The Blog
Why I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Teaching Novels in Verse in Upper Elementary
One of my absolute favorite ways to instantly increase engagement in my reading block is novel studies — kids just LOVE them. And when I start teaching novels in verse? That engagement just continues to skyrocket! I have found, however,…
Our First Full Week of School Highlights
Here’s the quickest recap of our first week of school! Here are some highlights, along with links to other posts that explain them in more detail. Click on each image to learn more! Book Tasting: We hosted our very first…
Back to School | Book Recommendations | Building Community | Picture Books | Teacher Ideas | The First Few Weeks of School
One Word Goal Setting for Kids: A Meaningful Back-to-School SEL Activity
I’ve had goal setting in my First Week of School Lesson Plans since I first started teaching. However, the way I’ve accomplished goal setting has significantly changed over the years. A few years ago, I started using the book One…
Book Beads: A Super Engaging Way to Celebrate Reading All Year
You know those teaching ideas you implement and think, “WHERE HAS THIS BEEN MY WHOLE CAREER?!” Yep. Book beads quickly became one of them! I first saw the idea for book bead necklaces from @texaslonestarteacher, and I knew almost immediately…
My Favorite Amazon Teacher Purchases for 2026
I just finished my 17th year in education, and I can say without a doubt that there actually ARE some Amazon teacher purchases that are worth putting in your classroom. I can also definitely say that there are some things…
Accomplishment Animals: My FAVORITE Way to Celebrate Student Successes
If you’ve been around here for a while, you know I have a soft spot for the little classroom moments that build big things and have a real, lasting impact. I also feel incredibly passionate about students’ personal growth (I…
The Best Teacher Advice for New AND Veteran Teachers!
If there’s one piece of teacher advice I wish someone had told me during my first few years of teaching, it’s this: you do NOT have to figure everything out on your own, and you don’t have to pretend like…
Best Easy End of the Year Student Gifts
The end of the school year is always so full of energy — but as teachers, our to-do list is also very, very full. I always love being able to give my students a small gift at the end of…
Teacher Appreciation Giveaway 2026!
I am so excited to share this year’s Teacher Appreciation Giveaways! I am so excited to announce an entire week of teacher appreciation giveaways, including daily email exclusive freebies and TWO free giveaways everyday. Here are all the details. ⬇️ 📌…
Best End of the Year Awards | 150 student award options
End of the Year Awards are a game changer in classrooms! Find out how I choose from over 150 End of the Year Award Options!
40+ Best Novels for End of the Year Novel Studies
📚 40+ End-of-Year Novel Study Ideas Your Students Will Love As the school year winds down, keeping students engaged can feel like a challenge. Testing, field trips, and summer anticipation can make it tough to maintain focus. But over the…
1 Simple Test Prep Strategy That Helps Students Master Multiple Choice: The Pink Elephant
I just finished preparing a group of students for a standardized test, and they CLUNG to this test prep strategy, so I knew I had to share it! I’ve been using this strategy to prepare students for state testing for…
