Blog

Are you looking for some St. Patrick's Day activities to use in your intermediate elementary classroom? Well I have you covered my friend! You and your students will LOVE these fun and engaging resources that are mostly ready to print and go. I have included a list of my favs below. My ...
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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

Math

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 the Classroom

If you are searching for fun AND educational November activities for your elementary classroom, 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 ...
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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 Halloween Activities for School 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 Halloween activities for school (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

Uncategorized

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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A Fun Apple Unit Study for Elementary

Are you looking for fun, apple-themed resources for an apple unit of study 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 ...
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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

ELA· For the Teacher

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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How to have a Classroom Carnival 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

Science· Seasonal

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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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 so 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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Using QR Codes for Videos in the Classroom

For the Teacher· Science

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

ELA· For the Teacher

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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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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Teaching About Pollution