We all know that parents are an integral and important part of our student’s education. Having parents volunteer and spend time in the classroom is a great way to connect the two. Not only is it exciting for the students to see new faces in the classroom, but it is also always fantastic to have…
You know that your first graders need to practice their handwriting, but you don’t want them spending hours filling out worksheets? Do your students groan every time you introduce handwriting instruction? Are they getting bored with the typical tracing worksheets? I’m here to let you know that practicing handwriting can be fun! With a little…
We’ve all been there. . .the off topic question that seems to open the door to every other off-topic question. But what’s a teacher to do? We must answer questions . . .right?!?!? How can students communicate with you otherwise??? The answer is nonverbal communication. It allows you to answer off-topic questions without missing a…
Word work is so important for our young learners to become successful readers and writers. I believe in the power of these important skills based activities so much that I am starting an entire series of articles on word work! I’ll walk you through everything you need to get started. Whether you are just starting…
Famous Americans and historical figures are an important part of the first grade curriculum, but teaching non-fiction biographies to lower elementary students can be very challenging. The text is usually heavy and difficult for students to understand. It was important for me to figure out a way to introduce these important historical figures to my…