Where creativity & learning collide.
How do you feel about teaching force and motion? It was always a favorite of mine to implement. I loved leading students through a variety of force and motion activities that they loved and engaged them. But, at one point I stopped to wonder if what I was doing was just fun or actually taughtMore
I remember during my first year of teaching, I worked so hard to get all of my students on grade level for reading. In guided reading, we did phonics practice, sight word work, hands-on word work, and running records. All of the right things. When I got to the testing, I realized I had someMore
If you see a teacher lurking around the school library piling up books, scouring the latest Scholastic magazine, and raiding the literacy library, you know she’s probably just hunting for more mentor texts for writer’s workshop. For primary teachers, mentor texts play such an important role in our teaching of the youngest authors. A mentorMore
Teaching all about the five senses is always one of my favorite science topics. Plus, five senses activities are always so hands-on and fun to implement. Because it’s usually taught at the beginning of the year, I love seeing how my budding scientists learn how to use science tools, implement their interactive science notebooks, andMore
You have crafted the perfect guided reading lesson plan. You gather all of the materials and lay them out neatly. But, the next thing you know, the first group’s time is already up and you barely made it halfway through. Fitting it all in can be tough! There are multiple components of a guided readingMore
I hear many comments from teachers like this one from Angela: “I used to dread guided reading, but now it’s one of my favorite parts of the day.” How did she get from agonizing over guided reading level D to looking forward to it? By learning how to prepare, plan, and implement engaging and intentionalMore
Motivating students to master sight words plays a large part in helping them learn the words, but how can we do that without reinventing the wheel? Before I figured out a simple and easy way to practice words and make fun sight word games, I constantly searched for the latest and greatest to practice. ScouringMore
Kindergarten teachers know that the beginning of the year brings in a variety of students with different skill levels. Some know their letters and sounds, some can read, and some can barely identify the letters in their own names. One thing all of these students can benefit from is practicing name activities. Why Should StudentsMore
One of the things I love about the beginning of the year is kicking off my science block. I love helping students learning things like “What is a scientist?”, the tools they will use throughout the year, and how to complete a science experiment. It’s so fun to watch them learn, test, and explore. But,More
In this post you will learn how to easily allow your students to help set up your classroom library. My first year in the classroom my kids rarely touched my books. I had books that I would share with them every month or few weeks, but I guarded SO many books with my life. What?More
22 students file into the classroom, put everything away neatly, and quietly begin to work. I have time to go through folders, read important notes, and drink my coffee take attendance. How is this possible? Because I intentionally created a kindergarten morning routine that was low maintenance, stress-free, and flexible. I loved that my dayMore
I sat at my guided reading table with a student who couldn’t comprehend the text he just read. He had a high correct words per minute score and a high accuracy percentage – what was I missing? Focusing on fluency in guided reading. He read too fast to even understand what happened in the book.More
Setting up a listening station is made simple with these steps! Literacy stations are a BIG part of the day for kindergarten and first grade classrooms. Time and time again, I had kids who loved this part of our day. Some people walked in our classroom and may have felt like it was a zoo,More
Have you been there, at the table- staring at a blank lesson plan template for level C guided reading, frantically searching for how to write a lesson, or flipping through the same book over and over again, hoping a teaching point will jump out at you? I sure have! Since then, I’ve spent time researching,More
Are you looking for the best kindergarten writer’s workshop tips? That’s exactly what you are going to find! It’s the first day of kindergarten writer’s workshop and your little writers are staring at a blank page. “I can’t write.” “I don’t know how to draw a frog.” “I’m hungry.” Fast-forward to May. “I’m not done,More
Amazon affiliate links are used below at no cost to you. You are sitting on your classroom floor surrounded by stacks and stacks of books. You have so much to do to prepare for the kids and organizing a classroom library does not feel like it puts you on a path to leave school atMore
Amazon affiliate links are used below at no cost to you. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase through one of my links, which helps to support the blog. We were sitting at my guided reading table for the hundredth time. We had been working on the same sight words in guidedMore
Explore the ocean with these all about the ocean lesson plan ideas! The end of the school year is near, and EVERYONE can feel it. Students are bouncing off the walls in anticipation for summer break, and teachers are so tired they’re hitting the sack at 8 p.m. How can you keep learning meaningful whenMore
