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Hello Darlings! Spring has sprung!! The sun is shining, you are (hopefully) feeling recharged from a more than deserved spring break, and the end of the year is in sight. As you re-entered your classroom from a week away, you likely noticed some of the things you were dealing with before that you didn’t have the time or energy for. HA! I remember walking into my classroom and wondering “Why do I only have one whiteboard marker?” “Is there really tape holding my small group sign together?” and “How long have my erasers been leaving a huge residue on my board?” I thought to myself “How am I living like this?!” Sounds ... Read More about These Are A Few of My Favorite (Must-Have) Things

Hello Darlings! Spring is on the way!! Whoop Whoop! We are talking about longer days, more sunshine, warm air, cute shoes, the good Easter candy in stock at Target, and one giant step closer to summer. Ah, yes! The good life!  Today I am pumped to share some fun with you because we have been taking it pretty seriously around here with state test prep and we need a good laugh. I’m sure you have all heard that laughter is the best medicine and that it adds years to your life. Things I know I could use after parent-teacher conferences, report cards, and state testing.  Let’s dive into some fun resources to get those smiles ... Read More about April Fools Prank for Students and Other Spring Fun!

Hello Darlings! I think all teachers would agree that state testing is awful. I mean, go ahead, name one person who thinks it is great (and don’t say the people who wrote the test!). It isn’t an accurate measure of what they know and it puts a ton of undue strain on our little ones as they are forced to perform under circumstances we all know are unfair.  Then I put myself in my kiddo's shoes. Hours upon hours, days upon days of testing. Staring at a computer screen reading articles and stories that may or may not be on my grade level. Answering questions that mean nothing to them. Figuring out complex math problems that are ... Read More about Free Guide on How to Review for State Testing

Hello Darlings! I don’t know about you but I feel as though we are constantly testing kids to measure their understanding. I often worry we are burning them out! With exit tickets, tests, quizzes, and so much more happening day in and day out I can feel a bit of a groan of exhaustion when I mention state testing. Not only does it come with weeks of preparation and review, it is also high stakes. Some parents really take it seriously and it can feel as though the pressure is on. In some districts, teachers are getting paid based on student performance which can only increase the stress behind it all even more. So how do we ... Read More about Quick & Easy Strategies for Encouraging Students During State Testing

Hello Darlings! Do your kids love to tell stories?!  My kids LOVE to tell stories!  It seems to come naturally to them when they speak, but as soon as their pencils hit the paper (if they can find a pencil that is!); there is a breakdown. The ideas don’t seem to flow as naturally, organization becomes a bit dizzying, and you begin to question if the plot changed or if you zoned out trying to make sense of it all. This is why I felt pushed to create a method for how to teach narrative writing in first-person point of view…the fun way! I love that the kids can enjoy telling fun and unique stories while following a ... Read More about Teaching Narrative Writing & the 1st person Point of View…The Fun Way!

Hello Darlings! Fractions can be a beast to teach.  It starts off fun with cutting pizza slices, using colorful manipulatives, and eating ⅔ of a piece of candy… Then, we add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions…sheesh.  One way I have found to make tackling fractions much easier is by using real-life activities and experiences to help students understand fractions better.  Since I am all about incorporating movement into my elementary classroom, I created Fractions Basketball! To play this super simple, engaging fractions game, students grab a partner, crumple a piece of paper, and make a hoop with their arms!  ... Read More about Hands-On Fraction Activities for the Upper Elementary Classroom