The first day of 2nd grade (or any grade for that matter) is kind of a whirlwind. It’s filled with excitement, wonder, and a little bit of chaos. But what actually happens on the first day of 2nd grade? Goals for the First Day of School The goals for the first day, are the same … Read more
If you’re looking for a better way to teach word problems, and more importantly, want your students to be more successful in solving word problems, I’m here to help. Teaching word problems in 2nd grade doesn’t have to be a challenge. Why is teaching word problems in 2nd grade so hard? When I first started … Read more
Sending home graded and ungraded student work can become overwhelming quickly. Papers that can stay at home can easily get mixed up with papers that need to be returned to school, and it really is a mess. What student work do I send home? I send home all student work. Sometimes it’s graded, and sometimes … Read more
We all know that the beginning of any school year is crazy. There are more things to do, copy, print, and make than I can count. While I don’t spend a ton of my summer working on school stuff, there are 5 ways to prepare for a new school year that make my life easier. … Read more
If you’re looking for classroom ideas and activities for Valentine’s Day, you’re in the right place. While I’m not a huge Valentine’s Day fan outside of the classroom (read: my husband and I don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day), I really do love celebrating with my students. Valentine’s Day is perfect for reviewing friendship, kindness, and respect. … Read more
Hooray for the 100th day of school! We’re celebrating with activities themed with the number 100. I like to fill our 100th day of school with fun activities that incorporate math, reading, and writing. Candy Experiment Students will see if they can get to the center of a lollipop in 100 licks. After each lick, … Read more
The few weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas/Winter Break is intense. With so much craziness, the festive feeling can slip away pretty easily. Organize a “Secret Santa” exchange with free downloads for a fun way to keep things joyful and festive. What is Secret Santa? You know, you pull someone’s name out of some sort of … Read more
The first day of school for pretty much any grade is a whirlwind. It’s filled with excitement, wonder, and a little bit of chaos. So what actually happens on the first day? Goals for the First Day of School The goals for the first day, are the same goals I have for the entire year. … Read more
Sticker challenges are used as an individual student positive reinforcement system. Students earn stickers for good behavior, work completion, good manners, completed homework, raising hands, being kind, working quietly…the options are endless. It’s really all about what your students need reinforcement with. What are sticker challenges? Sticker challenges are used as an individual student positive … Read more
In the last week or so, my students have been OFF.THE.WALLS! I’m not really sure what is going on, but I needed reinforcements, and FAST! My favorite strategy for these random WILD times throughout the year is a sticker challenge! Specifically, an April Sticker Challenge! What is a sticker challenge? A sticker challenge is used … Read more
At any given time, there are approximately 7,392 things on my to-do lists. During the back to school and end of the year craziness, that number triples exponentially. Having planning lists for the classroom during the craziest of times is pretty much essential for surviving the back to school rush. My lists don’t start during … Read more
I love Valentine’s Day in the classroom! I especially love a reason to give each of my students a little something that shows how much I love and care for them. Unfortunately, I don’t have time to get super crafty, so I created a free printable valentine that can stand alone (or be dressed up … Read more
