In my last post, I shared ten of my favorite back-to-school activities. In this post, I’ll share ten more. You might also want to check out THIS post about building classroom community. I know that seeing lists of tons of ideas can be overwhelming. Just pick and choose what sounds like a good fit for… Read More
It’s back to school time and time to think about meaningful but fun back to school activities! In this post, I will share ten of my favorites. Watch for future posts because I’ve got lots more! 1 – TEACH CLASSROOM PROCEDURES Veteran teachers know that procedures can be taught on the first day, but need… Read More
Updated on 8-11-19 with some more favorites! One of the best first weeks of school activities is to read aloud to your students. The first week, especially, can be unpredictable in terms of planning and knowing how long everything will take when your students are new to your classroom. Having plenty of picture books ready… Read More
Every teacher is nervous on the first day of school. I teach fifth grade, I have been in education for 28 years, and I still get nervous on the first day. Here are some secrets I’ve learned to help you have the best first day of school ever! Updated to add: after I posted these… Read More
Have you ever heard of dialogue journals? When I think about routines that work well in upper elementary grades, dialogue journals are one of my top suggestions. I’ll explain how I use them in my classroom and I hope that it will become a helpful and meaningful routine for you as well. Quick note —… Read More
During the past few weeks, I have listened to three different people as they told me about personal situations that are extremely difficult. During each of these conversations, I felt so helpless. Feeling helpless is really hard for me. As a mom and a teacher, my first instinct is to make suggestions for how to… Read More