Fun and Practical Ideas for Primary Classrooms
The last few weeks of school are always a mix of excitement, interruptions, schedule changes, and emotions, while teachers are still trying to assess and finish up their end of the year standards! If you’re looking for simple, engaging activities that still feel purposeful, here are a few of my favorite go-to end-of-the-year ideas! 🚌 School ABCs This is a… Read More
Fluency practice is one of those things we know our students need, but keeping it fun and engaging all year long can be a challenge. If it feels repetitive or tedious, students can lose interest quickly. The good news? With just a few simple routines and activities, you can build strong, confident readers and keep your classroom excited about reading…. Read More
If your literacy block starts to feel a little… chaotic 😵💫… this time of year, you are definitely not alone! Spring is a fun time in the classroom, but it can also be a tiring time. Students are excited, they argue like siblings after a whole school year together, and teachers are juggling testing, end-of-year tasks, and everything in between…. Read More
Movement can be a powerful tool for keeping young learners engaged while learning important literacy skills. When students are up, talking, and interacting with their classmates, they are often more focused and excited to participate. ✅ Here are some of our favorite ways we MOVE in 1st grade! 1. Stand Up, Sit Down Simple and quick, just like it sounds!… Read More
Strong phonics instruction is one of the most important parts of helping young readers become confident and successful. If you’re looking for phonics activities for kindergarten and first grade, simple routines that reinforce letter sounds, blending, and word building can make a big difference. These easy phonics activities for K–1 classrooms are perfect for literacy centers, small group instruction, or… Read More
Teaching friendship skills is an important part of helping young students build a positive classroom community. These friendship activities for primary students are designed to help children learn how to be kind, work together, and solve problems with their classmates. This friendship activities booklet for kindergarten and first grade includes simple lessons, reflection pages, and engaging activities that encourage students… Read More
…Because routines build the foundation for everything else. The first day of school sets the tone for the entire year, and establishing clear expectations right away can make a huge difference in how smoothly your classroom runs. Teaching important classroom routines on the first day of school in first grade helps students feel confident, independent, and ready to learn. From… Read More
Do you take first and last day of school pictures of your students? It is a favorite tradition of mine! See how I use these pictures in my classroom and try it this year in your classroom if you don’t already! How Does It Work? First, I print out a few of these adorable signs. As the students are working… Read More
Indoor recess? Gloomy weather? Increasingly complex concepts to learn? Students snapping at each other? The middle of winter is also the beginning of the second half of the school year and students may be stuck in a rut or acting out a bit. Here are some tried and true ideas I use every year to help keep students learning and… Read More
“Do you have any “nice notes” today?!” That is a phrase I hear often in my classroom! My students LOVE getting recognized in front of their peers AND taking their “nice note” home to show their family. What are Nice Notes? “Nice Notes” are cute little cards with a positive message and a cute clipart animal or person. I use… Read More
