Friday Freebie! This classroom newsletter template keeps communication focused and fun. Just download and type—or print and handwrite—to make your own! bit.ly/zbff_nt

Everyone’s abuzz about The Hive, a free quarterly newsletter filled with ideas from K–6 teachers throughout the U.S.! Subscribe now so you don’t miss the freebies and ready-to-use resources in this month’s back-to-school issue. bit.ly/zbths

Try this get-to-know-you activity in math: Invite students to reflect on the numbers that matter in their lives and create a collage that showcases them.

The Ultimate List of Healthy Classroom Celebrations and Rewards can be your go-to resource for the whole year—check it out now if you missed its debut in spring! bit.ly/zb_ffhcr

What do Ben Franklin, Reggie Jackson, and Oprah Winfrey have in common? They’re all lefties! Celebrate Left-Handers Day with a fun handwriting-themed activity for the southpaws in your classroom. bit.ly/zb_lhda

What can you do with a pool noodle? Well, practice blending and vowel sounds, spell words, compare numbers and fractions, make 10, or ✏️ decorate a bulletin board—to name a few ideas!

Shop Zaner-Bloser Teachers' Corner online to find resources that fit your teaching needs! Inspire “aha” moments of learning, discovery, and growth with quality, proven materials. bit.ly/3WLgCxZ

What if every day started with a way to think about numbers 🤔. . . like when we talk about today’s date during morning meeting?

1, 2, 3, 👀on me! What are your favorite classroom callbacks or attention getters?

We asked veteran teachers what has helped them most in their careers. Amanda Beeler of East Elementary School in Charlotte County, Florida, told us what has prevented her from getting bored or burned out in more than 25 years. See her advice:

How can you build a sense of belonging for your students this year? Try a monthly Self-Portrait exercise to help students get to know themselves and their classmates. Create an Identity Board with all the portraits and have students revisit monthly to add or revise!

If you ❤️ freebies and inspiration from other teachers' classrooms, check out The Hive, a free quarterly newsletter for K–6 teachers. Subscribe to get all the issues delivered straight to your inbox! bit.ly/3ANCOjz

Play with your words! Encourage your students to think creatively by breaking down words and combining letters to craft alternatives. Great for a few extra minutes at the end of the day or for transitioning from lunch or recess.

Sound walls like this one support students learning to read and spell words by helping them match sounds, or phonemes, to letters and letter patterns. Do you have a sound wall in your classroom?

Free Math Poster! Encourage problem solving and help students feel comfortable talking about math with fun prompts for discussion. bit.ly/4cZIx36

Does your classroom library contain books that represent all students in your class? What gets space in the classroom conveys what is valued there. At the start of the school year in particular, variety may be more important than quantity.

Teacher Tip: Ms. Gray of Monrovia, Indiana, includes one black glove with each student’s supplies—perfect for cleaning off dry-erase boards!

This year’s Hispanic Heritage Month theme is “Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together.” The U.S. celebrates the contributions of Hispanic Americans with heritage in Spain and 19 countries and territories between September 15 and October 15.

We ❤️ seeing the ways you're welcoming students and their families back to school! Feel free to share a photo of your entryway or favorite space with us.

Grab these free, printable postcards, jot down a quick note about something a student did well, and drop it in the mail or send it home with other important papers for families! bit.ly/4dUi74k