In this blog I want to share with you about how and why you should be doing shared research activities in your classroom, give you some ideas, and share a few resources to help make it simple for you. When I taught third grade my students loved doing shared research activities. But when I moved to kindergarten and found out I had to teach my students how to do this, I didn’t think it was possible much less going to fun Turns out I was wrong!  What is shared research? Shared Research is where teachers often choose the topics, gather information, and guide their students by presenting all the facts and information. This is done in whole group instruction, small group instruction, and worked on over a period of a few days to a week. I began by sharing nonfiction pictures, books, and ask students questions based on the topic I’ve chosen. I choose the topic based on the standards I need to cover in science and social studies. Then, in our daily writing block time I can cover multiple standa...

How to FREE up your planning Integrate as many skills as possible into each lesson. Copy everything you need for the month at one time. Create a template for your lesson plans that you can just insert links, videos, textbooks, etc. into each week. Plan with other teachers in your grade. Other teachers are in the same boat as you are, so why not sail in peaceful water instead of into rough waters Check out these November Read Alouds Bundle that includes ELA, Phonics, & Science Activities already prepared for you. ...

Simple, quick, strategies, and tips for covering standards! Do you struggle to find time to fit in all standards and subjects during the school day? Try using Cross-curricular learning to combine different subjects that children find meaningful, engaging, and relate subjects to real life. When used correctly, cross-curricular boosts critical thinking skills, increase application of skills, structure lessons around themes, and encourage students to become lifelong learners. In primary grades, most teachers are responsible for teaching all subjects making it difficult to cover all standards. In this post I am going to share a few simple, quick, strategies, and easy tips, you can begin using to get you started learning how integrate standards in your classroom. MATH SKILLS THROUGHOUT THE DAY In math, I have students graph daily by writing simple things on the board. Have you ever...? Do you like...? I teach shapes, counting, addition, subtraction, area, and perimeter daily. When cut...