Hi Reader, I hope you had an absolutely marvelous week and have a lovely holiday weekend ahead. As I was preparing to share some of my favorite trending resources with you, one resource REALLY stood out to me. This resource has been tried and true for years, and I created when I was a 4th grade classroom teacher desperate for authentic (and engaging) review. Rapid Read and Review Although there are many different versions of this resource now (grammar, figurative language, skill-based, etc.),...
11 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I am waving a big, huge "hello" from my couch. Last week, I had surgery that requires me to be out of the classroom until the beginning of May (which I am already dreading). April is actually one of my very favorite months of the year to be a teacher because there are SO many seasonally engaging topics to teach! I've been super bummed about missing them this year, so I figured I'd live vicariously and share all my April favorites with you! ⭐⭐ I know I'm late sending this, but if...
14 days ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader, Happy St. Patrick's Day! 🍀 Today is an exciting day at school -- not only is it St. Patrick's Day, but it's our school's Battle of the Books competition, we're finalizing our March Madness book winner, and we're using our third authentic text to learn about the Iditarod during literacy. What a day! With so much emphasis on BOOKS, I thought today would be perfect to share some of my favorite ways to use picture books! I use picture books all year long, but this time of year using...
28 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, I am SO excited to share this with you! 👏👏 I have spent many hours compiling my favorite test prep tips into a comprehensive guide for you to use as you prepare your students for upcoming state tests. It's hot off the presses and ready for you. 🎉 FREE Test Prep Guide! This Upper Elementary Test Prep Tips & Tricks Guide is packed with practical strategies I use in my own classroom—everything from tackling tricky multiple-choice questions (it even contains the secret of The Pink...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I’m going to say something rather boldly: I insist on teaching error analysis. And this time of year...you know...test prep season? It matters more than ever. By now, your students know your routines. You are likely deep into the math curriculum and looking ahead at the units you have to finish before testing or the year's end. With testing season just around the corner, it means it’s no longer enough for students to just get answers right. The demands of state testing often...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
Happy Tuesday! I hope your Monday was fantastic IF you were in school... I sure am jealous of all the snow some of you are getting! ❄️❄️ Can we talk about something that quietly causes a lot of frustration (for teacher AND students) in upper elementary? No, I'm not talking about 6-7 or skibidi rizz... ⭐ Summarizing.⭐ Paraphrasing.⭐ Quoting. We teach them. We model them. We assign them. And then we read student work and realize… they’re all getting blended together. A sentence copied...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, I'll be the first to admit that I am beyond sad that the Olympics are almost over, and I won't necessarily be watching any actual March Madness, but I WILL keep the competition theme going.... with a March Madness-style Picture Book Showdown! Free Brackets & Blog Post I have finally compiled all four sets of brackets (that's 64 books!) and written an entire blog post about how I have implemented it both as a classroom showdown and as an entire school. Ready for the brackets? I...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Using Paired Passages Hi Reader, I hope you enjoyed a long weekend! Today is our 100th day, and you know what that means... I feel like now is that moment when we dive into the final stretch before state testing, and many of us are thinking about ways to give students meaningful practice that feels intentional and engaging (I know... a tall order). One of the most powerful tools I’ve leaned into with my own readers is using paired passages for close reading and synthesis practice. Let's chat...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hey there, Happy Tuesday! Another week has come and gone, and I can't quite believe it. Like much of the country, we had a delayed start yesterday for cold temps (not too much snow here), but now we're hoping for an uneventful week! ❄️🧊 Today, I'm sharing some of the rationale for incorporating word study, strategies, and classroom-testing resources and activities I use. Don't have time to peruse? Here are two quick links to get you started! 🔗 Main Word Study Blog Post 🔗 Word Study Bundle of...
3 months ago • 3 min read