A Primary Teaching Blog
Student notebooks are a must in every grade I’ve taught (from kinder to 6th grade). We take notes, do morning work, center work, or even journaling. There are many things our students use notebooks for. Here are a few ideas for student notebook organization. Labels Label those notebooks. How many times do we ask students to get out their Science… Read More
Phonics can easily be left out during virtual learning because it seems so hands on and teacher-directed at times. But I’ve got all the tools you need for teaching phonics during virtual learning! These ideas will make low effort on your part, but high engagement on the students part! Introducing the Phonics Pattern YouTube Video Library I honestly love starting… Read More
I love to begin my phonics block with videos/songs. Songs are a great way to learn and remember new things. Here are a few of my favorite YouTube videos for teaching phonics. If you’re looking for YouTube channels for the primary classroom, check out this blogpost! Note: I try to keep this updated, but know sometimes YouTube videos are removed… Read More
I wanted to offer some of my favorite distance learning tools (including tutorials). These are simple enough to use and effective enough for any classroom. Screencastify screencastify.com With this screen recording program (best used as an extension with Chrome web browser), you can record lessons or instruction to send to your students. You can record your screen with yourself as… Read More
There’s a time and a place for leveled readers and independent reading, BUT there’s also a time and a place for reading aloud to your students for no other gain than being together and listening to reading. Here is a curated list of popular chapter book read alouds for your 1st or 2nd grade classroom. note: this blogpost contains Amazon… Read More
Congrats, you have little readers! They are always wanting to read chapter books, but some are just out of reach for independent reading. Here’s a curated list of beginning chapter books to boost confidence and get your students reading! Note: this post contains affiliate links to Amazon Mia Mayhem Everyone will love Mia Mayhem, a young superhero just learning to… Read More
I’m always asked what graphic novels my beginning readers can read besides Dog Man. I’ve searched high and low for the best graphic novels for beginning readers. Here’s my top 10. please note that this post contains Amazon affiliate links & I do not own the copyright to these covers A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse… Read More
Looking for the perfect teacher gift? Here’s a list of teacher gift ideas-some favorites for your child’s teacher, your teacher friend, or YOU! The following list contains affiliate links to Amazon and more. 1 subscription or one time gift of Literati Book Club (use code SPARKLING for $10 off) | 2 personal laminator | 3 Keurig| 4 picture books |… Read More
I recently made my small group kidney table into a whiteboard table! Thanks to WallPops! I’ve been eyeing people on the GRAM and Pinterest with their DIY classroom whiteboard tables and I just had to have one! This is a great way to create your own without spending a ton of money or time. Some people painted their tables, but… Read More
If you were to look in your files (or your TPT purchases-who am I kidding, that is my files now), do you own a set of “task cards“? I own about 7,000 sets (okay that’s extreme, but I do own quite a few) and sometimes I need to spice up how I use them. Here are some ideas on… Read More
