I have to be honest. Teaching writing is tough. Each year, I set out to build a community of writers, and it is no easy task. One of the toughest things for my students is writing endings. They always start out with catchy beginnings only to get bogged down and just stop at the end. How many … [Read more...]
How To Convert Your Fake Readers Into Real Readers
I'm here to share some tried and true tips and tricks to convert your fake readers into real readers. To help our fake readers, we have to identify their coping behaviors that are helping them hide the fact that they aren't reading. Here is a list of 10 Ways to Spot a Fake Reader: I … [Read more...]
Fraction Anchor Chart Freebie and Hands-on Fractions
I'm here to share a fraction anchor chart freebie and a hands-on mini lesson idea I used with my math intervention students. When we started our unit on fractions and did our pre-assessments, I quickly learned that I have a small group of students who need quite a bit of intervention. … [Read more...]
Math and English Language Arts Daily Morning Work
In my classroom, students start each morning by completing a page from my Daily Morning Work resource. Before we started a morning work routine, our mornings were chaotic. Students were were lingering in the hallway, socializing, or using the time to read or finish work from the previous day. … [Read more...]
Role Playing with the American Revolution {Freebies Included}
Social studies has always been one of my absolute favorite subjects to teach. I get so excited about United States history, and I do my best to make a potentially boring topic come alive for my students! There are a lot of opportunities for hands-on, get out of your seat lessons and projects in the … [Read more...]
Compare and Contrast Two or More Characters in a Story {Freebies Included}
I'm back for the next part of our character development lesson using Verdi by Janell Cannon. For this lesson, I will be sharing how we used the book to compare and contrast two or more characters in a story, drawing on specific details from the text. To read the first blog post in this series, … [Read more...]
Inferring Character Traits Through Dialogue (Plus a Free Graphic Organizer)
Have you ever come across a mentor text that literally covers five standards and you squeal with delight? Or am I the only crazy person that gets excited about these types of things?! After reading Verdi by Janell Cannon with my students, I just couldn't contain myself! I have so much to share … [Read more...]
English Language Arts Print and Go Freebie
Happy snow day everyone! Well…at least to my midwest and northeast friends, right?! BRR! It is cold! I hope you are all staying safe and warm! And to my friends in the south, or wherever you are that's warm, we are all very jealous! This has been my view for the last two days: I swear the … [Read more...]
Building Community Around the Holidays
Happy Mid-December! We're almost there! I hope you're all enjoying your kids these last few weeks before break, and that they aren't too "excited" for the holidays! I'm here today to share with you this amazing Stocking Stuffer Community Building idea we did in our classroom from Susan Moran … [Read more...]
Throwback Thursday- Cant.Stop.Crafting! Scratch offs!
I am linking up with the adorable Cara from The First Grade Parade for her Throwback Thursday Linky Party! This took A LOT of courage my friends! My earlier posts from way back when are down right SCARY. Please don't judge and maybe don't meander TOO far back (they're THAT bad!). Blogging has … [Read more...]
