40 episodes

A thriving primary classroom doesn’t happen by accident. Step into your classroom every day knowing that you are equipped and enabled to be Rockin’ This Teacher Thing. Every other week get tips on student engagement techniques, classroom management, effective technology integration, classroom set-up, organization ideas, and teacher mindset while building positive relationships with students, co-workers, and parents along the way. With 25 years in the classroom, picture book author, instructional coach, and blogger, Angie Kantorowicz, helps Kindergarten and First-grade teachers rock their classroom. Hit subscribe to be part of this growing community of Rockin’ Kindergarten and First Grade Teachers.

Rockin This Teacher Thing Angie Kantorowicz

    • Education
    • 5.0 • 11 Ratings

A thriving primary classroom doesn’t happen by accident. Step into your classroom every day knowing that you are equipped and enabled to be Rockin’ This Teacher Thing. Every other week get tips on student engagement techniques, classroom management, effective technology integration, classroom set-up, organization ideas, and teacher mindset while building positive relationships with students, co-workers, and parents along the way. With 25 years in the classroom, picture book author, instructional coach, and blogger, Angie Kantorowicz, helps Kindergarten and First-grade teachers rock their classroom. Hit subscribe to be part of this growing community of Rockin’ Kindergarten and First Grade Teachers.

    6 Dos and Don’ts To Make Report Cards Easy

    6 Dos and Don’ts To Make Report Cards Easy

    It’s report card time. Report cards are a great way to show student growth BUT you can spend a lot of time doing report cards. And if you don’t handle report cards just right, your best intentions can backfire and make your teacher life pretty miserable.
    Looking for the free Report Card Word and Phrase Bank with Report Card Template? 
    Here's the link: www.makingthebasicsfun.com/reportcardcommentbank
    Here are the 6 Report Card Dos & Don’ts. Keep reading to get more info on each. 


    Don’t rely completely on a number in a grade book.Do have a student folder with work samples to support percentage/grades/skills.


    Don’t have data and students work in several places.Do organized data in one spot for easy and quick reference.


    Don’t write a new report card comment for each student.Do use a report card template and word/comment bank to structure and quickly fill in student data and observations.


    Don’t reveal a problem area in a report card without talking with parents about the skill/behavior deficit first.Do communicate with parents before report cards come out about any problems.


    Don’t use negative language in report card comments to describe a child or their skill/behavior.Do use positive language to describe skills/behaviors deficit. 


    Don’t tell parents about a problem without explaining how you are helping the child remediate the issue.Do give specifics on exactly how the child is not on level and how you are working with the child to meet our exceed specific skills and/or behaviors. Plus, give strategies and materials parents can use to help the child. 

    • 19 min
    How To Use Puppets To Teach Classroom Rules

    How To Use Puppets To Teach Classroom Rules

    Using puppets to teach (or reteach) classroom rules can help your students stay engaged and able to remember the classroom rules. 

    A puppet is magical. Today you will get some tips and how-tos when it comes to making the most of puppet friend. 

    • 19 min
    Classroom Jobs Are A Waste Of Teacher Time- Do This Instead

    Classroom Jobs Are A Waste Of Teacher Time- Do This Instead

    Making a classroom job chart and assigning your students classroom jobs is a complete waste of time. 
    If you have a job chart in your classroom it’s time to stop how you are doing classroom jobs and do this instead.


    You might feel like you have to set-up classroom jobs for your K-1 students. 
    There’s the  traditional way and the smart way.
    You don’t need jobs like librarian, weather reporter, line leader, or paper passer assigned to your students. 
    They are either going to forget to do their jobs or you will have to remind them. Do you even know who’s the weather reporter?  Did you change the chart? 
    The old method is just inviting all sorts of chaos into your classroom.


    Stop making your teacher life so hard, do this instead.
    It’s called Happy Helper.

    Have a question or a request for an episode. 
    Find me on Instagram
    @makingthebasicsfun
    or
    @rockinthisteacherthing

    • 12 min
    Best Activities For Independent Work Stations

    Best Activities For Independent Work Stations

    You’ve set up your independent work station system in your classroom. The rotation chart is up. You’ve designated areas in your classroom for each station. Now you are asking yourself the hardest question of all. What are the best activities for my students to do during independent work stations?

    Listen in while we look at 6 stations that will make station time stress free. 

    1)Picture book with finger lights
    2) Independent word games- Buggy Wuggy
    3) Magnetic Alphabet
    4)Pocket chart sentence building 
    5)Independent game from TpT
    6) Fine-motor station 

    • 13 min
    Student Behavior During Independent Work Stations

    Student Behavior During Independent Work Stations

    Student behavior issues during independent work stations can make your life miserable.
    If kids can’t behave then your role of teacher shifts to judge and jury. 
    That’s no fun.
    But how can you get your students to behave? You have to teach it. 
    We will talk about set-up/clean-up, rotation, noise level, and partner problems.
    I’ve lived and fixed the mistakes so you don’t have to. 
    Let’s dive in and get you started. 

    • 14 min
    The Not So Obvious Basics Of Setting Up Independent Work Stations In Kindergarten and First-Grade

    The Not So Obvious Basics Of Setting Up Independent Work Stations In Kindergarten and First-Grade

    The Not So Obvious Basics Of Setting Up Independent Work Stations In Kindergarten and First-Grade
    Setting up independent work stations in kindergarten and first-grade is might be a bit more complicated than you might think. 


    We will talk about the basics of stations
    How big should each group be?
    What should you think about when grouping kids?
    How many stations?
    Is it okay for students to revisit a station?
    When and how should you swap out stations?
    How long should each rotation last?


    Lots of tips from a teacher who's been there. 

    • 13 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
11 Ratings

11 Ratings

jshvfn ,

Something for everyone

I really enjoyed the self care episode. Ideas of tools that can be used today! This podcast is geared for teachers but there are so many great concepts that everyone can use from organizational skill and self care. These episodes will give you great ideas as an educator but also for parents or teens who babysit.

Krysssmar ,

So helpful!

New teacher here! VERY grateful for your resources & advice!

Keep it Curious ,

Fun and engaging!!!

Great ideas delivered in a fun and positive format. Ideas I can use tomorrow! Can’t wait for more. Thank you!!!

Lots of great tips for creating engaging videos. Angie has a way of delivering her content in a clear, concise, and entertaining manner. Thank you!

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