Sensory Bins for Beginners
If you’re a busy mom, you can probably relate to this. Two days of the week, my toddler is home with me while I am working, and I was struggling to keep her busy and engaged (and allow me time…
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Using Sensory Bins for Learning
As teachers, we are often looking to incorporate engaging and trendy activities in our primary classrooms. I know I’m not the only one who looks at trends like pop-its or sensory bins and wonders, “How can I use this to…
Should I Quit Teaching?
If you made it to this corner of the internet, chances are you are considering leaving the classroom. Perhaps you want to completely change careers, or you want a new position in education. I am a former classroom teacher. You…
Anchor Charts for Elementary: How and Why to Use Them
In education classes, I heard a lot about the benefits of using anchor charts with elementary students. But every time I tried to create an anchor chart, they always looked horrific! I can’t draw. I don’t know how to write…
How to Handle a Chatty Class
When I came back from maternity leave in October, I walked in on what could be described as a circus! I had never met my students, and they were off the charts. I spent a few days trying to reset…
How to Run Successful Reading Groups in Elementary
As teachers, it often seems like there is a lot to do and never enough time. This is especially true when it comes to meeting the learning needs of our students. Whether you have a class of ten or thirty,…
How to Set Up Cooperative Learning Structures
The beginning of the year is a crucial time to get your routines and expectations set and clear. Part of these routines should include cooperative learning structures. I once learned that primary teachers should be lecturing for, at most, 10…
Ditch Your Behavior Chart.. Try This Instead!
Yes. I am on the bandwagon of getting rid of the behavior clip chart. I did it, I stayed on top of it, and I saw few results. The same students clipped down (with as much clipping up as I…
My Top Classroom Setup Tip
I remember being in college and wanting ALL. THE. THINGS. for my classroom. I wanted a theme, cutesy chairs, posters, and everything to be ready for day one. Then I stumbled across a tip that suggested leaving your bulletin boards…