Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is a human body-themed literacy center activity set so you can get started in your classroom. This set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction literacy center is,…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is a butterflies-themed literacy center activity set so you too can have a non-fiction literacy center. This butterfly non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. I created this butterfly non-fiction book basket because I…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is a spiders-themed literacy center activity set to get a non-fiction center started in your room. This arachnids non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the non-fiction literacy…
Get your students exploring non-fiction books in a literacy center. Here is an alphabet-themed literacy center activity set so you can try out the non-fiction center in your classroom. This alphabet non-fiction set of activities is just one of the topics I made available to my students at my non-fiction literacy center. Let’s look at what the…
The beginning of the kindergarten school year is hard. It can be hard on your teacher budget, hard on your {{summer}} sleep schedule and hard on your energy levels. {ZAP!} Here are 3 tips that involve teaching kindergartners how and when to use the restroom, that you can adapt to your class to make your…
Whether you’re ready or not it’s time for teachers to think about back to school. Here are my top 10 things that kindergarten teachers should know to mentally prepare for back to school, be prepared for teaching the first 20 days of kindergarten and for making the beginning of kindergarten successful. If you want the details from…
Here is my quick tip that helps keep me sane during the first week of kindergarten. This first week of school lesson plan bracelet is a famous secret that really works. {wink} Here’s why I need this lesson plan bracelet and then I’ll show you how I made it. During the first week of school, we change…
When it comes to the beginning of the school year, teaching classroom procedures to kindergarten is extremely important. Here is how I taught going home procedures using a classroom procedures book or rather, a social story. Let me tell you why I chose a social story, show you how I taught procedures to get folders ready…
A 3D zoo animals writing project for kindergarten. Break out the paint, scissors and pencils for this fun “wild about” zoo animals writing piece and craft. It was tradition that we ended the school year with a field trip to our local zoo. Here is an animal writing project we’d do that incorporates a craft…
Getting ready for kindergarten? So are we! Kindergarten registration (or kindergarten round up in our neck of the woods) is the time when we begin prepping parents and new students on what to expect for kindergarten. We like to include a kindergarten school supply list at the time of registration in addition to sharing our…
Teach kindergartners how to sound out words without the teacher. This can be tricky! Here are my top two tips on empowering your students to sound out words on their own. This topic came from a reader: Any tips on how to encourage my kinders to independently write on their own? During our writing time they…
Make a planning calendar for your teacher planning binder with this free calendar template. This free teacher planning calendar template can easily help you organize and add style to your planning system. Do you like getting organized for the upcoming school year? Or do you need a little help mastering teacher organization? Use this blank…
I learned how to do magic in the classroom. Magic? Yes magic – classroom management magic! I learned how to use things that my students were already excited about as rewards and incentives for my classroom. This simple tip came in the form of adding reward coupons to my classroom management plan. Here is how…
Does your class love classic books as much as mine? What is it about kindergarten that they just fall in love with The Pigeon books, No, David! and Pete the Cat? Here is a “Don’t Let the Pigeon” writing activity you can do with your kindergarten class. Let me share my favorite Pigeon books to…
Do you find yourself needing more time to teach everything we’re supposed to? Yeah, me too. One of the ways I felt better about using my time (and was able to be more productive) was to teach in small groups. I didn’t just teach the same lesson to multiple groups – while that would’ve saved…
Teach how to rhyme in kindergarten with simple hand motions. Here is one way to make rhyming orally easier to teach in kindergarten. I found myself asking, “How do I teach kindergartners how to rhyme?” And not just how to identify two words that rhyme, but to make their own rhyming words. If you asked me this question…
People often wonder how to explain 3D shapes to kindergarten (especially when they have to be able to tell the difference between 2D and 3D shapes). Let me share my favorite way of doing this. If you’re looking for how to explain 2D shapes to kindergarten then you should check out these awesome ideas below because the…
Here’s a great kindergarten math question that I posed to the awesome kindergarten teachers on facebook. “Is 11 a teen number?” Here is your answer straight from the source – what real kindergarten teachers have to say about 11 being a teen number. Plus, I’ll weigh in on the subject too with a pictured explanation. Teachers were…
Make an end of day routine for your kindergarten class that finishes the entire day off on a positive note. Here’s how I managed our end of day routine in kindergarten. The end of the day can often be hectic – which is the opposite of how any of us really want to send our kinders home!…
No David by David Shannon is a classic book to read in kindergarten (and first grade honestly). Here are free No David activities, videos and book ideas listed all in one place so you don’t have to go digging to look for them. I’ll include more ideas for other No David books too. Be sure…
Make a year-long pokey pinning literacy center with easy to use sight word templates for kindergarten. Grab these Sunlight Sight Word Catchers to make pokey pin pictures in your kindergarten classroom. Your kinders will love them and you’ll love what they get out of it. This pokey pin activity is the literacy center many of you…
Connect, share and rock being a mentor to a first year teacher. Here are 3 things I think are helpful to starting and creating a good working relationship when you mentor a first year teacher. This question came from a reader: What tips do you have for mentoring a first year teacher? Today, I hope I…
Have you wondered what is the smartest way to differentiate your math instruction? In my opinion, it’s guided math. I’m excited to share the best features of the guided math pack for kindergarten with you today. You can get the instant download and start planning your way to teaching math successfully. And if you first…
There comes a time we all need emergency sub plans for kindergarten. Here are free beginning of the year emergency sub plans for kindergarten that you can prep in advance. You can stash your plans, papers and read aloud all together and sleep better knowing if you have to call it in, you’re all set. Because…