Latest from the Blog

4 Tips to Start Teaching Close Reading

Starting to teach using close reading in an elementary classroom can seem daunting. When I first heard of close reading, it seemed like just another thing to add to your day.  However, when you break down the parts of teaching using close reading, you realize how it can be effectively

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Vocabulary Activities to Use Right Away

Today, I’m sharing a few vocabulary activities to use right away in your classroom. Last summer I took a grad class all about vocabulary and comprehension instructional strategies. I remember being thrilled to have so many new ideas. I could not wait to try them ALL out. Then the first

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4 Student Gifts that Won’t Break the Bank

After 19 trips to Target, 11 to the Dollar Tree, and 3 checkouts during the TpT sale, I am about to pull a Michael Scott and declare bankruptcy. But seriously, why is being a teacher so expensive? It doesn’t have to be this way! You can still treat your students

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5 Ways to Make the Most of a TpT Sale

Ready to get the most bang for your buck with some TpT sale tips? Sitewide sales on Teachers Pay Teachers only come a few times a year. To get the most of the sale, there are few things you can do to be ready to optimize your purchasing power. Today,

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The Best Back-to-School Activities for 2nd Grade

Back to School time is the most exciting!! I am thrilled to sorta-kinda know what I am doing this year and have a handful of lessons/activities to choose from! I like to have a plethora of options to choose from since you never know what will happen that first week!

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My Unusual Journey to a Full-Time Teaching Position

My journey to becoming a full-time teacher wasn’t easy. It started in 2011 when I began teaching pre-k. Then, at the beginning of 2012, I became a substitute teacher. I joined the Teachers Pay Teachers community in 2013. It was the week before I got married. And the week before

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