The kids are coming back to school soon, and we need to be ready for them. Bringing social-emotional learning into our back to school routines is more important than ever!What is SEL?The short answer is that SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) is the practice of teaching our kids how to handle all of ... READ the POST
Morning Work: Should Educators Assign It?
When I started teaching, and for the next 10 years following, my students always came into my classroom and did the same thing every single day: they'd take off their coats and bookbags and put them in their lockers, they'd check in for lunch, and then they'd immediately get started on some sort of ... READ the POST
Building Strong Relationships on the First Day of School
Each year, I am so excited for the first day of school. It's a time for new beginnings, new relationships, a love of learning, and a whole lotta fun!!But what I often forget is how CrAzY the first day of school, especially arrival time, can be. All the questions, all the welcomes, and all the ... READ the POST
End of The Year Slideshow: Ending the School Year with Fun Memories
You might call me a big sap. I LOVE end of the year memories and the activities that accompany it, and I'm a sucker for good music and great photos. At the end of each year, I put together a student slideshow of amazing moments from our year together. I love it, the kids love it, and the parents ... READ the POST
Informational Writing: Yes, Your Students Can Love It!
My kids LOVE to write, especially informational writing. When I say love, I mean love. The usual "come to the carpet for Writing Workshop" is usually met with groans, not because it's time for writing, but because my kids just want to write. They know it's time for a mini-lesson, and they just want ... READ the POST
Increase Engagement and Curiosity In 5 Steps
We all long for it. We all want it. That sense of amazement and curiosity. An awe-inspiring magic trick; the emotional story of a person who set a goal and crushed it with millions of barriers in her way; the child who inspired a whole town.But why do we want it? What ... READ the POST
