If you've been a blog reader for a while, you know that I've read and re-read Donalyn Miller's book The Book Whisperer many times. I've utilized her ideas in my reading classroom in a variety of ways. You can check out some of the ways here. This year, I decided to implement a ... Read More
Mapping Out Your Classroom
Every year, I look forward to setting up my classroom. Starting fresh with clean floors and new bulletin boards just puts a smile on my face! And then I actually get to my room. Paper is falling off the walls. Furniture is stacked in random places. The desks are physically ... Read More
Back to School Giveaway!
I know that some of you are already back in the classroom, while others are itching to get into your rooms and meet your new kiddos. I thought I would help a bit by jumpstarting your school year with a fun giveaway! Have you met the Trashy Crafter yet?? If not, you definitely need ... Read More
Making Anchor Charts Interactive!
In my classroom, anchor charts are a crucial part of the learning process. We create them together and leave them hanging in the room as a reference tool for students to use throughout the year. One way that we create the charts together is by making them interactive. Here's ... Read More
5 Ways to Choose Partners in the Classroom
Choosing a partner can be a daunting task for teachers and students alike. A majority of the time I strategically choose partners for my students {depending on the task at hand} and there are times that I give them the a free choice option. Sometimes, however, it is just easier if it is ... Read More
Make-Over Madness: Detective Style
I am on a make-over roll, people! My latest victim is The Detectives Book Club. I created this item a few years ago when I resided in second grade. I had a high group of readers that always went above and beyond what I asked. I really wanted to challenge them, but reward them ... Read More