Tips for Reluctant Readers
Now that the school year is underway for pretty much everyone, let's talk about reluctant readers. I don't think I've ever had a class without a few kids who just don't like to read.
Read full storyCan your students solve this math brain teaser?
I love using brain teasers in the classroom. They are highly engaging for kids and build critical thinking skills. You can use them as a time-filler or as morning work. Puzzles are a great way to get your students' minds warmed up before tackling academics.
Read full storyMake Your House Smell Amazing With This Natural DIY Air Freshener
I love a great smelling house, but my allergies just can't handle most store-bought air fresheners. They usually bring on an instant headache. An alternative to chemical-filled sprays and candles is this DIY air freshener that you can make with four simple ingredients. Best of all, it's completely natural and smells just incredible.
Read full storyDo NOT Buy These School Supplies for Your Child, PLEASE!
It's back to school time which means shopping for backpacks, lunch boxes, and school supplies. Your child's teacher has probably provided you with a list of items needed for the school year. Now you just need to go find all the stuff, right?
Read full storyMake Your Own Chick-fil-A Sauce
Chick-fil-A is great - Everybody seems to love it! I mean just look at the drive through line that wraps around the building the next time you drive by. No one can really explain the phenomenon, but maybe it's something in the sauce - that Chick-fil-A sauce. It's a strangely sweet and savory concoction that tastes a little bit like honey mustard and a little bit like barbecue sauce. But it's oh so delicious on pretty much anything.
Read full storyIs your 5 year old ready for kindergarten?
The school year will be starting soon in many areas of the country and that means thousands of little ones will be enrolling for the first time. The first real year of schooling today is vastly different than it was 30 or 40 years ago.
Read full storyClassroom Tips: Setting Up A Writing Center
Writing in the primary grades involves a lot more than just jotting down some ideas. Writing for young children encompasses things like fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, letter formation, concepts of print, generating ideas, planning, spelling, grammar, sentence structure, word choice, and more.
Read full storyHomemade Watermelon Popsicles: A Tasty Summer Treat
Summer is watermelon season! If your kids (or you) can't get enough of this sweet, refreshing fruit, here is a super easy recipe you just have to try. This recipe has just two ingredients! If you recently bought a big watermelon, chances are you have some left over. These frozen treats are an easy way to use it up.
Read full storyFree Printable Play Money for Kids (School or Home)
Whether you're a classroom teacher or a homeschool mom, you may find yourself having to teach money skills. But handing out stacks of real money to seven year olds just isn't practical most of the time.
Read full storyCrazy Easy Crescent Roll Pastries
Craving something sweet but don't want to pull out all the bowls and mixer? Here's a super easy way to satisfy that sweet tooth with just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of your time.
Read full storyEasy and REAL Cream Cheese Frosting
Have you ever tasted the store-bought cream cheese frosting that you can find on the baking aisle? You know what I'm talking about... that overly sweet concoction of corn syrup, palm oil, sugar, corn starch, and no cream cheese whatsoever.
Read full storyThe Flower That Smells Like Death
I love to start a new science lesson with some fascinatingly weird or gross fact that really piques my students' interest in the topic. When it comes to our unit on plants, I always bring out this picture and ask the students how they think it might smell:
Read full storyThe Best Books for Beginning Readers
If you are a kindergarten teacher or parent, you might be wondering what are the best books for your young readers. While there are thousands of children's books marketed as early readers, they aren't all designed for kids just learning to read.
Read full storyFavorite Fun and Educational Websites for Kids
There are hundreds of websites for kids... almost too many to wade through to find the really good ones. But they are out there!. Here are a few of my favorite, high quality learning sites that actually add educational value to tech time in my classroom (PLUS students can use them at home)...
Read full storyWays to Make Moving Your Classroom Easy & Successful, Not Stressful
We teachers put so much time and effort into setting up our classrooms! You plan the seating and work areas. You set up storage and decor. It literally takes days (even months) of arranging and rearranging to get it just right.
Read full storyClassroom Seating Plans To Improve Learning & Behavior
As you begin planning for a new school year, your classroom seating arrangement is probably at the top of your to-do list. It has such an important influence on classroom management and often dictates the layout of your entire room.
Read full storyExcellent Chapter Books for 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders
There are so many amazing novels and chapter books for upper elementary students! Here are a few that you might not be familiar with but should add to your classroom library right away:
Read full storyThe Best Way to Set Up & Organize Your Classroom Library
Take a look at your classroom library. Are the shelves a mess? Are your book bins overflowing? Does it look like a tornado blew through since the beginning of the year? I feel your pain!
Read full storyFun Activities to Teach Kids How to Count Money
One of my very favorite math skills to teach is also an essential life skill - how to count money! One reason I really enjoy this topic is because the kids are genuinely excited to learn it. It's something young children see adults doing out in the real world and they want to do it too!
Read full storyLive in Volusia County? Here's where kids can get free meals all summer.
When summer rolls around, your grocery bill can skyrocket if you have kids. During the school year, they might get free breakfast and lunch at school. But what about during their summer vacation?
Read full story