20 Sure Fire Ways to Get Your Students’ Attention

Inside: Lots of tried and true ideas for classroom management. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. After almost 3 decades of elementary teaching I’m now one of the many practicum supervisors for our local university. I only started recently and while it has some challenges it’s also a lot of fun.  I really enjoy the teacher candidates: Their enthusiasm for … Read more

Sunday Inspiration: Literacy and Learning Lessons

Regie Routman is my all-time, hands-down, favourite teacher-author. I collected and read all her books during my teaching career and highly recommend her books to new and seasoned teachers. Here’s one of my favourite quotes: We can’t teach a first-rate reading lesson with a second-rate book, and we can’t effectively teach craft in writing without outstanding literature. Neither can we … Read more

Earth Day Activities!

In celebration of Earth Day I have a round-up of Earth Day Activities for young children. If you’re personally interested in taking some earth-friendly steps in an attempt to reduce our pollution, be sure to have a look at the Earth Day Network.  They have a campaign going right now with the aim of reducing plastic pollution. Even if you … Read more

The Wild Robot: Book Review!

Inside: Book review of The Wild Robot. I don’t think I’ve ever reviewed a chapter book on this blog, but after reading The Wild Robot,  I absolutely HAD to share it with you. I’m really surprised I didn’t stumble across this book a lot earlier because it’s been around for two years and I LOVE Peter Brown’s picture book My … Read more

Imagine by John Lennon: Book Review

Inside: Review of a children’s book by John Lennon, Imagine. Title: Imagine Author: John Lennon Illustrator: Jean Jullien Publishing: Clarion Books, 2017 Theme: Peace, Love, Equality Age: 4-12 Summary (from the book flap): Join one little pigeon as she sets out on a journey to spread a message of hope and tolerance around the world. Featuring the lyrics of John … Read more

Sew What? Book Review and Activities

I’m reviewing a new book by Glen A. Penrod called Sew What? Title: Sew What? Author: Glen A Penrod Illustrator: Kelly Echevarria Publishing: Dymon Publications, 2017 Ages: 5-7 Summary: A cute story about working together, written almost entirely in one-syllable words, with a few tongue twisters thrown in for fun. Gives children reading practice through repetition, rhythm and word play. … Read more

Doubles Addition Printable

Inside: Doubles addition free printable. Around this time of the year is when I usually begin doubles addition with my Grade 1 students. This is a fun sheet for some extra practice. Just cut out the dogs (I always tell my kids they don’t have to cut on the lines for this kind of thing just so it doesn’t take … Read more

Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32: Book Review & Activities

Inside: Book review of Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 PLUS a free printable number matching game DISCLOSURE: I received a free copy of this book to review (opinions are my own). TITLE: Don’t Ever Look Behind Door 32 AUTHOR: B.C.R. Fegan ILLUSTRATOR: Lenny Wen PUBLISHING: 2017, TaleBlade Press INTENDED AUDIENCE: Ages 3-8 THEME: Fantasy, Suspense, Mystery RATING:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 OPENING … Read more

Free Easter Coloring Sheet

Inside: Super cute Easter coloring sheet. I’m in the middle of making another mandala colouring book. This one, of course, is going to be an Easter book. I’ve only got two pages so far so I know I need to hurry! In any case, I wanted to share one of the pages with you. Click the image and this cutie-pie … Read more