I recently posted a picture on Instagram (@notsowimpyteacher) of my math centers organized and ready to use. I received dozens of questions and requests for a blog post about my math center rotations. I have blogged MANY times about math centers, but it is a topic that I am passionate about, so I am happy to share! Specifically, this post is going ... Continue Reading
5 Back to school Books for Third Grade
I love reading to my class and I get started on day one! I love the books First Day Jitters and The Juice Box Bully, but by the third grade, all of my students have heard these books several times. So I try to mix in some different books to keep it interesting. The following books are my very favorite read alouds for the first week of school. I ... Continue Reading
Never Sharpen Another Pencil
I wrote this post for the iTeach Third blog! Make sure you are following!Let's be honest, pencils are a constant battle in the classroom! I decided early on that students would not be permitted to sharpen pencils in my classroom. I did this for several reasons: I find the sound to be a HUGE distraction to myself and my students. Certain students ... Continue Reading
6 Ways we are Killing Their Love for Reading
Reading instruction in my classroom took a huge turn for the better after reading The Book Whisperer and Reading in the Wild by Donalyn Miller. I truly believe that every school teacher should read these books. I lend my copies out all the time! They are super easy reads. I have always LOVED reading. I am a book worm. I am happiest in a bookstore ... Continue Reading
Teaching United States Landmarks with Legos
I love to teach social studies. More specifically, I love to teach about american history and government. I have a degree in American Political Studies with an emphasis in the American Legal System. After college, I worked as a lobbyist for the state supreme court. It was the perfect job for me at the time. After having four kids, my heart changed ... Continue Reading
Interactive Notebooks: Your Questions Answered
I LOVE interactive notebooks! They have been a regular part of my classroom routine and something that my students look forward to. That being said, I receive questions from other teachers nearly every day. This may be a long post, but I wanted to answer ALL of your questions in one place. So grab a glass of wine and get comfy! First, I have to ... Continue Reading
End of Year Desk Cleaning Made Fun!
Today was my last day with students. I am CRAZY tired, but I really wanted to quickly write about a fun activity that I do every year to get my desks cleans. It is a student favorite and very effective on that last day! My kids blow soap bubbles on their desks! You will need a few ingredients: You can find all of the supplies in ... Continue Reading
5 Things Teachers Should Prep BEFORE Summer Break
I've been updating my site and this blog post can now be found by clicking HERE. ... Continue Reading
8 Changes That Made This Teacher Happy
This was my first year of using Whole Brain Teaching in the classroom. It was such an amazing change in classroom management and student collaboration. I loved teaching the classroom rules. Each rule has a hand gesture and the kids practiced teaching each other. When I noticed that the class was a little chatty, I would just say "Rule #2!" The ... Continue Reading
Inspiring Life-Long Readers
I love to read. I am a book nerd. I always have been. I was THAT kid who sat on the wall and read during recess. In high school, I had a job at the local library. In college, I shelved books for Barnes and Noble. Now, I have an Amazon Prime membership just so I can get books delivered within two days. When I finish a book, I get sad because I feel ... Continue Reading
End of Year Carnival Week for grades 2-5!