Does this sound familiar? You start your 4th grade math class, and students are fidgeting, transitioning from one subject to another, or simply not mentally ready for problem-solving. Before you know it, you’re spending the first 10 minutes of class just trying to get ...
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Fresh From the Blog
Unlock Learning Fun: 4 Best End-of-Year Review Games for Grades K-3
It's that time of year. End-of-year assessments or tests are looming. You have to finish compiling student portfolios, schedule final conferences, and the checklists for both students and yourself somehow keep expanding. How are you supposed to get everything you need done ...
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4th Grade Writing: Making the Time to Strengthen Young Authors
Writing is one of those subjects that can continue to be challenging to teach. While it is a struggle in primary grades because you have to start at the very beginning with proper letter formation and the distinction between letters and words, there are new challenges in the ...
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Morning Journals: A Pathway to Improved 3rd Grade Writing Skills
Third grade is the beginning of a new type of school for learners. We all know the saying they first learn to read so then they can read to learn, and in third grade, they are really starting to use more analyzing skills and higher-order thinking when it comes to literacy. ...
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3 Creative Addition Games You Need in Your Primary Classroom
Our kindergarten and first-grade students come into our classrooms ready to play and learn. They have all this energy and it is our responsibility to channel it appropriately and keep that excitement for learning alive. How do we do this while teaching them important ...
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Proven 2nd Grade Writing Prompts: Make Mornings Meaningful
Second grade is called the golden grade because they're at that magical age where they love learning yet are more independent than other primary grades. You get to continue growing that strong early foundation and stretch them so they are ready for the "reading to learn" ...
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Morning Meeting for Upper Elementary: The #1 Non-Cringey Way to Start Your Big Kids’ Day
As educators, we know the importance of setting the right tone for the day, especially with older students. However, finding engaging and meaningful ways to kick off the morning without it feeling forced can be a challenge. That's where Morning Meeting for Upper Elementary ...
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Motivate Students with 1st Grade Writing Prompts for the Year
First grade writing is an exciting subject! A lot of your young authors already have a strong foundation for handwriting, illustrating, and basic sentence structure. Their kindergarten teachers have set the stage for phonetic spelling and basic mechanics, and now you get to ...
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Engaging Kindergarten Writing Activities to Transform Your Classroom Now
Kindergarten writing can be an intimidating topic, both for students and teachers alike! Kindergarten students come into the school year with a variety of abilities. Some have learned to write their name and recognize letters while others may still struggle with proper ...
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Boost Math Skills with Exciting Subtraction Games for Elementary
Early elementary educators understand students need a strong foundation in numeracy skills. Young learners require a firm grasp on numbers and counting before they can tackle challenges such as arithmetic. Then they need fact fluency so they aren’t always using ...
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Ditch the Math Homework: A Powerful Play-Based Alternative
As teachers, we want our students to grow into the best versions of themselves. This means finding the most developmentally appropriate ways to teach them and talk to them. So why are so many teachers still assigning math homework, sending home worksheet packets, and ...
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9 Fun Friday Ideas for Your Classroom
Welcome back, fellow educators! As we approach the end of another bustling week in the K-3 classroom, it's time to start planning for everyone's favorite day – Fun Friday! Injecting a burst of excitement into the end of the week is crucial for maintaining engagement and ...
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The Best Books About Mother’s Day & Beyond: May Read-Alouds
As the month of May approaches, so does the need for new May read-alouds. In this month's read-aloud selection, we delve into books that celebrate Mother's Day, honor Memorial Day, and embrace the vibrant spirit of spring. These carefully chosen tales are not just ...
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8 Free Mother’s Day Gift Ideas From Kids
As Mother's Day approaches, the excitement in our classrooms is palpable. It's also the time teachers start looking for free Mother's Day gift ideas - because we know how quickly costs can add up! Kids are bubbling with anticipation, eager to show appreciation for the ...
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Test Prep Ideas That Are Fun (Not Excruciating)
Testing may not be everyone's favorite, but it can be tolerable and test prep can be...dare I say fun? In a perfect world, testing would not exist at all. Alas, it does, so let's make an easier pill to swallow with engaging games and activities. This approach is:Test Prep ...
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The Best Books about Earth Day & Beyond: April Read-Alouds
Teachers, if you are trying to find books about Earth Day and other great read-alouds for the month of April, I've got you! In this month's blog post, we'll explore read-alouds that not only celebrate Earth Day but also embrace the spirit of spring. Whether you're aiming to ...
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10 New Earth Day Writing Activities
Hi there, teacher friends! Earth Day will be here soon, so let's channel our students' creativity and love for our planet through engaging and meaningful writing activities. These Earth Day writing activities not only foster literacy skills but also instill a sense of ...
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5 Free Poetry Resources for Your Students
Welcome back, educators! As we dive into another exciting school year, it's essential to infuse creativity into our curriculum. Today, we're exploring five free poetry resources that will make teaching and learning poetry in your K-3 classroom an absolute delight. These ...
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March Mathness Activities Even Non-Sporty Students Will Love
Hi there, teacher friends! As we approach the month of March, why not bring the excitement of March Madness (or March Mathness - you decide!) into your classroom? This thrilling basketball tournament doesn't have to be limited to sports enthusiasts; it can be a fantastic ...
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10 New Read Across America Ideas (Change It Up)
Looking for new and exciting Read Across America ideas that are NOT Dr. Suess? Are you excited to shake things up for Read Across America day this syear? We sure are! This time around, let's explore some fresh and engaging ideas that steer away from the usual Dr. Seuss ...
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Arm you with high-quality tools: Sleep peacefully at night knowing you’re doing what’s best for your students.
Save your energy: Provide resources that cost you little energy (that stuff is precious)---but have high impact on your students.
Light your spark: Putting fun back into your classroom after the hardest teaching years can be just what you and your students need.