When January rolls around, students are often in a post-holiday wild phase. Or they may even be in a post-holiday blues mood. Either way, we need to regroup as a class community and kick off the new year with some exciting and engaging activities. One place kindergarten and first grade teachers often start with in […]
We know things are changing in literacy instruction. I’ve learned so much about the importance of phonics instruction and see the value in it. I’ve been digging into the Science of Reading and how it fits with small group instruction. One popular topic right now is using decodable passages and books in your reading small […]
We all know that teaching is such an intensive job, no matter what grade or subject you teach. From writing meaningful plans and delivering amazing lessons to organizing holiday parties and meeting all of the needs of your students, you do a ton each and every single day. I wanted to put together a list […]
When it comes to holiday classroom parties, do you prefer a free for all style of party or a calmer, more organized party? I am all about keeping classroom parties simple, making them easy to manage, and letting parents help as much as possible. One way to bring some (organized) fun in the classroom no […]
When it comes to teaching all about holidays around the world in December, it can be tough to make sure you teach them effectively and with accuracy. From researching each holiday to finding age-appropriate activities to sourcing great read alouds, there’s a ton to do for each holiday. It’s just overwhelming. Well, not anymore, friend! […]
Every December, my students and I would create an amazing staycation in our classroom by learning about Christmas around the world. We would do traditional crafts, learn songs, and even try different foods. One of my favorite ways to introduce this topic is using Christmas around the world books. The holiday season not only brings […]
Reader’s workshop is always a favorite time of the day. If you have been around here for long, you have heard me say before I LOVED the concept of it, but could never find my groove with it in the classroom. I loved the mini-lessons. There’s something special about being together as a class and […]
My first year teaching I was clueless about word work activities and how to manage them. There was a spot for it on my daily schedule, but I didn’t exactly know what it was or what to do with that time. As I went through my first year, I learned what that time should look […]
The month of October is filled with so many fun themes from spiders to bats to pumpkins to Red Ribbon Week to Halloween! It kicks off the holiday season that naturally ramps up the classroom excitement. Anytime you can bring these fun-filled events into the classroom while still giving students ways to practice their learning […]
Have you ever sat down to plan for your reading small groups and just felt stuck? You might stare at your lesson plan and draw a blank. Or you realize your lessons are starting to look the exact same each day, but you can’t come up with something new to try. We’ve all been there! […]
You may feel like there are a million things to do right now and a million more things to learn how to do. You’re not alone! Teachers like you are busier than ever trying to serve their students and families. Instead of giving you a long list of things to do to move your readers […]
When it comes to fall in the classroom, what do you think of? Besides a pumpkin spice latte to start the day, I immediately think of pumpkin activities and investigations. When you use pumpkins in the classroom, you can easily integrate reading, writing, math, and science. Who knew one vegetable could provide so many learning […]
You’ve set up your classroom and small group area. You’ve found a solid set of decodable and leveled readers. You’ve assessed your students and formed reading small groups. But do you know what the first day of reading small group looks like? When you call students’ names to your table, do you know what you’re […]
One classroom favorite topic to cover across the board is apples! For teachers and students alike, learning about apples and an apple investigation is a fall favorite. Who knew one fruit could bring fun and help students master important science concepts? If you’re gearing up and trying to plan apple investigations, you’ve come to the […]
As teachers, we all want to get to know our students at the beginning of the year. We want to know their likes and dislikes, what they love to do, and their strengths and weaknesses. One area we all need insight into is students’ reading abilities. When it comes to reading assessments for kindergarten and […]
When I first started teaching, one area of my reading instruction that was weaker than others was my phonics instruction. Between all of the reader’s and writer’s workshop requirements, I just couldn’t figure out how to fit in phonics. So it often got put to the side and picked up whenever I had a chance. […]
When you think of the typical kindergarten classroom decor, what comes to mind? You may think of bright colors, fun books, and expectation charts. You probably also think of cute name charts, often with students’ pictures next to their names. That’s because young children’s literacy foundations include name recognition activities. Recognizing our names is one […]
Have you been in the middle of teaching a great lesson and you start seeing several students getting wiggly? Then you might see them start to look up, around, and everywhere except at you. And before you know it, half the class is just not focused and engaged, and you’re doing more redirecting than teaching. […]
