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Our most recent posts:
How to End the Year on a Positive Note
You made it to the end of the school year with your students. Let’s make sure it ends on a positive note. I have five tips and activities for the end of the year that are easy to implement, involve little to no prep, and will put smiles on the faces of you and your students.
How to Avoid the Summer Slide
Students have worked hard this year. They are ready for a break. You are, too. However, you know how important it is to encourage your students to practice their skills over the summer to prevent losing some of what you all worked so hard to achieve this year.
The challenge becomes finding work for your students to do that offers practice and reinforcement, but that they’ll actually enjoy doing. I’ve got you covered. Read on to learn how.
End of Year Gifts Students, Volunteers, and Staff Will Love
The end of a school year means many things to a teacher. Endless to-do lists, fitting in final lessons and projects with your students, getting your classroom summer vacation-ready. The end of the year also means thank you gifts.
As teachers, we’re on the receiving end of gifts of appreciation from our students and families. We also want to give gifts to those who walked alongside us throughout the year. Especially this year.
Stressed about finding just-right gifts that are within your budget? Don’t be. I have suggestions and resources to help.
Engage Students at the End of the Year with Project Based Learning
Discover how to engage students with project-based learning at the end of the school year. Learn tips for creating interdisciplinary, meaningful projects that celebrate learning and growth.
5 Planning Strategies to Successfully Keep Lessons on Track All Winter Long
Don't let snow days throw your ELA curriculum off course. Discover five adaptive planning strategies to maintain student engagement and lesson momentum through winter's unpredictable weather. From quick shifts to emergency kits, this guide offers practical tips for upper elementary teachers to keep the pages turning and the learning consistent, even when the weather outside is frightful.
5 Ready-to-Go Solutions to Simplify the First Week Of School
Make achieving your first week of school goals - building community, establishing routines, and getting to know your students - easier with five ready-to-go resources.
How To Simplify Upper Elementary Lesson Planning All Year Long
This growing collection of posts will teach you how to lesson plan quickly, how to create an effective lesson planning system, important factors to consider when planning your lessons, and strategies for daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly lesson planning.
Celebrating Valentine's Day In Upper Elementary with a History of Chocolate
Bring rigor to your Valentine’s Day lessons with a mini-unit on the history of chocolate. Incorporate meaningful and engaging teaching resources during school holidays through thematic nonfiction units that teach important reading skills while students learn about the history of a holiday.
24 Helpful Resources for Promoting Teacher Self Care
Here are 24 self care resources that include tips for getting started with self care, self care strategies for the classroom, and mindfulness books for teachers.
How to Create Better Work Life Balance as a Teacher
With the start of the school year, it’s difficult to let go of the carefree days of summer for the busyness that going back to school brings. While finding a balance between work and life is difficult for many, it’s particularly difficult for teachers, whose work is not over when the final bell rings. Here are just a few tips to begin mastering home and school life balance.
Seven Simple Ways to Practice Self Care This Year
Taking time to protect your own well-being benefits not only you, but everyone around you. That includes your students. This year, make it a goal to prioritize self care. Here are seven simple ways to get started.
One Simple Way to Boost Positivity During the Holidays
This free tool is the perfect resource for boosting positivity and is one of the easiest classroom management strategies I’ve used. It’s easy to implement and super effective in turning students’ attention to others during the holidays.
5 Resources to Save Your Sanity in December
Let me help take some of the overwhelm out of the holiday season in your classroom. I have organization tips, writing activities, and holiday activities perfect for your upper elementary students.
Read on as I take you through five teaching resources that will help save your sanity and keep your students engaged this holiday season.
3 Tips For a Successful School Year
Taking time to rest and recharge is so important. I hope you’ve taken that time for yourself during these summer months. Giving yourself time and space to process and reflect on this past school year - as well as time to think about anything but teaching - is essential to your well-being as a teacher. But… there is another gift you need to give yourself during this time away from the classroom - the gift of a smooth start.
Every teacher wants to start the school year feeling prepared, organized, and in control. And that means setting up systems at the beginning of the year so the rest of the year runs smoothly. Today, we’re talking about three systems to put in place now to help start your school year off on the path to success.
Need Free Resources for Homebound Learning?
So many of you are scrambling to find resources to send home with your students due to the COVID-19/ coronavirus pandemic. And for parents, many of you are wondering what to do with kids at home.