Teaching writing can be hard, especially in Kindergarten! I often see the initial focus of writing workshops placed on text as opposed to spending the necessary time supporting emergent writers in the drawing stage. I think this can be one of the things that makes teaching writing to these littles so hard. If you’re new to writing workshops, make sure… Read More
Teaching Tips
6 Critical Steps to Launching a Smooth Writing Workshop in Your Classroom
If you’ve been here before, you know I LOVE teaching writing. I think there are so many benefits to incorporating a writing workshop into your kindergarten or first-grade classroom! If you are not familiar with the writing workshop model, it is a method of teaching writing that consists of four main components: Mini-Lesson, where you teach and model a strategy Independent… Read More
15 Read Alouds For The Beginning Of The Year
It’s almost that time again. Time to head back into the classroom and prepare for a new year! One of my favorite things to get ready for the year is to look for a new back-to-school read-aloud or two. Read-Alouds are essential at the beginning of the year. They are a great way to have students practice coming to the… Read More
How To Set Up Your New Classroom Stress-Free
I absolutely loved setting up my classroom! I know I may be in the minority on this, but I was the one calling the office every day to check if the rooms are done, then going in any free moment to organize every millimeter. By October, it’s all a mess but I enjoy making a beautiful, organized space even if… Read More
ELEVATE Conference for Kindergarten to Second-grade teachers
Hey, teachers! It’s almost the end of the year for most of you and I know you can almost taste the saltiness of the beach air and the sweetness of a piña colada! The summer is a time when you hopefully get to relax, let loose, and have fun! But, it’s also a time when you can recharge your teaching… Read More
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 students understand a concept. Here… Read More
What To Do With Extra Classroom Magazines
Do you have extra Scholastic News Magazines lying around your classroom? I hoard save Scholastic News magazines because I just love them and can’t imagine discarding them. However, we just never get to all of them and I always have a big pile by the end of the year. Well, I finally buckled down and thought of some ways to… Read More
Tips for a Smooth Meet the Teacher Night
Meet the Teacher Night. Do those words make your palms sweat and knees wobble? I have to admit that after 17 years, I still always felt sick to my stomach just before parents walked in! Once I got talking, everything would go smoothly, though, and fortunately, I never had any disasters. Well, if you also get nervous, or would like… Read More
How to Quiet a Talkative Class: 14 Attention-Grabbing Tips
In the middle of a lesson on Chaucer, my high school English teacher suddenly started mooing. You read that right- MOOOOOOOOOOO! We all stopped our side conversations, doodling, note-passing, and looked up at Mr. Block. He then continued his lesson as if he hadn’t just done the weirdest thing. But now, he had our attention. Besides mooing, Mr. Block stood… Read More
Using Anchor Charts and Graphic Organizers on Your Whiteboard
I love anchor charts and use them daily. They are such a great tool in my classroom, for my students, as well as for myself. Read this blog post for ideas on how to create and use them, tips, and free anchor chart pieces. In this post, I wanted to share one more way you could use anchor charts that… Read More