Let me guess. Science is on your schedule. It's on your plans. It might even be color-coded. And yet somehow, every single week, it's the first thing to go. Reading ran long. A math lesson flopped and needed a do-over. Someone cried. Someone else needed a bathroom break at the absolute worst moment. And just like that — Friday arrived and ... Continue Reading
How a Predictable Reading Routine Creates More Independence (Not Less)
I used to think routines were the enemy of creativity. Predictable? Boring. Repetitive? Snooze. I wanted my classroom to be exciting—full of fresh activities and Pinterest-worthy surprises that made my students gasp with delight. So I spent every Sunday creating brand-new reading activities. And every Monday? My students spent half the period ... Continue Reading
The Spelling Routine That Actually Works (and Only Takes 10 Minutes A Day)
Most teachers I talk to have the same frustration when it comes to spelling: it feels like a lot of time and effort for very little payoff. Students memorize a list, pass the test on Friday, and then turn around and misspell those same words in their writing the very next week. Others struggle all week and never really get the words at all. And ... Continue Reading
8 Simple Tips for Teaching Fiction Narrative Writing
I loved to teach fiction narrative writing at the end of the year. Students are always excited to finally get the chance to make up their own stories and they find fiction narratives fun to write. It’s so easy to engage kids in fiction writing, even when they are otherwise distracted by sunny skies, so this is a great unit to teach after ... Continue Reading
5 Easy Ways to Help Boost Writing Test Scores
It’s that time of year again. Every teacher’s favorite season . . . testing season. But preparing for standardized tests doesn't have to be difficult. Today I am sharing 5 easy ways to help boost writing test scores. I firmly believe that the best way to help your students become better writers is to make writing fun. Each of these strategies is ... Continue Reading
FREE Test Prep Review Week for Grades 2–5!