Category Archives: Back to School

From Passive to Active: 3 Student Engagement Strategies You’ll Love

Engagement happens when students feel safe, valued, and challenged at the right level. -Carol Ann Tomlinson That’s a big ask…How can we make our classroom environment safe and welcoming all while differentiating? It starts with classroom setup and classroom management. In my last post, we tackled how to create such environment by considering traffic flow,Continue reading “From Passive to Active: 3 Student Engagement Strategies You’ll Love”

Classroom Setup on a Budget: 3 Hacks Save You Money

Listen to the podcast episode instead. How do I create a warm, welcoming classroom environment on a budget? Everyone loves a good classroom theme…myself included! For me, your classroom theme represents your personality as a teacher and creates a vibe that sets the tone of your room for the rest of the year. Whether youContinue reading “Classroom Setup on a Budget: 3 Hacks Save You Money”

3 Ways to Make Phonics Fun and Manageable

Listen to the podcast episode. Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play, children learn how to learn. -O. Fred Donaldson I am a firm believer that children learn through play. I also whole-heartedly believe that learning is and should be fun!!! Now, does this mean that I believe children need to be “entertained”Continue reading “3 Ways to Make Phonics Fun and Manageable”

Three Literacy Assessments You Need to Target the Science of Reading

The start of the school year is both exciting and chaotic…when it comes to the back to school season, there is never a shortage of skills to teach. SEL (social-emotional learning), character traits, literacy skills, and the science of reading…the list goes on and on. One task that must not be forgotten during these firstContinue reading “Three Literacy Assessments You Need to Target the Science of Reading”

The Science of Reading from Day 1: How to Include Literacy Practices into Your Back to School Plans

Listen to the podcast. Aww…back to school…the smell of sharpened pencils, the excitement of new books, the smiling faces of your new classroom family…there is something very special about the start of a brand new school year. Although I truly love back to school season (despite mourning the loss of my summer break), it canContinue reading “The Science of Reading from Day 1: How to Include Literacy Practices into Your Back to School Plans”

5 Literacy Activities for the First Week of School

Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope. It is a tool for daily life in modern society. It is a bulwark against poverty, and a building block of development… Kofi Annon As many of you know, I am a literacy mentor along with being a classroom teacher. The quote above stresses the importance ofContinue reading “5 Literacy Activities for the First Week of School”

Depth and Complexity Icons: Where Book Clubs Meet Advanced Learning

Listen to the podcast episode. Good teaching is good teaching. -unknown source Early on in my career, I had a principal that really inspired me to be the best teacher I could be. When we used to chat about educational philosophies and teaching practices, she would always end the conversation by saying, “Good teaching isContinue reading “Depth and Complexity Icons: Where Book Clubs Meet Advanced Learning”

Flip It: How Can a flipped classroom improve student engagement?

Listen to the podcast. Are you looking to improve student engagement during your differentiated lessons? Would you like to prioritize higher-order thinking skills while meeting the needs of every learner in your class? Then, I suggest you flip your classroom! Flipped learning has been around for almost two decades, though it has gained popularity overContinue reading “Flip It: How Can a flipped classroom improve student engagement?”

Upper-Grade Math Centers: To Rotate or Not To Rotate

Are math centers only for primary grades? Is it necessary to rotate centers? How do I manage math centers and make sure students are on task? Upper-grade teachers, if you are asking yourself any of these questions, you are not alone! As many of you may already know, I have taught a variety of gradeContinue reading “Upper-Grade Math Centers: To Rotate or Not To Rotate”