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Welcome to our teaching community, serving teachers in grades 2-6 with engaging resources that challenge your students to reach their peak potential and inspire your love of teaching.

Not sure where to start? Click “Get Inspired” below to start browsing over 12 years’ worth of teaching ideas and resources.

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Whether you are looking for daily spiral review, yearlong journals, or day-to-day lesson materials, I’ve got you covered!

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  • Character Education Podcasts for Reading and Listening Comprehension | SEL

    Character Education Podcasts for Reading and Listening Comprehension | SEL

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  • Morning Work Journal or Bell Ringers | Think It Through for Critical Thinking

    Morning Work Journal or Bell Ringers | Think It Through for Critical Thinking

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  • Reading Skill of the Day | Comprehension Spiral Review 2nd and 3rd Grade

    Reading Skill of the Day | Comprehension Spiral Review 2nd and 3rd Grade

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    Reading Skill of the Day Weekly Journal for 2nd and 3rd Grades | SET TWO

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    Reading Skill of the Day Weekly | Spiral Review Morning Work for 2nd 3rd Grade

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  • Novel Study Activities | Reading Comprehension for ANY book

    Novel Study Activities | Reading Comprehension for ANY book

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  • Using Pictures to Teach Figurative Language | Figurative Language Lessons

    Using Pictures to Teach Figurative Language | Figurative Language Lessons

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    Using Pictures to Teach Parts of Speech | Grammar Lessons and Activities

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    Fiction Comprehension Review | Reading

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    Grammar Review Activities Parts of Speech

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  • Reading Skill of the Day Weekly Journal | Set One

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  • Math Word Problem of the Day | 5th Grade November

    Math Word Problem of the Day | 5th Grade November

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    Math Word Problem of the Day | 4th Grade November

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I’m sharing literacy, math, and classroom community ideas that have been classroom-tested and teacher-approved. Start exploring for new ideas to implement tomorrow!

A FREE compilation of creative and critical thinking games for your classroom with quick and fun ways to keep students engaged in learning AND stretch their thinking.

ZERO Prep (and FREE!) Creative and Critical Thinking Games

Combining our time as homeschoolers and my 16+ years in education, I have some tips for homeschool parents to make homeschooling the best it can be!

Advice to New Homeschool Parents from a Veteran Teacher (And former Homeschool Mom!)

FREE first day of school lesson plans: After many first days of school over the years, here are my tried and true tips for a successful first day of school. 

What To Teach On The First Day of School: FREE First Day of School Lesson Plans

Must-read professional development books for teachers recommended by current classroom teachers, links to free resources to help you grow as an educator, and practical classroom tips.

Brush Up on Your Teacher Skills: Must-Read Professional Development Books for Teachers (and More!)

6 ways to build community connections: These real-world connections add depth to classroom discussions, spark curiosity, and inspire students to explore new topics.

6 Creative Ways to Build Community Connections Beyond the Classroom

This blog post is PACKED with practical advice for new teachers, straight from experienced upper elementary teachers who have been exactly where you are.

Practical Advice for New Teachers, Straight From Our Community

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HEY, I’M MARY

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I’m so glad you are here. I’m a current gifted and talented teacher in a small town in Colorado, and I’ve been in education since 2009. My passion (other than my family and cookies) is for making teachers’ lives easier and classrooms more engaging.

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💡 Fun Fact: I originally posted the OG GROUPS p 💡 Fun Fact: I originally posted the OG GROUPS poster on my blog over 10 years ago! 💕💕 Comment below, and I’ll send you a one-page printable version for student reference!

Letters on my new board are from @steppintoelementary and so cute and easy to cut and use …. Also, please pay no mind to my wrinkly paper. 🤣
✨ This is the anchor chart that hangs in my clas ✨ This is the anchor chart that hangs in my classroom ALL year long!!

👀 Is it okay to not understand something? 10000000x YES! 💯 BUT, it’s not okay to simply say “I don’t get it.” 

Instead, at the beginning of every year, it’s my goal to equip students with strategies so tricky tasks don’t become roadblocks.🚧 👍 This anchor chart has become a STAPLE in my classroom. 

✏️ The top section comes from 7 Steps to a Language-Rich Classroom. I added the tricky problem sentences to give students clear strategies and sentence stems for tackling tricky tasks.
Back to school activity that you can use all year Back to school activity that you can use all year long. 👏 Giant Scrabble has been a staple in my first month of school plans for YEARS, and today I used the giant letters to play a human-sized version of Tapple! 

Comment below, and I’ll send you ready to print letters so you can implement it immediately! 👏 

This is always one of our first lessons and experiences with productive struggle. It’s always amazing to see them complete the task — and they beg for its return all year long. 🧩 💡 We also used it as an opportunity to talk about how some students work better under pressure and it can be intimidating to others. That doesn’t mean anyone is better than another person. 💕🩷

We don’t REALLY keep score on either of the games. The point is to get them excited about overcoming obstacles and continuing a task that seems impossible or difficult. Most kids aren’t familiar with the games, so some variations and exceptions are allowed. 

Shoutout to @topdogteaching for the idea to use the letters and adapt to Tapple! 👏
🚨 This has been a HUGE highlight for me and my 🚨 This has been a HUGE highlight for me and my students during back to school season for the past several years, and this year will be no different! 

I am so excited to have students select their one word as part of their goal setting, make bracelets or keychains as a reminder of their goals for the year, and proudly display it their words in our classroom to encourage EVERYONE! 😍

Here’s how I’ve implemented One Word in my classroom:

💖 We read the wonderful book One Word for Kids during morning meeting, and each of my students determines what their word for the year would be. We talked about how their words can apply to situations both at home and at school and how the words will serve as a guide for each student throughout the year. I like to give them a list of words and have them take it home and discuss with their families and friends, too!

💖 As a reminder of their word, each student made a bracelet with their word. I did it in small groups so it didn’t take too long, and they LOVED this. As a teacher, I loved seeing them wearing their bracelets ALL year as a reminder of their goal for the year. 

🗓️ In January, we do a check in and revisit how it’s going! The beauty of One Word is that these words can apply to SO many situations and grow long with students. Whereas we often end up tweaking our academic and personal goals in January, the words stay the same all year! 

Want a link to the book and the beads I used? Drop a comment below, and I’ll send it your way. ❤️💖
Enjoy some pictures of just a few of the ✨ blank Enjoy some pictures of just a few of the ✨ blank ✨ walls in my classroom at the beginning of the year. They’re ready for student work, collaboratively develops anchor charts, and other student guided and created materials! This is your gentle reminder that reference material that is up on the walls should be explicitly introduced, taught and regularly referenced — Less is definitely more to start the year!! The mere presence of word walls, anchor charts, etc. doesn’t equal learning or retention. 😉🩷
FREE! ✨ 🧡 I love incorporating a variety of f FREE! ✨ 🧡 I love incorporating a variety of fun critical and creative thinking games into my classroom, and back to school is a great time to start! I compiled my favorites and gave a bunch of prompts to make it super easy to implement this year. 💥 Comment below, and I’ll send it to you!
Meet the teacher!! 🩷🩷🩷I love this night, Meet the teacher!! 🩷🩷🩷I love this night, the excitement it brings, and the smiling facing of excited kids! It’s my last year that I’ll have my daughter, too. 🥹 Let’s do this. 👏
Do any of these books catch your eye?? 👀 Old fa Do any of these books catch your eye?? 👀 Old favorites? 🤗 New to you books? 💥 I am a firm believer that books are the best decor in ANY classroom, and I am OBSESSED with building book collections to help teach units in my classroom! Drop a comment below, and I’ll send you a link to read all about how I create learning units out of picture books! 👏 

#kidlit #kidsbooks #childrensbook #teacher #homeschool #teachergram #teachers #backtoschool
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