Monday, November 1, 2021

Turkey Day!

No comments
The days leading up to Thanksgiving break always seemed to be the most exhausting for me as a teacher! Every year I was just so mentally and emotionally drained and ready for a break! I started doing Turkey Day (really Turkey week!) to get out of the funk and have some fun! The week before Thanksgiving turned into one of my absolute favorites in our first grade year! Keep reading to learn how we celebrate Turkey Day and find a FREEBIE at the end of the post!     All week long to get ready for Turkey Day, we read Turkey books! Each day we read a fiction or non-fiction Turkey book and complete an activity. Finally the day before break is Turkey Day! In the morning, I tell my...

Continue Reading
Monday, October 18, 2021

5 Routines to Keep You Organized This School Year

2 comments
An organized, clean classroom truly makes my heart happy! A clutter-free space relieves stress and makes my second-home a joyful place to be!  Here are 5 ways that I keep my classroom organized even during a chaotic school year. 1. Set aside a big chunk of time at the beginning to get your systems in place!  As teachers, one thing we don't have a lot of is extra time. Sometimes it seems easier to just live with the clutter than take time to organize. But, investing time in developing organizational systems that work for you will save so much time in the long run! So grab a venti iced coffee and enjoy some quality alone time organizing! Everyone’s system will be different. You...

Continue Reading
Thursday, September 23, 2021

Simplify and Streamline your Math Centers!

No comments
During my second year of teaching, I made the jump to guided math and it was hands-down the best instructional decision I’ve made! It allows me to support my learners at all levels and really get to know them as mathematicians. By working with all students in a small group every single day, I got a much clearer picture of what students were able to do and where they needed to grow!  But you know what I didn’t love about guided math? Math centers. I loved the concept of students practicing and reviewing previously taught skills. I loved that they are able to practice these skills in fun, hands-on ways. But, every week I seemed to run into the same issues. It was taking me too long...

Continue Reading