1st Grade is the most magical of places. It truly is a home for transformation and growth like no other. In 1st grade, students come to you, many times, reading only pictures and then, in May, they ...
Blog
The Invisible Boy
Looping with my class this year, I’ve really had the opportunity to invest in and get to know my students. With extra time to see them as people, not just learners, we – as a class – coined this ...
Building Your Classroom Library
In the Scholastic Principal and Administrator’s Report (2018), they found that the average United States classroom contains 254 books with 31% of classroom libraries containing fewer than 50 ...
Managing Math Centers
From planning leveled guided-math lessons, to guided reading groups, to writer’s workshop, to Daily 5 choices, to math centers, as primary teachers we can be planning and preparing for over 36 ...
Planning Your Math Instruction with CSA
Oh differentiation - a word that strikes fear, frustration, and angst into the hearts of teachers everywhere. So often we are told to differentiate our guided math instruction by going "deeper not ...
The Best Math Games for Building Fluency
Math Board Games offer students the opportunity to build social skills, practice addition and subtraction fluency in a fun way, and offers teachers a nonthreatening way to assess students' ability to ...
Professional Development Books That Drive Instruction
So often I open my email to find a teacher is looking for more resources on math, writing, mini-lessons, etc. Ultimately, the underlying question is - I want to know more. I want to hone my ...
50+ Morning Tub Ideas
Morning Tubs offer a play-based opportunity for students to explore, create, and communicate. A non-threatening way to start the day, Morning Tubs help reduce the length of your morning routine, get ...
FREE Books for Your Classroom
Teaching is expensive. Even in the most supportive, well-funded schools, teachers fund classrooms. The most expensive (yet the most essential) of classroom supplies? Books. The hitch? Research ...
Whole Group Math Lessons
Our whole-group math lessons happen every day for 8-12 minutes after we talk numbers and before small-groups and math centers. These short, intentional lessons help anchor our learning, set the ...
Winter Art Projects
Winter is a special time in the classroom. We are beginning to see the fruits of our hard work and holiday goodness is in full tilt. As teachers, we have the chance to embrace the season and give our ...
Teaching a Combination Class
Split class? Combination class? Multi-age class? Whatever you call it, this year I welcomed a new challenge! Transitioning from a 1st grade classroom to a K/1 classroom 5 weeks into the school year, ...
