Informational writing for first grade classrooms doesnโt have to be boring lists of facts or robotic sentences. Instead, it can be hands-on, creative, and full of discovery! When we give our young, growing writers purpose and excitement, they become instantly engaged. Kids love to share what they know! Here are three powerful ways to incorporate informational writing for first grade, second grade, or even […]
Mornings in a 1st grade classroom can feel like herding cats. Kids come in sleepy-eyed, backpacks half-zipped, and bursting with energy (or still waking up). So, how do you settle them in, set the tone for the day with a smooth and calm morning, AND sneak in meaningful learning? This is where daily grammar practice […]
Shared reading and science of reading– do these terms go together? Let’s dig in! Shared Reading may be a new phrase to you if you are a new teacher within the last five years. But some of us know exactly what that phrase means. It may even bring back fond memories of reading with our […]
World Read Aloud Day is right around the corner and read aloud day activities are a must! This is a day we celebrate reading, specifically, reading aloud to kids! This year is the 15th anniversary, so let’s “blow it up” big!! What is better than a day full of engaging reading activities? My 6 year […]
Every February 2nd, children wake up with one question, “Did the groundhog see his shadow?” It’s such a fun day that is rich in history and perfect for a groundhog day read aloud. I have vivid memories as a child of the excitement of the day as I watched the news to see what they […]
Read aloud lessons with read aloud strategies are one of the most magical moments in a classroom. They allow teachers to model fluency, introduce new vocabulary, and model the pure joy of reading rich stories. However, keeping little learners engaged during read alouds can sometimes feel like herding cats, especially in this tech world with […]
Thereโs just something magical about snow activities for kids! The way it seems to just appear on the ground when we awake, the soft blanket we can jump in, and so many more aspects that make it seem magical! We donโt get a lot of snow in Texas, but when we do the kidsโ faces […]
Christmas is a magical time of year filled with warmth and celebrations galore! I believe it becomes even more meaningful when students learn about how different cultures celebrate, like celebrating Christmas in Mexico. In my classroom, this looked like setting up chairs in a row, pretending to be on an airplane with a ticket, and […]
The holiday seasons brings so much excitement to the classroom. From family traditions being shared to memories being made with classroom elf, there are so many moments to take in! One of my favorite things to do is read aloud and the holiday season is filled with wonderful Christmas read alouds for kids! I have […]
The holiday season is the perfect time to bring festive, hands-on learning into the classroom! A gingerbread man craft activity is a delightful way to engage our students while practicing writing conventions. This interactive project combines smiles and academics. That’s something we all want to see more of! Whether you use it as part of a writing […]
As the Thanksgiving holiday is near, it’s time for all things pumpkins, leaves, and turkeys, including a turkey craft project! I don’t know about you, but as a child, I never once saw a real, live turkey in person unless my school took a field trip to a farm. I don’t think we ever did […]
Teaching phonics skills like the hard C and soft C sounds can be a thrilling journey for young learners as they unlock more phonics skills. Just think–now the word “circle” makes sense! It can feel tricky to teach, so let’s dive into an explicit explanation of how to teach each of these phonics skills. I also will […]
From digraph activities to digraph worksheets to digraph games, you are sure to find something for your classroom! My friend recently shared this story: “My daughter has been grabbing easy chapter books from our home bookshelves. Last night, she came to me and said, โMom, I canโt figure out this word. I said each sound, […]
Fall is the perfect time to bring hands-on science into the classroom, and pumpkins offer a fun, seasonal way to excite your students about learning with a pumpkin science experiment. With this change in season comes a change in our science standards here in Texas this year. One of the significant changes is the word […]
Spending time to set up literacy centers in kindergarten truly helps build a solid literacy foundation. Literacy centers allow students to practice reading and writing skill at their own pace because they are easily differentiated. There are many options of how to run and set up literacy centers and I typically had 8 centers that […]
Most of us, as teachers, really enjoy reading aloud to our students. We love it! They love it! It’s a win! The science of reading research has shown us how children learn to read and the best practices for teaching reading. Reading aloud to kids is a powerful tool that aligns well with these evidence-based […]
Are you looking for engaging activities to help your growing readers understand the concept of comparing and contrasting characters in books? Look no further! In this blog post, we’ll explore some fun and creative activities to make this important literacy skill come alive in your classroom. Plus, I have a free download of an event […]
Creating and maintaining organized literacy centers can be the key to a smooth and productive classroom. For kindergarten and 1st grade teachers, having a system that helps students find what they need, stay focused, and follow clear directions is crucial. Letโs explore three simple tips for organizing literacy centers and keeping them manageable! *Amazon affiliate […]
