Spell check or no spell check, teaching spelling is an important part of language arts instruction in the elementary classroom. It’s a skill our students will use for the rest of their lives. But teaching spelling can be tough with all the rules and all the exceptions to the rules. That’s why being intentional and having a solid spelling plan are so important.
Mornings in the classroom can be full of chaos and excitement. You might find yourself being pulled in multiple directions. Add to that the morning administrative tasks, and it can be a not so calm start to your day. But . . . they don’t have to be that way. With some morning work ideas that get kids ready for their day, you will be able to find a little extra time to take care of all those morning tasks. Adding morning work to your student’s daily routine takes very little or no prep and helps students develop important independence skills! I am so excited to share how you can set the tone for the day with engaging morning work. With purposeful morning work and a routine you can commit to, you will be well on your way to a successful year with your students.
Do you dread teaching poetry? I get it! I’ve been there! The concepts of poetry are oftentimes difficult for children to understand and that makes it challenging to teach. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. After years of teaching and practice, I’ve nailed down a few strategies for teaching poetry effectively in the classroom. They say practice makes perfect, right?
Engaging students in reading comprehension activities can be so hard. As teachers, however, we know the importance of these skills. So working to keep reading comprehension lessons and activities fresh and fun is half the battle. It is so important to keep students engaged so they can fine-tune their reading comprehension skills. Sure, we can assign reading passage after reading passage, but who really wants to do that? Instead, let’s focus on some engaging reading comprehension activities that will make reading lessons fun!
Teaching main idea and supporting details to students isn’t all that easy. Many students struggle with the concept and the process. They get confused and caught up in all of the little details when reading through the text. Some even confuse summarizing a passage with finding the main idea. So, how can you as a teacher make sure that this doesn’t happen to your students? After many years of trial and error, I have the solution that has worked in my classroom time after time. I’m excited to share with you my strategies for teaching main idea and supporting details.
There are so many amazing things about the month of March. It brings a close to the long, dark, cold months of winter. It’s filled with the hope of spring and new beginnings. But, it’s also that time of the year when the pressure of test prep really starts getting heavy. When students start dreaming of warmer days and counting down for spring break and summer. March is a pivotal month for sure! Let me help you sail through this month with these fun and engaging March activities that will keep your students focused, engaged, and working on important skills and concepts.
December in the classroom might be the shortest month of instructional days – but it just might be the hardest, too. Students are excited about the holidays and school break. Their thoughts are consumed with Christmas and gifts and travel and well . . . just about anything but school! And teachers are just as busy too! There are lessons to plan, students to engage, and a Christmas party to plan – and that is just at school. So let me help you fill your lesson plans with fun and engaging December activities that your students will love!
The end of the school year is an exciting time! I know what you’re thinking – “Yes, Summer is coming!” But summer aside it is still an exciting time. It’s a time to celebrate the learning, the friendships, the hard work. But it’s also a busy time for teachers with so much to do. I’m here to help with both of these things! I’ve gathered some amazing End of the Year Activities for the Classroom!
December is here and that brings so many thoughts and feelings. On one hand, I’m amazed that it is already December. On the other hand, December is a month unlike any other (except maybe the last month of school). The students are filled with energy and excitement about the approaching holidays and school break. I am focused on finishing the month strong while also trying to balance all that December brings (gift buying, decorating, parties, and so much more). These December activities for the classroom are a great way to focus the students and keep them learning while making life a little easier for the teacher too!
The four words no teacher wants to hear: “I’m done! Now what?” I don’t know about you, but those words make me shudder and I can feel the stress rise at the utterance of them. Why? Well, I want my students engaged and learning during class time. If they have finished our assignment, then they are taskless. And . . . I know that many students are still working. I want these students to have the time they need to thoughtfully complete the activity in an environment that is conducive to learning. And so there it is – the balancing act of early finishers.
Do you struggle to engage your students in reading comprehension practice? I’ve got you. Finding high-quality free reading comprehension worksheets can be hard. Reading comprehension doesn’t come naturally to all students. It’s up to us to challenge our more gift readers to grow while helping our struggling readers flourish alongside them. Keeping reading skills practice fresh and fun is half the battle! Today I’m sharing two FREE print and digital resources that will keep your students engaged while fine-tuning their reading comprehension skills! I promise that they will beg for more!
Many students struggle to find the main idea of a passage or story. Students tend to confuse the main idea with the summary, while others just can’t seem to grasp the concept. Here are a few tips, ideas, and activities to help you teach students how to identify the main idea and the supporting details of a passage, short story, or book.
Is the end of the year getting you down? I know…it’s overwhelming. There’s so much to do. From end of grade testing to finishing report cards to updating each individual student’s permanent records – the end of the school year leaves us drained every.single.day. With over 18 years in the classroom, I’ve managed to come up with an end-of-year checklist to make life a little easier. This checklist includes a little bit of everything. If you’re like me you’re swamped with so much to do that you don’t even want to think about next year. This checklist will help you keep your sanity and hopefully make the beginning of a new school year much easier!
Teacher appreciation week is a wonderful time to thank teachers. But we don’t have to wait for that ear-marked week in May. Showing our appreciation any time of the year is great. I promise whether it is the first day of school, a random day in March, teacher appreciation week, or the end of the year, this note will be cherished. You can give this FREE letter to a teacher anytime during the year to show your appreciation.
The month of October is full of exciting fall and Halloween activities in the classroom. From pumpkins to witches – there are always so many fun things to choose from! You probably have that one lesson you teach every year at this time. For me, we always write book reviews on our favorite books and display them in the hall for others to see. It is our hope, as a classroom, that we inspire other students to read one (or more) of our favorite books.
I AM PASSIONATE ABOUT HELPING TEACHERS SAVE TIME BY CREATING MEANINGFUL AND ENGAGING RESOURCES THAT MAKE TEACHING AND LEARNING EASIER.
I’m happy you’re here!
COPYRIGHT © 2023. Kim Miller.
