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<p>We all know that two plus two equals four. However, there was a point in our lives where even solving that simple equation would have been incredibly difficult for us. In primary school hands-on math is one of the best ways to learn math facts and increase skills. However, math manipulatives don’t come cheap, but &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/collect-math-manipulatives/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about Why and How to Col

<p>We are almost through February and that means we are getting closer to March which can bring spring rain! In addition to the changing seasons, we also have the luck of the Irish heading our way! With all of this fun happening, it’s a great time to do simple spring crafts with kids. 1: What’s &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/spring-craft-activities/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about 10 Simple Spring Craft Activities for Stude

<p>The classroom can be like a maze if you don’t have it set up in a way that is organized. Between student desks, tables, and various other areas of your classroom, it can be easy for a traffic jam to happen. Top all that off with elementary students loving to huddle together, and it can &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/easy-movement-in-the-classroom/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about Creating Lanes for Easy Movement in the Cl

<p>Every month presents a new opportunity for us to dive into a different theme. Last month, we had great January reads with Picture Pals that focused on winter fun! In February, we have the Lunar New Year, Black History Month, and Valentine’s Day to think of. When you’re choosing February reading activities, you want to &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/picture-book-pal-reading-activities-this-february/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-tex

<p>I know it can be challenging to not get caught up in fawning over all the Pinterest perfect classroom themes and decorations, but you’ll soon realize that your young elementary students won’t care if your bulletin boards all match or there are random containers on the shelves. What they care most about is who you &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/simple-classroom-organization-hacks-for-your-teaching-supplies/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-re

<p>There are so many different ways you can set up an effective classroom! You can focus on specific zones or areas of the room for various subjects such as having a dedicated art space, guided reading table, or a large area rug for circle time. There’s also lots to consider when it comes to student &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/10-thing-to-consider-when-setting-up-your-first-classroom/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about 10 T

<p>Please note: If you want some inspirational quotes for your classroom, just fill in the form at the bottom of this post. I think we can all agree, teaching is not for the faint of heart. Being a successful teacher takes a lot of courage, passion, and self-care. I know we’ve all been there &#8211; &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/ten-positive-affirmations-for-the-new-teacher/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about Ten Positive Aff

<p>If you had to give a synopsis of a movie after watching it for the very first time, and you fast forward through the first half of it, would you be able to come up with a very accurate recap? Or, let’s say you watched the movie at regular speed, but there were 2-3 important &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/why-you-should-never-skip-teaching-fluency-strategies-and-fundamentals/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about Why You Should

<p>There is nothing more exciting, yet also stressful, than preparing for your very first classroom! While you may have come to this post thinking you’ll be given a long list to go shop for, I actually want to give you a list of things that I personally believe are even more important than any items &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/what-first-year-teachers-actually-need-for-their-first-classroom/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">abou

<p>Your students are about to trade in their backpacks for summer vacation and in their minds, they’re totally checking out of learning mode. While it’s okay to celebrate the end of another school year and catch up on extra rest and fun activities, it’s critical for children to have multiple forms of academic engagement throughout &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/7-ways-to-prevent-the-summer-slide/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">ab

<p>Engaging educational ideas for the last weeks of the school year for K to 3rd.</p>

<p>Do you want books in your classroom library that students just can’t wait to read?&nbsp; The kind of book that they rush to get to before someone else?&nbsp; Well, I know some fantastic ways to get these books and they cost almost nothing.&nbsp; Sounds too good to be true right?&nbsp; Well, children love to create &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/whats-so-great-about-class-books/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about What&#8217;

<p>When we think about sight words we typically tend to associate them with the earliest primary grades. They’re viewed as a tool to develop literacy skills and are the very basic foundation of reading as students enter Kindergarten for the first time. However, I teach 2nd Grade, and using sight words is still a very &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/why-sight-words-are-important-for-building-better-readers/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader

<p>Who doesn&#8217;t love a quick, no prep directed drawing lesson? This butterfly directed draw has a cartoonish flair. They are so adorable, and kids love the final product. I love to do these every year with my students. We finish it off by painting the butterflies and roses with liquid watercolors. When dry, we cut &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/free-spring-crafts-you-will-love/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about Free Spri

<p>Don’t get me wrong &#8211; I definitely don’t enjoy writing report cards, but over my years of experience in the classroom, I’ve gradually learned how to get through the writing without feeling stressed! Writing report cards can definitely be taxing and some teachers need time to decompress after completing the task since it’s so mentally &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/5-tips-and-tricks-for-writing-report-cards/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="scr

<p>I used to wonder what was the point of running a Home Reading program. My students often did not do any actual reading with their parents in the evenings. The books went home, and came back and got ripped up or bent or worse covered in something sticky. Very few children actually were reading the &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/how-to-run-an-effective-home-reading-program/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about How to Run an Eff

<p>“Each time one prematurely teaches a child something he could have discovered himself, that child is kept from inventing it and consequently from understanding it completely.” &#8211; Jean Piaget We’re going to focus on what Piaget is telling us here for a bit. When you learn how to do something for the very first time, &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/why-i-love-the-benefits-of-using-play-based-learning-with-all-grades/" class="more-link">Read More <span cla

<p>All I can say is, “Wow!” 2020 started off feeling like any normal year for me. I began the new year with one of my most favorite 2nd grade classes I have ever taught, and we were anxiously awaiting our March break to give all of us a little time to de-stress, relax, and rejuvenate. &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/last-year-at-this-time/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about Last Year at this Time&#8230;</span></a></p>

<p>Of course sight word activities are not the only way to improve our students’ reading skills, but sometimes I feel we forget just how valuable they are to have in our teaching toolbox! Before I get started sharing some super fun sight word activities that I know your students will love, I need to answer &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/whats-so-scary-about-teaching-sight-words/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about What&#8217;s

<p>I don’t know about you, but I get really overwhelmed when trying to narrow down which picture books to feature in my classroom.&nbsp; We all read to our students every day, of course.&nbsp; Reading aloud is an essential part of any primary reading program, but sometimes I wonder if we spend enough time checking that &#8230; <a href="https://savvyteachingtips.net/take-a-deep-dive-into-a-good-read-aloud/" class="more-link">Read More <span class="screen-reader-text">about Ta