K-2 Life Skills: Teaching Safety
You go over fire safety, emergency drills, and “stranger danger,” but a week later all you get are blank stares. Safety lessons can feel like a checkbox. But what if they could become real-life habits your students remember without reteaching them every month? Why...
Top 5 AI tools for K-2 teachers
AI tools are popping up everywhere—from grading hacks and lesson templates to custom songs for your students’ birthdays. But if you’re feeling like there’s too much out there and you’re not even sure where to begin, you’re not alone. If...
5 Steps to Better Nutrition for Teachers
Teaching is demanding. Between lesson planning, grading, meetings, and classroom management, it can feel like there’s little time or energy left for YOU. But what if your nutrition could be the secret weapon that transforms not just your health, but your classroom...
5 Lessons to Teach Students About Being Thankful
November is the perfect time of year to incorporate thankful lessons and teach our students about gratitude. After all, its the season of giving thanks! Truth be told, gratitude isn’t just a fun seasonal theme. Studies are showing the benefits of passing on this...
Brain Health for Teachers: Go from Overwhelmed to Energized
As a teacher, your brain is your most important tool—but are you giving it the fuel, rest, and exercise it truly needs to thrive? In this session, Dr. Brandon Stewart, a clinical neuropsychologist, walks educators through practical, science-backed ways to optimize...
Setting Boundaries for Teachers: How to Protect Your Time & Energy
As a teacher, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly juggling tasks. From lesson planning and grading to responding to emails and attending meetings, time can slip away before you even realize it. Without strong boundaries, you can quickly burn out,...
Teachers’ Guide to Mastering Difficult Conversations
As educators, you’re no stranger to challenging conversations. Whether it’s with a colleague, a supervisor, or even a parent, addressing concerns in a constructive and non-confrontational way can be tricky. What if you could resolve conflicts without drama, express...
How Teachers Can Use AI: 5 Simple Ideas for K–2 Classrooms
AI tools are everywhere right now—from lesson planning to parent communication to birthday songs (!). But with so many new tools and updates, it’s no wonder K–2 teachers are feeling unsure about where to start. You might be wondering, “How can I actually use AI in my...
Fun and Simple Poetry for 2nd Grade
Poetry is one of the most fun and engaging ways to get your students writing. However, many teachers find it challenging to introduce and teach different types of poetry in 2nd grade. We’re here to guide you through the process and share our top four poetry types:...
3 Practical AI Applications for Teachers
Are you looking for simple, practical AI applications for teachers that can supercharge your teaching duties? If you’ve been curious about how to integrate AI into your teaching but aren’t sure where to start, you’re in the right place. With the right tools, AI...
Use AI to Help You Build an Inclusive Classroom!
Every year, you welcome a new group of students with unique needs, backgrounds, and learning speeds. From language barriers to varying reading levels, creating an inclusive classroom is a rewarding challenge—but it doesn’t have to drain your time. With the right...
Kindergarten Back to School Pack
The back to school season is always chaotic, but when you add on the extra layer of being a Kindergarten teacher, things get even more hectic. For many students, Kindergarten is their first school experience, or even first experience with an adult outside of their...
Build Fine Motor Skills With These 1st & 2nd Grade Activities
Messy handwriting. Difficulty drawing or coloring. Low stamina for typing. Frustration when cutting with scissors. Does this sound like one of your students? Fine motor skills play an important role in academic and personal success. What can teachers do if they...
AI Fundamentals for K–2 Teachers
Let’s be honest—AI is everywhere these days. It shows up in your phone, your search results, even your teaching tools. But knowing it’s all around us doesn’t always mean we understand what it actually is or how it works. If you’re a K–2 teacher who’s felt...
What Is AI? The ABCs of AI for K-2 Teachers
You’ve seen the headlines. You’ve heard the buzz. And maybe, quietly, you’ve wondered, “What is AI, really… and do I even need to care about it as a K–2 teacher?” If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the talk—or even a little resistant—you’re not alone. Many primary...
Dot Day Lesson Plan
Have you heard of International Dot Day? It’s a fun, book-inspired day celebrated around September 15th each year. It’s a great way to mix fun activities with learning in your classroom. I know what you might be thinking. There’s not enough time to plan something like...
Save Time & Stress with the Right Tutoring Resources
Tutoring is a valuable tool for students to reach success, but many teachers who tutor on the side face the challenge of spending hours searching for suitable tutoring resources. Often, these materials end up being low-quality or just filler activities. So, where can...
3 Real-Life Ways Teachers Are Using AI Off the Clock
You’ve spent the whole day managing classroom chaos, answering a thousand questions, and finding someone’s missing left shoe for the third time this week. Then you walk in the door at home… and a whole new list of responsibilities is waiting. Teaching may be...
Science of Reading-Friendly Alternatives for Outdated K-2 Literacy Routines
You’ve done the trainings. You believe in the Science of Reading. But… some of those old routines still feel comfortable! Letting go of familiar practices can be tough, but these easy swaps will make a big difference for your students. The best part? These...
Easy Classroom Door Decor for Every Season
Sprucing up your classroom to match the season can make it feel more welcoming, but it can seem like an overwhelming task. Here’s a simple idea: swap out your classroom door decor with the seasons! Check out the images in this post to inspire an easy classroom...
11 Clever Classroom Themes for K-2
Looking to refresh your classroom without spending hours scrolling Pinterest? We’ve got you covered! We asked real teachers in our Lucky Teachers Facebook Group to share their favorite classroom themes for K-2 and they delivered big-time. Whether you’re all...
Parent Communication Systems to Start at the Beginning of the School Year
Parent communication is crucial and should be a top priority to keep families informed about their child’s learning. A positive home-to-school relationship starts with open communication. Here’s how I build strong connections with parents each year. At our school’s...
Practical Fitness Tips for Busy Teachers
If you’ve ever thought, “When am I supposed to work out—during lunch duty or after grading 27 math tests?” you’re not alone. Finding time to stay active during the school year can feel nearly impossible. But the good news? It doesn’t have to. These fitness tips...
7 Hacks for Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent teacher conferences can go one of two ways and so I am excited to bring to you some tips and tricks that I have learned over the past twelve years to help make your parent teacher conferences a successful and productive time with your families! I have put...
Videos and No Prep Activities for Indoor Recess
Let’s be real—indoor recess can be rough. The kids are bouncing off the walls, the noise level is creeping higher, and all you want to do is hit play on a video and breathe for five minutes. But… admin says no videos for indoor recess. Good news: You can use...
49 Practical and Healthy Habits for Busy Teachers
The struggle is real—poor eating habits, skipping workouts, and the dreaded snack table in the staff lounge. Sound familiar? In our Lucky 2nd Grade Teachers Facebook Group, we asked: How do you stay healthy when you’re short on time and energy?The answers were too...
Setting Up a K-2 Science of Reading Friendly Classroom Library
A few words that are often heard when teachers talk about literacy are decodable readers, leveled texts, genre and classroom library… and the big one: SCIENCE OF READING. How can all these things fit together when it comes to the classroom library?Let’s...
K-2 Teacher Must-Haves: All on Amazon!
If you’ve ever dumped a drawer looking for dry erase markers or scrambled to find a visual timer mid-lesson… you’re in the right place. This is the K-2 teacher Amazon list I wish someone handed me years ago—filled with classroom tools I’d actually use...
7 Simple Ways to Organize Letter Tiles
Teachers know how quickly classroom materials can go from organized to chaotic! One day, everything’s neatly packed into bins, and the next, we’re digging through a pile of letter tiles to find the right ones for a phonics lesson. If you’re tired of...
Kindergarten Reading Instruction: It’s More Than Just Phonics
When you think of teaching Kindergarten literacy, the word phonics probably pops right into your head. Although phonics is vital, it is only one piece of the Kindergarten reading puzzle. Without focusing on the other areas of reading like comprehension, vocabulary or...
6 Easy-to-Prep Stations for a Family Math Night in K-1
Hosting a Family Math Night doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are 6 easy-to-set-up math stations that will get families involved in fun, hands-on activities while practicing essential math skills. Each station is designed to help kids in grades K-1 build math...
Science of Reading Small Group Lessons: A 20-Minute Model for K-2
If you’ve been teaching for a while, you’ve probably noticed that small group reading instruction has changed. The old Guided Reading model—where kids read leveled books and used picture clues to figure out words—is no longer considered best practice. Research tells...
Test Prep Parent Guide: Help Your Child Get Ready for End-of-Year Testing
The end of the school year is approaching, and along with it, end-of-year tests. The testing period can feel stressful or even scary for kids. To help eliminate test-taking anxiety, this test prep parent guide offers simple ways to build your child’s confidence and...
Test Prep Guide For K-3 Teachers
Imagine this: It’s a few weeks before testing, and you’re wondering if your students are ready. Do they understand the format? Will they freeze up on test day? Many teachers feel this pressure, but the good news is that test prep doesn’t have to be a last-minute...
The Stop and Think Folder: A Gentle Solution for Classroom Behaviors
What if there were a simple tool to help students manage their emotions and behaviors, without disrupting learning for the whole class? Teachers often face behavior issues that interrupt lessons, making it hard to maintain focus and momentum for all students....
Kindergarten Math Centers That Can Be Done Independently
As a teacher, you know how important it is for your Kindergarten students to practice math skills introduced in class. Centers are a great way to reinforce learning while fostering independence—a key skill at this age. But finding simple, engaging centers that don’t...
Student Self-Regulation Strategies
Does this sound familiar—one student melts down over a small mistake, another blurts out answers without thinking, and someone else rushes through their work just to be “done”? Self-regulation isn’t something kids just have—it’s a skill that needs to be...
St. Patrick’s Day Activities for the Classroom
Are you searching for St. Patricks Day activities for your classroom? The fun can last all day, while still sticking to academic concepts: STEM, math, reading, writing, you name it! Our team has put together another Lucky Little Party Plan for St. Patrick’s Day...
11 Ways to Use Lucky Little Decodable Readers in Kindergarten
Have you tried using decodable readers in kindergarten? These amazing tools help young learners practice phonics skills in a way that builds confidence and keeps reading simple and fun. They’re especially helpful for struggling readers, making them feel successful and...
Better Together: Lucky Little Learners & All Students Can Shine
All Students Can Shine is part of the Lucky Little Learners family! What does this mean for you? How about even more resources to help your students thrive?! Now All Access members will have access to all their favorite LLL materials, plus exciting new additions! More...
Tools to Easily Differentiate Math Centers
Teachers know that a one-size-fits-all approach to math centers doesn’t work. Our classrooms are filled with diverse learners, which is why taking the steps to differentiate math centers can ensure students get the on-level practice they need. This week I am teaching...
Student Book Clubs: Book Recommendations
Are you constantly searching for the perfect chapter book read for your student book clubs? Whether your students are just diving into the world of chapter books, or are seasoned readers, there are sure to be books that are a perfect fit. Let us end the search with...
11 Easy-to-Set-Up Stations for the 100th Day of School
Celebrate the 100th Day of School with 11 interactive stations that combine learning, fun, and creativity! These stations are designed for students to rotate through during the day, keeping them engaged while practicing essential skills. Each station is simple to set...
5 Things AI Can Take Off Your Teacher Plate
As teachers, our plates are constantly overflowing. Luckily, emerging technology can help with that. In this post I am talking about AI for teachers, and 5 ways this assistive technology can save you time…and sanity! The five tools we will be exploring are:...
Phoneme-Grapheme Mapping Guide
This week we will put on our Science of Reading hats, and dig into the importance of phoneme-graphing mapping in early literacy. If these terms are unfamiliar, phoneme-grapheme mapping is a game-changer for helping early readers connect sounds to symbols & this post...
Keep Teaching Resources Tidy with Google Drive
Getting your Lucky Little Learners All Access Membership organized with Google Drive can be a real lifesaver. It’s all about keeping things simple and easy to find when you need them most. Let’s walk through some quick and effective tips to help you set up Google...
Trello for Teacher Resource Organization
Truth time… Has your desktop become a little bit like a digital junk drawer? Is it so packed with folders, PDFs, and random downloads that you can’t even remember what your background looks like? Don’t feel bad—most teachers barely have time to eat lunch, let alone...
How to Identify Gaps in Phonics Using a Phonics Screener
Phonics is a big part of helping young readers become strong readers by teaching them how letters and sounds work together. A phonics screener can be a great way to spot any gaps in a child’s phonetic understanding, so you know exactly where to focus...
Transform Your Classroom Into a Gingerbread Village
Imagine, as a child, walking into a classroom filled with gingerbread, and buzzing with holiday excitement! You can make this a reality for your students with almost no prep with our Gingerbread Day classroom transformation. Let’s take a sneak peek into a...
Small Groups: Guided Reading is Out; Science of Reading is In
For a long time, guided reading, where students work in small groups on books matched to their independent reading level, was a staple in many classrooms, mine included. However, research on the Science of Reading has started to cast doubt on its effectiveness,...
