The homework debate has been going on for years. Some schools have eliminated it altogether, others still assign it nightly, and many fall somewhere in between. As teachers, we are often caught in the middle of differing expectations from families, administrators, and our own beliefs about what is best for
Something amazing recently happened at my school! The parent fundraising committee raised money for an outdoor classroom with benches, picnic tables, and even a learning gazebo! I’m so excited about this addition and love mixing outdoor learning with enriching ideas. This inspiring project has motivated me to share some of
Bringing coding bots into your classroom is a fun and engaging way to get students excited about programming. If you’ve ever wondered why coding matters for young learners, check out my post “My Favorite Coding Apps for Kids” for a deeper dive into the “why” behind early programming. In short:
Winter is the perfect season for winter craftivities that add hands-on fun to your classroom! These three winter craftivities – Hide-and-Sneak Snowman, Skating Penguin, and Winter Bear – are designed to keep your students engaged, enhance their creativity, and reinforce key skills. Whether you’re looking for quick prep crafts or
If you’ve ever watched a student count all the way from 1 just to figure out what comes after 12, you’ve seen the power (and challenge) of number sense in K-1. Developing flexible thinking with numbers isn’t just about memorizing—it’s about building mental connections, understanding relationships, and feeling confident with
Every week brings new dynamics to my classroom, but I always include these five key elements in my lesson plans to create an engaging and effective learning environment. 1. Hands-On Games Hands-on activities help young learners engage in visual and spatial learning. Each week, I make sure to include games
There are so many fun and engaging apps you can use in the classroom to enhance your students’ learning! The only downside to having so many tools available is knowing which ones to try out. A lot of apps are great for teachers and older kids, but it can sometimes
“I’m Done!” — Now What? If you’ve ever heard those two words during your lesson — you know the chaos that can follow. Early finishers can quickly become a distraction if they don’t know what to do next. That’s why having a solid plan for early finisher activities is essential.
Helping young learners solve story problems can feel tricky. Many students who can add or subtract just fine still freeze when they see a word problem. Why does this happen? Story problems require students to combine reading comprehension, number sense, and problem-solving strategies all at once. When one of those
Helping young students recognize high-frequency words is one of the best ways to build strong early readers. But let’s be real—just handing out flashcards doesn’t always do the trick. If you’re looking for strategies to teach sight words in K-2 that actually stick (and don’t require hours of prep), this
