School and the City

Ideas and Resources for Your Elementary Classroom

Plane Shapes Song & Activities

My students want me to be a full-time songwriter now that I've introduced them to this plane shapes song. This one was a much bigger hit than the last one we sang!    Click here to download a PDF of the lyrics.   Find the karaoke music on YouTube here.        See my class singing the song here.     WARNING: This song can and will get ... Read More about Plane Shapes Song & Activities

Look Inside My Tutoring Binder

I reorganized my office last week... While doing so, I found my tutoring binder inside my tutoring bag from last year.  (This is a judgement-free zone, right?!)    I spent a lot of time and effort preparing for tutoring, so I thought I would share my binder with you to make your tutoring life a little easier.   My tutoring binder is divided into four sections: writing, ... Read More about Look Inside My Tutoring Binder

Regrouping Song

Inspired by Bethany, from Teaching and So Fourth, and Hope King, I decided to write a song for my students to get them pumped up about one of the hardest second grade math standards: REGROUPING! Click here to download the lyrics. Click here for the music I use (on YouTube). Enjoy! ... Read More about Regrouping Song

8 Reasons Why I Love My Erin Condren Teacher Planner

I mean, just look at how beautiful that thing is. It reminds me of school and lesson planning and grading and organizing data, yet I STILL think it’s gorgeous. The Erin Condren teacher lesson planner is certainly a splurge. I contemplated it for a few years, and I am so glad I finally took the plunge. I’ll never look back!  Now that I’ve been using an Erin Condren teacher planner for ... Read More about 8 Reasons Why I Love My Erin Condren Teacher Planner

2nd Grade Grammar Puzzles (plus a free sample!)

INTRODUCING.... I wanted to share these puzzles with you because I use them in my classroom DAILY and my students love them! Whenever I introduce a new grammar concept, the corresponding puzzle is added to the puzzle box. I love using grammar puzzles because... it's a hands-on way for students to practice grammar.students can self-monitor. Each puzzle piece only has one ... Read More about 2nd Grade Grammar Puzzles (plus a free sample!)

How to Create Your Own Listening Center

Yesterday I posted an Instagram story about how I recorded myself reading one of our social studies readers to turn it into an option for my "Listen to Reading" Daily 5 listening center. I wanted to give my students more options during that station time, and I am always trying to integrate social studies and science into our literacy block!    I received so many questions about how I did it, ... Read More about How to Create Your Own Listening Center