Hands-on learning is so important for all students, but especially younger ones. Students are able to explore new concepts in all kinds of different ways. Hands-on learning also helps to engage the brain to create and expand new ideas. It is our job as teachers to find new and exciting
When the weather turns cooler and the leaves start to change, it’s time to dive into all things fall! Fall is filled with so many changes and lots of them are tied to fun science topics. This season has many great opportunities for working on vocabulary, adjectives, and so much
Do you love teaching about Community Helpers but feel overwhelmed at the thought of planning out your unit? I totally get it! There is SO much to cover in this theme. That’s why I’ve put together this roundup of 7 ideas that will help cut through the clutter and simplify
There’s no denying that guided reading in small groups is a game-changer when it comes to mastering phonics skills. But. . . when it comes to organizing your groups and planning activities, it can feel a little overwhelming. Especially when it comes to planning a warm-up that works for every
For the first few weeks of school, we always focus on the basics such as how to be a friend, sharing, walking in a line, sitting on the carpet, writing our name, how to use our materials, and of course… LETTERS! Many students do not enter Kindergarten with a strong
And just like that. . . science lessons get pushed out to Friday, again! Kindergarten science is one of my favorite things to teach, but it never seems that we have enough time in our schedule to really dive in. Because of this, I’ve had to learn to embrace lessons
Winter break is over, and many of us are transitioning our students back into the routines of the classroom. The first couple of weeks back from a break, I prefer to use math center activities in my room that review skills the students are already familiar with. My whole group
You’ve taught the letter. You’ve sung the song. You’ve practiced the sounds. But when it’s time for your students to write, their pencils are being gripped for dear life, their hands are tired, and the frustration starts to sneak in. In kindergarten, this is so common! So what’s the missing
Teaching 2D shapes is usually on the agenda during back to school time in kindergarten. While there’s no doubt that learning to recognize and name shapes is essential, it can be a little tricky for our little guys to keep them straight. If you’re running into this dilemma at the
Summer teaching chaos is real! If you’re anything like me, the last thing you have time for is to plan a whole new set of activities from scratch. That’s why I love using Google Slides for summer learning. They make planning quick, prep basically nonexistent, and everything is ready to