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
Often, teachers find themselves contacting parents when something is wrong. Grades, behavior, you name it. However, I think it’s important to let parents know when something is right. That’s where happy notes for students come in. Happy notes for students are such an easy and effective way to encourage and motivate students, all while letting … 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
While I don’t love what testing has become, the reality is that students will take tests for one reason or another for the rest of their lives. So how do we prepare students for testing? I’m not talking about things like bubbling in answers, or eliminating choices that don’t make sense, although, those are important … Read more
Classroom management is something I’ve worked really hard on since the first day I set foot into a classroom. Specifically, positive classroom management. I use a “layered” approach to classroom management. Well, I might have just made that up, but here’s what I mean. Layered Classroom Management There isn’t just one thing, rather, a combination … 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
If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know I LOVE children’s books, and I especially love books that go with a specific theme, holiday, or season. In this post, I’m sharing my favorite Valentine’s Day Books that are perfect for any classroom library. Having themed or seasonal books that only make an … Read more
Planning to be out is pretty much on every teacher’s list of things she would rather NOT do. It’s hard to put into words every little thing that we do for every single minute of the day. Follow along below to learn how to plan for a substitute teacher. Please note, that I realize that … Read more
My students love secret messages – you know, using a special code to figure out what the message is. And, since it’s December, and I’m trying desperately to keep my kids engaged, why not have December Secret Messages? What are December Secret Messages? Students use a special key to crack the code, and solve the … Read more
If you’re looking for the easiest classroom slime recipe that is easy for teachers and students, doesn’t require a ton of ingredients, you’re in the right place! For the last several years, my students have been crazy for slime. I have been crazy about avoiding making slime in the classroom because I’ve never found a … Read more
Of all the writing genres, I think personal narrative is the hardest to teach, which is why I’m sharing my favorite 15 personal narrative mini-lessons. While students all have stories to tell, I’ve found that students struggling telling their story in writing. After teaching personal narrative writing mini-lessons for years, and never feeling like I’ve … Read more
How to teach students to build reading stamina is a lesson we begin on the very first day of school (or close to it). Not only is teaching students to build reading stamina important for students as readers, but it’s important for me to keep guided reading running smoothly. Creating an environment where students are … Read more
