Student to Student Appreciation
At the end of every school year I do the same activity with my class. It’s a way to say “thank you” and celebrate individual attributes. I got the idea from a story I read while I was in college. I apologize to the author as I cannot remember the source. I also apologize that…
Read Full PostA Teacher's Must-Haves
Over the years, I have collected materials that have honed my teaching style. Looking back, I can’t imagine I ever taught without them at some point. Below is a list of items I cannot teach without and what I use each one for. Bell– Used during small group workshop times to signal transition to a…
Read Full PostA Great Teacher Is…
As I continue on my journey as an educator of young minds, I always reflect on how I can inspire my students. I want them energized and engaged in their learning, so much so that they yearn for more each passing day. But….how do I do that? So I thought about what made me as…
Read Full PostReading Test Strategies
State testing is officially underway- 1 day down, 2 more to go! I am so excited for my kids this year. Not only did we have 100% attendance today, but every single child used their strategies. Wahoo!!! I’m sure some of you teachers out there can relate to this stress of standardized testing. Students have…
Read Full PostMy (favorite) Class
Okay, okay you caught me! I am making a confession that I love my class this year. For whatever reason, the combination of students has made for an easy year. We not only get our work done, but we have a blast together. Years prior, I have enjoyed my classes too. But, there was often…
Read Full PostPaideia Seminar
I was just recently trained in utilizing Paideia seminars as a teaching strategy during my Literacy block. It was quite an intensive in-service, full of information, examples, and brainstorming sessions. As most things in my life, I learn by doing. So, planning everything out in detail was becoming too frustrating. I had a general outline I…
Read Full PostGuided Reading
My teaching has evolved over the years, especially in my instructional methods for Literacy. Six years ago when I began teaching, my district adopted a reading program comprised of various stories based on a theme. For example, Unit 1 contained six stories about animals and their habitats. Grouping stories this way helped students understand the unit’s…
Read Full PostCurrent Event Project
Have you ever realized something you hated as a child turned into something you love as an adult? I have come to this realization with my class this year. As a child, I never liked Social Studies or History classes. I could not identify with the content. It seemed so foreign; a bunch of dates…
Read Full PostWake Up!
Do you ever have those days where your students, no matter how hard you try, are zoned out and disengaged? Try getting your students up and moving. After all, it’s hard to be sleepy when your body is moving! When I was working towards my master’s degree, one of the courses I took discussed the…
Read Full Post"Moving Up Night"
Our school recently hosted a “Moving Up Night” for parents to receive information on the upcoming school year by grade level. For example, as a third grade teacher, I fielded questions from parents of prospective second graders. Third grade is generally an anxiety provoking thought in most parent’s minds due to the mandated End-of-Grade state…
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