Create Your Balance with Literacy

Listen to my FREE webinar from my Facebook Group, all about Cross- Curricular Fun for May.  Some topics I shared are:Mother's Day, Oceans/Sea Life, Rocks/Fossils, Fairy Tales, Financial Literacy, and End-of-Year activities for first grade. Want to see pictures of my resources? Check out my YT Video of this webinar! Do you want to sign up on my WAITLIST for my Back to School Bootcamp in July? I'll send you an email as the time gets closer! Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections Membership with Subscription Box!Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me as I break down how I teach my Fairy Tale Writing Unit to my firsties! If you're interested in checking out my Fairy Tale Writing Unit, click HERE! It includes lesson plans with suggested mentor texts, sequencing foldables, writing craftivities, anchor charts, and writing templates all in a fairy tale theme!Do you want to sign up on my WAITLIST for my Back to School Bootcamp in July? I'll send you an email as the time gets closer! Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections Membership with Subscription Box! Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

This was the free webinar I gave in my Facebook Group for K-2 teachers. I shared all of my engaging and fun activities for April in Reading, Writing, Math, Poetry, Science, and Social Studies! And, I gave away free resources! Some topics I share are:Patricia PolaccoEasterRainforestsEndangered AnimalsInsectsPlantsLife Cyclesand much more! Do you want to sign up on my WAITLIST for my Back to School Bootcamp in July? I'll send you an email as the time gets closer! Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections Membership with Subscription Box! Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

This was the free webinar I gave in my Facebook Group for K-2 teachers. I shared all of my engaging and fun activities for March in Reading, Writing, Math, Poetry, Science, and Social Studies! Some topics I share are:St. Patrick's DayTexas Animal ResearchTexas SymbolsDr. Seuss Reader's TheaterProcedural Writing and much more! Do you want FREE LESSON plans for Spring???  Click HERE to sign up for my email list! Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections Membership with Subscription Box! Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Is your 120th Day coming up soon? If it is, check out this episode all about my team's 120th Day stations for our firsties! They are fun and easy to implement! Show Notes with Pictures of the Stations! Do you want FREE LESSON plans for American Symbols and Presidents??? Click HERE to sign up on my email list! Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections Membership with Subscription Box! Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

In this free webinar from my Facebook Group: Create Your Balance with Literacy, I share activities, topics, and engaging fun for February. Topics I share are: Groundhog DayValentine's DayFamous InventorsBlack History Month 100th Day Presidents/American SymbolsPresidents' Day Moneyand much more! Do you want FREE LESSON plans for American Symbols and Presidents??? Click HERE to sign up on my email list! Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections Membership with Subscription Box! Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Today's episode, I answer the burning questions from teachers who attended my Literacy Center Reboot. Questions include: Do you have a list of theme unit displays?When do you start introducing your centers one at a time?Do you model how to fill these pages out when you introduce the center?Do you keep all resources needed for the year in the trays or do you switch out as needed throughout the year?With 4 choices a week, do you do something differently on the 5th day?What would it cost if we’d like both the  math and writing subscription box?You say you do centers for 30 minutes a day- I do a modified Daily 5 for an hour each day. But, I’m trying to decide how I can incorporate your centers with the Daily 5 as it does work, but I want more choices for my kids. I pull small groups during the daily 5. Any suggestions are welcome! How do you determine the Star Student?How do you differentiate your center pages for striving writers?And... much more! Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections Membership with Subscription Box! Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me today as I unpack these literacy centers in my first-grade classroom: Technology, Listening, Finger Puppets, Drama, Theme, Games, and Science!  I share how I manage, maintain, if I switch them out, and how I introduce them to my students.Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block.Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around!Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me today as I unpack these literacy centers in my first-grade classroom: Read/Write the Room, Math, Felt Board, Calendar, Author Study, Word Work, and Kitchen!!! I share how I manage, maintain, if I switch them out, and how I introduce them to my students.Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block.Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around!Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me today as I unpack these literacy centers in my first-grade classroom: Library, Poetry, Big Books, Geography, Art, and Writing!!! I share how I manage, maintain, if I switch them out, and how I introduce them to my students.Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block.Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around!Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me on day 1 of my Literacy Center Reboot as I unpack my Behavior Management strategies to start streamlining your literacy centers into a well-oiled machine! You can still register for my Literacy Center Reboot HERE!!! Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block.Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around!Connect with me: Literacy Center REBOOTTPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Ready to Fall Back in Love with Your Literacy Centers? ✨Cart is OPEN now until Sunday, Dec. 28th! Snag if for only $10.00!When: Dec. 29-Jan.2: 4 Days of LIVE Trainings with 10 FREE Literacy Center Resources for your classroom! Where: Private Facebook Group- after you register, you will receive an email with an invite to join.Hey teacher friends! 👋If you’ve ever felt like your literacy centers are more chaos than calm, this is for YOU!Join me in my Literacy Center Reboot — a fun, practical training designed to help you:📚 Keep students accountable and on task during centers🧩 Learn which centers you actually need (no more overwhelm!)🔄 Know when and how to change them out to keep engagement high🪄 Master behavior management so you can finally teach during small groups📦 PLUS—get a sneak peek at my brand-new Literacy Center Subscription Box! 🎁🧩 Schedule of LIVE Trainings:🎁Day 1 (Dec. 29): Behavior Management, Student Accountability,Center Rotation Board,Center Folder,Center Checklist,“I CAN” Cards, andHow to Utilize a Star Student. 🎁Day 2 (Dec. 30): How to Manage, when to change out, and materials for:Library Center,Poetry Center,Big Book Center,Geography Center,Art Center, andWriting Center Subscription Box. 🎁Day 3 (Dec. 31): How to Manage, when to change out, and materials for:Kitchen Center,Math Center Subscription Box,Calendar Center,Felt Board Center,Read/Write The Room,Word Work Center, andAuthor Center. 🎁Day 4 (Jan. 1): How to Manage, when to change out, and materials for:Technology Center,Listening Center,Finger Puppet Center,Construction/STEM,Drama Center,Science Center, andTheme Center. 🎁Day 5 (Jan. 2): LIVE Q&A!!! You will get a chance to ask questions with Kara and get immediate feedback! You will also get your name put in a raffle to win a $30.00 Amazon Gift Card! Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block.Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around!Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections Membership Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

✨ Ready to Fall Back in Love with Your Literacy Centers? ✨Hey teacher friends! 👋 If you’ve ever felt like your literacy centers are more chaos than calm, this is for YOU!I’m giving a Literacy Center Reboot — a fun, practical training designed to help you: 📚 Keep students accountable and on task during centers 🧩 Learn which centers you actually need (no more overwhelm!) 🔄 Know when and how to change them out to keep engagement high 🪄 Master behavior management so you can finally teach during small groups 📦 PLUS—get a sneak peek at my brand-new Literacy Center Subscription Box! 🎁Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block.Check out my Literacy Center Reboot HERE to register and get your BLACK FRIDAY offer of 50% off! Connect with me: TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me in my Cross-Curricular Fun for November Webinar from my Facebook Group! Some topics I share include: Voting and Elections, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Turkeys, Scarecrows, and much more! These resources include lesson plans, suggested mentor texts, interactive notebooks, anchor charts, and writing craftivities! Plus... science experiments and investigations that your students will LOVE!!! All November Resources Mentioned in this episode! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipReady to Fall Back in Love with Your Literacy Centers? ✨Hey teacher friends! 👋 If you’ve ever felt like your literacy centers are more chaos than calm, this is for YOU!I’m opening the waitlist for my upcoming Literacy Center Reboot — a fun, practical training designed to help you: 📚 Keep students accountable and on task during centers 🧩 Learn which centers you actually need (no more overwhelm!) 🔄 Know when and how to change them out to keep engagement high 🪄 Master behavior management so you can finally teach during small groups 📦 PLUS—get a sneak peek at my brand-new Literacy Center Subscription Box! 🎁Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block.👉 Join my WAITLIST now and be the first to know when the doors open (and grab early access bonuses)!Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around! Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

You can start your math stations any time you want! In this episode from my Facebook Group, I walk you through the steps to starting your math workshop using classroom procedures, time management, what stations to use and what activities you can use in your math block. Check out my Math Workshop resources mentioned in this episode HERE.Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me in my Cross-Curricular Fun for October Webinar from my Facebook Group! Some topics I share are: Pumpkins, Owls, Bats, Spiders, Charlotte's Web, Halloween, and much more! These resources include lesson plans, suggested mentor texts, interactive notebooks, anchor charts, and writing craftivities! Plus... science experiments and investigations that your students will LOVE!!! All October TPT Resources Mentioned in this episode! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

As a teacher, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is this: when students are given the freedom to write their own stories, their own genres, and their own ideas, their writing blossoms in ways no daily prompt could ever capture.I used to think prompts were the way to go. After all, they seemed to keep everyone “on task” and gave me control over what students were producing. But over time, I realized that prompts often produced the same kind of writing over and over again—surface-level, formulaic, and disconnected from who my students truly were as thinkers and creators.That’s where Writer’s Workshop changed everything.Check the Show Notes with Pictures! Write From Your Heart: Writer's Workshop Mini-LessonsConnect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me in this episode as I share how I use the Science of Reading blended with Guided Reading to ensure that ALL of my students are getting the reading instruction they need during my reading groups! Check out the Show Notes with pictures! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

This is the webinar I gave in my Facebook Group all about Cross-Curricular Connections for September! It includes topics such as: Apples, Johnny Appleseed, Properties, Making 10, Community Helpers, Career Day, Grandparents Day, and much more! Watch my webinar HERE on my YouTube channel! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Meet the Teacher Night can be a nerve-wracking experience. But with careful preparation, planning, and experience, it becomes easier each year. Here are some things that you need to consider before you start planning for that special night. Remember, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. So, dress nice, put on a smile, and have fun! Oh, and don’t forget to brush your teeth or chew a lifesaver! I hope that your Meet the Teacher night goes great! If you’ve never had one before, don’t worry- I’ve got your back!Show Notes with Pictures! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Are you ready to plan month by month, rather than minute by minute? Cross-Curricular Connections is more than a resource library—it’s a complete support system to help you balance engaging literature with rigor and relevance, so your students see how every subject connects. Inside, you’ll unlock a growing bank of ready-to-use TPT resources, monthly coaching calls that meet you where you are, exclusive podcast episodes to keep you inspired, and three PD-credit courses to deepen your practice. Plus, you’ll join a private Facebook group where your questions are answered anytime, so you can confidently design lessons that spark curiosity, build mastery, and make learning truly meaningful. Interested in joining my Membership? Click HERE. FREE Back-to-School ChecklistConnect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Hey Teachers! Welcome to “Countdown to the Classroom: Back to School Q&A!” I’m here to answer the real questions from real teachers — just like you! Whether you’re prepping your classroom, planning your first week, or tackling routines, I’ve got your back. If you have a burning question for me to answer, you can record your question on Voxer, which is a free app. Simply hit the walkie-talkie button at the bottom of your screen, record your question, and send it to Kara Rickman (krickm791). You will then get to hear your question on my podcast! You can introduce yourself, tell us where you are from, what grade you teach, and then ask your burning question! If you record your question for me, you will get to choose any resource from my TPT store that is $10.00 or less for FREE! I cannot wait to dive into your burning questions for back to school and make this the smoothest start yet! Let’s get started! Are you interested in my  Back to School Bootcamp? Click HERE to check it out! It will only be available for 2 more weeks and won't reopen until next summer! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Hey Teachers! Welcome to “Countdown to the Classroom: Back to School Q&A!” I’m here to answer the real questions from real teachers — just like you! Whether you’re prepping your classroom, planning your first week, or tackling routines, I’ve got your back. If you have a burning question for me to answer, you can record your question on Voxer, which is a free app. Simply hit the walkie-talkie button at the bottom of your screen, record your question, and send it to Kara Rickman (krickm791). You will then get to hear your question on my podcast! You can introduce yourself, tell us where you are from, what grade you teach, and then ask your burning question! If you record your question for me, you will get to choose any resource from my TPT store that is $10.00 or less for FREE! I cannot wait to dive into your burning questions for back to school and make this the smoothest start yet! Let’s get started! Are you interested in my  Back to School Bootcamp? Click HERE to check it out! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Hey Teachers! Welcome to “Countdown to the Classroom: Back to School Q&A!” I’m here to answer the real questions from real teachers — just like you! Whether you’re prepping your classroom, planning your first week, or tackling routines, I’ve got your back. If you have a burning question for me to answer, you can record your question on Voxer, which is a free app. Simply hit the walkie-talkie button at the bottom of your screen, record your question, and send it to Kara Rickman (krickm791). You will then get to hear your question on my podcast! You can introduce yourself, tell us where you are from, what grade you teach, and then ask your burning question! If you record your question for me, you will get to choose any resource from my TPT store that is $10.00 or less for FREE! I cannot wait to dive into your burning questions for back to school and make this the smoothest start yet! Let’s get started! Are you interested in my  Back to School Bootcamp? Click HERE to check it out! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

In this shorty episode, you'll learn how my star student helps me manage my classroom into a well-oiled machine. If you’ve ever wanted to include a Star Student of the Week and weren’t sure how to go about it… You’re in the right place! I’m going to share with you 6 ways that I utilize a Star Student every week for the whole year with my first graders. These are easy and fun ways to implement to help you streamline your classroom into something you're proud of!  Give it a listen! Check the Show Notes HERE with pictures of my star students! Show Me the Money: Behavior Management ResourceConnect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

I’ve taught for 25 years and am a mentor and trainer in my school district. If you need summer PD credit, this might interest you!  Click HERE to check it out! I’m giving a back-to-school Bootcamp in July for K-2 teachers and would LOVE for you to be a part of it! You will get lesson plans with objectives, suggested mentor texts, anchor charts, differentiated interactive notebooks, and how to teach the “I Do, We Do and You Do”. You can earn up to 9 CPE hours of credit from 9 different modules to choose from that meet your teaching style! Each module is $5.00. This training includes videos that walk you step by step to get your class started for the first 10 days of reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and phonics! Also included are training videos for classroom setup and organization, how I launch my literacy centers,  plus building relationships with students and parents! Today all the Modules are 50% off! Click HERE to check them out! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

A lot of teachers struggle with their elementary dismissal procedures, but I’m here to help you out and give you an easy way to implement a fresh idea with less stress and no mess! And the best part is??? It’s all up to the students and not you to clean your classroom! If you put the responsibilities back on them, they will do a better job for you!Today, I’m going to help you implement 4 easy steps:1. Classroom Jobs2. Use a Timer and Sing a Song3. Pack ‘n Stack Rules4. Reward the cleanest and quietest tableCheck out the Show Notes with Pictures and Videos HERE! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipNeed summer PD credit?I’m giving a back-to-school Bootcamp in July for K-2 teachers and would LOVE for you to be a part of it! You will get lesson plans with objectives, suggested mentor texts, anchor charts, differentiated interactive notebooks, and how to teach the “I Do, We Do, and You Do”. You can earn up to 9 CPE hours of credit because I’m CPE certified! This training includes videos that walk you step by step to get your class started for the first 10 days of reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and phonics! Also included are training videos for classroom setup and organization, how I launch my literacy centers,  plus building relationships with students and parents! Sign up on my waitlist to get an email as it gets closer! WAITLIST LINK Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

This is the webinar I gave in my Facebook Group all about Cross-Curricular Connections for May. Topics I shared were: Fairy Tales, Reader's Theater, Financial Literacy, Rocks & Fossils, Mother's Day, Ocean & Sea Life and, End of Year activities! Download my Webinar Here with clickable links! Connect with Me! TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipNeed summer PD credit?I’m giving a back-to-school Bootcamp in July for K-2 teachers and would LOVE for you to be a part of it! You will get lesson plans with objectives, suggested mentor texts, anchor charts, differentiated interactive notebooks, and how to teach the “I Do, We Do, and You Do”. You can earn up to 9 CPE hours of credit because I’m CPE certified! This training includes videos that walk you step by step to get your class started for the first 10 days of reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and phonics! Also included are training videos for classroom setup and organization, how I launch my literacy centers,  plus building relationships with students and parents! Sign up on my waitlist to get an email as it gets closer! WAITLIST LINK Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

If you ever wanted to teach Fairy Tale writing but didn't know where to start, check out my latest episode, which is all about how I teach it! I'll go step by step on how I introduce the writing, how I use Reader's Theater, and how I host a Fairy Tale Ball at the end of the year! Check the show notes for pictures! Show Notes with Pictures!Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipNeed summer PD credit?I’m giving a back-to-school Bootcamp in July for K-2 teachers and would LOVE for you to be a part of it! You will get lesson plans with objectives, suggested mentor texts, anchor charts, differentiated interactive notebooks, and how to teach the “I Do, We Do, and You Do”. You can earn up to 9 CPE hours of credit because I’m CPE certified! This training includes videos that walk you step by step to get your class started for the first 10 days of reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and phonics! Also included are training videos for classroom setup and organization, how I launch my literacy centers,  plus building relationships with students and parents! Sign up on my waitlist to get an email as it gets closer! WAITLIST LINK Support the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Need summer PD credit?I’m giving a back-to-school Bootcamp in July for K-2 teachers and would LOVE for you to be a part of it! You will get lesson plans with objectives, suggested mentor texts, anchor charts, differentiated interactive notebooks, and how to teach the “I Do, We Do, and You Do”. You can earn up to 9 CPE hours of credit because I’m CPE certified! This training includes videos that walk you step by step to get your class started for the first 10 days of reading, writing, math, science, social studies, and phonics! Also included are training videos for classroom setup and organization, how I launch my literacy centers,  plus building relationships with students and parents! Sign up on my waitlist to get an email as it gets closer! WAITLIST LINK Show Notes with Pictures and Videos! YT Video of my ClassroomConnect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

This is the FREE webinar I hosted inside my Facebook Group: Create Your Balance with Literacy. I shared all the topics that I teach for April, including: EasterEarth DayRainforestsInsectsLife CyclesPersuasive Writing Endangered Animal ResearchEric Carle & Patricia Polacco Author Study Here is the FREE WEBINAR to download and it has clickable links to all the resources! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Did you know you can have 4 Fun Friday Activities with your students and still have purposeful lessons? Fun Friday doesn’t have to be daunting. It can be something that you can do consistently each Friday, and it’s something that your students can look forward to!I know that some principals might not allow you to have Fun Friday if your Fun Friday consists of extra recess, play-do, games, and such, so here’s my Fun Friday schedule that is purposeful, and all of these activities follow your standards for sure!My 4 Fun Friday Activities that I like to do with my students are:1.) What Are We Looking FORWARD To- where my students tell what they are looking forward to during Morning Meeting.2.) FOCUS POETRY– Have a poem a week that we can sing or read, and have your students visualize their poem in their poetry notebook.3.) FACT FLUENCY– where my students practice their fact fluency for addition/subtraction using their data folder.4.) FAHRENHEIT FRIDAY– where my students take part in an experiment/investigation about the science topic that we are covering during the week.Show Notes with Pictures! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator seeking fresh inspiration, the Writer’s Workshop Reboot is the perfect place to recharge your passion and refine your teaching craft. This episode details what lesson #5 is all about and how to visualize and create a "Magic Movie" using the book Sky Color by Peter Reynolds.Also included are tips for behavior management, rigor, relevance, and how I keep my students engaged.This lesson plan includes an objective card, suggested mentor text by Peter Reynolds, anchor chart ideas, and 3 differentiated interactive notebooks to meet the needs of your students. Happy Writing!Here is the link resource: Lesson #5: Visualizing My New StoryObjective CardVisualizing CardAnchor Chart Titles & PicturesDifferentiated Interactive Notebooks: Below Level (Red), On Level (Green) and Above Level (Yellow).Vocabulary WordsHow to Teach the “I Do, We Do and You Do”Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

In this webinar, I share all the cross-curricular topics for February such as:Groundhog DayValentine's DayPresident's Day100th Day Financial LiteracyAmerican SymbolsWeatherFamous Inventorsand much more!Cross-Curricular Fun for FebruaryConnect with Me!Cross-Curricular FREE Lesson Plans for American SymbolsTPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator seeking fresh inspiration, the Writer’s Workshop Reboot is the perfect place to recharge your passion and refine your teaching craft. This episode details what lesson #4 is all about and how to collect new words using The Word Collector by Peter Reynolds.Also included are tips for behavior management, rigor, relevance, and how I keep my students engaged.This lesson plan includes an objective card, suggested mentor text by Peter Reynolds, anchor chart ideas, and 3 differentiated interactive notebooks to meet the needs of your students. Happy Writing!Here is the link resource: Lesson #4: Collecting Words for my StoryObjective CardProblem/Solution CardsAnchor Chart Titles & PicturesDifferentiated Interactive Notebooks: Below Level (Red), On Level (Green) and Above Level (Yellow).Vocabulary WordsHow to Teach the “I Do, We Do and You Do”Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator seeking fresh inspiration, the Writer’s Workshop Reboot is the perfect place to recharge your passion and refine your teaching craft. This episode details what lesson #3 is all about and how to choose a problem and solution using The Dot by Peter Reynolds.Also included are tips for behavior management, rigor, relevance, and how I keep my students engaged.This lesson plan includes an objective card, suggested mentor text by Peter Reynolds, anchor chart ideas, and 3 differentiated interactive notebooks to meet the needs of your students. Happy Writing!Lesson #3: Choosing a Problem and Solution for My Story Objective CardProblem/Solution CardsAnchor Chart Titles & PicturesDifferentiated Interactive Notebooks: Below Level (Red), On Level (Green) and Above Level (Yellow).Vocabulary WordsHow to Teach the “I Do, We Do and You Do”Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

In this webinar, I share all the cross-curricular topics for January such as:New YearsMLKWinterWinter AnimalsObjects in the SkyArctic AnimalsPenguinsand much more!Connect with Me!Cross-Curricular Fun for Winter: FREE Lesson Plans! TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator seeking fresh inspiration, the Writer’s Workshop Reboot is the perfect place to recharge your passion and refine your teaching craft. This episode goes into detail about what lesson #2 is all about and how to use it. Also included are tips for behavior management, rigor, relevance, and how I keep my students engaged. This lesson plan includes an objective card, suggested mentor text by Peter Reynolds, anchor chart ideas, and 3 differentiated interactive notebooks to meet the needs of your students. Happy Writing!This resource includes:Lesson #2: Show, But Don't TellObjective CardEmotion CardsAnchor Chart Titles & PicturesDifferentiated Interactive Notebooks: Below Level (Red), On Level (Green) and Above Level (Yellow).Vocabulary WordsHow to Teach the “I Do, We Do and You Do”Writing DictionaryConnect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a seasoned educator seeking fresh inspiration, the Writer’s Workshop Reboot is the perfect place to recharge your passion and refine your teaching craft. This episode goes into detail about what lesson #1 is all about and how to use it. Also included are tips for Behavior management, Rigor, and Relevance and how I keep my students engaged. This lesson plan includes an objective card, suggested mentor text by Peter Reynolds, anchor chart ideas, and 3 differentiated interactive notebooks to meet the needs of your students. Happy Writing!This resource includes:Lesson #1: Setting a Goal for WritingObjective CardGoal Setting CardAnchor Chart Titles & PicturesDifferentiated Interactive Notebooks: Below Level (Red), On Level (Green) and Above Level (Yellow).Vocabulary WordsHow to Teach the “I Do, We Do and You Do”Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me as I share all the details about my Writer's Workshop REBOOT starting on Dec. 30th-Jan. 3rd! I share all the resources, lesson plans, mentor texts, objectives, anchor charts, and differentiated notebooks that you will get with this Mini-Course! Registration is open this week and the first 5 teachers to register will receive a FREE PETER REYNOLDS mentor text of their choice: The North Star, The Dot, The Word Collector, Say Something or Sky Color! Registration is OPEN NOW! Register HERE! Check out my Facebook LIVE all about it! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

In this webinar from my Facebook Group, I share all the cross-curricular fun that I teach in December! Topics that I share are:Christmas Celebrations Around the WorldJan Brett Author StudyGingerbread DayPolar Express DayNutcracker DayReindeer Dayand much more!! Check out my webinar for FREE which has clickable links to all my resources mentioned in this episode! Connect with Me!Christmas in Germany FREE LESSON PLANS! TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

In this episode, I will share my 6 favorite countries celebrating Christmas and how I teach them to my first graders! 1.) United States2.) England3.) Mexico4.) Germany5.) Russia6.)The NetherlandsWith each country, we read mentor texts, we find that country on the map, we learn their Christmas traditions, what games they play, what food they eat, how they say “Merry Christmas” and how they celebrate the holiday. Check out the Show Notes with pictures! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

In this Facebook Live, I will share all about my Writer's Workshop REBOOT from Dec. 30-Jan.3 and what to expect. I will also share the lesson plans, the story companions, your incentives, and the special offers will receive in this REBOOT!  Get on my WAITLIST to save your seat! Registration will open back up on Dec. 22nd!  Watch my Facebook Live HERE on my YouTube Channel. Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

In this webinar,  I share all the topics and activities for November such as: Turkeys, Thanksgiving, Veteran's Day, Election Day, Tomie dePaola, and Scarecrows!Show Notes- with clickable links! November BUNDLEConnect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

In this episode- I share how I planned, promoted, and put on a back-to-school BootCamp. I give my tips and tricks on what worked and what didn't work.  If you're a teacher entrepreneur and are interested in putting on a Bootcamp, listen to this! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

In this episode, I will share the 5 ways I include fun fall activities with my first graders using Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and Art! I share my favorite fall mentor texts, writing craftivities, math activities, and science investigations! Show Notes from My Blog  Resources from this episode:Cross-Curricular Fun for October: BUNDLEConnect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me in my FREE WEBINAR from my Facebook Group all about Cross-Curricular Fun for October! I will share activities for Pumpkins, Halloween, Owls, Bats, Autumn, Force, Motion Energy, and much more! I will share my writing craftivities, anchor charts, math stations, science investigations, and how I organize my theme centers!  Resources from this episode:Cross-Curricular Fun for October: BUNDLEConnect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

Join me in this episode as I share how I blend the Science of Reading and Guided Reading into my reading groups! Here's what I will share: How I group my students using their phonics and reading data,My reading group schedule for the week,What activities I do with each group,How am I not bothered when I'm with my reading group,Materials and Organization,  My sight word data trackers,And... much more! Show NotesResources from this episode:Bulletin Board and Portable Sound WallLet's "POP" Some Sight Words: Student Data Trackers Sound Mapping and Decoding Guided Writing Booklet Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

If you LOVE teaching Writing using the "I Do, We Do and You Do", then check out this episode! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities for the first 10 days of writer's workshop! In this episode, I share the first 10 days of lesson plans including objectives, anchor charts, suggested mentor texts, the "I Do, We Do and You Do", and interactive notebooks. Your students will have a blast learning about writer's workshop in your classroom! If you're interested in this lesson plan, sign up on my email list to receive the first 5 days of writer's workshop for FREE! Check out my Writer's Workshop COURSE: From Scribbles to Stories!Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level! 

If you LOVE teaching Math using the "I Do, We Do and You Do", then check out this episode! Your students will be engaged in fun and purposeful activities for the first 10 days of math! In this episode, I share the first 10 days of lesson plans including objectives, anchor charts, suggested mentor texts, the "I Do, We Do and You Do", and interactive notebooks. Your students will have a blast learning about math workshop in your classroom! Connect with Me!TPT StoreYouTube ChannelFacebook GroupInstagramPinterestBlogCross-Curricular Connections MembershipSupport the showThank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level!