Unpopular opinion: I love centers.

Centers allow me to differentiate instruction so students can work on the skills they need most—while I’m working independently or in a small group setting at the k...

In my last post, I shared how to set up centers so they practically run themselves. Today, we’re taking it a step further: how to get your students to run centers without you.

I’ll never forget the d...

• The other day, a teacher friend of mine—she’s a first-grade teacher in her third year—asked me how to set up centers. She admitted she’d been avoiding them because they felt overwhelming.

  So, we ...

The other day I was talking to a first-year teacher who was questioning whether they were really cut out for teaching. They were exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering if their students deserved someon...

How to Handle Halloween Energy Without Losing Your Mind

I still remember my very first Halloween as a teacher. I was so excited to bring one of my favorite holidays to life with my kindergartners. I ...

When I first got my own classroom, I swore I wasn’t going to be the “mean” teacher. Other teachers told me things like, “Don’t smile until December” or “Be strict right away.” But I didn’t want to ...

Every year I notice the same trend in teaching.

September rolls around, and for the most part, students are listening, routines are flowing, and you feel like you’re on top of everything. Then Octobe...

The #1 Transition Trick That Transformed My Classroom

When I first started teaching, I felt like I was constantly repeating myself.

Students were goofing off in line, talking during independent work...

When I first started teaching, I quickly realized that not all classroom management strategies work for everyone. Some teachers thrived with certain methods while others struggled. At first, I thought...

When I first started teaching, I never actually got to teach.

Instead, I was constantly managing sideline conversations, redirecting students who were out of their seats, and trying to get everyone o...

The other day, I had a really interesting conversation on one of my social media posts.

Someone commented:
"All good teachers yell or raise their voice at their students—it’s just what you have to do....

When I first started teaching, I thought I had everything I needed for classroom management.

I had my clip charts.
I had my think sheets.
I even laminated my procedures and taped them on the wall.

But...