If you’ve ever asked a class of first graders to write about anything they want, you probably know what happens next. A few kids immediately start writing. One child has somehow filled half a page before you’ve even finished giving directions. And then there are the other students. “I don’t
By the time November rolls around, classrooms start to feel a little different. Students are excited about Thanksgiving, holiday conversations seem to pop up every five minutes, and keeping everyone’s attention can become a little more challenging than it was in September. At the same time, we still have important
I’ve already written about popular Beginning Reading Series, but now that Luke has finished up first grade {I’m NOT okay with that, btw!} I thought I’d share some series that he has loved as he’s developed into a confident reader this past year. What I love about a series is
There’s almost always one moment during writing time that every primary teacher recognizes immediately. One student is staring at a blank page. Another suddenly needs to sharpen their pencil for the third time. Someone quietly whispers, “I don’t know what to write.” Meanwhile, you’re trying to help students brainstorm ideas
There is a moment during math time that almost every elementary teacher recognizes immediately. You pass out another worksheet and suddenly the energy in the room changes. Some students rush through it as quickly as possible. Others stare at the page and avoid getting started. A few students may even
Teaching compound words is one of those skills that seems simple at first…until students head off to literacy centers and suddenly every word combination becomes a guessing game. We know our young learners often need lots of repetition and hands-on practice before compound words truly click. The good news is
