Sweet 'N' Sauer Firsties -

Using the Dot Method for Comparing Numbers

Are you ready to say see you later alligator when it comes to using the “mouth method” for teaching comparing numbers? Well you’ve come to the right place! If you need a great strategy to replace “the alligator always eats the bigger number”, I’ve got a powerful method that is a GAMECHANGER for your students. The understanding will be deeper… Read More

Ditch Fast Fact Fluency and Do THIS Instead

How many times have you looked at students during math and thought to yourself, “Why don’t they know these math facts yet?” It can be so frustrating when we spend SO much of our time practicing math facts, only for students not to retain them. Are you guilty of using math fact flashcards, timed tests, or online programs like XtraMath?… Read More

10 Easy and Effective Tips to Calm a Chatty Class

Kids are talkative, that’s no surprise. It’s also not a bad thing most of the time! However, if our classrooms are TOO chatty, it can have a negative impact on learning for all the students. I’m sure we’ve all been there too – frustrated because the kids are talking nonstop, drained because too much instructional time is being lost, and… Read More

The Impact of Using Heart Words

I don’t know about you, but when I first started hearing about Heart Words, I asked myself… “Ok, what’s all the hype about?” So of course I did a deep dive of research. I spent the better part of the year doing a lot of research, learning, and to be honest, a lot of unlearning. I quickly realized the many… Read More

10 Classroom Management Must Haves

Let’s be honest… we know how important community and relationships are with our students, but what is the glue that holds the whole thing together? Classroom management, that’s what! But classroom management is a daunting part of our job that sometimes feels like too much. How many times have you felt overwhelmed? Overstimulated? Like you just can’t even anymore. Have… Read More

Foolproof Attention Getters For the Entire Year!

Why did the teacher write on the window? Because the lesson needed to be clear! Did I get your attention? Ha! Maybe my jokes aren’t the funniest, but my attention getters are on point! And that is what I want to share with you today- attention getters. They are also called call and responses and they are such a fun… Read More