Lucy and I have a love-hate relationship. Lucy Caulkins that is. While I adore her theory and many of her ideas for structuring Writers Workshop, I often feel it can become a bit monotonous, especially for Kindergarten students. This feeling often grows during those few lessons leading up to ... read more
Guided Reading with Finn Books
Guided reading, reader's workshop, The Daily 5 - however you structure reading in your classroom, the end goal (promoting literacy skills) remains constant. Fountas & Pinnell describe guided reading as "scaffolded reading instruction that propels all students toward confident, independent ... read more
First Day, Back to School Fun
Howdy friends! Do you get first day jitters? I know that I do, but something happens right when that first little friend walks in. The "teacher instinct" kicks in and it's all about getting the little ones settled and starting to learn about them. The focus finally shifts from ... read more
The Little Explorers Debut
As I sit down to write this post I realize that it is mid-July. Wait. Summer, where are you going?!? This summer has been a busy one for me with lots of PD, teaching a summer camp, and working on non-school related things. I've got to remember to tell myself to slow down for a ... read more
TPT Seller Challenge Week 3: Create Your Masterpiece!
It's week 3 of the #TPTSellerChallenge! This week is all about creating a masterpiece! Let me tell you what, I've created just that! This labor of love has taken me several months to complete. But guess what?! It is finally FINISHED! It's also the sibling of my best ... read more
