January and New Year’s Activities for K-1
Need some fun and meaningful activities for January and the New Year? I’ve got you covered! There are so many fun activities to do with your class during the Winter season and I’m sharing my favorites with you here!
Gingerbread Week in First Grade
Planning a fun gingerbread week or day in first grade? Find out about my favorite ways to bring gingerbread fun into math, literacy, and science within your classrooms!
Throw a Low-Prep Classroom Winter Party
The classroom Winter Party right before the long holiday break is super fun but it can be so daunting. I want students to have fun but I also don’t want them getting wild, or bored. I came up with 7 low-prep stations for your students to rotate through at your class Winter party that are sure to keep them engaged!
Easy Winter and Holiday Activities for K-1
Looking for some fun ways to bring Winter or Holiday-themed learning into your classroom this year?! I have so many engaging, low-prep activities and ideas for you to add into your plans to do with your littles this season! Read about each one here!
Class Election Day Activities
Have your own Election Day with your students in your classroom without any controversy! Students will get to vote on their favorite class treat, and then they’ll get to enjoy it! This election day activity kit covers several areas of learning (elections, making choices, persuasive writing, graphing, tallying).
Easy Ways to Practice Fact Fluency
If you’re as old as I am, you’ll remember the dreaded timed math tests with rows and rows of addition, subtraction, or multiplication facts on each page. There’s nothing that made me sweat more than seeing my classmates finish their fact fluency tests before I did- so I made it a vow to never give my future students a timed fact fluency test! There are sooo many better ways to practice math facts!
Thanksgiving Activities for K-1
Want to mix things up this November with some engaging, turkey-themed academic activities? Read to see a few of my all-time favorites!
Sample Science of Reading Based Small Group Lesson
If you’ve ever been stuck on how to structure a literacy small group lesson, I’ve put together a sample lesson structure for an “on grade level” group (with differentiated ideas for a lower and higher group as well). This simple structure can be used during all of your small groups (no matter their level) as an easy way to meet students where they are in their literacy journey.
Supplemental Math Activities for First Graders
Not enough curriculums come with engaging, hands-on activities and resources that allow students to apply and practice what they have learned from those lessons. I’ve spent tons of time creating resources that were more appropriate for busy little hands and I’m sharing a few of my favorite low-prep options below!
Easy Halloween Activities for K-1
Find 12 Easy Halloween Activities for Kindergarten or First Grade! Use these activities during math, reading, writing, or science!
3 Ways to Use Reading Rods from Hand2Mind
If you’ve picked up a pack of Reading Rods from Hand2Mind and thought they were neat but weren’t sure how to use them, I’ve got you covered! I’m sharing three fun, low-prep ways to put them to use so that students are using them as an effective way to practice phonics skills.
Supplemental Literacy Activities for First Graders
Not enough curriculums come with engaging, hands-on activities and resources that allow students to apply and practice what they have learned from those lessons. I’ve spent tons of time creating resources that are more appropriate for busy little hands and I’m sharing a few of my favorite low-prep here!
How to Run Smooth Parent/Teacher Conferences
Stressing over how to plan and prep Parent/Teacher Conferences? Let me help you easily prep and plan yours from start to finish!
10 Low-Prep Word Work Activities for K-1
For a long time, I struggled with wanting my word work options to be engaging and hands-on, but also low-prep. Over the years I came up with several word work options that meet all of my qualifications: engaging and standards-based, hands-on, and low-prep. Read about some of my fave options here.
Celebrate the 50th Day of School!
Celebrate the 50th Day of School in 1950’s sock-hop style! There is so much fun learning that can be done on this day that revolves around the number 50! Read to find out more!
What’s In My Literacy Small Group Caddy?
Wondering what tools to keep in your literacy small group caddy? These are a few of the things that I am constantly reaching for during small group literacy instruction, so I keep them all handy in a little caddy that I can easily move around.
Resources Used Every Day in My First Grade Classroom
These resources are used daily or weekly in my classroom and are absolute non-negotiables!
How to Run Successful ELA Centers
For K-1 students, centers are one of the most developmentally appropriate things that you can do for them.
Math Centers for K-1 Made Easy
Want to know how I keep math centers running smoothly in my classroom?! I love maximizing my time with small groups by making sure that my centers are meaningful and low-prep! Click here to read more!
First Week of School Lesson Plans
I’ve put together a resource for you that would take a TON off your back-to-school plate!

