Blog

Hello Darlings! We all have heard it. We all know it. We all have LIVED it. The weeks between Thanksgiving and Winter Break are NUTS. Not only do we feel the holiday excitement, the overwhelm of a busy schedule, and the struggle to stay focused, but so do our students! It’s tough to keep students active and engaged in learning when they feel all the holiday emotions as well. We also have to remember that some students truly don’t enjoy the holidays because of personal situations or their home environment… That all being said, I try very hard to make the holidays a special time in my elementary classroom. I also ... Read More about December Brain breaks to Increase Engagement in Your Elementary Classroom

Hello Darlings!  Well, Thanksgiving has zoomed right past us and we are now planning for December! Eeek! I am always excited and ready to celebrate the holidays with my sweet kiddos! In order to do this, I include a list of my favorite December read-alouds for elementary students. There are SO many ways to incorporate all of your second, third, and fourth grade content into your read alouds...all the while you are having fun making holiday memories with your students!  Here is quick list of my absolute favorite December read alouds: The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. This particular version is read by Liam Neeson ... Read More about My Favorite December Read Alouds

Hello Darlings!    In the past, there were two words that could make me cringe: Sub Plans. Yes, they’re beyond necessary, but they are always at the very end of my to-do list. In the past, I have been in bed with a fever covered in a mound of tissues...doing what? SUB PLANS. This is where I knew I had to make some changes. When the world shut down due to COVID-19, it became even more apparent that I (and my teacher friends aka YOU) needed digital emergency sub plans and we needed them QUICK.  Enter the Digital Emergency Sub Plans for Third Grade and Fourth Grades. This is a GROWING monthly bundle of emergency plans ... Read More about Getting Prepared for a Substitute

Hello Darlings!   Are you feeling it? The absolutely antsy, excited, and restless behaviors your elementary students have right before a major holiday? I can tell you right now that I SURE feel it, see it, and I am prepared to keep my kiddos as busy as possible!  Honestly, I struggle with feeling restless right before a break as well. I tend to be overwhelmed tying up loose ends, trying to finish all my work (so that I don’t have to take any home with me...EEK!), and prepping for the Thanksgiving holiday itself (grocery lists, laundry, cleaning...DOUBLE EEK!).  Since we are all restless and ready for the ... Read More about 5 Easy Ways to Keep Kids Engaged Before Thanksgiving

Hello Darlings!   Can you believe that Thanksgiving will be here in almost two weeks? When I think about all that is going on in the next few weeks, Thanksgiving break seems so close, yet so far away! I’m so excited to spend time with my family and eat all of the yummy holiday food! What are your Thanksgiving holiday plans? In order to keep my sweet kiddos from getting too antsy so close to a holiday break, I have prepared several interactive digital and printable Thanksgiving activities!  While Thanksgiving isn’t technically in our third grade curriculum, I still can’t let this holiday slip by without teaching ... Read More about 5 Easy Thanksgiving Activities + A Freebie