Joke of the Day Routine in 2nd grade

Knock, Knock! Who’s there? Teachers. Teachers who? Teachers who use jokes in the classroom to up student engagement! Now that you are done rolling on the floor with laughter, you can focus on this post on humor in the classroom. How can teachers use a

How to Create a Bucket Filler Classroom

I am a firm believer in positive and encouraging classroom environments.  Students who feel safe and encouraged are being set up to take risks, challenge themselves, and work hard.  There are a few ways that I achieve this in my classroom.  This post will outline

Fun Ideas for Celebrating Student Birthdays At School

Birthdays are a BIG deal to kids. Remember the excitement?! But how can teachers make student birthdays extra special without a big hit to the wallet? There are so many ways to celebrate students on their special day from a birthday board classroom display to

Morning Meeting Conversations

Peer-to-peer sharing is a commonly used practice in elementary classrooms. Many teachers utilize “think-pair-share” or “turn and talk” during core classes. But what if encouraging student-to-student conversations in a relaxed way could improve student learning overall? That’s exactly what 30 Second Conversations aim to do.

The Benefits of Social Learning Routines

A lack of appropriate peer interaction has created a social development drought for some students.  The “normal” expectations of behavior have changed and it’s time for our instruction to change with it. Read on to find out how to use social learning routines to increase

Science of Reading: Sample Literacy Block Schedule

If you’re ready to dive into a science of reading (SoR) aligned curriculum and trying to figure out how to structure your literacy block this is the post for you. A daily science of reading schedule will vary based on student needs and age. This