When I theme up a day, it's because I need to amp up the engagement on a topic that isn't the most exciting to teach or learn... and for me, that's nonfiction text features. Teaching my students about a diagram, index, caption, and table of contents? No thanks. That's why I created a way to make it fun! Prior to this day of fun, my students completed a variety of activities from Amy Lemons and ... Read More about Shark Day
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An Honest Recap of Get Your Teach On
The Get Your Teach On (GYTO) Experience is like no other conference I have ever been to. When you hear people talk about it being like a party, that's no joke. The energy, fangirling, light show, music, and stages are at levels comparable to a concert. This recap is of the 2019 GYTO National Conference in Dallas, Texas. Prior to this, I attended the 2018 National Conference in San Diego and the ... Read More about An Honest Recap of Get Your Teach On
Favorite Reads of 2017
I'll be the first to admit, my reading habits of 2017 were nothing compared to 2016. 2016 was my year of Kids Deserve It, Crash Course, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ken Robinson, graphic novels, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi, Ditch That Textbook, Explore Like a Pirate, Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman, Frederik Backman, The Zen Teacher, Play Like a Pirate, Ron Clark, and so much more. It was a balance of reading ... Read More about Favorite Reads of 2017
Chocolate Day
As a culminating activity to reading Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we brought the book to life through Chocolate Day! As with most special days in 2nd Grade Land, we had to take a selfie because #picsoritdidnthappen My favorite Teach Like a Pirate hook is the costume hook, so of course we had to dress up for the occasion as our best attempts at Mr. Willy Wonka ... Read More about Chocolate Day
STEAM: Gingerbread House
Making one of these gingerbread houses has been on my "December To Do List" for the last two years, and we finally made it. I emphasize we because, in reality, my kids made it. Because they are great thinkers. Why STEAM instead of STEM? In this case, I felt like the arts were prominent in this project. Actually, maybe I should be thinking STEAM more often... [OMG this book!] I started by ... Read More about STEAM: Gingerbread House
