Life with 5 Boys

How do you address character education in your classroom? Do you put up a few posters and point out the traits a couple times a year? Are you looking for meaningful activities to teach students what it means to have good character? When I first started teaching in 2001, it seemed like character education was part of our weekly routine. Our district focused on Character Counts! Somewhere along the way, though, it seemed to slowly go away. I have a feeling it was when everything became driven around standardized testing. In more recent years, it seems it’s made a comeback.…

Third grade isn’t just about memorizing multiplication and division facts, although those are VERY important. Teaching 3rd grade math means you’re introducing and expanding on rounding, fractions, telling time, elapsed time, perimeter, area, quadrilaterals, mass, two-step word problems, subtracting across zeros, and more. Add in the fact you have to DIFFERENTIATE because students are all at different levels, and it can become very overwhelming… for both the teacher and the students! What helps? SPIRAL REVIEW Spiral review doesn’t have to look the same for every activity. It doesn’t have to be something done at a certain time of day. A…

📚 Are you ready for BACK TO SCHOOL? As much as we love our summer break, it’s really hard not to think about the new year that’s creeping up on us. I’m here to make your life easier! Plan ahead, and get ready for an amazing first day, week, and month of school. First off, if you’re new to teaching, this free CHECKLIST might help! It’s just some tips to help you get through your first day. 📋 As you think about the new school year, is your classroom prepared for a substitute? If your answer is no, or you’re…

📏 Get a FREE SAMPLE of my 3rd Grade Math Bundle HERE! A couple of years ago, I decided to bundle together most of my math resources. They are perfect for review, assessments, early finishers, and holiday & seasonal fun. I started with 32 great products already available that are perfect for 3rd grade, and they would work great for older students as review or for those who struggle in math. But I had several more resources I wanted to create. I’d been putting off making my bundle because I knew there would be more resources to come. That’s when…

Morning work/spiral review activities for students can really help set a routine for your classroom and make the day run smoothly. When students know what is expected of them as they walk through your classroom door, they’ll be ready to learn and set up for a successful day. Having daily or weekly spiral review of key math, language, grammar, and writing skills will help students retain important information needed for your classroom and the next grade level. Spiral review activities that are repetitive allow students to understand the directions. They’ll get right to work and know what’s expected of them.…

📋 Sub plans are necessary for a classroom to run smoothly! Being both a teacher and a substitute, I can’t say that enough. I’ve been in classrooms where I have no plans, and I’ve been told to make copies of random pages left. Substitute teachers have a lot to deal with, especially if they’re new to your classroom and school. ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A SUBSTITUTE? 🤔 Get this FREE CHECKLIST to make sure your classroom runs smoothly while you’re gone! WHY YOU NEED THESE SUB PLANS! I learned a long time ago that I hated having to head in…

It’s time to read with your students!  What are you doing to ensure students are comprehending the stories?  Are you following the weekly guide in your reading curriculum TE?  If you are, I know that can get monotonous.  You need to keep students’ attention.  But how? Easy… you give them Response to Literature activities!  What are some activities you could complete? activities before you start reading – examples include looking at the cover and chapter titles visualization – have students draw and color something from the story; have them compare with their classmates to see similarities and differences setting – think…

The simple answer? EASY! Teaching about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln for Presidents’ Day doesn’t have to be daunting for you or boring for your students! These resources are perfect for 3rd/4th grade. They could even work for your 2nd graders who need a challenge, or 5th/6th grade students who may struggle with comprehension. Having several activities can be a lifesaver in the classroom. Some of the activities are perfect for the whole class (maybe reading aloud the reading passages). Others offer great team building activities as students work in groups (escape rooms)! And, what about those early finishers? How…

If you’ve ever taught 2nd or 3rd grade, then you know what it’s like to teach basic fractions. This can be a fun concept to teach students because there are so many visuals and math manipulatives you can use to help students understand what a fraction is. One of my favorite ways to introduce fractions to my students is by reading the book Gator Pie by Louise Mathews! This story was one of my favorites as a kid. What I really love is that none of my students ever know the book. It feels like a rare thing nowadays to…

Let’s face it, the days leading up to winter break, and the first days back in January, are hectic. It can be difficult keeping students engaged. What if you had some activities that not only get students working, but also give you a poster to create a bulletin board? Below you’ll see some activities that have students reflect on 2025 and create goals for 2026. There’s also a really fun collaborative coloring poster. Students work together to create a large poster that can be your bulletin board for the new year! This New Year’s collaborative coloring poster is perfect for…