Month: January 2025

The start of a new year is the perfect opportunity to refresh your classroom. After the holidays, a reset can create a feeling of excitement, renew focus, and make learning environments feel like new for both you and your students. Let’s chat about three simple yet impactful ways to energize your space this January! 1️⃣ Rotate Toys and Materials Sometimes, all it takes to reignite student interest is a little rotation! Swap out toys and materials for items that may have been tucked away for a while. Bring out those blocks, puzzles, or manipulatives you haven’t used since September—they’ll feel brand new to your students! 2️⃣ Collaborative Winter Mural Turn a blank wall into a collaborative project space. Provide students with cutouts of snowflakes, penguins, or mittens to decorate and place on a “Winter Wonderland” mural. This activity fosters a sense of community while giving the classroom a fun look!…

January is a whirlwind! Between getting back into routines and re-engaging students after the break, it can feel like there’s no time to add anything extra to your plate. That’s why I love sensory bins or tables—simple, engaging, and low-prep activities that keep students busy while supporting important skills. Sensory bins can be great to support calm transitions, fine motor development, and sparking creativity. Here are three of my favourite low-prep sensory bin ideas for this busy time of year: 1. Scrap Paper Cutting Bin Have a stack of scrap paper lying around? Sure you do! Go check the photocopy room – I guarantee there will be scrap paper in there! Toss it into a bin along with some kid-friendly scissors and let your students cut away! My students love those fancy scissors that make the cool patterns! Cutting is a fantastic way to strengthen fine motor skills, and the…