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School and the City

Ideas and Resources for Your Elementary Classroom

What To Do With All Those Dust Jackets

So you have a ton of dust jackets from all the amazing new books you picked up over the summer. Now what? Every new classroom I've moved into has provided me with new dust jackets to inherit. I don't know why teachers leave them behind... maybe they are a lot like me and just can't bear to trash them! of course I ended up with a bunch of dust jackets of my own, too, and had to ask my Instagram ... Read More about What To Do With All Those Dust Jackets

4 Must-Read Novels for Educators

I love to read, and chances are that you do too. As educators, we often read children's literature to stay in-the-know and professional books to improve our practices. But how often do we read fictional novels that can teach us just as much as a teacher textbook? Years ago, when I was in college, my mom (Hi, mom!) handed me a book and said, "If you're going to be a teacher, you need to read ... Read More about 4 Must-Read Novels for Educators

Curriculum Night

Every year, my school does a Curriculum Night. You might call this Open House, Parent Night, or something along those lines. Basically, parents are invited into the classroom (without their students) to learn about: grade level curriculum content resources standardized testing schoolwide expectations  PBIS important policies like transportation changes classroom ... Read More about Curriculum Night

How I’m Managing a Split-Level Math Class (Guided Math)

No matter what type of class we teach, we always have a range of levels that requires many levels of differentiation. I know. It's a challenge that all teachers face. However, I'm facing a new challenge this year: a split-level math class. For me, that means half of my class is starting at the beginning of the third grade curriculum (place value and rounding), while the other half is starting ... Read More about How I’m Managing a Split-Level Math Class (Guided Math)

The First Week of 3rd Grade: Day by Day Plans

Last year, I blogged about my first week of third grade. That's still a good resource for you if you're looking for ideas, but I did change things up just a little this year, so I thought I'd provide some more details for you to help you plan some first week of school activities. Eeeek! By clicking “Send It to Me!” you are consenting to receive emails from School and the City. Your Information is ... Read More about The First Week of 3rd Grade: Day by Day Plans

How to Rock Your Open House

Year six has officially kicked off, and I had a successful Sneak Peek with my new students. Here's a few things I've learned throughout the years: 1. Be explicit with visual instructions.    You may be mid-conversation when a new family walks in the door. Don't let them feel uncomfortable while they wait for you!   2. Make sure there is a (labeled) place for everything.  ... Read More about How to Rock Your Open House