It's that time again! Do you celebrate the 100 days of school in your classroom? Me, personally, I'll use any excuse to celebrate and get the students excited about learning! Since I spend most of time in the upper grades, I focus my celebration on reading passages or selections because that's how you test reading skills. By the way, do you call them passages or selections? This is such a hot topic in my district. Let me know in the comments. On the 100th day of school, I like to reteach and review various reading skills such as theme, ... Read More
Reading Centers for Upper Grades
Looking for a way to keep your students engaged while you're working at your small group table? One way I organize my classroom is by creating centers or workstations. The activities I choose for each center have similarities, but are different enough to not feel repetitive. Here's an example of what my students work on when they're in centers: Group 1: Context clues task cardsGroup 2: Reading selections/passages with questions that tackle various reading skillsGroup 3: Books/texts with graphic organizers to practice ... Read More
Breaking Down our Toddler’s Birthday Party Expenses
Baby turns two! Last year, when our daughter turned one, we had a very small, intimate party with 8-10 people. This year, however, we decided to go big and invite more people, which meant we needed to spend more money on food and decor. Keep reading for the full price breakdown of our Elmo and Abby themed birthday party! PARTY DECOR Our daughter is obsessed with Elmo and Abby, therefore I decided to combine the two characters and use red, pink and orange as the party colors. I made two small balloon garlands and a backdrop using streamers. ... Read More
Reading Test Prep: Controversial Yet Fun?
Test prep season is here! This topic is heavily debated. One side argues that teachers should just stick to teaching the curriculum versus teaching to a test. On the other hand, teachers are expected to show high scores on the state assessment or they will no longer be considered "highly effective." Can I be honest? I'm not choosing sides because both are valid points. No, we shouldn't toss our curriculum to the side, but we also need to think about the expectations we put on our teachers and students. Students are expected to pass and ... Read More
Holiday Gift Guide for Your Little One
The holidays are just around the corner! I wanted to share my list of gifts that are perfect for your little one. My daughter will be 18 months in December, and I kept that in mind when curating this list. I hope you enjoy! I love neutral colors and this cleaning set for toddlers is a great option. | $47 Our daughter loves her Yoto Player. It also serves as a night light.| $109 Is this play tent whimsical? Is it boho? I don't know, but our toddler loves it! | $80 Are you're like me and have always wanted to own a Vespa? Now you ... Read More