If you run literacy centers or a Daily 5 framework in your classroom then you know the struggle of constantly planning and prepping engaging activities for your students to keep behavior problems at a minimum so you can meet with your small groups for Guided […]

It’s that time of year again! We’re Back to School! It’s bittersweet isn’t it?  Everything is fresh and brand new, new faces, new friends, new beginnings…and new school supplies! WooHoo! Yet, no more lazy mornings, late nights, planning your days on a whim. BooHoo! Here […]

Are you looking for more opportunities to encourage your students to apply what they have learned from your spelling and phonics instruction WHILE they read? Let me share this success story with you! We all know that first graders LOVE to read and be read […]

How many of us have dragged ourselves to work when we were not feeling well to avoid having to write sub plans? Or if you are a mother like myself, there have been numerous where one of my three sons suddenly develop a fever after […]

Keep “The Dojo Meter” in your Sub Tub or alongside your substitute plans. This behavior clip chart will hold your students accountable for their behavior in your absence. Personally, I do not want to provide my substitute teacher with my username and password for Class […]

As primary teachers, we spend most of our time teaching our children to READ, and READ some more.  This is not always an easy task.  We take on this responsibility and are continuously searching for the right strategies and tools that will provide our young […]

Why not take your Word Work one step further? I have disguised Read to Self as a bit more… Word Work… and my firsties don’t seem to mind. Yours won’t either. It’s a Win-Win!  Read on! Read to Self Word Study Assignments In addition to […]

Now that you have your Word Study routines in place it is now time to consider how you will assess your students and evaluate their growth. I have some simple solutions for you! Assessing Each Sort At the end of each sort/unit I administer a […]

Now that you have motivated your students and set goals, you are ready to introduce your Word Study routines. I have some tips to help you introduce these routines whole group so that later on, your students will have clear expectations as to what they […]

Now that you have prepped your resources, you are ready to forge ahead with your differentiated Word Study groups. But before you do, I have some tips to help you motivate your students to achieve with goal setting! Motivate Your Students with a Theme and […]