On the Blog
Phoneme Blending Activities for the Classroom
Phoneme blending is one piece of phonemic awareness. Phonemic awareness is a vital foundation in the building blocks of reading…
Teaching the Schwa
Have you heard about the schwa sound? I had never learned about this sound until I went through Orton-Gillingham training…
Silent E Jobs & Why They are Important
Many students learn about silent e (or final e) within CVCe words, but silent e jobs don’t end there! There…
The 3 Great Spelling Rules: Adding Suffixes
When you hear the ‘3 great spelling rules’ this refers to three rules we use when adding suffixes for base…
10 Children’s Books About Deployment
Military children go through many hardships, the most difficult one being separated from a parent for long periods of time…
What are the 6 Syllable Types?
If you’ve received any formal training in phonics, you may have encountered the 6 syllable types. I first learned about…
Teaching Open and Closed Syllables with Confidence
Open and closed syllables are the first two types of syllables that students should learn. Learning about syllable types helps…
3 Science of Reading Terms: Phonemes, Graphemes, and Morphemes
When you first dive into the Science of Reading, there are a lot of terms to know. As you dive…
The Sounds of -ED: Why it’s important to teach this skill
After students have learned about the inflectional -ed ending, now it’s time to ask, ‘how can students know what sound…
Levels of Understanding Simplified for Your Classroom
The Levels of Understanding system has worked so well in my classroom and it reminds students to put their name…
Teaching Final Stable Syllables
A final stable syllable (also known as a consonant + le syllable) is found at the end of a multisyllabic…
11 Editable Word Work Activities for December
One of my favorite ways to keep students motivated and actively learning during the winter months is by using these…
The Ultimate List of September Read Alouds
The month of September is filled with getting to know your students, celebrating the start of fall, and remembering 9/11…
First Week Read Alouds to Teach Expectations & Build Community
The first week of school is the perfect time to use read alouds to teach rules and expectations and to…
First Week of School Lesson Plan Ideas
It can feel overwhelming thinking of all the things you need to fit into the first week of school. You…
Using Competition in Classroom Management
Incorporating competition in your classroom management can be a fantastic motivator if used correctly! I’ve used competition in first grade…
5 Easy Classroom Management Strategies
Whether you’re in the throes of back to school season, or you’re struggling mid-year these classroom management strategies are so…
First Week of School Activities to Make Students Feel Welcome
Setting the tone for the year is important and the first week of school is the perfect time to do…
The 3 Sounds of the Letter O
The letter O is the least reliable vowel in English. Students are often first taught the short o sound, as…
Fun and Effective Subject-Verb Agreement Activities for First Graders
In the early elementary grades, teaching subject-verb agreement can seem like a tricky task. I am here to talk about…
Games and Activities for Teaching Consonant Digraphs
One of the trickiest concepts every reading teacher has to teach is the concept of consonant digraphs. Two letters, but…
4 Things I Always Do During My Classroom Prep
The back to school season can be so busy. Here are four things that either make my life easier or…
End-of-Year Early Finisher Activities to Keep Students Engaged
As the end of the school year approaches, keeping early finishers engaged can sometimes be a challenge. We all know…
Managing Student Supplies
Do you struggle to manage your students’ supplies? This causes me such a headache if my class has trouble keeping…
3 Easy Classroom Library Organization Tips
Are you looking to reorganize your classroom library? I’m sharing my library organization from my first grade classroom! These students…
The Ultimate List of End of Year Packing Tips to Simplify Your Life
The end of the year is such a busy time. Your to do list is long and it’s easy to…
End of the Year Classroom Prep for the First Week of School
The first week of school is so busy! You have a long to do list while also trying to get…
5 Simple Tips to Solve Spring Fever in your Classroom
Have the wiggles taken over your classroom? Spring fever is in full swing come April! Are you looking for ways…
Teaching R-Controlled Vowels
Bossy R words can be so fun! Are you teaching r-controlled vowels in your classroom? Keep reading for some fun…
Leap Day Activities for the Classroom
Celebrate Leap Day 2024 with your class! We only have a leap year every four years, so use this opportunity…
The Ultimate List of February Books for Your Classroom
February is a short month, but we pack a lot in! There are so many holidays and events to cover…
Simple Parent Holiday Gift from Students
Are you looking for a quick and easy parent holiday gift from your students? This adorable craft is low prep…
3 Tips to Save Your Sanity Teaching in December
Teaching in December requires patience! It can feel overwhelming and crazy for teachers. There are so many interruptions, so much…
Celebrating Veterans Day in the Classroom
Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11 every year. It’s so important to celebrate Veterans Day in the classroom. This…
3 Must-Have Elements in Your Phonics Lessons
Teaching phonics can feel overwhelming. You have so much curriculum to cover. You’re expected to do both reading and writing…
The Benefits of Coloring Pages in Your Classroom
It’s no secret that I am a big fan of using coloring pages in the classroom. This isn’t just ‘fun…
First Weeks of School: 5 Tips to Remember
The first weeks of school are so important for setting the tone for the rest of the year. I don’t…
Classroom Management: How to Set Up a Classroom Command Center
One thing that I implemented in my classroom a few years ago is something I call the command center. It…
Teaching Growth Mindset
Growth mindset is such an important concept for little learners. This theory of mindset comes from Carol Dweck. You can…
Father’s Day Activities in the Classroom
Some schools are no longer in session during Father’s Day weekend, but we can’t forget to celebrate the dads in…
The Science of Reading Sight Words: What SoR Tells Us About Sight Words
Are your students struggling to learn sight words? The Science of Reading sight words may surprise you! Sight words are…
Handling No Name Papers in the Classroom
One thing that drives me crazy in my classroom is no name papers. I tell my students constantly that they…
End of the Year Activities
The end of the year can be such a hectic time! Sometimes it’s hard to remember that it’s also a…
Mother’s Day Activities
Are you looking for fresh Mother’s Day activities for your classroom? There are so many fun ways to celebrate Mother’s…
Early Finisher Ideas for the Classroom
I’m always looking for more early finisher ideas, but spring is when I find myself using early finishers the most…
First Grade Spring Activities
Spring is such a fun season to celebrate in first grade! Are you looking for some ways to incorporate spring…
8 Tips for Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent teacher conferences can be very stressful, but they are a very important way to communicate with parents about their…
4 Ways to Use Task Cards in Your Classroom
First of all, you may not have used task cards in your classroom before, so you might be wondering, ‘what…
3 March Madness Classroom Activities to Try this Month
March Madness is a fun basketball tournament that many students enjoy watching. Incorporating March Madness classroom activities is a great…
Celebrating Valentine’s Day in the Classroom
Valentine’s Day is such a fun holiday. I love that Valentine’s Day isn’t just a romantic holiday – it’s all…
5 New Classroom Management Ideas
I love trying out new classroom management ideas mid-year. Sometimes my students just need a change because they’re getting antsy…
February Classroom Activities Round Up
The month of February can feel incredibly long, but it’s a busy one! We are all counting down until spring…
Super Bowl Activities for the Classroom
The month of January can feel VERY long. You’ve returned from break. It’s cold outside. Your students are stir-crazy, especially…
New Year’s Activities
Are you looking for low-prep New Year’s activities? The end of winter break means the holidays have come and gone…
5 Ways to Keep Students Engaged in December
December may be a short month, but it is a hectic one. Keeping students engaged during the weeks leading up…
Teaching Gratitude in 3 Easy Ways
One concept that I like to focus on during the month of November is gratitude. The month of December is…
5 Simple Classroom Halloween Activities
Do you dread the craziness and hype of Halloween in your classroom every year?My students were always more difficult to…
Low-Stress Parent-Teacher Conferences
As a teacher, parent-teacher conferences are one of the things that give me the most anxiety. Not only do they…
Phonemic Awareness Activities in the Classroom: Phoneme Isolation
WHAT IS PHONEME ISOLATION? Phoneme isolation is the ability to identify specific sounds within a word. Isolation is the first…
8 Ways to Build Classroom Community
The first weeks of school are the best time to build the foundation for a strong classroom community. Try these…
Celebrating Names in the Classroom
One fantastic way to kick off the school year is to do a unit about names! Celebrating names in the…
5 Must-Do Read Aloud Activities for the First Week of School
The first week of school can be so hectic. Use these 5 read aloud activities to make your planning a…
16 Classroom Books to Teach Social Emotional Learning
Social emotional learning is “the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and…
7 Back to School Organization Ideas
Are you wanting to get organized for the back to school season? For me, it is so hard to get…
Important Literacy Centers for First Grade
Literacy centers are a necessary part of the K-2 classroom because they provide an opportunity for teachers to differentiate instruction…
How to Make a Substitute Teacher Binder
HOW TO MAKE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER BINDER First, find a cute cover! I like to make my sub binders eye-catching…
Positive Classroom Culture with FREE Student Notes
State testing season is (unfortunately) upon us! During this time of year, I’m always looking for new ways to keep…
Anxiety in the Classroom
Now more than ever we need to be able to recognize the signs of anxiety in our students. Their world…
16 Classroom Management Read Alouds
Are you looking for some books to teach your students expected classroom behaviors? A great way to start the discuss…
Why I’m not teaching this year
If you found me on social media, you most likely already know this story! If not, here’s why I’m not…
What is Phonics? A Guide for Parents
What is phonics? Use this guide to help your child learn at to read at home! Understanding phonics instruction doesn’t…
10 Easy Classroom Management Strategies
Looking to find some new classroom management ideas to encourage positive behavior in your classroom? Check out these tips that…
Father’s Day Activities while in Quarantine
So you’re in quarantine and you feel like Father’s Day has snuck up on you? These free activities will make…
8 ways to destress this summer break while in quarantine
8 WAYS TO DESTRESS ON YOUR SUMMER BREAK WHILE IN QUARANTINE So you’re beyond excited that this school year is…
