How to get your Students Excited about Writing in December

The holidays are just around the corner, and your classroom is probably becoming a hectic place. How would you like to simplify your writing instruction while at the same time noticing your kid's interest in writing growing?  I will show you how I have done this the past few years and how much it has helped even my most reluctant writers soar.


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Want the Most Joyful Start to Every School Day? Try Morning Tubs!


Have you heard about Morning Tubs?  How you start the day often sets the tone for the rest of your day.  I've changed my thinking in recent years and have begun to embrace a more relaxed start to the day and have transitioned to using Morning Tubs in my first-grade classroom.  It's definitely made the start of the day more joyful for my students and me!

Read on to find out what the beginning of the day looks like with my first graders and how it got them excited about learning.

Try out a soft start in your Primary classroom with Good Morning Baskets.






In my classroom, we are now starting most days with Morning Tubs.

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How to Teach Word Families in a Few EASY Steps


In my opinion, word walls are a must in a primary classroom BUT only if you teach kids how to use it. Word families are an important part of the word wall as well.  Teaching kids to read and spell words by learning patterns helps with retention and improves reading.  How do you get this information to stick? Read on to see how I teach word families in a way that kids remember them and refer to them in the classroom.

Learn how to teach word family words so that they stick - kids will learn to read and spell word families words if they are engaged in the process of building charts to use as anchor posters in the classroom.



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Cheap Flexible Seating Ideas that Will Help You Get Started

Flexible Seating.  You have probably heard about it or seen it while scrolling through Instagram and seeing all those beautiful alternative seating options.  You are probably also thinking, "OMG, I can't afford THAT!", just like I was.  Well, you CAN start with flexible seating options in your classroom right away without a lot of money invested.  I am sharing how you can get started and 5 cheap, flexible seating options that you can try.

Have you wanted to try flexible seating in your classroom but don't what to spend a fortune?  This post will show you how to get started with flexible seating in your classroom using inexpensive items you may already have.  It also provides helpful tips about management strategies and an anchor chart to get started.

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3 Ways to Maximize Learning for Busy Kids

Getting kids moving helps them learn!  If your students are like mine, it is best to keep them active so they can use up all the energy they seem to have in endless supply.  I have so many kids that seem to be in perpetual motion. So rather than working against that. I have found a way to embrace it.

Get students up and moving to maximize learning.  Let them move by having them read and write the room, use flexible seating options and brain breaks.

Click the image above to visit Hojo's Teaching Adventures Blog where I am guest blogging. You will find 3 strategies I use in my classroom to maximize learning while keeping my students active.

Until next time,
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How to Use Data to Drive Phonemic Awareness Instruction

Are you looking for ways to use assessment data to drive your phonemic awareness instruction?  If so, then read on to find out how to gather that data and look closely at the data for opportunities to group students.   I am also sharing a few ideas of what to do in small and whole group settings to address those skills.

Learn how to use data to drive your phonemic awareness instruction.  First assess and then use a no prep resource to teach the identified skills.


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Phonological and Phonemic Awareness. What is the difference?



Phonological and phonemic awareness are often confused by teachers, and rightly so.  They are so intertwined it is difficult to determine which skills fall under which term.  I hope to clear up some of the confusion about these two terms and help you better understand phonemic and phonological awareness.  

Phonological and Phonemic awareness - what is the difference? This post outlines the differences between the two terms and gives suggestions about when to teach phonemic awareness and where to start. A free screener is shared to help teachers get started.


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Guided Reading: How to get Students Excited About It!

Get your students excited about guided reading by using tools and tricks to increase engagements. Students will be excited to come to the guided reading group to use finger lights, reading phones and mini whiteboards.

Guided Reading is an important part of the day in a primary classroom and you want to make sure your students are excited to meet during small group. To keep your kids engaged and to make it a productive and successful guided reading time you need to be prepared.  Today I am sharing 4 things that that will get students excited about guided reading and participating in small group lessons. These tips will help keep your students motivated, excited and engaged during guide reading time.
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5 Fun Ways to use Plastic Eggs in Math


We all have them!  Those bags of plastic Easter eggs from the Dollar Store. 

Well, the time has come to get them out and use them in your classroom.  Today I am sharing 5 fun ways you can use these plastic eggs to practice math skills in your early primary classroom. Read on and get ready to have some fun! 
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5 Ways to Use Plastic Eggs to Practice Literacy Skills


We all have them!  Those bags of plastic Easter eggs from the Dollar Store. We store them in our classroom closets waiting for the weeks leading up to Easter to break them out and use them.

Now is the time to start thinking about how to use them this year.  I am going to share 5 ways you can use your plastic eggs to practice literacy skills.  Click any of the images to take a look at the pack of recording sheets.
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100th Day of School - A Classroom Celebration!


The 100th day of school is one of my favorite days of the year!  I love the opportunity to celebrate how far we have come in 100 days and to have lots of authentic opportunities for creating, measuring, counting, writing and, yes, eating on 100th day!   Read on to find some ideas to inspire you for your 100th Day of School Celebrations.

This 100th day of school activity pack has tons of activities to keep your first grade and second grade students busy on the 100th day of school including a 100s day hat, bookmarks and worksheets to practice counting to 100.  Students will love using the 100th day measurement investigation booklet to measure and compare their collection.  #100thdayofschool #100sdayofschool

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3 Tips to Ensure a Smooth Transition after a School Break

Going back to school after a break is always hard, but it is especially hard after a longer break like Christmas Break or Winter Break.  If you approach the first day back with the right attitude, you will find that you and your students are ready to get back on track.  Here are a few tips to ensure that that smooth transition happens in your classroom.

3 tips to make an easy transition back to school after a break.  Give students lots of time, let them talk and review and practice classroom routines.

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