My favorite back-to-school activities are the ones that get students up and moving and/or have them talking and sharing with others. This post will share a free back-to-school reflection activity that has both of those qualities (depending on how you use it). About the Back to School Reflection Questions This free back to school reflection activity (available to ... Read More
Browse the archives below for even more great ideas
First Day of School Activities for Morning Work (Free Printables)
The first day of school is always an exciting time (and sometimes scary time ;) ). My first principal would always say that we couldn't leave the day before the first day until we had that first day of school activity ready and waiting on the desks for the students. I still remember and follow this advice after ten years of teaching. Having a task for students to do right ... Read More
Free Reading Review Mini-Booklets for 4th and 5th Grade
It seems like I am always on the hunt for new ways to review reading skills with my students. And especially ways that are engaging and don't involve reading a ton of lengthy passages or worse...stapled worksheets that don't excite or engage my students. One of my new favorite ways to review is through reading review mini-booklets. Keep reading to get all of the details ... Read More
End of Year Celebration Ideas and Activities (4th and 5th Graders)
Getting through those last few weeks of school can be challenging. Students are ready to be done and teachers are just as ready for a (much needed) break. Incorporating fun end of year celebration activities into those weeks can be a lifesaver (and work really as behavior incentives)! Here are a few of my favorite end of year celebration ideas that work really well with ... Read More
Graduation Song Ideas for Elementary
Graduation season is upon us and with it comes the quest for graduation song ideas. From the sentimental to the upbeat, graduation songs for kids can cement memories and remind students of how much they’ve accomplished. Here are 20 popular graduation songs for elementary school ceremonies! For more ideas for graduation ceremonies for 5th graders, click here to see our ... Read More
End of Year Read Alouds for 3rd-5th Grade
Even upper elementary students love read alouds, and especially at the end of the year. The end of the year is a great time to read short picture books as most of the time your novels or class read alouds have been wrapped up. This post will share three of my favorite end of the year read alouds for 3rd-5th graders (with free printable activities). Note: Depending on ... Read More
FREE End of the Year Activities for 4th and 5th Grade
I always love having quick no-prep activities on hand during those final two weeks of school for those random minutes in between all.the.things going on. I've already shared my go-to end of year math activities and end of year literacy activities, but this post will also share some freebies that are not subject-specific (and one that is math, but is a new freebie). A ... Read More
End of Year Reflection Activity (Free!)
As the year winds down, I always love having my students reflect and share their thoughts about the year. In a similar way as my reading interest inventory questions, I take a slightly different approach to my students' end of year reflection. This post will share the reflection questions and some different ways to implement them in your classroom to help your students ... Read More
Free End of Year Writing Prompts
By the time the end of the school year arrives, I am digging down deep in my bag of tricks and searching my resources for new ideas to engage my students. Often, we have used our best activities and resources well before the final month of school. This post will give you some fresh end of year writing prompts just for that final month of school (with ideas on how to make ... Read More
Spring Fever Classroom Management Ideas
Spring, oh glorious spring! It's filled with warmer weather, sunny days, and…the dreaded spring fever. Even if you have been teaching for a while, I bet you still get that sense of doom when the weather starts getting nicer, and classroom behavior takes a turn for the worse. Whether you’re experiencing your first spring fever or just looking for some new classroom ... Read More
April Fools’ Day Ideas for the Classroom
When April Fools' Day falls during a school week, it is the perfect time for teachers to pull a harmless April Fools' Day prank on their students. This post will share my favorite April Fools' Day jokes and pranks for teachers. And if you don't want to prank your students, I have TWO engaging educational activities that will allow you to still bring in some April Fools' ... Read More
Spring Science Experiments with Free Reading Activities
Spring is one of my favorite seasons in and out of the classroom. I love incorporating and celebrating the season in the classroom with spring science experiments. Implementing more science experiments during this time of the year keeps my students engaged and motivated. To keep us learning and preparing for upcoming tests, I created reading extensions to supplement and ... Read More
