Teaching the Alphabet & a Freebie
Many kindergartners come to school each year eager and ready to learn. Many students may come already knowing their alphabet letters and sounds, but many students also start without knowing most letters and sounds. As
Why Go Digital with Guided Reading?
If you are a primary teacher, I am sure you will not argue over my belief that guided reading is fundamental for teaching children how to read. It is common practice for primary teachers to
Engaging Digital Word Work Activities for Literacy Centers
Today, I want to share some ideas for digital word work activities that you can use in your classroom. Digital activities are great for teachers because they save time and paper, but they still help
Deepening Reading Comprehension with Vocabulary Strategies
Understanding the meaning behind words is an important part of reading comprehension. Vocabulary strategies are the tools to help students crack open unknown words. When teaching vocabulary strategies, it is important to break things down
Help! The File is Not Downloading
When it comes to downloading pdfs and zip files from online, there are various reasons that can cause issues with the download. This post will cover various reasons and fixes, so that you can access
Access My Free Teacher Resource Library
Did you know I have a free resource library that is full of engaging activities? It’s my way of saying thank you to my customers and loyal followers. My resources save teachers time and energy,
Improve Students’ Writing with These Grammar Ideas for Primary
Grammar teaches us to look closer at the construction of a sentence. By understanding the frame of a sentence, we become more enabled to construct better sentences. It is like building a house. If someone
Nine Games to Use with Grammar Task Cards
I’m excited to show you nine different games (including a freebie) that you can use to make your grammar task card activities more hands-on. Let's face it. It can be a challenge to constantly teach
Ideas for Teaching with Phonics Posters
Today I’m going to share with you nine teaching ideas to use with your phonics posters. As you all know, an alphabet, displayed horizontally across a wall, is a standard feature in most elementary school
End of the Year Writing Prompts
Every teacher needs engaging activities to do with his or her students at the end of the year. If we don’t give them things to keep them busy, the little darlings might drive us crazy
Spring Activities that Integrate Science & Literacy
Spring has sprung! With warmer weather and brighter days, now is the perfect time to integrate science and literacy into your spring activities. However, with so many cute spring themes to choose from (just ask
Fun and Simple Activities for Bossy R & a Freebie
I have some fun and simple activities I want to share to help you teach Bossy R. My ideas can be changed and used to teach other phonemes as well. With so many phonics concepts
Five Fun Compound Word Activities
Here are five fun compound word activities to liven up your lesson. These activities fit in nicely as a center activity. Activity #1 Logic Sentences Logic sentences are a fun way for students to form
How to Teach Guided Reading: Prereading to Word Work Extensions
Planning how to teach guided reading can be an intimidating task in the beginning. My first year of teaching, I was extremely nervous that I was going to fail. I had never taught a child
Adverbs Mini-Lesson & Activity Ideas
Adverbs are tricky for students to learn and understand. I can remember my mom getting my cousin, an English teacher, to tutor me when I was young because they were just super confusing. Thankfully, the
Five Ways to Teach Multiple Meaning Words
Today, I want to share five ways to teach multiple meaning words. Multiple meaning words are words that sound alike but mean different things. These can include homonyms, but it also can include words that have
Activities for Teaching Context Clues in the Primary Grades
Let's dive into activities for teaching context clues in the primary grades. I also have a post that breaks down how to teach vocabulary strategies that you can find here. Activity #1 Picture Journal
Use Tech Creatively in K-2: A Simple 3-Step System
A free tech course to get it all up and running smoothly in your primary classroom without losing a bunch of class time. Does most of the professional development for using tech in the primary
Activities for Teaching Long Vowel Teams in the Primary Classroom
When it comes to teaching long vowel teams in the primary classroom, incorporating many different engaging activities is a must! If you are looking for some ideas and teaching strategies for teaching long vowel pairs,
Ideas for Teaching Prefixes in 2nd Grade to Strengthen Vocabulary Skills
Students need opportunity to work with words and manipulate the parts of them. In primary grades like 2nd grade, students can start to dive into prefixes to strengthen their vocabulary skills. There are many ways
How to Customize Your Interactive Notebooks…A Video Tutorial
Hi everyone! I recently created this video tutorial that teaches you how to customize your interactive notebooks. In this tutorial, I teach how to create an acronym book that can be used for back
How to Use Google Classroom on an iPad or Tablet When You are Not 1:1
Hi everyone! Today, I want to offer show you how to use Google Classroom on an iPad or tablet when you are not 1:1. Some of you may have been 1:1 for a while, but
Strategy Share: Teaching Story Elements
Hi everyone! Today, I wanted to share some teaching strategies for teaching story elements. These ideas are meant to pair with fiction read alouds. Although, I will offer some ideas for guided reading too. I
How to Use Google Classroom on an iPad or Tablet in K-2
Hi everyone! I wanted to share how to use Google Classroom on an iPad or tablet in K-2. First off, it can seem a bit overwhelming at first to consider even how to set this up
Strategy Share: Teaching Strategies to use During Guided Reading & Freebies
Hi everyone! What are some practical strategies you can use during guided reading to help streamline your lessons and keep students moving forward? Today, I want to share some practical teaching strategies with you that
Fitting Science in Your Primary Class
Hi everyone! How many of you have an hour each day to spend on science? What about a half hour? What about ten minutes? Ok, most of you are probably like, extra time. What is
Strategy Share: Fun Ways for Previewing Texts & a Freebie
Hi everyone! Welcome to Strategy Share! This is a series I just recently started that focuses on teaching strategies for reading and writing. You can learn more about strategies in general here. Today, I want
Strategy Share: Using Strategies to Teach Reading and Writing
Hi everyone! I want to start a new series that shares various strategies you can use in your classroom. It is going to be posted sporadically. It is my goal to help build confidence when it
Seven Tips for Teaching Guided Reading with Confidence
When I use to ask students about their favorite part of school, what do you think the overwhelming response was from them? Recess? Nope. Lunch. Guess again. Guided reading? YES!!!! Actually, they would not
How to Not Teach a Boring Compound Sentence Lesson
Hi everyone! Today, I wanted to share some ideas about teaching compound sentences in your primary classroom. Introduction of Fanboys First off, students need to know those fanboys before diving into the realm of
Ideas for Not Teaching a Boring Contraction Lesson & a Freebie
Hi everyone! Today, I want to share some ideas for teaching contractions that will help you cover all the bases of various learning styles, and yes, you read the title correct. I also have an
Assessing Students’ Technology Work
Hi everyone! Today, I want to talk tech. Specifically, I want to talk about assessing students' technology work. I know many years ago when the technology was not as advanced as it was today, I
Teacher Hacks & Organization Inspiration
Hi everyone! I wanted to share some organizing inspiration and teacher hacks! Teacher Hack and Idea #1 Contrary to what the clear tape people told you, student name plates do not need to be a
Building up with Bossy R {Activity Ideas & a Freebie!}
Hi everyone! Today, I wanted to discuss good old Bossy R and how to build up from phonemic awareness to higher order thinking. Of course, it will incorporate some activities and include a freebie. I
Those Diphthongs
Hi everyone! Today, I wanted to discuss those diphthongs and how to build up from phonemic awareness to higher order thinking. Of course, it will incorporate some inspiring ideas. 😉 If you have read the
An Organized School Year
As I am wrapping up the school year, I've come to the realization that one thing I could have done better to make my year easier is be more organized. Sure, I survived off of
Ideas for Not Teaching a Boring Adjective Lesson
Hi everyone! I wanted to share with you several ideas for teaching adjectives, so you never have a boring adjective lesson again! (And sorry about the stinky skunk pic. Made me laugh, so I
End of the Year Memory Video
Hi everyone! I had an idea several months ago. What if students read through some or all of their memory books on video, and the video was shared with parents as a keepsake gift?
Getting Started with Using Google Apps in the Classroom: A Round Up of Links
Hi everyone! I have set-up this blogpost to be a source for those who want to use Google™apps within their walls, but don't know where to look to get started. Now I really recommend you
Educational Inspiration for St. Patrick’s Day
Hi everyone! I want to share some inspiration for those who are still able to incorporate holiday activities in the classroom. First, I have to say, I LOVE LOVE the story of St. Patrick. When
Teaching Ideas for Place Value & Two Freebies
Hi everyone! I want to share some tips about learning place value. Having a deep root in understanding place value plays such an important role in grasping math. This post is geared for teaching place
Blending those Blends & Free Blend Posters
Hi everyone! I wanted to share some ideas for teaching blends in the classroom and a freebie to be able to do just that! Idea #1: Incorporate phonemic awareness in the morning through fun chants.
Sharing Some Love with A Treasure Hunt Giveaway
****Update: The winner has been selected! Congrats to Lisa K! Thank you everyone for some treasure hunting fun! I hope you enjoyed the freebies!****Hi everyone! I've teamed up with some other awesome teacher-authors to share
Tips for Increasing Vocabulary and a Free Sample
Hi everyone! Today, I am going to share some tips on how to increase vocabulary during reading. Vocabulary is so important for deepening reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. It is an essential ingredient for
Prefix Thanksgiving Turkey Craft Freebie
Hi everyone! Tis' the season to be thankful. One thing I am incredibly grateful for is the ability to share my talents with so many educators from all over. I am sharing this Thanksgiving Turkey
The Interactive Notebook Template Types
Hi everyone! Today, I am sharing the template types and some inspiring ideas. The first template type is the accordion. The accordion is a template that folds up like an accordion. It's unique shape can
Getting Googly Eyed with Multiplication and a Freebie
I'm always looking for ways to make things hands-on and fun. For this Learning with Your Craft Stash post, I was challenged with an anything goes for this blogpost. I actually found this challenge the
Learning Sight Words with Scrapbook Paper
Hi everyone! I am linking up with Life Over C's Learning with Your Craft Stash. Today, the craft item is scrapbook paper. Now, I don't know about you, but I have a big crate full
Oa, Oe, Ow, Oa, Oe The Vowel Teams
Let's talk about vowel teams today, but before we do sing the title of this post to the tune of a famous boy band song from quite a few decades ago. I won't say which
Learning with Straws from Your Craft Stash & a Freebie!
Hi everyone! I am linking up with other bloggers to share learning ideas that can be done with your craft stash. Now, this will be a 21-day event covering many different craft materials you might
New Twist on Coloring Easter Eggs & Happy Easter!
Hi everyone! Hope you all have a fantastic Easter! My son and I had some fun today coloring our Easter eggs. I was just about to wake up last week, and literally a picture like
Improving Math Facts Fluency
Fluency with math facts is an important skill. No doubt. Yes, students should have lots of opportunities to gain firm understanding of the thinking behind these simple math equations. Don't stash those counters just yet!
100th Day of School….Let’s Celebrate!
Don't you just love the fun of the 100th day of school? Counting the days of school is such a great, fun way to incorporate number recognition, counting skills, place value, and more! My favorite
Can You Guess Where I am in My Logo Picture?
I am joining in on a fun linky party, where we share the fun stories behind our logos. I am linking up with Jenny K. So can you guess where I am in my logo
Interview with an Accordion
Today, I am "interviewing" the accordion template. 1. What is an accordion template? An accordion template is a unique type of interactive notebook template. It consists of a paper that is folded just
Gimme 5 Blog Hop
Hi everyone! Tomorrow there is another site wide sale going on! Yay! I love stocking up at site wide sales! My store will be 20% off tomorrow! (Spoiler Alert: I am about to release some
Engaging Alphabet Activities, Ideas & a Free Alphabet Flip Book!
Hi everyone! Today, I wanted to share some engaging alphabet activities and ideas to help students learn those letters and beginning sounds. Ideally, all first graders should come to class knowing these. Even in kindergarten,
Three Million Strong Sale & an Interactive Notebook Freebie
Click on the image to link to Blog Hoppin' to find out about more stores throwing sales! Don't you just love site wide sales at TPT? I sure do. I can't decide if I like
Happy 2014!!! Linking up with Blog Hoppin’ Day 2
I am linking up with blog hoppin' for Day 2. When I am not making graphic art or making teaching products, I like to make my own bath and beauty products. My favorite things
Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas: Enjoy Some Freebies!
I want to say thank you for all the attention my little store has been receiving since late October. It truly has been an answered prayer for me because it seemed the doors were shut
Candy Corn Bunting Freebie
This is from a fall festival for little bear and his friends. I love candy corn, candy apples, pumpkins, and everything orange this time of year...so I did not have to dig deep for inspiration.
Say What?
Saturday night, I felt like I was up all night giving birth! Kid you not! And well, I kind of gave birth to an Interactive Reading Notebook for Non-Fiction with cuteness added.
Inspiration in a Download
I love, love, love God's word. It is what keeps me ticking. It is my source of hope, direction, and guidance. My family and I have been working on memorizing scriptures. To help, I decided
Space, Sight Words, a Light Sword, and a Freebie Link
For learning sight words this year, I have flowed with my son's interests with space. I did not actually make this adorable space word wall set myself, but I did find it as a freebie
Would You Like an Interactive Notebook Freebie?
You heard that right! An interactive notebook freebie! They are so useful for so many reasons. First, they are interactive. That means children can interact with the notebook like an interactive
Is It Foolish?
As I was eating lunch, I prayed my heart out to Jesus asking him to forgive me of all my stupidity with debt and to free me from its bondage. I confessed how I have
Welcome to The Candy Class Blog!
Hi! Welcome to the official blog for The Candy Class. I had some spare time, so I thought I get this blog started. It will be a work in progress for now while I continue
