A Classroom on Cloud Nine

It’s amazing what a teacher can achieve!🤍 I started this little store 8 and a half years ago (!) as a fun little creative outlet- never imagining it’s growth like this!

Knowing my resources have been across the globe is humbling. It hasn’t been a linear road, but I’ve learned so much in the process. If you’re looking to start a TPT store, this is your sign to do so! I’ve even written a few blog posts on it. Check the link in my bio to see!

Are you a TPT seller or buyer (or both like me! 🙋🏼‍♀️)? Let me know in the comments below! 👇🏼

Did someone say snacks?! 😋

Whether you’re doing cooking in the classroom (.love.speech is a great resource for this!!) or simply celebrating birthdays with a treat, you’re going to want to get families to sign off on a snack and food release! No more sending permission forms home before each activity. Simply send home once at the start of the year and get cooking! 👩🏼‍🍳

Want one for your classroom? Comment snacks for the link! Yum!

⭐️BACK TO SCHOOL READ ALOUDS⭐️

Have you been trying to find some fresh stories for the back to school season? I’ve done the work for you- this week’s blog post is the ultimate list of back to school read alouds. With classics and newbies, you’ll be sure to find a book to engage your class on the first day. Link in bio.

What’s your favorite back to school read aloud?! I think The Smart Cookie is my new favorite. Let me know yours in the comments below! 👇🏼

We are engrossed in a Families thematic unit of study. Have you ever read Families, Families, Families? It’s adorable and touches on the many different combinations that make up a family.

This year I decided to make a Dramatic Play vocabulary board to help my kiddos use thematic vocabulary during play time. Peep this set from - HOW ADORABLE AND INCLUSIVE?! I fell in love as soon as I saw them.

Are you teaching thematic units? What theme are you on? Let me know in the comments below? 👇🏼

Finally have a classroom with the perfect little nook for some of my favorite teacher decor. Each day makes my classroom feel more and more like home. 🤍

What do you do to make your classroom feel like home?

🛑GOODBYE LETTER OF THE WEEK! 👋🏼

I have to admit, I love a good theme in the classroom. I love an adorable craft. I love embedding literacy across activities with early learners. What I do NOT love is doing that based on Letter of the Week (LOTW).

Spending a whole week on one letter for 26 weeks sounds good in theory, but is it really best practice? Will the struggling learner be able to keep up? Will the early reader continue to be engaged? Is this what science is telling us is research based for students to learn how to read?

What’s your stance on Letter of the Week? Do you agree with me? Want to change my mind? Let’s chat below! 👇🏼

Now accepting donations to my school snack collection! 😉

⭐️This is the time saver you need this year!

There’s always someone absent, or the paper passer accidentally misses a friend. Plus, I always print off 3 extras of everything we do. For so long I had these small piles of extra dittos popping up all over my room. Until.. The Extras Bin!

Paper Passers know when they’re done their job, all extras go in the bin. In the bathroom and missed getting your sheet? Walk on over to the Extras Bin. Absent and missed the activity we started yesterday? Go find it in the Extras Bin. Spilled water all over your sheet? Extras Bin.

Grow independence with your students and never answer the questions on where to get or put an extra again!

Save this to remember to make one in your classroom! Tap the bookmark in the bottom right corner of this post.

⭐️5 Ways to Build Language Skills in the Classroom! 🗣

1. Morning Share
2. Model in the Moment
3. Missing Necessity
4. Add Visuals
5. Dramatic Play

Language skills are HUGE in the early childhood classroom (especially if you have children with speech and language special needs like I do).

Language can be a challenge for some little ones but building in language skills throughout your day shouldn’t be.

What are some ways you try to build language in the classroom? Tell me below! 👇🏼

5 Things I Think About When It’s August ☀️

1. Family Vacation 🧳
2. Baby Cal’s Birthday 🎂
3. Our Engagement 6 years ago 💍
4. Soaking Up The Last of Summer 🏝
5. Back to School Prep! ✏️

We don’t start school til September in Jersey, so today my mind is on #1. It’s our first vacation as a family of four!

Do you think of any of these? Where’s your August mind today? Let me know in the comments below. 👇🏼

First Things First: this was my FIRST ever product! 😍

The summer I moved back to NJ and began teaching first grade, I decided to start a TPT store. I made one little packet of pages I planned on using in the first week of school. It made $50 over the first few weeks- which at the time, I thought was so cool.

Flash forward seven years and despite its couple of makeovers, this is still consistently one of my top best sellers! First Days in First Grade can be found at the link in my bio. (And check out my blog while you’re there if you’re interested in beginning to sell on TPT- I’ve written about getting started!)

Now this year I’m returning to the classroom, but to teach Special Education PreK. What will you be teaching next year? Let me know in the comments below! 👇🏼

🛑✋🏼If you’re not rotating toys in your classroom or at home yet, you need to read this!

I’m not on a strict rotation schedule. Sometimes I switch when my class topics/themes switch. Other times, I can see kids are less interested and sustaining play for shorter amounts of time. On average, it’s every few weeks.

Are your toys in rotation yet? How do you do it? What’s your rotation schedule? Give me all the deets in the comments below! 👇🏼

⭐️Back to School Time Saver⭐️

Do you send home boatloads of paperwork on the first day of school? Here are the top 5 I send home each year:

☁️Family Holiday Survey
☁️All About the Student Survey
☁️Snack and Food Release
☁️Communication Confirmation
☁️Tech and Photo Release

Save yourself some time and download my Parent Back to School Forms (link in bio). There are over 12 editable forms in there (including these!), and they’re on sale for $1 for the next two weeks only!

Check back tomorrow on the blog to read more about why these made my top 5!

What do you always make sure to send home on the first day of school?

Let’s Spill the Tea on Behavior! ☕️

Swipe through to learn more about why kids act the way they act and how to help them adjust!

What other questions do you have? Ask them below or DM me! I love chatting and sharing experiences with you!

Figuring out what to wear to your teacher interview shouldn’t be more stressful than the interview itself. Read below for some of my basic tips to help inspire your dream outfit for the dream job!

☁️Blazer: Pop a blazer over any outfit to take it to a professional and chic level.
☁️Comfort: Being comfortable in your clothing will help you be comfortable with your answers. (That’s why I love these paper bag waist pants!)
☁️High Neckline: It’s a job interview to work with kids. Modesty matters here.
☁️Maxi Dress: Dresses and skirts are totally acceptable, but a maxi length is ideal for an interview. I go into more detail on that on the blog.

Almost all of these outfits can be found on Amazon! Check the link in my bio to take you there. You can also see my trying them on in my latest reel.

Tap the bookmark in the bottom right corner to save this for inspiration when you need it!

What’s your go to interview outfit?

Hey Teacher Moms on Summer Break! ☀️ Are your days surrounded by chaos and clutter like mine? (Please say, “yes,” and I’m not alone! 🤞🏼)

Between pandemic and maternity leave- I have had A. LOT. of time at home with my kids, and I’ve discovered, as much as I ADORE being home with them (even the bad days are oh so good! 😍), I thrive under structure! These unstructured summer days are a huge challenge for this Type A teacher.

Tomorrow on the blog I’ll be writing about how I (try to) structure my days at home with my littles.

In the mean time, I’m dying to know- what are some ways YOU find order in the chaos of the day?

5.

🎯TARGET FIND! 🎯
I have no idea what my new classroom next year will look like, but I DO know I’ll find a spot for this bad boy. It’s and it’s the exact message I want in my classroom.

Now, to buy one for my own children’s play room or not?

Tell me what you’re getting from Target for your classroom this year?

Finish this in the comments below👇🏼

You know you’re a teacher on summer break if…

Hi! 👋🏼 I’m Dianne from A Classroom on Cloud Nine and I’m so happy you’re here! I’ve been creating products, sharing resources, and blogging about my classroom for SIX years now. After months of preparation, I am thrilled to relaunch Cloud Nine to a whole new set of teachers!

A couple things you should know about me:
☁️Iced coffee is great, but my first cup of the day MUST be hot. ☕️
☁️Early childhood is my jam- I’ve spent my entire 10+ year career in grades PreK-2 🍎
☁️I live in a house full of handsome fellas (my hubby and two sons!) 👨‍👩‍👦‍👦
☁️I feel as though the real housewives are my actual friends/frenemies. I am both embarrassed and proud of this fact. 💎

I LOVE hearing from my Cloud Nine Teachers. What should I know about you? Leave it in a comment below 👇🏼

Keep your head in the clouds! ☁️

Still have all the heart eyes for the Kinder Crazy with Mrs. Cassady box for April! 😍

This month’s box contained:
🤍book w/ lesson resources & printables
🤍bath salts
🤍tshirt
🤍stickie notes
🤍notebook
🤍keychain
🤍snacks
and more!!

On the fence? Use code cloudnine to get 10% off your first order!

🏀BASKETBALL MADNESS!🏀

Up on the blog today I have 9 ways you can have some basketball madness fun in your classroom with your littles this March! Swipe to see a sneak peek at some ideas! Check out www.aclassroomoncloudnine.com to read all 9!

Psst! Peep those orange pompom basketballs! Best part: they’re quiet to work with! 🤍

Which activity in these picture do you want to try? Share below! 👇🏼

I had it all planned out. Today was supposed to be all about celebrating little successes...

☁️then I messed up three IG stories in a row, posting the wrong things
☁️got envious of other rockstar teachergrammers who are killing the game
☁️and began to self doubt myself.

So I turned back to my go to quote that pulls me out of these moments: Comparison is the thief of joy. And I refuse to let comparing myself steal my joy today. Now THAT’S a little success I can celebrate.

What little success can you celebrate today?! Tell me below so we can celebrate together! 👇🏻👇🏼👇🏽👇🏾👇🏿

Tap the arrow below to share this and remind other teachers (especially on social media!) that comparing ourselves will only steal our joy.

Hey Cloud Nine Teachers! ☁️🤍

Community is built one connection at a time. I can’t wait to build on our friendship and make all our teacher dreams come true. Let’s see what we connect on!

☁️I am the proud mother of two vivacious, happy, charming little boys (2yo and 7 mos)🤍
☁️I’ve spent 10+ years as an Early Childhood Educator (having taught PreK, K, 1 and 2!) currently on maternity leave but heading back to finish out the year in inclusion sped preschool this June. 🍎
☁️I have an adult sister with special needs. She has a heart or gold, a larger than life personality and an intellectual disability. She is a big influence on my identity as a teacher (and a person!). ✏️
☁️Firm believer that any bad day can be fixed with reality television, solo trips to Target or strong coffee. (And a day with all three is a REALLY good day!) 📺 🎯☕️

What about you? What resonates? Do we have anything in common? Let’s connect teacher friends and build each other up! Tell me about yourself below!
👇🏻👇🏼👇🏽👇🏾👇🏿