The first day of school is a big deal for our students – and Butterflies on the First Day of School by Annie Silvestro captures that mix of nerves and excitement so perfectly. If you’ve ever had a student tell…
Whether you’re setting up your classroom, labeling folders, or wondering how your new group of kinders will handle the first day (bless them), there’s one thing you can control: your read-aloud lineup! These books aren’t just for calming nerves or…
Every year, I look for that one perfect book that helps ease the nerves of day one and starts meaningful conversations about what it means to be part of a classroom community. School’s First Day of School by Adam Rex…
The Word Collector activities to go along with the book by Peter H. Reynolds is a great book for introducing students to the idea that words have meaning, impact, and beauty. When I use this book in the classroom, it…
If you’re anything like me, when the weather warms up and the countdown to summer begins, you’re looking for activities that keep your kinders learning… but also calm and engaged. Whether it’s the last week of school, summer school prep,…
Every year when planning my end of the year read aloud sessions, I know it’s time to pull And Then Comes Summer off the shelf and use my And Then Comes Summer Activities Unit. This read-aloud by Tom Brenner, with…
Writing, Vocabulary, and a STEM Design Challenge That’s Full of Imagination! If your students love dreaming up wild inventions and “what if” scenarios, If I Built a School activites to go along with the book by Chris Van Dusen is…
There’s something about those final weeks of school that feels a little surreal. The countdown is real, the supplies are running low, and the energy is high. But instead of trying to fight it, I say lean in – and…
When I first read Kindness is My Superpower by Alicia Ortego to my first graders, I could feel the energy shift in the room. You know that beautiful, quiet kind of listening? The kind where even the wiggliest kiddos are…
Let’s be real – behavior management doesn’t have to be all clip charts and consequences. One of the most effective tools I use in my classroom are simple behavior reflection think sheets – but with a twist: we focus on…