Read and Learn
LITERACY IN THE CLASSROOM
Read our latest content on all things reading, writing, and language arts!
Why Reading Logs are Actually Perfect for Goal-Oriented Students
Reading logs are a valuable tool for motivating young students to develop their reading skills and track their progress. These logs can provide a way for students to set goals, track their reading habits, and celebrate their achievements, which can be especially useful for goal-oriented students.
Helpful Strategies You’ll Actually Use For Teaching Writing In Kindergarten
Teaching writing in kindergarten is a task that comes with its own set of joys and challenges. As an educator, you witness the budding creativity and imagination of your students, but you also see the hurdles they face when putting pencil to paper and trying to express themselves through writing. Crafting sentences, adding details, and translating their incredible thoughts into words can be particularly difficult for beginning writers.
Tops and Bottoms: A Spring Tale of Determination and Persistence
Janet Stevens’s book Tops and Bottoms is a great spring read-aloud for introducing a planting unit, but there are also some valuable character lessons within the charming tale. Hare learns that even if you have made a mistake in the past, hard work and persistence can...
MATH IN THE CLASSROOM
Read our latest content on numbers, operations, graphing, and more!
Summer Review Packets Can Help Prevent the Summer Slide for Incoming First Graders
Kids learn A LOT in the 180 days they spend with you. If you teach kindergarten, I would argue they learn more than most grade levels (at least in elementary school). With all that new knowledge, it is important for students to review the skills over the summer to prepare for first grade. Summer review will help them be better prepared for the next school year and keep their minds active during the summer.
9 Engaging Review Games for First Grade That Kids Will Actually Like
If you’re looking for an engaging way to review concepts with your kindergarten or first grade students, why not try playing some fun review games? Review games can help keep students engaged while they practice and reinforce the material they’ve learned. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
How Do You Make Learning Fun and Engaging When Teaching Ordinal Numbers?
I like to introduce ordinal numbers by getting the whole class involved. You can do this in many ways. Choose to have students line up by tallest to shortest, shortest to tallest, in order of birthdate, etc. Then have students count off from first to last in ordinal numbers. You can also create quick no-prep games.
SCIENCE IN THE CLASSROOM
Read our latest content on exploring technology and science topics with your students!
Simple and Fun Ideas for Teaching the Plant Life Cycle
Teaching the plant life cycle can be a daunting task, but with the right information and activities, your students will leave the classroom with a better understanding of this important process.
The Best Activities to Explore the Frog Life Cycle in First Grade
Teaching first graders about the fascinating life cycle of the frog can be a fun and interactive way to get them excited about science! To begin, you can start by having the students observe some live frogs and discuss their physical characteristics. You can do this with an actual frog or just pull up some videos for students to watch.
Animal Research in First Grade Is Perfect for Spring Lesson Plans
Easter is a time when many people think about rabbits, and it’s a great opportunity to teach young children about these fascinating creatures. But instead of just focusing on the Easter bunny, why not take the opportunity to delve deeper into the world of rabbits and learn about their unique characteristics and behavior through animal research?
ALL ABOUT SOCIAL STUDIES
Read our latest content on exploring the community, holidays, and more!
How to Plan an Exciting St. Patrick’s Day Thematic Unit
Planning St. Patrick’s Day activities for your students has never been easier! Check out these ideas for activities, bulletin boards, and more for planning your next thematic unit.
Unlocking the Magic of Leap Year in the Classroom
Leap into the magic of Leap Year with our creative and educational ideas for kindergarten and first-grade classrooms. Discover hands-on activities, engaging books, and delightful crafts that make learning about Leap Year fun and memorable. Seamlessly integrate Leap Year into your curriculum with age-appropriate math, science, and writing tips. Download free resources and embark on a leap-tastic journey of simplicity and joy in your classroom!
One Is a Feast for a Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale and Helpful Ideas Students Will Enjoy
This fun cumulative Thanksgiving story of One Is a Feast for a Mouse becomes a bit of a cautionary tale when a little mouse quickly changes from grateful to greedy.
NEW TEACHER RESOURCES
Read our latest content to help you get through your first few years of teaching!
A Useful Guide To Kindergarten Assessments With A New Freebie
Unlock the full potential of your classroom with our comprehensive guide to effective kindergarten assessments. From informal oral assessments to written evaluations, explore dynamic strategies for every stage of the academic year. Dive into specialized reading and math assessments, fostering a love for learning in your young students. Enhance your tracking process with our free assessment checklists, empowering you to create a responsive and supportive learning environment.
Classroom Centers Organization and Storage Solutions That Actually Work
Classroom centers organization and storage are things you want to consider when setting up your centers. I promise it will save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run. So, what is the most useful way to store your kindergarten or first grade centers? ...
Grab the Free Download to Create a Center Rotation Chart That You’ll Love
Look at a few ways to display your center rotations and download the FREE cards to create your center rotation chart. While this was designed to go along with my City Centers System™, you can apply these ideas to any centers.