Organization is music to a teacher's soul. When things in our classroom have a designated home, students take better care of the resources, we know exactly where to find them, and it adds a sense of ...
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Math Read Alouds
"Do you do any whole-group during your guided math block??" The answer is, "Absolutely, yes." Our math mini-lessons happen every day for 8-12 minutes and help anchor our learning, set the ...
Math Tools You Can Make At Home
Dice, subitizing cards, center tubs, number lines – oh my! Our 1st grade math routines require so many resources and manipulatives. While Donors Choose, Go Fund Me accounts, and school funds are great ...
Guided Math: Must-Have Math Materials
Guided Math is a structure for organizing your math block that involves mini-lessons, targeted small-group instruction, and opportunities for spiral review through math workshop. Like guided reading, ...
Using Photographs for Math Mini-Lessons
When math mini-lessons turn into mega-lessons and your small-groups seem dull, photograph-based stories are the perfect way to 'hook' learners and connect your learning to the real-world! Today I'm ...
Connect 4 as a Math Center
Teaching 1st grade, I feel like I am always looking for simple centers that are easy to differentiate. Using a Guided Math model for instruction, we use A LOT of centers every school year. I love ...
Getting Started on Donors Choose
Scholastic found that in 2014, the average teacher spent $750 a year on his or her classroom during the previous school year. I read this number and laughed. While I am blessed with a pocket of ...
Managing Time in the Classroom
Do you ever feel like there is never enough time in a school day? That you are always behind schedule? <all teachers everywhere raise their hands> Sure choosing to extend an activity or bask in ...
Online Math Manipulatives
From cuisenaire rods to base-ten pieces, manipulatives are a CRITICAL part of our primary classrooms. They offer students a real, hands-on way to explore a mathematical concept and build their own ...
1st Grade Data & Graphing
Out of all the math content taught in 1st grade, data and graphing is some of the most hands-on and fun. While I love place value and making 10 to add (and they play SUCH a huge role in later grades), ...
Paragraph Writing in 1st and 2nd Grade
Just a few months ago we welcomed our first-grade friends and they were able to write a few words and if we were lucky, a complete sentence. Since August we have worked oh-so-hard to develop ...
Contraction Surgery
Friday was one of those fun, engaging, awesome days of learning. It was play-based, rigorous, and had my operating room of 1st grader doctors begging for more. Today I wanted to share with you more ...
