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Flashlight Day: End of the School Year Theme Day
It’s the end of the school year. At this point, we are willing to do whatever it takes to keep students engaged and learning (and stay sane at the same time!). End of the year theme days are fun but can feel like a lot of work. Flashlight day is
4 Favorite Meaningful Earth Day Activities for the Classroom
Ever had one of those impromptu teaching days that ends up being one of the best? That was today for me. After being woken up by the little one at 4:50 a.m., the last thing I expected today would bring was memorable teaching and learning. But I put my sleepiness
Sequencing Events Activities and Mentor Texts
Here’s a common scenario: You have a class full of many fluent readers. Their accuracy is strong. But, they struggle with comprehension. Whether it’s an oral retelling or a written response, we need to engage students by using comprehension strategies, such as sequencing events, in a variety of ways so
Engaging Math Fact Fluency Games and Activities Kids Love
Math fact fluency is a critical skill for students to develop, but let’s face it: drilling math facts can be a drag. If you’re looking for engaging ways to help students master their math facts while having fun, you’ve come to the right place. This blog post will explore math
Activities, Lesson Plans, and Books for Teaching Cause and Effect
Are you looking for some engaging ideas to help your students understand cause and effect? If so, you’re in the right place! This blog post is full of activities, mentor texts, and other resources to promote understanding of how one event leads to another. These strategies will help your young
The Best Character Traits Activities with Mentor Texts (Free List!)
Are you looking for character traits activities for 2nd grade? Do you want to find some relevant mentor texts that will help teach character traits? If so, then this blog is perfect for you! Here I will provide a free list of engaging titles and authors associated with teaching character
5 Easy Ways to Practice Classmates Names
The beginning of the school year is overwhelming. There are so many things to prep, plan for and teach. It’s easy to forget the “little things.” Having your students learn their classmates’ names is so important. In my first year of teaching, I was SO proud of how quickly I
10 Ideas for Word Work in the Classroom
I love that my students get a lot of choice in how they want to practice. And I love that it is easily differentiated. This week, I introduced 6 word work centers to my student so we can get started when we return from Labor Day weekend. But, throughout the
Back to School Lesson Plans (with FREE activities)
Last week was full of classroom prep and professional development (some good, some not so good). Now it’s time to get excited for a new school year! I finished my back to school plans about a month ago…although some things have been tweaked and changed. Today, I’m sharing everything I
4 Steps to Set Up a Classroom Economy System
Discover the power of a classroom economy system as a behavior management tool! Enhance relationships and create a safe learning environment with this effective strategy. By incorporating real-world experiences, students not only earn rewards and motivation but also develop key financial literacy skills. Let me guide you through setting up
