After a few different requests, I'm trying something different on the blog today. Welcome to the Saturday Style Files. My plan is to come back every Saturday and post a few outfit ideas that are perfect for the classroom...or anywhere else you like to wear clothes :). You won't just find the outfit details, but I'll also include similar options at different price points, too. Hopefully this helps answer some questions I've been getting and gives you a few ideas, too. ***This post contains affiliate links*** One of the easiest outfits to throw on...for me anyway...is a short sleeve or tank dress & a kimono with a pair of wedges or ... Read More
ELA in a Day -Back to School
As we embark upon a new school year, I wanted to take a quick minute to introduce you to a literacy resource I think you'll love...especially if you're a Kindergarten or 1st Grade teacher. When I'm visiting classrooms and working with teachers, one common recurring thing I continue to hear is, "I wish there were an easier way to fit it all in." If you're anything like most teachers, I'm sure you feel the same way. Last fall Abby and I started brainstorming different ways we could help teachers streamline their literacy instruction while maintaining the integrity of the standards & objectives as well as providing teachers with ... Read More
Summer Chores & Boredom Busters
Ahhhh, summer. It's almost here. In fact, it's so close I can taste it. I love summer. Everything about it (except the crazy Houston heat and humidity!) What I love most about summer is having my kids home with me. Having them home also means I need to figure out ways to keep them busy. Not shuffle them here-and-there kind of busy, but active (both physically and creatively). Since the boys were little, they've been helping out around the house (as much as they can). If I'm being totally honest, this last year they've been slacking in the responsibility department quite a bit. I can't blame them solely for it though. If I had a mom ... Read More
Ending The Year with Science
As the end-of-the-year quickly approaches, we often find ourselves looking for exciting ways to engage our kids, keep their interest, and teach them all the way until the last day. Okay, okay....the last week(ish), LOL. So often Science and Social Studies take a backseat to the daily demands of math and literacy, but there are SO many ways to incorporate science on a cross-curricular level. Why not end the year with a BANG and incorporate hands-on science activities that include a literacy and math component as well?! Abby and I created a year's worth of The Science Of...resources to meet the needs of science, but also incorporate ... Read More
Earth Day
Earth Day is quickly approaching and while I know that many of you may already have the day planned out, I wanted to offer a few more ideas and suggestions that you might be able to incorporate into your instruction. Instead of simply focusing on Earth Day for one day, I like to incorporate cross curricular Earth Day activities throughout the week leading up to Earth Day. I think it's important to expand on the topic and give lots of time for disuccsion and opportunities for new learning. There is SO much to know about Earth Day! One day is never enough. I also love giving my kids opportunities to build their schema before Earth Day ... Read More
All About Insects – Part 2 (Bees and Ants)
***This post contains affiliate links via Amazon*** A couple of days ago we chatted all about how I plan for a thematic unit with a focus on insects. Today we're diving into a couple of insects I focus on during this unit of learning...bees and ants! Our kids are naturally curious about bugs. Each year I was in the classroom a recurring theme of interest kept occurring. My kids were SO inquisitve about bees and ants. I do think a big part of this was due to the fact that these two particular insects were always swarming about during recess and other outdoor activities, but nonetheless they wanted to know all they could about these ... Read More
All About Insects – Part 1
One of my favorite thematic units to teach is INSECTS! Does anyone else feel the same?! Now, many of you may be scoffing at the word "thematic", but don't let that word fool you. I don't mean thematic in the sense of arts and crafts and fluff and stuff. I mean thematic in the sense of cross-curricular learning. Now that we have that out of the way, let's chat about insects. This is the perfect time of the year to learn about these little creatures. As the weather changes and gives way to the emergence of bugs EVERYWHERE, our cross-curricular learning comes to life! SCIENCE OF INSECTS To make our cross-curricular unit of ... Read More
Let’s Talk About Oviparous Animals
If you're anything like me, as a teacher you love teaching thematically. SO much content can be covered on a cross-curricular level...so many connections can be made... when taking this approach to instruction. And because most public schools don't support teaching about Easter, this is a great time of the year for teaching all about oviparous and viviparous animals! Today I wanted to share with you a few activities and read alouds I love incorporating in my plans this time of the year. No thematic unit of learning is complete without a good set of read alouds! These are a few of my favorite oviparous animal books to keep in the ... Read More
100th Day of School
With all the random crazy weather days we've had this year, I know many teacher friends who have yet to celebrate the 100th day. If you're anything like me, you like this special day to be organized, simple, and FUN, but MEANINGFUL at the same time. I gotcha covered, friends! Check out some ideas below for celebrating the 100th day of school. For the first few years of my teaching career, I didn't think the 100th day of school was all that. I mean sure...it was special. SUPER special (for lack of a better description). But I didn't invest much time in planning because I guess I didn't think it was THAT big of a deal. Oh, how ... Read More
Holidays Around the World
The best way to spread holiday cheer is celebrating differences far and near...don't you think?! Holidays Around the World has always been one of my favorite themes for the month of December. I've planned for this many different ways over the years. Some years we'd learn about several countries in a 2-3 day time frame. Some years we'd take a week to study different cultures and celebrations. When I last taught Kindergarten, our entire campus (it was a Pre-K/Kindergarten campus only) traveled the world in one day. Our kids got boarding passes and boarded a plane. Destination - holidays around the world. Our administrators acted as the ... Read More
