a dash of creativity, a pinch of fun, and a whole lot of learning!
Today, we’re going to talk about how to use games and toys in your classroom for increased critical thinking and problem-solving skills! When my first graders graduate college and attend their first job interviews, they will most likely not be asked to state the definition of matter. We would be surprised to find them completing a timed addition test, and…
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We spend a lot of time planning beautiful, standards-based lessons for our students. We cross our t’s and dot our i’s when it comes to a rich introduction, instructional strategies that gradually release independence to the children, and appropriately designed assessments to check for student understanding. But what about those important, foundational, brain-based skills that are not packaged in a…
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In this post, I’m going to share TWENTY word work ideas for sight word practice in your classroom. Before I begin the fun, I want to quickly explain how my word work time is implemented, so that you can better understand how, when, and why I use these ideas with my students. When Does Word Work Take Place? I actually…
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Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so it’s time to add some extra special touches to your small group reading plans. Integrating the holidays into your literacy lessons is a great way to increase engagement and motivation. Today, I’m going to share some quick and EASY ways to add Valentine’s Day fun to your small reading groups! I also have…
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If you are a primary teacher, you can probably think of a student in your classroom who struggles with sight word identification. In fact, most teachers can think of several students whose sight word recognition skills have taken a toll on his or her overall reading success. Since sight words make up 50%-75% of all text, we know that being able to recognize and…
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Very shortly, the alarm clocks will be turned back on. Your lunch box will be packed, your teacher bag will sit by the front door, and an outfit that is stylish (yet comfortable) will be picked out for your first day back from winter break. When you enter your classroom, you’ll pause at the door and take it all in for…
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Today I am going to share a Christmas Lights Fingerprint Ornament with you. It’s a really cute, simple, quick, and EASY gift idea for your students this Christmas season! The weeks leading up to Christmas are stressful for teachers. On top of everything, many teachers like to squeeze in a project for students to create for their families as a gift. Since…
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