The beginning of every new school year includes time spent building a classroom community. Facilitating ways for students to get to know each other, learn each other’s likes and dislikes and promoting a “family” atmosphere is so important. We want our classrooms to be inclusive and run like a ...
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Fun and Easy Ice Breaker Games for the Elementary Classroom
Back to School Activities for a Smooth Start
Back to school season is equal parts chaos, excitement and busyness! Between the meet the teacher night and prepping your classroom for students, teachers are busier than ever those first few days of preplanning. Figuring out what activities to have students do the first week shouldn’t be ...
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Mother’s Day Classroom Keepsakes
Mother’s Day is one of my favorite occasions to do a heartfelt craft or writing with my students- no matter their age! Being a mom myself, I know how much moms LOVE anything with handprints, footprints, little writing etc. Being an educator I also know Mother’s Day falls smack dab in the middle of a ...
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Fun Circulatory System Activities
Are you teaching about the circulatory system and wondering how to make it more enjoyable? I have been teaching about the human body to my students for years and have learned a few things along the way! Today I am sharing some of my favorite fun circulatory system activities for the elementary ...
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May Classroom Activities
May is almost here and summer is calling! Down here in Florida where I live, we start school in early August, which means we get out for summer in late May. It’s already beach weather here so we are ready for pool days, beach days and everything in between!! All my teacher friends are itching to ...
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April Classroom Activities
Spring is in full gear here in the South! Cool mornings, warm days and rain showers are the staples of the season around here. This year April is a busy month full of Easter fun, Earth Day and all the springtime goodness we love this time of year. I’m going to help you get a jump start on your April ...
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Spring Favorites for the Elementary Classroom
I have been busy rounding up all my favorite, must have spring resources for you! If you missed part one of this two-part series, check it out here. I have four more spring favorites for the elementary classroom for you today that are PERFECT to add into your classroom all spring ...
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Spring Favorites for the Elementary Classroom
Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and the afternoon rainstorms are rolling in. Spring is here and it is most definitely one of my favorite seasons here in Florida when the nights are still cool and the days are perfectly warm. It is also such a fun time to teach in the classroom on a variety ...
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Games to Learn Continents and Oceans
Teaching kids about world geography can difficult and abstract. One way to make learning both engaging and effective is to use games to learn continents and oceans.
Games provide hands-on, interactive learning that helps students retain what they have learned. Games are also great for ...
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How to Plan a Classroom Theme Day
One of my new favorite things to do in the classroom is to plan a theme day. What is a theme day you might ask? Theme days are days of instruction planned around a central theme. They are designed to be super engaging and fun but also to include meaningful learning activities.
Theme days can be ...
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Winter Activities for Elementary Students
The holidays are winding down and the winter season is ramping up! The winter season doesn’t officially start until the end of the December, so January and February are the perfect months to bring winter activities to your elementary students. (Think blizzards, winter animals, and more!) I have a ...
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Halloween Class Party Ideas
Want to do something fun in your classroom for Halloween, but short on ideas? I compiled my FAVORITE Halloween class party ideas and am happy to share them with you today! Use these on Halloween Day or in the weeks leading up to the big day.
Halloween Minute-to-Win-It
Minute-to-win-it games ...
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December Activities for Elementary Students
The holiday season is such a fun time in the classroom, but for a teacher it can also be a little overwhelming. There are so many things to do and celebrate in a short period of time. It can make your head spin! I have created a lot of great resources to help make December festive and a little bit ...
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Favorite Fall Activities for Elementary
Crisp and cool air, football and pumpkin spice! These are three of my favorite things about the fall season. Even though here in Florida our fall is delayed a bit, we still enjoy all things pumpkin beginning September 1st. Today I am rounding up my top 5 Fall FAVORITE activities for elementary ...
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October Activities for Elementary Students
Fall is here and that means all things pumpkins, apples and Halloween! Although I live in Florida so the cooler weather takes a little longer to arrive here we still love to do all the fun fall things. By this time of the school year routines are in place and teachers have started working on core ...
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Teaching Human Body Systems Elementary
Most elementary science curriculums include standards about human anatomy or the human body systems. If you too find yourself tasked with teaching human body systems to your elementary students, then I have some ideas to help bring your lessons to life!
Human Body Videos for Kids
Videos are ...
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September Activities for Elementary Students
Are you looking for fun, engaging September activities for your elementary students? These ready to go resources will get you in the fall spirit AND help you cover all those September holidays! Here is a roundup of my favorite activities to use throughout the month.
Back to School ...
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Earth’s Resources Activities
What type of environmental lessons do you teach in your elementary classroom? Do you include Earth's resources activities into your science plans? Since we all have a role in taking care of the Earth, I like to sprinkle lessons in often. I teach about Earth's natural resources as part of our energy ...
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St. Patrick’s Day Activities for the Elementary Classroom
Are you looking for some St. Patrick's Day activities for the elementary classroom? Well I have you covered my friend! Whether you have the little green leprechauns visit your classroom or you like a more toned-down celebration, I have something for you. You and your students will LOVE these fun and ...
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March Classroom Activities
March is just right around the corner friends and I can't wait to share some of my favorite March classroom activities with you! When I think of March, it brings to mind a particularly funny time when I showed my ignorance about basketball and March Madness.
It was my first year teaching in ...
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Multiplication Fact Practice Websites
How do you practice multiplication facts in your classroom? For years I used those fact fluency pages for each number. If you have been around awhile, you know what I am talking about! There is definitely a place for these still in the classroom, but these days, I want to work smarter not harder. ...
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January Classroom Activities
I am definitely spoiled by Florida winters. I have lived in several other cities around the United States, but I do have to say that I love January in Florida the best. The days are sunny, the temperatures are mild, and the bugs aren't trying to eat me alive. Ha! There are so many fun classroom ...
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Holiday Gift Ideas for Students
Looking for inexpensive or free holiday gift ideas for your students this year? Read this post for some tried and true teacher favs!
My oldest son Nick (who is Christmas-obsessed and legit listens to Christmas music year round in his room while playing Fortnite) decorated our ENTIRE house for ...
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November Activities for Elementary Students
If you are searching for fun AND educational November activities for elementary students, then you are in the right place teacher friend! I have compiled a list of my favorite classroom resources to use throughout the month. It includes activities for reading, math, science, and social studies. You ...
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10 Ways to Motivate the Unmotivated Student
Are you looking for ways to motivate the unmotivated student or students in your classroom? Trying to teach the unmotivated student is hard work. It takes creativity, consistency, and some trial and error to find out what works. What works for one student or group doesn't necessarily work for the ...
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Classroom Activities for the Respiratory System
Finding classroom activities to teach about the respiratory system can be difficult, especially when you don't have science textbooks! I couldn't find digestive system kid-friendly text or interactive digestive activities. So I finally decided to just create my own unit.
You can go deep into ...
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5 School Halloween Activities that Keep Students Learning
Halloween in the classroom can be a lot of fun, but also draining for teachers. Students are so excited and hyped for the big day that engaging school Halloween activities (that also keep students learning) are a must.
You can have fun in the classroom, keep your students learning, and ...
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Digestive System Books and Videos for Kids
Are you looking for digestive system books and videos to use in your classroom or with your kids at home? Well you are in luck my friends!
Using a variety of modes of learning is key in keeping students interested and engaged in lessons. I love using both books and videos for independent student ...
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Rock Your School Themes and Ideas
If you or your school participates in Rock Your School, then you have probably started searching for some great Rock Your School Themes and activities. "Rock Your School" is a movement started by educators to provide engaging, rigorous, and dynamic lessons that keep your students challenged and ...
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Apple Activities for Elementary
Are you looking for fun apple activities for your elementary classroom?
I love to incorporate thematic units into my classroom, and autumn provides so many opportunities for fun units of study. It's the season of pumpkin patches, falling leaves, and apple picking. One of the first fall units I ...
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Digestive System Classroom Activities
Are you looking for some fun ways to teach your students about the digestive system? This digestive system unit is the perfect resource for the upper elementary classroom. I created this resource several years ago after struggling to find student-friendly text and classroom activities for the ...
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Sports Day Learning Activities
Does your school participate in a sports day or field day during the school year? Bring the excitement surrounding sports day into the classroom with some fun sports-themed classroom learning activities! Don't worry if your school doesn't host a school wide sports day. Host your own classroom ...
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What to Go Over on Meet the Teacher Night
Back to school season is almost here! Are you a teacher who likes to work a little in the summer to make the start of the year smoother, or do you a take your well-deserved break and not touch your work stuff until your first day? I always let myself have a good month off (June) and then by July ...
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3 Ways for Teachers to Get Back to School Ready
Have you started getting ready for back to school? My teacher side gets so excited around back to school season. I think it's something about a fresh start to a new school year that gives me all the feels. I have the choice to change things, add new ideas, be better, and do better than ...
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Engaging Learning Centers
Integrating Subjects into Reading Series #5
Learning centers have always been a favorite part of my reading block. It provides the much needed time to teach small groups, work one on one with a struggling student, or do any testing. The question teachers always have though is, "What learning ...
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Classroom Carnival Theme Day!
Come one, come all!
One of my new favorite things to do in the classroom is to plan an entire day around a theme. Theme days are meant to be super engaging and fun. Go all out and decorate your classroom. Include special snacks for the day. Make your classroom theme day as big or as simple as ...
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How to Write About the Text
Integrating Subjects into Reading Series #4
Today's series blog post is all about how to use content area writing in the classroom. Writing about the text is not limited to literature. Writing can be a valuable tool to engage students with science and social studies text. Through content area ...
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How to Increase Student Vocabulary
INTEGRATING SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES INTO READING SERIES #3
Not all students have the same background knowledge or out of school experiences. This often leads to a limited vocabulary. So how can you increase student vocabulary? Be intentional about teaching vocabulary! Vocabulary study ...
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Integrate Science Text into Reading
Integrating Science and Social Studies into Reading Series #1
I am SO excited to dive into this new blog series all about making the most of the precious teaching time you have in the classroom. Today we will look how to integrate science and social studies text into your whole group or small ...
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Integrating Science and SS into Reading
Teachers have had the same problem since the beginning of time...How do you fit everything in each day?! My time in the classroom was often spent trying to multitask, overlap subjects, and teach ALL the things effectively and proficiently. I've learned a few things over the years, and I want ...
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How to Make a Plant Fossil
One of my favorite activities while teaching about plants is this fun "How to Make a Plant Fossil" activity! It's part of my comprehensive plants unit, found here, but I have included everything you need for this activity in this post. It is SUPER simple and the ingredients list is probably ...
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Activities for Earth Day for Elementary Students
Are you looking for activities for Earth Day for elementary students? As students get into the elementary grades, you want your Earth Day activities to be meaningful. Discussions around natural resources, pollution, conservation, and plants that cover your science and social studies standards are a ...
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Plant Books and Videos
I love teaching all about plants in the spring. The kids are so interested and always want to learn more. I love having extra resources like these plant books and videos on hand to engage interested minds! Here are a few of my favorite books and videos to use when teaching about plants in the ...
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Muscular System Videos
One of my favorite things to teach is the human body! Do you teach about the muscular system in your class? I do, so I am always on the hunt for quality videos to use while teaching the muscular system. Videos have SO many great uses when teaching. They are perfect to supplement instruction, for ...
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Socially-Distanced Recess Ideas
If you are attending school in person right now like we are, you likely have wondered what your kiddos can do at recess to stay socially-distanced with minimal contact. Our playground is off limits, but there are still plenty of activities kids can do to expel all that energy. I have compiled a ...
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Teaching the Continents and Oceans
Teaching the continents and oceans in the elementary classroom can be fun! I love teaching about the continents and oceans. It's one of those units that is simple to teach. Lessons are fun and engaging for students too.
I prefer to teach continents and oceans at the beginning of the school ...
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How to Practice Standards All Year Long
Have you ever taught a skill in your classroom only to find that a few months later many of your students have forgotten what you taught them? I know I have! As teachers, it is so important to have our ...
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Back to School Prep: Things to Do Now
Our "Summer Prep for Teachers" series continues with things you can do now to prepare for the upcoming school year. I've compiled a list of 5 things that you can DO now to make the start of school a little less stressful.
Experiment with Technology
Technology is not only highly engaging for ...
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Back to School Prep: Things to Make Now
Summer is a great time to make things to prep your classroom for back to school. If you can't tell, I am a planner. I like to get as many things done ahead of time as possible. Those first weeks of school are super hectic. If I can get things made ahead of time or at least partially made, it ...
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Back to School Prep: 7 Things to Buy in Summer
The beginning of the school year is exciting and hectic and EXPENSIVE! It seems like every day in the weeks leading up to the start of school I am spending money on school supplies, new shoes for my growing boys, random items in the Target Dollar Spot, and things I need to prep my ...
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Back to School Prep: Things to Think About
Summer is a time for teachers to slow down and take some time for themselves, but if you are like me, you can't take your brain away from thinking about your classroom for long! Summer is a great time to prep for back to school by working on some big projects and getting organized for the upcoming ...
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How to Use QR codes in the Classroom
I just love using QR codes in the classroom. They are quick to make, easy enough for students to use independently, fun, and free! For those of you not familiar with QR codes, QR codes are barcodes meant for quick scans with your cell phone or other photo device. You can download a QR scanning app ...
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Tips to Engage Students with Informational Text
For many students, fictional text is what brought about a love of reading. Who doesn't love a great story with relatable characters and an unexpected plot twist?! As students get older though, they begin “reading to learn.” This means that most text and classroom reading ...
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Teaching Economics Elementary
To be honest, economics is not my favorite thing to teach. Maybe it stems from that one economics class I took in college that was SO BORING and honestly way over my head. Every once in awhile, I will still have a nightmare that I skipped economics class so many times that I failed! Don't worry, ...
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How to Teach about Storms
I just love teaching about storms. Students sit perched on the edge of their seats anxious to hear all the exciting and dangerous details. Hands fly up around the room with students eager to tell their own experiences and knowledge. To make learning more relevant, I like to teach this ...
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Favorite Back to School Read Alouds
I can’t believe summer is winding down in Florida. Well, I should say summer break not the summer weather! We will have high temps and lots of humidity here through October or November. One of the first things I try and organize and plan around for those first few days/week back to school are my ...
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Establishing Classroom Rules and Procedures
One thing that I heard over and over during college was how important establishing classroom rules and procedures are to your classroom management. One of my courses required us to read The First Days of School by Harry Wong, which is essentially about the importance of setting up routines and ...
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What I’m Reading this Summer Break
Summer break is here and that means more free time and fun! I love to get lost in a good book. I have a PILE of books ready to be devoured and I am hoping to get through a few this summer between driving my kids to summer camps and family vacations. So here is my list of what I'm reading this summer ...
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