessons and meet the needs of all your students without adding more to your plate?

Join The Differentiation Conversation Community, a free community for elementary teachers where we share practical differentiation strategies, ready-to-use resources, and encouragement to help you meet the needs of all your learners.

What Do You Think?

What are your favorite valentines to give your students?

Let me know in the comments below.

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The post The Best Non-Candy Valentines for Your Students appeared first on Teach Without Tears.