Back for more game changing comprehension instruction that's simple but powerful? Teaching students to look for repetition in words, objects, characters, and events gives them an impactful anchor to recognize as a time to STOP and THINK. (FYI-This is based on Notice and Note by Kylene Beers and Bob Probst. I've waited for years to share because there was supposed to be an elementary book but that never happened, so here we are. You can read more about the awesomeness of that book here.) This post contains affiliate links which means Amazon tosses me some change whenever someone makes ..read more

Ready to make comprehension instruction simple, authentic, and engaging? And, like, maybe even joyful for all of you? Then it's time to let kids in on a few writers' secrets. The first one, opposites, is a GAME CHANGER. (FYI-This is based on Notice and Note by Kylene Beers and Bob Probst. I've waited for years to share because there was supposed to be an elementary book but that never happened, so here we are. You can read more about the awesomeness of that book here.) This post contains affiliate links which means Amazon tosses me some change whenever someone makes a purchase through o ..read more

Happy Middle of February! Making a February calendar on the 13th is basically a metaphor of my entire school year. I love Valentines Day and hearts. Honestly, I would use this pattern any time of the year, but I try to act mature enough to only use them in February. This darling pattern is from 7th Avenue Designs. You can download the calendar by clicking here or on the image below. Don't miss the matching iPhone backgrounds. You can grab the calendar background here and the plain background here. Not the biggest heart fan? You can download this calendar by  ..read more

Woohoo! We made it to 2021. Listen, all 2021 needs to do is be mediocre, and it will still be a big improvement on 2020. It's freezing outside, but we can play pretend with this warm watercolors. The graphics from Karma are just beautiful. You can download the calendar by clicking here or on the image below. Don't miss the matching iPhone backgrounds. You can grab the calendar background here and the plain background here. Feeling a little moody about heading back to school after break?  I updated Aprils leopard print to be cold weather appropriate. It's the ..read more

Happy December to you! It's 2020, so who knows what wildness this month will bring. I think we're all ready to wrap this year up!! I love the color combination of these graphics from Ruslana Vasiukova. They're happy and Christmas-y and calm all at once. You can download the calendar by clicking here or on the image below. Don't miss the matching iPhone backgrounds. You can grab the calendar background here and the plain background here. If you're looking for something a little different, here's an updated version of a previous calendar. You can download the calen ..read more

Heeeeeey! Happy November to you. Three more weeks until our first break this school year. It can't come soon enough! I love this alcohol ink effect. It's pretty and soothing. Can't imagine why we'd need a little of that right now. #yeahright  You can download the calendar by clicking here or on the image below. Don't miss the matching iPhone backgrounds. You can grab the calendar background here and the plain background here. Wanting something a little more fallish? Here's an update from a previous year's calendar. You can download the calendar by click ..read more

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of the Secret Stories. (Lord, that was cheesy-sorry about that.) BUT telling a story and sticking a poster on the wall is not going to be a game changer for students. Students need lots of opportunities to practice and apply letter/sound patterns to really internalize them. Here are four ways I bridge phonics instruction from a fun story, motion, and picture into reading and writing application. psst-Not sure what the Secret Stories actually are? Only the best way to fast tract phonics. You can read more about them on this blog post, this instastory, this GY ..read more

Happy October! Known here as "Wear a Sweater in the Morning, Regret It Later" season. I love these beautiful fall clipart from Essem Creatives. You can download the calendar by clicking here or on the image below. Don't miss the matching iPhone backgrounds. You can grab the calendar background here and the plain background here. If you're looking for options, here's a calendar from a previous year. You can download the calendar by clicking here or on the image below. Don't miss the matching iPhone backgrounds. You can grab the calendar backgro ..read more

It's September? Somehow? The best thing about September in Texas is that it's still BLAZING hot, but you know if you make it through this month, things will start getting better. Pretty. Soothing. Calming. Everything I need in my life right now. This gorgeous background is from Basia Stryjecka. You can download the calendar by clicking here or on the image below. Don't miss the matching iPhone backgrounds. You can grab the calendar background here and the plain background here. If you're looking for something a little schoolish, here's an update of last month's app ..read more

Back to school is one of my favorite times of the school year. It is wildly stressful, but there's so much excitement and anticipation. This year is like no other year, but, thankfully, we can still share stories no matter how your year is beginning. This post contains affiliate links which means Amazon tosses me some change whenever someone makes a purchase through one of these links and allows me feed my book habit! Confession: I hate that dumb raccoon book.  You know the one-the one that someone always recommends on Facebook when people ask for beginning of the year books. There ar ..read more