As teachers, we know that meaningful learning happens when students connect new concepts to familiar routines. Inauguration Day is a unique opportunity to introduce young learners to the workings of our government, the responsibilities of the President, and the traditions that celebrate this transition of leadership. Even better, these lessons can be seamlessly integrated into... The post Inauguration Day in Primary appeared first on The Brown Bag Teacher ..read more

Algebra might sound advanced, but it fits right into our primary (K-2) classroom! At its core, algebra is about finding patterns and solving puzzles—skills that even our youngest learners can start developing. For example, you can use simple equations like “something + 3 = 5” and ask students what the “something” is. This helps them ..read more

Authors choose story structures for a purpose. Story structures that you can use when writing or teaching narrative texts. Narrative writing is an important skill that students need to master as it helps them to express themselves, develop critical thinking skills, and understand complex ideas. Reading Standard 5 requires students to understand the different story structures. RL.1.5 – Recognize major differences between the structures of poems, stories and dramas, including but not limited to linear, nonlinear and circular structures. RL.2.5 – Describe how parts of the text contribute to the ..read more

Number charts serve as valuable tools for students, offering a visual guide that makes understanding numerical patterns easier. They enhance counting skills, boost mathematical fluency, and provide a practical resource for problem-solving and reinforcing key math concepts. So the vote is unanimous. We LOVE our number charts in Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd Grade. It makes a nice year-round center and is just great fluency practice for students. Let’s explore ways to work on a number chart or mix-up your card routine. Number Charts in Kindergarten A number chart is a great tool ..read more

There is so much technology in the classroom now. I love to make sure I take advantage of it whenever I can. Science is one of those subjects my little learners absolutely love. Slow motion video makes science for accessible for all of our students. So – let’s talk about it. How Does Slow Motion Video Work? As our young scientists are exploring, planning, implementing their plans, and watching the experiment, so much can get lost in the moment. Having a student record an experiment taking place or the reaction of an experiment is a perfect way to explore a single moment, slowing everything dow ..read more

Celebrating a rodent who can’t identify his shadow? Hi, it’s us. First grade students everywhere in the United States. We live for random, odd holidays and Groundhog Day is one of those. So, as a teacher, how do I allow us to bask in the weird while also ensuring another February school day isn’t lost? (You know what I’m talking about – 100th/120th Day, Dental Month, Valentine’s Day, President’s Day, ANDTHELISTGOESON.) Groundhog Day Books – My Faves I can never turn my back on a good book. It’s just not possible. From morning arrival to transition times, classroom bookshelves are the perfect s ..read more

The school year is quickly ending, and I can not believe how fast this year has gone! I love to share picture books with my students during the last few days because there are many good ones! Here are 5 picture books for the end of the school year.  You’ll Love These Picture Books for the End of the School Year Although there are so many picture books that you can easily use during the last few days of school, these are a few of my absolute favorite end of year read alouds! They touch on memories, funny moments, moving on, and more! 5 Picture Books for the End of the School Year **The boo ..read more

Using or creating a Wordless picture book is ideal for building students’ storytelling skills, strengthening oral language, and practicing a variety of story structures (linear, circular, flashbacks, etc). Today we’ll explore my favorite wordless picture books and the benefits of using this genre of text with littles. In this post, you’ll find Amazon Affiliate links, which means Amazon tosses a few nickels my way if you purchase something through that link, at no extra cost to you, that helps to keep my corner of cyber-space running and helps fund giveaways! My Favorite Wordless Pict ..read more

Every four years, we experience one of the most amazing and talented athletes of our country performing on the world stage in the Olympics. It is a truly beautiful event. The United States often wins gold, and the students love to track the number of bronze, silver, and gold we receive. My school loves to use the excitement surrounding the Olympics to get students about a topic that sometimes is one of the most hated among students—MATH. Our students absolutely love the Math Olympics, and every student can not wait to participate in each event. Where Do The Math Olympics Fit?  The math Ol ..read more

Teachers Make A Difference: A Life Lived in Small Victories A few weeks ago I sat at a Referral Meeting with a family who has trusted me with the most important part of themselves. A little person with so much joy and excitement and energy for life, it makes my heart hurt. As teachers we aren’t supposed to have favorites, but in reality, it’s an easy choice. So, we sit next to each other, our hearts aching. You know the feeling – you’ve poured every resource and ounce of energy and love into a child. You spend the weekends printing photos for her Good-Choices photo album, mornings finding the ..read more