Decorations are popping up everywhere and Halloween season is officially in full swing! Students are always so excited for this time of year, so why not fuel their excitement with some fun Halloween picture books? In this post, I share my favorite Halloween picture books with some tips about how they can be used in the classroom. I’m so excited about sharing these books, I decided to share my Halloween
Identifying and understanding plot structure is a key skill for elementary students to become good readers. Identifying main story elements is a building block to be able to eventually retell and summarize fiction. Plot structure may also be referred to as story structure or literature structure, but they are the same general skill. In this blog post, I provide a step-by-step on how to teach plot structure skills. I also
I created reading digital mini lessons for teachers who are always scrambling to find the materials they need in so many places. I thought, “What if teachers could have everything they need in ONE place with clear instructions broken down for each day?” Between the read alouds, question prep, anchor charts, student guided practice, and everything else, mini lessons took me so much time to prepare as a teacher. That
Teachers are some of the most creative people in the world. They come up with the most inventive, engaging, and exciting lessons, classrooms, and more. Cute and fun behavior management and reward systems are no exception. Teachers come up with adorable charts, token systems, prizes, and even the latest trend… Desk Pets. There is no doubt that these reward systems are super creative, fun, and motivating for students. But are
You either love teaching writing or hate teaching writing. I know in my beginning years of teaching, I despised teaching writing. It was probably because I wasn’t confident about my writing skills. I was never actually taught how to write. We were expected to just write! Teachers would say, “write a story” or “write a report.” Sometimes we would have to practice responding to a prompt to practice before standardized
Here is a list of my favorite books to use as mentor texts for teaching writing and writer’s workshop. I selected these texts based on my own experiences teaching writing in the classroom and to intentionally incorporate diversity. NOTE: The links below are Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Narrative Mentor Texts to Spark Ideas Narrative Mentor Texts to Teach Craft and Structure Persuasive
My virtual field trips have quickly become one of my most popular resources. It is no wonder teachers and students want fun and safe ways to learn virtually. Now you can take your students to Disney, see how chocolate is made, or even visit Mexico City for Day of the Dead. Using these resources in your classroom is a perfect way to engage students and have some fun. Here are
Everybody needs a break from time to time. And that includes your students. Here are some easy ideas for brain breaks that work for classroom and distance learning. What are Brain Breaks? Break breaks are short mental breaks that help students stay focused. Typically, brain breaks help students move or engage in discussions to help them re-energize and refocus. Why are Brain Breaks Important? Research shows that regular breaks throughout
One of the big questions I heard from teachers last spring when COVID initially impacted schools was “How am I going to grade my students?” Many teachers were worried that “if students aren’t held accountable for their work, will they be motivated to complete it?” With many schools doing distance learning or a combination of classroom and distance learning, and with the ongoing uncertainty of what this school year may
With distance learning becoming the new normal for many teachers and students, Boom Cards have emerged as an easy and effective way to engage students, practice skills, and collect data on student progress. Let’s take a minute to look at how to integrate Boom Cards with Google Classroom. It’s much easier than many of you think!
