Hello darlings! Can I let you in on a little secret? I hate planning. I love creating and making engaging lesson plans, but trying to fit in all my standards for every subject for the entire year isn't something I enjoy. It's especially hard if you aren't already given a pacing guide by your district or by your curriculum company. But, guys, once you do it, it is so WORTH IT! Luckily, my team and I worked on this together a few years ago and now all I have to do is tweak it for changing standards or new curriculum adoptions. Otherwise, I just change the dates each year, and I am golden. I ... Read More about 6 Steps to Creating a Curriculum Map Pacing Guide for your Year
Blog
Diverse Books to Have in Your Classroom Library
Hello darlings! We all like to think that we are just one little person and we really can't do anything to affect change. As a teacher, that can't be further from the truth. I believe teachers have immense power in their classrooms. I think of my third grade teacher who embarrassed me in front of my class saying I couldn't even cut straight with scissors. That still affects me as an adult. LOL! I think about my fourth grade teacher who introduced me to my first book series and got me to start to love reading when I hated it before. One simple thing we do in our classroom can stay with a ... Read More about Diverse Books to Have in Your Classroom Library
Preparing for Back to School with COVID
Hello darlings! School just ended for me here in Missouri, but like you, I am already thinking ahead to next year and how on earth school is going to look during this COVID-19 Pandemic. My mind is spinning and I'm seeing all kinds of crazy pictures and recommendations on social media. States are trying to decide what school will even look like. Will we go back inside the classroom? Will will stay home? Will it be a hybrid of at school learning and distance learning? Will students go on an A/B schedule with some students attending in the morning and some in the afternoon? Will some students ... Read More about Preparing for Back to School with COVID
End of the Year Ideas for Virtual Teaching
Hello darlings! Trying to end the year of virtual teaching definitely has be an emotional roller-coaster. While I am glad to be finished with this computer based typed teaching, I am going to miss my students. I hate not being able to give them a hug! To end my year, I hosted a Virtual Class Party on Zoom. You can do the same on Google Meets. I created gift bags for my kiddos and then delivered them to their homes the day before our meeting. I just set them on the front porch or by their door. I told them not to open it until our meeting. Party Bags For each bag, I created a ... Read More about End of the Year Ideas for Virtual Teaching
Free Virtual Vacation Field Trips
Hello darlings! With school closings, I wanted my students to do something fun on their Spring Break. I created these Virtual Vacation Field Trips! You can use them for Spring Break OR as Virtual Field Trips. I have included all the links if you click on the little airplanes. Students also have a journal to fill out as well. If you don't need the journal or the spring break picture, just delete those slides from your copy before you post it to Google Classroom. These slides are NOT editable, meaning you cannot change the days of the week or change out the places I have chosen. The student journal IS EDITABLE. I created this to be ... Read More about Free Virtual Vacation Field Trips
Meet the Teacher Open House Night Resources
Hello Darlings! Do you have a Meet the Teacher Night or Open House where students and their families come to drop off supplies? We have one each year and families can come in anytime within a two hour window to meet the teacher, tour the room, and drop off their child's supplies. It gets really hectic on this night because families are going in and out of the room, babies are crying, toddlers are running around drawing on the dry erase board with perminant markers.... LOL! Those are just a few experiences I've had! I want to be able to meet with each family, but I can't if they are asking me where everything ... Read More about Meet the Teacher Open House Night Resources
