a dash of creativity, a pinch of fun, and a whole lot of learning!
Hosting a Book Bakery in our classroom was the perfect way to introduce my students to reading genres! In first grade, each student is still discovering what their reading identity is. Some students are well on their way to understanding who they are as readers. However, at this age, most students are still learning what they like and don’t like…
Read More
During the holiday season I tend to get a steady stream of direct messages on Instagram asking for gift ideas for toddlers. Often the question is something similar to, “What is Sawyer getting for Christmas? I have no idea what to get my toddler!” Sawyer is currently three and a half, so I put together a short list of some…
Read More
I grew up playing in castles, sailing in boats, swimming under the ocean, and setting up tea parties in the middle of magical forests. The act of pretending and using my imagination was second nature to me. My mom instilled the magic of pretend play from as early as I can remember. She fostered it in simple ways like saving…
Read More
My first graders LOVE Kate DiCamillo’s Mercy Watson books! Today I’m sharing the fictitious birthday celebration that we had in my classroom after finishing Kate’s series, along with her prequel book, A Piglet Named Mercy. Below, you’ll find ideas and information on how and why I read the series aloud and the simple and engaging culminating celebration we had. If…
Read More
Teaching students how to compare and contrast isn’t just “one more skill” to add your lesson plans. It’s an essential skill your students will use throughout their everyday lives. It will be used well beyond your classroom walls. Examples include everything from comparing prices at the grocery store to deciphering the differences between two computer models. Your students may even…
Read More
Anchor chart display space can be a challenge in the classroom, especially if your wall space is limited. So much of the learning that takes place in my classroom is closely and carefully tied to an anchor chart or poster that my students and I have developed and curated together. In fact, you can read all about the importance of…
Read More
Brain bins are what I call morning tubs in my first-grade classroom. They include open-ended materials that my students use to explore, create, build, and- dare I say it, play with during the first 8-10 minutes of our day. Brain bins are our morning work every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. (On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we complete another open-ended morning work…
Read More
