☀️Time for summer series ☀️

Top 10 Classroom Transformations

Get ready to sprinkle some extra magic into your classrooms because we’ve got something special for you. If you’re all about making learning super fun and unforgettable for your elementary-aged students, then you’re in for a treat! We’ve...

Solar Eclipse in the Classroom

At least twice a year, a solar eclipse is visible somewhere on Earth. Once in awhile, your school community just might be located in or close to the viewable path of an eclipse. Tap into the excitement of these scientific events while still focusing on academics with...

20 Ways to Use Plastic Easter Eggs in the Classroom

When I was younger, my mom hid Easter eggs all throughout the house. My young self felt a surge of excitement upon seeing each of those bright plastic eggs! Chances are, many of your students feel the same egg hunting excitement as my mid-80s self. Tap into this...

Books and Basketball Classroom Transformation

March is right around the corner, bringing with it March Madness. Even if you’re not a basketball fan, there are sure to be young sports enthusiasts in your classroom. As March Madness approaches, so does Read Across America Week. While we’re gearing up...

4 High Engagement Classroom Management Tools to Try Today!

If you’re looking for engaging and effective classroom management tools, (and you’d also love to keep it simple) you’re in the right spot. In this post, we’ll introduce you to our top four “must-have” management tools primary...

The b and d Dilemma: A Teacher’s Guide to Letter Reversals

Have you noticed some of your students turning their letters into acrobatic champions, flipping and reversing all over the page? Well, guess what? Until about the ripe old age of 8 or 9, kids can basically be letter gymnasts, and that's totally normal! And nope, it...

Celebrate the Extra Day: Leap Year Classroom Activities

The gift of an extra day is coming your way! Yep, that's right – every four years, we get a bonus day on February 29th. Why let this special day pass by without some classroom fun and learning? In this blog post, we've got the whole day planned, from morning work to...

7 Subtraction With Regrouping Activities Kids Love

Teaching subtraction with regrouping can be tricky! That's why our team went on the search to round up hands-on and creative subtraction with regrouping activities that are fun to teach and engaging for students. Peruse the ideas below, and share any others you may...

Beyond Flashcards: 9 Creative Ways to Use Phonics Cards

Do you use phonics cards to teach spelling patterns? If so, great news! You're aligning with the latest research on effective phonics instruction. SOR-aligned instruction uses phonics cards to help students establish connections between letters and the specific sounds...

Take Back Your Out Of Control Class!

Teacher friend, have you ever felt like you have an out of control class? Believe me when I tell you, all teachers have had this moment, and it can be difficult to rein in the feelings of helplessness. Luckily, you have the Lucky Little Learners teacher community by...

Teacher Gift Guide: 11 Gift Ideas Teachers Will Truly Love

With the holidays coming up, you might be looking for the perfect gift to show your appreciation for a teacher or colleague. Finding something affordable and useful can be tricky, so save time with our quick teacher gift guide—it’s got something for every educator on...

January Math Centers for 1st & 2nd Grade

It's time to talk math centers for January!  Winter has officially arrived.  Up here in Minnesota the snow is piling up, the temperatures are below freezing, and the snow sports are in full force.  I use these winter themed math centers as a way of...

9 Principles for Syllable Division

By now you have surely heard about the importance of teaching syllables to your young learners. If not, read why right here. However, keeping students engaged in the process of syllable division can be difficult. Teaching syllable breaks is vital to students being...

Teacher Maternity Leave Made Easy

Welcome, fellow teacher moms and dads, to a topic that’s close to the hearts of many of us: preparing for maternity leave as an elementary teacher. It’s a wonderful, life-changing moment, and it also brings with it the need for careful planning to ensure...

11 Easy Holiday Crafts for Kids Roundup

Are you looking for winter holiday art projects to create with your students that won’t bust the bank? We are here to tell you affordable (or even free) winter crafting is possible! Let’s take a deep dive into crafts made with materials you might even be...

Balloons Over Broadway in the Classroom

Have you heard of the book, ‘Balloons over Broadway’, by Melissa Sweet? This engaging read, focusing on the true story of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade puppeteer, is sure to enthrall your young learners. Not only will they learn the true story...

Unpacking Standards: A Guide for 1st & 2nd Grade Teachers

As educators, we know that the road to effective teaching and successful student learning begins with a clear understanding of the standards we are tasked with. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the crucial process of unpacking standards, and we’ve...

Native American Heritage Month Resources for Primary Teachers

November is Native American Heritage Month, and while we know we are not experts on the subject, we’re excited to help you bring the rich cultures and histories of Native American communities into your classrooms. We’re all about amplifying Native American...

Fresh Ideas to Teach Similes and Metaphors

Teaching is like a roller coaster. Some days you’re up, some days you’re down. But when it comes to teaching figurative language like similes and metaphors, there’s no need to spiral out! When you use these ideas to teach similes and metaphors in...

Using Gratitude to Fight Burn Out

Teacher and student burn out seems to be at an all time high right now. Our team has an idea to fight the burn out…focusing on the gratitude in your daily teaching life. Putting gratitude at the forefront of your mind can help the negative seem, well, less...

50 Teacher Mindset Mantras to Build Your Resilience

Teaching is truly one of the most rewarding professions, and for a good reason. It’s a journey filled with moments of inspiration, growth, and transformation. However, like any journey, it can also come with its fair share of challenges and obstacles. Sometimes...

Growth Mindset Tips for 1st Graders (and Teachers Too!)

Have you ever heard your students say something like, “I can’t do this” or “This is too hard”? Of course you have! These are common human feelings. However, with a bit of work on growth mindset in first grade, you can create a solid...

Homophone How-To for 2nd Grade

Have you found yourself in a homophones teaching funk? Are your students just not understanding this important grammar skill? If so, keep reading this post set up as a “homophone how to for 2nd grade”, to learn tips, tricks and strategies to launch you and...

Tips to Help Kids Build Stamina in 1st Grade Reading & Writing

The beginning stage of the year is over, and teachers are itching to dig into content and small group instruction. However, there is a problem. 1st graders can lack the stamina to sit down and get work done! (For sure not long enough for teachers to successfully run...

Teaching Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases

Enhance Literacy with Embedded Grammar Lessons Research on the Science of Reading (SOR) dating back to the 1970s shows that teaching grammar as isolated rules doesn’t effectively transfer to writing and speaking. What works better is embedding grammar within the...

13 Halloween Read Alouds and Interactive Classroom Activities

With the spooky season approaching, it’s time to dig into some fun Halloween read alouds and activities to keep your little goblins learning and engaged. 1 – Creepy Pair of Underwear By Aaron Reynolds, illustrated by Peter Brown Purchase on Amazon In...

Verb Tenses

By now, your learners have mastered the basic parts of a sentence. As their writing skills continue to grow, they will need to know how to write stories, and reports that tell what happened in the past, present, or future. Let’s dive into verb tenses! Enhance...

15 Fall Read Alouds for 1st & 2nd Graders

Gather around, grab a warm blanket, and bring the wonders of the most colorful season into your1st or 2nd grade classroom! We’ve got all the autumn themes covered with these 15 kid and teacher-favorite fall read alouds. Jump to your favorite fall theme Fall...

Google Slides Templates For Teachers To Guide Daily Instruction

Have you joined the Google Slides craze? Or are you wondering why teachers are so excited about these online presentations, and just how they incorporate them into their daily instruction? Let us answer those questions and give a glimpse at our newly created Google...

All Access Lists: Your Helpful Assistants

Are you new to teaching and just don’t know how to stay afloat amongst the thousands of teacher ideas out there? Or, are you a new All Access member, and feel overwhelmed with the amount of amazing resources offered on the site, this post is for you! If you have...

4 Things You’ll Always See in True Science of Reading Classrooms

Do you know how the experts easily distinguish a genuine Science of Reading classroom from those that are still finding their way? They look for four specific practices that are the cornerstone of Science of Reading in primary classrooms. If you want to stand out as a...

5 Solid Gold Classroom Management Tips For Teachers

Looking to tighten up classroom management this year? We’ve got you covered with our newest post filled with management tips for teachers! Think of this article as a one-stop-shop for teacher recommended procedures that simplify the art of classroom management....

All Access: Your Last Minute Teaching Lesson Planner

Is this your first time hearing about All Access? Have you heard about it, or are hesitant to make the next move? Do you have All Access, but want to know more about its benefits? Or, are you looking for no prep 2nd grade activities & no prep 1st grade activities?...

Beginning of Fall Review Activities for Primary Grades

It seems like the school year ends, summer flies by and just like that, it is back to school time! When the whirlwind called summer is done, it is time to plan some fun (and low prep) beginning of fall activities for your 1st or 2nd grade students. But fear not,...

Teacher Membership Options: How to Choose the Right Fit

In this tech savvy age, there seems to be online subscription sites for every need. Teaching is no exception. Teachers have been joining online subscription sites in large numbers. This is due to the easy access to thousands of resources in an instant. Also, these...

The Great 1st Grade Grammar Review!

Enhance Literacy with Embedded Grammar Lessons Research on the Science of Reading (SOR) dating back to the 1970s shows that teaching grammar as isolated rules doesn’t effectively transfer to writing and speaking. What works better is embedding grammar within the...

Johnny Appleseed Day for 1st Grade

As fall begins, teachers wonder what fun and special events can bring their classroom to life. One such day is John Chapman’s (aka Johnny Appleseed) birthday on September 26th. Celebrated widely in first grade classrooms, a Johnny Appleseed day can be fun but...

All Access: The Ultimate Teacher Membership for K-2 Grade Teachers

We all know teachers are swamped. Because of this busy career, many teachers, looking for some calm to their chaos, have turned to subscription sites. These online platforms have revolutionized the way teachers access resources, collaborate with their team, and stay...

Teacher Survival Kit

As the school year approaches, many teachers focus on arranging and decorating their classrooms as part of their summer prep. But, have you ever thought of creating a teacher survival kit? Your future “it is January and these kids are driving me bonkers”...

Glow Day Classroom Transformation

Are you ready for a classroom transformation that will shine above the rest?! If so, we have just the resource for you: Glow Day Classroom Transformation. So turn off the lights, sit back and grab your glow sticks while this post illuminates how this day will become a...

Get Ready for Next Year: Essential Summer Classroom Prep

It happens to the best of us… you’re sitting outside, soaking in summer break, when it hits: the school planning bug. Your brain wonders if it’s too early, but you sure would love to feel on top of things when back to school season hits! I promise – no one’s...

Teaching Shades of Meaning

Enhance Literacy with Embedded Grammar Lessons Research on the Science of Reading (SOR) dating back to the 1970s shows that teaching grammar as isolated rules doesn’t effectively transfer to writing and speaking. What works better is embedding grammar within the...

How to Teach Ordering Numbers in the Beginning of 1st Grade

There are many foundational 1st grade math skills that are vital for developing number sense. A few of these skills are comparing & ordering numbers, subitizing, counting on & back and using ten frames. The goal is to have students confident and automatic at...

Routines and Resources for 1st Grade Handwriting

Our lucky little learners make such huge strides in Kindergarten, it is amazing to witness the growth! But when summer is done, and 1st grade begins, it is time to tap into that muscle memory with letter formation and handwriting. This post will walk you through a few...

How to Teach Subitizing in 1st Grade

As teachers, we are always looking for new techniques and strategies to help our students be the best they can be. One such skill in math is subitizing. Subitizing is a vital building block for developing number sense and pattern recognition. It also greatly improves...

New 1st & 2nd Grade Teacher Must-Haves

Have you just landed your dream teaching job? Are you moving to a new grade level? Or, are you returning after a restful summer break and ready to start fresh? If so, this post has all of the teacher must haves: resources to make your new year of teaching easier! Let...

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