Read aloud lessons are one of the most magical moments in a classroom. They allow teachers to model fluency, introduce new vocabulary, and model the pure joy of reading rich stories. However, keeping little learners engaged during read alouds can sometimes feel like herding cats, especially in this tech world with instant gratification. By using […] The post 4 Read Aloud Strategies to Engage Kids appeared first on Mrs. Richardson's Class ..read more

There’s just something magical about snow! The way it seems to just appear on the ground when we awake, the soft blanket we can jump in, and so many more aspects that make it seem magical! We don’t get a lot of snow in Texas, but when we do the kids’ faces light up! Snow […] The post Explore Must-Do Low Prep Snow Activities for Kids in the Classroom appeared first on Mrs. Richardson's Class ..read more

Christmas is a magical time of year filled with warmth and celebrations galore! I believe it becomes even more meaningful when students learn about how different cultures celebrate. In my classroom, this looked like setting up chairs in a row, pretending to be on an airplane with a ticket, and traveling the world for Christmas […] The post 5 Activities for Celebrating Christmas in Mexico appeared first on Mrs. Richardson's Class ..read more

The holiday seasons brings so much excitement to the classroom. From family traditions being shared to memories being made with classroom elf, there are so many moments to take in! One of my favorite things to do is read aloud and the holiday season is filled with wonderful Christmas read alouds for kids! I have […] The post 12 Festive Christmas Read Alouds and Snacks to Increase Engagement appeared first on Mrs. Richardson's Class ..read more

The holiday season is the perfect time to bring festive, hands-on learning into the classroom! A gingerbread man craft activity is a delightful way to engage our students while practicing writing conventions. This interactive project combines smiles and academics. That’s something we all want to see more of! Whether you use it as part of a writing […] The post Boost Writing Engagement with a Gingerbread Man Craft Activity appeared first on Mrs. Richardson's Class ..read more

As the Thanksgiving holiday is near, it’s time for all things pumpkins, leaves, and turkeys! I don’t know about you, but as a child, I never once saw a real, live turkey in person unless my school took a field trip to a farm. I don’t think we ever did that. Turkeys are fascinating birds. […] The post Turkey Craft Projects for Kids appeared first on Mrs. Richardson's Class ..read more

Teaching phonics skills like the hard C and soft C sounds can be a thrilling journey for young learners as they unlock more phonics skills. Just think–now the word “circle” makes sense! It can feel tricky to teach, so let’s dive into an explicit explanation of how to teach each of these phonics skills. I also will […] The post Mastering Hard C Soft C Rules: Activities and Freebies appeared first on Mrs. Richardson's Class ..read more

Election Day is right around the corner and there are so many good books for you to read aloud in your classroom. You can teach so much to your students about election day through different read alouds. You can talk about what an election is, who candidates are, and how a president becomes elected. Using […] The post 6 Election Day Read Alouds for Kids You Will Love appeared first on Mrs. Richardson's Class ..read more

From digraph activities to digraph worksheets to digraph games, you are sure to find something for your classroom! My friend recently shared this story: “My daughter has been grabbing easy chapter books from our home bookshelves. Last night, she came to me and said, “Mom, I can’t figure out this word. I said each sound, […] The post 7 Must Try Digraph Activities for Kindergarten & 1st Grade appeared first on Mrs. Richardson's Class ..read more

Fall is the perfect time to bring hands-on science into the classroom, and pumpkins offer a fun, seasonal way to excite your students about learning. With this change in season comes a change in our science standards here in Texas this year. One of the significant changes is the word “phenomenon” being added to the […] The post Pumpkin Science Experiment Exploring Pumpkin Phenomenon appeared first on Mrs. Richardson's Class ..read more