3 Favorite Lesson Hooks
Hooking students at the beginning of a lesson can be a make or break moment. It’s the time that you truly create buy in for the topic you are teaching. I would do my best every day to make the hook of my lesson engaging and to truly capture the attention of every child. Here […]
4 Reasons to Use Writing Portfolios in Primary Classrooms
I have said before how teaching writing was never something I automatically loved. In all honesty, I was asked to be in charge of writing plans during my second year of teaching and again during my third year. It grew me. It stretched me. I became a teacher who loved to teach writing. One thing […]
Encouraging Young Writers
Writing is a time of our day that often gets squished to the end of the day, especially in kindergarten. So often we think, “Well, they aren’t reading yet so they aren’t ready to write much. They can just draw pictures.” You’re right, they can draw pictures, but have you ever thought about how that is […]
10 End of Year Ideas to Save Your Sanity [with FREEBIES!]
The end of the school year is so close, yet there are days that it just seems so far away! I know I always was looking for the last day of school on the horizon, but I wanted to keep my students engaged in learning all the way until the end. To help make planning […]
Integrating Science into Reading and Writing
Science was, hands down, a favorite time in my class for all of my students year after year! We were not only able to explore fun topics, but we were able to get our hands dirty and carry the topic throughout the day as we learned reading and writing skills. And let’s be honest–with everything […]
ABC End of Year Countdown FREEBIES
The end of the school year can be such a whirl! It always seems like from spring break on, I am running the 400m sprint and it’s definitely not a relay. Ha! One thing we loved to do was make the last 24-26 days fun and exciting! We created an ABC End of Year Countdown […]
Poetry Made Simple for Little Learners {& a FREEBIE}
Learn how to use poetry for kids to easily enhance learning by integrating subject areas. Roses are red, Violets are blue. I love integrating subjects through poetry, How about you? Okay maybe writing poetry isn’t my future career, but I love using poetry for kids in the classroom! Poetry is something that I expose my […]
9 Must Make Anchor Charts for Writing
My first few years of teaching I was “given” writing for my team planning assignment. After digging my heels in with writing for a few years and in different grade levels, it ignited a love for teaching writing. I wanted to share with you some of my favorite writing anchor charts that will be WONDERFUL […]
Interactive Writing in the Classroom
Interactive writing is one of the many elements of a balanced literacy model. There are SO many benefits to doing interactive writing with your kiddos! They learn alongside you! They feel proud of their work and feel like an author! They have confidence because they are successful with your scaffolding! Everyone observes the writing process! […]
Gingerbread Activities for the Classroom and a FREEBIE
‘Tis the season for some gingerbread activities! I know when December rolled around, I was always so excited because the students were eager to learn through some new engaging units–Gingerbread, Reindeer, and Christmas Around the World were some of our favorites! I always loved teaching thematically, but here’s the deal: I had to be able […]
Purposeful Crafts in the Classroom
Art in the classroom isn’t always a common practice. Sometimes you just flat out don’t have enough instructional time to squeeze in crafts or art. Let me be real honest ,though–I love writing crafts in the classroom! Not only would kids get excited about them, but I would then have something to hang in the […]
Meaningful Morning Messages
Mornings can be hectic sometimes in the classroom. Students arriving late, you are trying to gather homework, making sure everyone is okay and has what they need for the day, taking attendance, and sometimes even finding breakfast for a sweet little one. Gosh, it can just be tough sometimes! BUT, even with all of that, […]
Teaching Handwriting
In today’s world of texting, emailing, FaceTiming, and emojis it seems as though teaching handwriting to our little ones is fading. On top of that, it’s just ONE more thing that we have to SQUEEZE into our day. But you guys, it’s so important. We teach proper handwriting early on so that later students are […]
Grammar Made Simple
I don’t know about you, but there just never seems to be enough time in my teaching day! I always over plan and have more that I want to teach than time allows. Specifically, I’m thinking about my ELAR block of time. It seems that every day I need to fit in… –Phonics –Read Aloud –Shared Reading […]
April Fools’ Day Activities FREEBIE
Are you a prankster? I am not. I wish I were, but I am not good at lying, so I always ruin any prank I try to pull! I love to hear about pranks people pull, and my college days were filled with witnessing lots of silly pranks. They just bring joy (when they are […]
Free Spring Break Writing Activity for Kinder, First, and Second Grade
Oh, spring break- the time of the year that most teachers say, “Oh my gosh! Where has the year gone? We have so much to accomplish still!” I can totally relate. 100%. That is when I would start to freak out a little! But don’t fret, friend. I have just the thing to help your […]
Purposeful Assessments Made Fun!
Assessing can be both difficult and exhausting for students and teachers. Finding a way for purposeful assessments to be made fun and enjoyable for all is a win all around! Writing has always been a favorite time in my classroom. There are years that I feel like I rock at teaching writing and years I […]
Using Go Noodle During Writer’s Workshop
The Primary Powers bloggers have teamed up with the fabulous people from GoNoodle to share some great ideas for implementing GoNoodle in the classroom and some great prizes! Be sure to read to the end because you won’t want to miss this! I wanted to share with you how I have used GoNoodle during Writer’s […]