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Teaching ideas & and resources for K, 1 and 2 teachers...

Teaching ideas & and resources for K, 1 and 2 teachers...

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Pig the Pug

I stumbled upon a new book series last week that I am in love with! I was flipping through books in my classroom and came across 'Pig t...

I stumbled upon a new book series last week that I am in love with! I was flipping through books in my classroom and came across 'Pig t...

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I love song parodies, videos and stuff like that! I've got some Weird Al in me for sure. When I was a kid, I would make SNL videos fo...

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TLF Chapter 1: Keep the Peace

Fast forward from sunny, green-grassy August days when school wasn't in session to brisk, leaf-strewn October days when the end of the fir...

Fast forward from sunny, green-grassy August days when school wasn't in session to brisk, leaf-strewn October days when the end of the fir...

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TLF Chapter 1: Get Into the Wild

Ever heard of ADD? Of course, we (teachers) have heard of it, dealt with it and know it when we see it even though we are not allowed to r...

Bring nature into your classroom or bring your class out into nature.  Research says it's a good thing. . .

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TLF: Chapter 1 Breathe Fresh Air

I tend to be hot in my classroom when I’m teaching. I rarely sit at my desk and am instead up and down and all about. I cannot, for examp...

Today I smelled fresh cut grass and cedar.  Didn't have a chance to stop and smell any roses though. . .

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TLF: Chapter 1 Simplify the Space

Think about the four walls of your classroom. Think of three adjectives that best describe those walls. I would say: cute, functional, tid...

Setting up my classroom at the beginning of the school year is one of my favorite things!  That setup sets a tone for your academic year for both you and your students.  Keeping it simple can be a benefit to your student's academic achievement and less stress for you.

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TLF: Chapter 1 Recharge After School

How much time do you spend, at the school where you teach, planning and preparing for your students . . .outside of your workday? How ...

How much time do you spend, at the school where you teach, planning and preparing for your students . . .outside of your workday? How ...

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Finland and the United States both failed at the same thing in 2013 and 2014, respectively. . . . . .helping students stay activ...

Did you know it's a law in the state of Alaska that students must be physically active for 54 minutes per full school day? True.

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Teach Like Ghana. . .NO!

I am listening to a great podcast episode and had to share because I'm making a connection to Finland. I started listening to this po...

A great podcast episode from NPR's Rough Translation about, in my opinion, a very surprising and troubling (more so than in the U.S.) trend about teaching in Ghana. Where in the world is Ghana though?

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Teach Like Finland: Chapter 1 Introduction

I’m sitting on the shore of Lake Bemidji in beautiful Bemidji, Minnesota on this lovely summer day. We come here every summer so we can be...

I’m sitting on the shore of Lake Bemidji in beautiful Bemidji, Minnesota on this lovely summer day.  We come here every summer so we can be...

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Teach Like Finland: Introduction

I was fortunate to have done my second student teaching in Switzerland. It was part of a study abroad program at my university. I ta...

I was fortunate to have done my second student teaching in Switzerland.  It was part of a study abroad program at my university.  

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Teach Like France or Finland?

Imagine this. . . . . .parents are not allowed to go into elementary schools in France. They walk their children to school and say good...

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A gaggle of geese = a bunch of geese. A mischief of mice = a bunch of mice. My son said something at dinner the other night th...

Check out this FREE non-fiction, rhyming, Readers' Theater partner play!

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(via Word Nerd)  Word Nerd takes the duty of educating and informing YOUR students about the most pressing grammar concepts of day very seriously.  But he does have a sense of humor and a very catchy theme song!

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Breathe New Life Into Wooden Blocks

We've all played with wooden blocks as small children. But the motivation and excitement about playing with wooden blocks fades once stud...

Engineering For Kids

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(via The First Grade Bloom: Readers' Theater Article)  A good practical article about making Readers' Theater work in your classroom, by Sarah Wiggins from 'More Than a Worksheet'.