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How to Decrease Chaos at the End of the School Day
The end of the day during dismissal was one of my least favorite times of the school day ever. I don’t know about your school but our dismissal time is 20ish minutes. Those 20 minutes feel more like 3 hours sometimes (especially on a Friday). Problem is, I’m totally worn out from the
5 of the Best Books to Read the First Week After Winter Break
Are you looking for some new books to read to your class when you return from winter break? These 5 stories are the perfect read alouds for the new year!
4 Considerations for Planning the Most Effective Spelling Practice
Recently, I had a friend reach out to me for help. She was concerned about her 2nd grader’s spelling. It got me thinking about what we need to consider when it comes to planning for spelling routines and instruction in our classroom. Don’t feel like reading? Watch the video on
Fun & Easy Math Crafts for a Fall Bulletin Board
Pumpkin spice, changing leaves, flannels, corn mazes and math crafts? Fall fun is here and if you know me, you know I love a cute math craft. Making things “cutesy” gets a bad rap. But, things that are adorable can still be engaging and effective. Candy Corn Number Forms This
15 of the Best Books for Back to School
Back to school season is upon us! One of the best parts of planning the first week of school is deciding on which books to read. Today, I’m sharing all of my favorites with you! Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olson Why I love this book: Shannon, the
How to Play Trash Can Math No Prep Place Value Game
Are you ready for THE BEST beginning of the year math game ever?! I learned this game two years ago when I was filling in for a teacher on maternity leave. We got to spend 4 days together for transitioning (which now that I think back is AMAZING!) I truly
How to Destroy Your Classroom Community in 4 Easy Steps
Obviously, destroying your classroom community is not on any teacher’s list of to-dos. But, there are some big mistakes that can have a negative impact on your classroom, your relationship with students and their relationship with one another. One of the biggest mindset shifts we need to overcome is not
5 Low Prep Sub Plan Activities to Use Anytime (with free Templates!)
You know, those beautiful crates wrapped in ribbon with a matching label “SUB TUB”. I envisioned it would sit somewhere near my desk so that the next time my little one or I fell ill, I could sleep with ease knowing the day was totally planned. There would be days,
5 Ways to Strengthen Math Fact Fluency with Flashcards
Year after year, I had students who struggled with mastering their math facts. It made it difficult to confidently move on in teaching more complex mathematical concepts. In order to become fluent in math facts, students need daily, repetitious practice is a variety of ways. Here’s some ideas to pair
How to Make the Best Summer Plans
As much as I love the anticipation of the end of the school year, sometimes the transition to summer can be tricky. I remember the first summer after becoming a mom of two. After 3 days at home with a 2 year old and 9 month old with very little
