Using music in the classroom to reach our little learners is a fabulous tool. Research tells us that when we are learning through music and movement, more parts of the brain is engaged than any other time. Music is enjoyable, engaging, and motivating for our little learners! It also helps keep our students on track […]
My first year of teaching, I had a fabulous science instructional coach at my school. He was really great at pushing me, which just made me a better teacher. He encouraged me to do individual science journals with my kindergarten kids. I wasn’t sure if my kids were ready to write in their own journals […]
I remember it like it was yesterday. My first year of teaching was a doozy. If you hang around here often, you probably are familiar with my first year of teaching story. I met a principal who I just fell in love with at our school’s career fair. I knew I wanted to work for […]
The beginning of the school year is just around the corner, and although parents everywhere are ready to send their children back to school, a group of parents each year struggles to find their place. Kindergarten families everywhere are swimming in the newness and uncertainty of the school year ahead of them. Let’s help by […]
It’s here! Seeing a solar eclipse is not something that happens every day! Years ago we were able to catch a solar eclipse at 100% totality here across America. How awesome was it to see something like this? The science nerd in me just loves it! You may be wondering, “How can I explain this […]
“What are your best sight word tips to help my readers learn them quickly?” is one question I get asked often. Well friends, I think it all comes down to how you introduce high-frequency words and how you keep reinforcing them. Once students understand how to orthographically map a word, it helps their brains learn […]
We use them every single day in our classrooms-EXPO markers. Our students use them, they bring in fresh new packs at the beginning of the year, and we cross our fingers that they last all year. My goal was always to make them last, make them easy to use in the classroom, and for them […]
Differentiation. It’s definitely a buzzword in education these days and I think there is a solid reason for that. It works. It’s how we reach ALL students. It’s what is best for students. I’ll never forget in college when I was taught about it. All I could think of was the crazy amount of work […]
As classroom teachers we spend hundreds of dollars over the years on classroom supplies. There are many times that we really want that one specific classroom supply that’s a nice-to-have or that we just want extra of because we just know that we will truly need it before December even comes, but instead we choose […]
Yes, that’s right! Get your hot tea ready, and your school night dinners planned out ahead of time – the first day of school is coming soon and that means there are procedures for the first day of school to teach, names to remember, and relationships to build! There is just something about the energy […]
Before the school year begins our rooms are set up, copies are made, and our teacher hearts are ready to begin the year strong. Even with the best of intentions and preparation, our classroom will begin to struggle without an effective plan in place to communicate our expectations. Let’s start the year off well by […]
When it comes to classroom supplies, there are many that we use each and every day. Every teacher has their favorites, but I think there is one supply that we ALL use, not matter what grade level we teach or what subject we teach–EXPO dry erase markers are an absolute MUST HAVE! Most of the […]
The data is out and parent involvement, regardless of income or background, gives students the boost they need to be successful throughout the school year. We see this over and over again in our classrooms. Students with parent involvement display: a higher value on education improved behavior the ability to adapt well to their school […]
We have the privilege of being the most consistent adult in our students’ lives during the school year. Some students are naturally easier to connect with than others. Common interests, parent involvement, and personality all create a simple avenue of connection with our students. Other students have a harder time connecting with their teacher and […]
Guided reading has several tiny bits and pieces that come together to make your time at the table successful. I feel like the more I taught guided reading, the more aware I became of each puzzle piece. One of the pieces that I don’t think I fully grasped the power of until years later was […]
Building a healthy and happy classroom community takes time and consistency. Creating a safe place where students are excited to be each day is part of the magic that teachers get to create. From decorations to furniture placement, we hold the power to creating an environment that our students can thrive in. One of the […]
Having a birthday at school is always a special treat for students. Here are five ways you can help your students celebrate their special day without breaking the bank and without the extra sugar rush! Planning ahead and prepping a classroom set before the year begins will give you a head start to making your […]
Safety is a basic need for all children and, as a teacher, you are the main creator of a safe and positive environment for your students. Whether you teach high school or kindergarten, a safe classroom community is essential to a successful year. Students who feel safe are happy, kind, growing, and a lot of […]
