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Hello Darlings! Before we know it, October will be around the corner! We can choose to hide from the candy and fun or just give in. I am not one for fighting the current when I can grab a raft and have fun so…let’s talk about how we can incorporate some haunted fun into a learning experience for our students. I love using project based learning because it really gives every child a chance to showcase their skills rather than placing a significant amount of pressure on a single assessment. This particular project is a bit spooky!  Students are tasked with designing their own menu for a Haunted Restaurant where Monsters ... Read More about The Haunted Restaurant: A Fun Halloween Math Project for Upper Elementary

Hello Darlings! Your sweet kiddos are starting to get into the groove of school again. Their little feet are remembering once again how to walk the halls, raise their hand, and sit in a desk. The muscle memory of engaging in conversation, waiting their turn, and holding a pencil are returning. Their stamina…is taking longer than you hoped! No worries, I’ve got some tricks to help you out!  THE BIG SECRET?? Turn Any Worksheet into a Game There is no question about it that kids love games! They love the excitement and the thrill that comes with a game. And guess what?? You will too! Why? Because their engagement will ... Read More about How to Turn ANY Worksheet into a Game

Hello Darlings! In my years of teaching, I have found that teaching math whole group really doesn’t benefit my students. It serves my students who are performing at grade level but it fails to support my students who need support, it stresses my students who need immense intervention, and it bores my students that need enrichment. Ultimately, nobody is getting what they need or want. So what did I do about it? I quit teaching math the way every manual told me to. I stopped whole group instruction and moved to rotations. This model allowed me to hit the curriculum while meeting all the differentiated needs of my ... Read More about Why Math Stations are Better than Whole Group

Hello Darlings! I hope your first days back to school have been amazing! I know the exhaustion that comes with those early days is a lot to handle but I also know the joy of those early relationships that come with your new classroom family (not to mention Starbucks runs for all things pumpkin spice and allll the laminating).  You are likely knee deep in paperwork handed back from families, a million emails from admin, and you’re doing everything possible to get out from under the planning that needs to take place. Let me help! With Patriot’s Day fast approaching, I wanted to share some resources that can help you begin ... Read More about 7 Patriots’ Day Ideas & Activities for Kids

Hello Darlings! Spelling is one of my favorite topics because it can easily be differentiated to meet the needs of every child. I love that this system can empower kids and gives them a path to success! So where do you start? Ah yes!! An assessment. First, grab these word lists! Then, using their DRA and other incoming reading data, I select a list that I think best fits where they are at. I then tell kids what list they are. I like to label them A, B, C, etc. Then…for the crazy part. I give all of the spelling tests AT ONCE. Yes. At ONCE. I tell kids to listen for their word and letter. Then list by list, I ... Read More about Differentiating Spelling Made Easy!

Hello Darlings! Meet the Teacher is one of the most exciting and chaotic nights of the year. It feels like speed dating! By the time you meet one student and their family, the next one is walking in the door. You find yourself dancing around the room, sweating, and hitting those 10,000 steps! Phew! Sounds familiar right? To ensure that the night is a hit, I like to come in fully prepared.  Here are some must-have resources to make your Meet the Teacher night a BREEZE: I always have a presentation on the screen as families walk in the door. This keeps us all on the same page and stops me from repeating myself. I love that it ... Read More about Everything You Need For Meet the Teacher Night