Menu
Latest from the Blog
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 Tips 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 spelling routines and instruction in our classroom. Don’t feel like reading? Watch the video on this
Fun & Easy Math Crafts for Fall Bulletin Boards
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. Here are some great ideas
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 teacher behind
Place Value Game: How to Play Trash Can Math:
Are you ready for THE BEST beginning of the year math game ever?! In this post, I’m going to teach you how to play Trash Can Math–a place value game! I learned this game two years ago when I was filling in for a teacher on maternity leave. We got
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 Easy Low-Prep Substitute Teacher Activities
Prepping for a sub got you down? Check out these 5 easy, low-prep activities you can use over and over again for a substitute teacher! 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
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 this post, I’m discussing how to build a toolbox of strategies to strengthen math fact fluency with flashcards. In order to become
How to Have the Best Teacher-Mom Summer
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 napping and
16 End of the Year Activity Ideas
Happy End of the School year! The last days of school can be the most fun, memorable days of the year. This year has been a doozy! We are finally at the planning for the end stage of the game. If anyone deserves an exciting, fun send-off, it’s this year’s students. But,
