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How to Use Guided Reading Warm-ups
If you teach kindergarten through 2nd grade, you know that guided reading is an essential component of literacy instruction. The way I’ve conducted guided reading has changed over the years and some people aren’t fond of the term guided reading, but small-group reading instruction is essential in order to differentiate and meet your students’ needs…
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Stretching Words Out: Emergent Writing Strategy
It can be daunting for emergent writers to stretch out words, especially long words. Many kindergarten students are very artistic and can add details to their pictures, but when asked to add words, they sometimes hesitate or say they don’t know how to, even if they do have some letter-sound knowledge. Writing Warm-Ups To get…
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Fun Ways to End the School Year with a Bang
Between organizing, packing, cleaning, summer vacation excitement, and class management, the end of the year can be a little overwhelming. But despite everything you have to do, you still want to enjoy your students and make it memorable! I’m sharing some fun ways to end the school year and make great memories with your students!…
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End of Year Writing Activities for Kindergarten and First Grade
As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time to review important skills. During the last month of school, I use these end-of-year writing activities to review the writing genres we covered throughout the year. Now, these have to be fun, because kids’ attention spans and effort are often at an all-time low!…
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10 April Read Alouds for Kindergarten and First grade (Perfect for Spring!)
April can feel like a bit of a juggling act. Between spring fever, unpredictable weather, indoor recess, Easter, Earth Day, and everything in between, there’s a lot going on. That’s why I love having a spring read-alouds that are fun, purposeful, and easy to plan around. In this post, I’m sharing 10 of my favorite…
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15 Easy Activities to Increase and Practice Fluency
Did you see the movie Zootopia? Well, there’s a famous scene at the DMV where a sloth takes fooooooreeeeever to help the main character, who is in a huge rush! Even the sloth’s laugh is super slow and the whole scene is really very funny. While it’s hilarious in a cartoon movie, when it happens…
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10 Picture Books for Goal-setting with Students
This time of the school year is perfect to work on goal-setting. The students are returning back from break and it’s a great time to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start. Students will of course need some guidance with setting their goals. Using picture books is always a great way to help…
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Best Fiction & Non-fiction Books For Teaching About Winter Animals
In January, when the temperature drops and snow starts to fall, I begin teaching one of my favorite units: Animals in Winter. I designed my own non-fiction unit that covers hibernation, adaptation, migration, camouflage, and more! You can read all about it here. Many teachers also begin this unit in January so I wanted to…
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Animals in Winter- Hibernation, Migration, Camouflage, Adaptation
If science takes the back burner in your school, a unit on winter animals is an exciting way to incorporate more science into your January plans! Since there is often such little scheduled time for science, I want to make sure my lessons are meaningful and engaging. I make sure they are well-planned and concise,…
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Gingerbread House Craft for the Primary Classroom
December just doesn’t feel complete without a gingerbread house-building activity! You can make an edible one, but I prefer a crafty one! In this post, I’ll share some tips for making a gingerbread house craft with your students- everything from making the house to extending the activity, and even how to manage the time! Be…
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Gingerbread Man Activities
Do you love Gingerbread Man activities as much as I do? I just love using these fun stories and incorporating all content areas in my gingerbread man unit. Here are some of the fun things we do! All of the activities shown are included in my Gingerbread Man Mega-Pack. I start by reading The Gingerbread…
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Phonics Anchor Charts for Student Notebooks and Small Groups
If you’ve ever felt like small-group phonics is a little bit… chaotic, you’re not alone. Between rotating groups, pulling materials, remembering which skills you covered, and helping five kids at different levels all at once, it can feel like you’re juggling literacy, logistics, and sheer luck. For years, I felt like I was reinventing the…
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Election Day Activities for the Primary Classroom
Kids love voting for their favorites- whether it’s picking a snack, choosing a game, or deciding on a class party. That’s why Election Day is a perfect opportunity to engage your students in learning about the voting process! Let me share some Election Day activities to help make this special day memorable in your classroom!…
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11 November Picture Books to Read Aloud in the Classroom
Looking for the best November picture books for kids? You’re in the right place! These read-alouds highlight gratitude, family, diversity, kindness, and of course, turkey humor! Below you’ll find 11 books to share with your students this month, covering holidays and themes like Thanksgiving, Veterans Day, Diwali, Election Day, pumpkins, and fall. I’ve also included…