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5 Back to School Activities for First Grade & Second Grade
If you’re anything like me, I always over-plan the first few days/weeks of school with tons of back to school activities. You never know when you’ll need to fill in a little time slot and you don’t want to be scrambling for a last-minute activity! With all the craziness of

The Office: Dunder Mifflin Elementary Picture Book Activities
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably watched countless episodes of The Office. When the picture book came out based on the show, The Office, Dunder Mifflin Elementary, I knew I needed to get my hands on it! Introducing… The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary! First things first:

Simple Activities for Phonics Practice
Coming up with simple activities for phonics practice doesn’t have to be time-consuming! This easy-to-play phonics practice game is a lifesaver! Whether you’re working on a specific phonics skill or learning new sight words, this no-prep practice game is a quick and easy way to get your students engaged and

Math Games Using Dice (10+ Activities)
Do you ever find yourself scrambling for a quick math activity but you’re low on prep and planning time? In my experience, some of the best math activities are the simplest ones! That’s why I love math games using dice! They’re easy to prep and replicate so you can quickly

Simple End of the Year Classroom Activities for Tired Teachers
The end of the year is drawing near! Hooray! If you’re scouring the internet or Pinterest for end of the year classroom activities or countdown ideas but feel like everything you’re finding is just toooooo much… I GET IT! You’re exhausted. It’s been another long year. And yes, you want

Picture Books for Narrative Writing
Writing workshop… the time teachers either love or dread. When teaching narrative writing, we want students to tell a story, much like in picture books. I have the perfect set of picture books you need to grab from your school library to use for your first or second-grade students. Keep

Differentiated Math Activities for 1st & 2nd Grade
Differentiated Math Activities With Math Sidekick What is Math Sidekick? The Math Sidekick is your planning partner – that’s ME! Each month, members of Math Sidekick get access to differentiated math activities, centers, printables, and games! Who is it for? – Math Sidekick was made for busy first and second-grade

The Easiest Way to Make Weekly Guided Math Lesson Plans
Getting your guided math lesson plans together each week doesn’t have to be complicated. Here’s how I plan an entire week of math instruction. For my classroom, there are three big things I spend my time thinking through and planning: Small group lessons Independent practice activities Math centers Guided Math

Small Group Instruction in Math: 3 Myths You Shouldn’t Believe
Do you want to utilize small group instruction in math but feel unsure if it’s the best fit for your classroom? There are many ideas and opinions surrounding small group instruction, so let’s talk about 3 common myths teachers have. Small Group Instruction in Math Myth #1: It’s All Busy

5 Benefits of Small Group Math Instruction
It’s no secret that there are so many benefits of small group math instruction, but maybe you need a few reminders as to why you should be utilizing it over whole group instruction. Let’s talk through the 5 benefits of small group math instruction. The #1 Benefit of Small Group

3 Steps You Can Take to Improve Differentiated Math Instruction
Do you ever feel overwhelmed when it comes to differentiated math instruction for the entire class? It definitely can be tricky, but it doesn’t have to be! Here are 3 steps you can take today to improve differentiated math instruction! Start Small With Differentiated Math Start small and only change

Word Work Centers: Everything You Need to Know
So many teachers find that their word work center is boring and time-consuming to set up, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Except for guided reading groups, one of the few centers that I take the time to plan and prep each week (or month) is the word