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When kids say “my teacher is mean,” what they often mean is “I got a consequence.” Learn why consequences = clarity and how parents + teachers can work together.

The first day of school can feel like opening a gift full of surprises. Excitement, anticipation, and even nerves are in the air,...

They’re not just for Kindergarten anymore. Typically, when you hear teachers talk about “centers” in their classroom, your mind tends to...

Getting students to “buy into” science can sometimes be difficult. It doesn’t have the enchantment that fiction does or the little silly...

As teachers, we’re always instructed to make sure we’re reading aloud to our students daily, but without actually understanding and...

<p>Vowel teams, also known as long vowels, are pairs or groups of vowels that work together to make a single sound. Examples of vowel teams include ai, ea, ee, oa, and ui. Teaching vowel teams can be a bit challenging for first graders, but with the right strategies and activities, they can master this concept &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/unlock-the-key-to-long-vowels/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about Unlock the Key to Lon

<p>As far as Science of Reading strategies go, teaching the skill of &#8220;silent e&#8221; can be challenging for first graders, but it&#8217;s an important step in helping them develop their reading and writing skills. Silent e, also known as magic e or final e, is a silent letter that changes the pronunciation and meaning of &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/science-of-reading-strategies-silent-e/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">a

<p>When it&#8217;s time for students to start to add and subtract in elementary, it can seem like a daunting task. However, introducing addition and subtraction in elementary doesn&#8217;t have to be hard! All you need to do is make it fun with these three fun games you can play with your students! Introducing Addition and &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/3-fun-games-for-introducing-addition-and-subtraction-in-elementary/" class="more-link">Read More <span class

<p>Phonics is an important part of teaching students how to read. When we teach phonics to students, we can&#8217;t just teach them the sounds each letter makes. It&#8217;s also important to teach consonant blends in elementary. This can be easily done by using these six strategies. What Consonant Blends? A consonant blend is when there &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/6-simple-strategies-to-teach-consonant-blends-in-elementary/" class="more-link">Read More <spa

<p>Teaching place value in elementary is an important math skill that your students will need throughout their education. While it can seem like the only way to teach place value in elementary is to &#8220;drill and kill&#8221; the idea, it doesn&#8217;t have to be that way! With this fun place value game, your students will &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/teach-place-value-in-elementary-with-a-fun-game/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-t

<p>Phonemic awareness is a huge part of learning how to read. When students understand phonics, they are able to sound out words which increases the number of words they know. In addition, it makes teaching digraphs in elementary easier! Why Teach Phonics in Elementary Teaching phonics might seem like quite a task. However, it can &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/5-simple-steps-for-teaching-digraphs-in-elementary/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen

<p>One thing that will always be around is the calendar. In other words, there will always be a today, yesterday, and tomorrow. Plus, each of those days have a number! Why does this matter? It presents teachers the opportunity to use calendar math in their classroom daily. While there is some debate as to whether &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/why-you-should-use-calendar-math-in-the-classroom/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about

<p>Teaching students how to sound out words is no easy task! While using phonics and the Science of Reading can help, it can still take time! I have found using a simple system to teach CVC words in elementary that is consistent helps students learn to read CVC words faster.  When to Teach CVC Words &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/a-simple-process-to-teach-cvc-words/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about A Simple Process to Teach

<p>Math is a tricky subject to teach for a variety of reasons. The main reason math gets tricky is simply because students lack confidence in it. One way to help students with their math confidence is to help them create strong number sense. Place value is one of the key concepts when it comes to &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/easily-use-place-value-tents-to-teach-number-sense/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about Easily Use Pla

<p>Decodable texts are perfect for practicing an essential skill: phonetic awareness! When you are using the Science of Reading in your classroom, one aspect you’ll be working with explicitly is phonics. This means, you’ll also be working with decodable texts. Here is how I introduce decodable texts in first grade.  Click on the image below &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/how-to-introduce-decodable-texts-to-first-graders/" class="more-link">Read More <span clas

<p>As teachers, we are always looking for ways to make math more fun! I have found a simple deck of cards can be the answer. Wait, what? Yes!&nbsp; Teaching math with playing cards has several benefits for students.&nbsp; This week&#8217;s YouTube video goes into more detail about this, CLICK HERE or click on the picture &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/8-simple-benefits-of-teaching-math-with-playing-cards/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader

<p>The Science of Reading is the new buzzword in education, and it’s not going anywhere. Decodable readers, which are a huge part of the Science of Reading, can seem overwhelming at first. Why? Because they are designed to help you teach phonics in a very systematic and sequential way. However, it doesn’t come with a &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/use-a-simple-decodable-lesson-planner-to-teach-phonics-with-the-science-of-reading/" class="more-link">Read More <

<p>Math can be a hard buy-in for students. That&#8217;s why having fun activities like math games to engage students can be just what your classroom needs! Today, I&#8217;m going to tell you how you can use the card game &#8220;War&#8221; to help students with number sense as well as their math facts. Using Math Games &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/make-math-fun-war-games-with-playing-cards/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about

<p>The Science of Reading is kind of like the old &#8220;Hooked on phonics!&#8221; However you feel about this new trend, it is taking over schools! While this can be overwhelming, you can modify your instruction to teach the science of reading. Why Teach the Science of Reading The Science of Reading refers to a body &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/5-easy-tips-to-modify-your-instruction-to-teach-the-science-of-reading/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="

<p>Please note: You can get your own set of the slides used in this post (for free) if you scroll down. Teaching math can be a struggle especially when you add that second digit. One way to help students understand how to add with two digit numbers is to try teaching addition with regrouping. When &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/simple-tips-for-teaching-addition-with-regrouping/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about Simple Tips fo