New on the Blog

 

Honoring 9/11 – A Delicate Balance

Each year on September 11th, we reflect on a series of horrific events that changed the course of history. As a teacher, you might be struggling with whether or not you should discuss 9/11 with your students. Although your  

Read more

Buddy Bio Poems Partner Poetry Lesson

Imagine yourself as a student in a new classroom during the first week of school. Unless your teacher starts off with at least a few getting-to-know you activities, it might be weeks before you feel comfortable enough  

Read more

Grab your Free 2023 – 2024 School Year Calendar!

Years ago, I searched everywhere to find the perfect calendar to use with my students, but I couldn’t find one that worked. I wanted one with 8 1/2 x 11 inch portrait-style pages that would fit in  

Read more

Launch a Super School Year Free Video Course

Getting the school year off to a great start is essential, which means that what you do the first week of school can make all the difference! A few years ago I presented a popular webinar called How  

Read more

Make Your Mark on International Dot Day!

Have you heard about International Dot Day? It’s celebrated on September 15th, and it’s all about encouraging kids to discover how they can make a difference. Why is it called “Dot Day”? To find out, read the book that  

Read more

Easter Egg Showdown Review Game

Easter egg activities aren’t just for little ones! You might not take older kids on an Easter egg hunt, but you can bring colorful plastic eggs into the classroom and jazz up any review activity with this

Read more

Studying with a Buddy Makes Test Prep Fun!

I’ve never been one to spend months teaching test prep strategies, but I also feel we’re doing kids a disservice if we don’t prepare them in some way for state testing. A teacher once told me that she considers  

Read more

Free Leprechaun Luck Math Game for St. Patrick’s Day

Looking for a fun math game for St. Patrick’s Day? You’re in luck! My free Leprechaun Luck Math Game makes it easy for kids to explore probability while playing an exciting game of chance. In order to win, players  

Read more

Weathering, Erosion, or Deposition?

Science is one of my favorite subjects, and I’ve always been interested in geology and landforms. I remember hiking through the White Mountains of New Hampshire as a child, listening to my father explain the geology of the area.  

Read more

February Fun – Free Lessons You’ll Love!

February is packed with fun holidays, making it a great time to integrate seasonal activities into your lessons. This month’s special events include Valentine’s Day, Presidents’ Day, and Black History Month. But I’ll bet you didn’t know that it’s  

Read more

Wordle Wiz Game: Free Kid-friendly Version of Wordle

Have you played Wordle yet? It’s a free online game created by Josh Wardle that involves guessing a 5-letter word in six tries. You can only play once a day, and everyone who’s playing the game is trying to  

Read more

Sharing the Joy of Giving! A Holiday Giving Project

One of the things I miss most about not being in the classroom is the opportunity to teach kids about the joy of giving. I want to share with you a wonderful activity that I did each year with  

Read more