Welcome to the end of the year! This time of year can certainly be crazy and tiring! Trying to pack up your classroom, get all the extra inventories and student cumulative folders complete, and plan special award ceremonies for your amazing students – all things that must be done, but also all things that […]
Charity Preston
Going Buggy With Fraction Fun
I thought I would throw some spring your way in the form of Buggy Fun with Fractions! I have two bug themed fraction games I wanted to share with you. Hopefully you will print them out and use then in small groups or a center for some extra practice and review of fractions. My first […]
Classroom Seating Chart: Building Blocks
This section is for class sizes of 16-17 students. While all the photos show options for 16 students, feel free to place an additional student on the end of one of the groups, if needed. Putting all desks into 2 rows and facing each other really puts the students at eye-level with one another. This […]
Free Memorial Day Printables Pack
Memorial Day for kids is a patriotic holiday that might seem intangible to most. Many Americans might be celebrating Memorial Day by going to a cookout with family members, know it’s a federal holiday and that banks are closed, and probably appreciate the fact they get a long weekend off school, but that is all the […]
Soaring with Spring Snacks
Hey teaching friends! Today, I just wanted to share an idea that I did for my son’s preschool class for his birthday treat. I thought it would also be a great idea for an end of the school year celebration too! It was a huge hit with the teachers and students alike! Do you have […]
Guided Reading Resource Organization
Organized Classroom has had some great guest blog posts over the years and this one all about guided reading resources organization is another great example! Keep reading to find out how she gets all her items pulled together – and make sure to pick up the free Guided Reading Resource Organization Pack I whipped up […]
Classroom Seating Chart: Dueling Desks
This section is for class sizes of 20-21 students. While all the photos show options for 20 students, feel free to place an additional student on the end of one of the groups, if needed. This desk arrangement is more like a competitive arena. The students are able to work in a discussion format and […]
Worlds Greatest Mothers Day Printable
Mother’s Day is a fun holiday to acknowledge in the classroom. Even if students don’t have a biological mother living at home, chances are they have someone who can fill the role. Mother’s Day Games and Ideas How fun are these? Mother’s Day trivia with answer key Wordsearch for Mom Candle Labels Breakfast in bed […]
Saving Grading Time!
Do you feel like you spend all your nights and weekends grading? If so, I have been there. And I found a little tip that has worked for me in the past. Take a look at my tip in the video below. Prefer to read the transcript? I’ve got you covered! Hi everyone! I hope […]
Thinking Spring Bulletin Board
Thinking spring yet? Spring bulletin boards for classroom teachers (or even libraries or in church) are always a figurative breath of fresh air – even if the temperature hasn’t quite warmed up yet. Cute bulletin board idea themes for spring might include gardens, flowers, pinwheels, bunnies, pictures of baby chicks, spring showers, and definitely a […]
9 Elementary Math Posters
Part of successful math understanding is knowing the massive amounts of vocabulary that goes with it. Having little word rhymes and mnemonics also helps students to remember all those little tidbits until students have them fully ingrained. And as most teachers know, colorful visuals – such as anchor charts and posters – can solidify that […]
Classroom Seating Chart: Backwards Dipper
This section is for class sizes of 18-19 students. While all the photos show options for 18 students, feel free to place an additional student on the end of one of groups, if needed. This choice involves a line of desks snaking around the room, and almost crossing as it comes back again. It would […]
Color the World for Earth Day and 24 Other Awesome Ideas!
It is standardized testing week. We also have benchmarking assessments due. Students are off-the-wall because the first hints of warmer Spring weather have arrived. And I just remembered that I need some celebrate Earth Day activities for April 22 as it is now Wednesday and I’m almost out of time. Do you think I can […]
Free Spring Color by Synonyms Printable Worksheets to Build Vocabulary
Teaching synonyms is a fun way for building vocabulary and allowing for more concise writing skills. You can use worksheets, anchor charts, manipulatives, bingo, or read alouds to introduce the concepts to your children. Being able to identify synonyms – and their opposite partner words – antonyms – are super fun topics for any grade […]
Free Poetry Pack for YOU!
Teaching poetry can be super tough for elementary students – or it can be really fun! It is a different format than they are used to because narrative writing the norm (and who doesn’t love a good story?). But, poetry is actually all around us. And not always in the classical sense of […]
Testing Season Practice Time
Are you panicking over testing season coming up yet? I always found that right after Winter Break I realized how close testing time really was and I became a drill sergeant. While testing is not always fun or interactive, I do believe that practicing on a regular basis up until the week of testing makes […]
Student Thank You Notes
I remember learning how to properly write a thank you note in elementary school. And to this day, I still handwrite thank you notes when I receive a special gift from someone. Something that occurred to me last week led me to create this specific student template to share. I recently purchased a vintage pennant […]
Classroom Seating Chart: Double O’s
This section is for class sizes of 16-17 students. While all the photos show options for 16 students, feel free to place an additional student on the end of one of the groups, if needed. This seating chart is wonderful to use for small group work and/or literature circles. How else could you use this […]
April Showers Bring Measurement?
Hi teaching friends! Needing a new idea for a measurement lesson? How about a new spring bulletin board? Perhaps something that combines them both? Score! I am definitely one for working smarter and not harder. As I was contemplating what I would put up for the April classroom bulletin board, I realized that I could […]
Tattle Ender Idea: Tell Me Slips
Early in my teaching career, I was covering a long-term substitute position for a third grade classroom. These students knew me pretty well from subbing in their building and classroom almost daily, so I wasn’t a “newbie” on the street in their room. I was filling in for 8 weeks in February and March. Beginning […]