Latest News
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The Ultimate List of Back to School Books to Inspire Grades 4–6 Readers
Choosing back to school books for Grades 4–6 means moving beyond surface-level stories. Upper elementary learners are ready to wrestle with deeper themes, engage in complex discussions, and explore literature that reflects both themselves and the wider world. Here’s how to make confident, curriculum-aligned choices for the start of the school year. At this stage,…
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Best Back to School Books for Grades 2–4: How to Choose the Right Class Text
Whether you’re choosing a read-aloud, guided reading novel, or a whole-class book study, selecting the right back to school books is key to building engagement and community. As teachers head into a new school year, one question often comes up: What novel should I start the year with? For mid-elementary grades—typically Grades 2–4—the right choice…
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Irresistibly Creative Character Analysis Activities Your Students Will Love
Let’s be honest — character analysis activities can sometimes feel like a chore. We’ve all seen those worksheets where students list traits like “brave” or “kind” and call it a day. But we know our students are capable of so much more. If you’re looking to breathe new life into character analysis, here are five…
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Finally Love Novel Studies: Expert Tips for Differentiating Your Novel Study Approach even with Split Year Levels
Let’s face it, today’s classrooms are more diverse than ever—especially in upper elementary. Whether you’re teaching a split grade like me, or a straight year level, you’re likely juggling a wide range of reading abilities, learning needs, and engagement levels. Add in fewer support staff and the pressure to keep everyone moving forward, and it’s…
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From Chaos to Connection: The Magic of Movement-Based Activities in the Classroom
If I had a dollar for every time a student asked, “Can we PLEASE go out for fitness?”—I’d be sipping coffee in a hammock somewhere, probably still laminating task cards. Let’s face it: kids weren’t built to sit still all day, and frankly, neither were we. I’m a big believer in movement-based activities—not just because…
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Transform pre-reading activities with these creative and powerful ideas
You know the feeling—new novel, fresh unit, and you’re hoping to hook even your most reluctant readers. The trick? Don’t dive into chapter one cold. Give them a reason to care before the book begins with engaging pre-reading activities. Here are seven pre-reading activities I’ve used (and loved) to build background knowledge, spark curiosity, and…
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Unlock Fearless Genius: Hexagonal Thinking + Action Figure AI Generator
There comes a point every school year—sometimes in week one, sometimes in week six—where you know it’s time for a reset. The classroom culture has started to wobble. Expectations are fuzzy. You find yourself repeating the same reminders and wondering, do they even hear me anymore? That’s when I pull out an old favourite: hexagonal…
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THE STRESS-FREE WAY TO CREATE A POWERFUL HEXAGONAL THINKING TEMPLATE
If you haven’t already jumped on the hexagonal thinking bandwagon, now’s the time! This flexible and thought-provoking strategy can be used in just about any classroom setting. Whether you’re digging into a novel, unpacking tricky science or history concepts, building classroom norms, or guiding students through goal-setting, hexagonal thinking templates have you covered. This post…
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The One Hexagonal Thinking Template That Changed My Classroom—for the Better
You know that time of year—when everything starts to unravel a bit. Students get more restless, patience runs thinner, and the quality of work starts slipping. You’re doing more managing than teaching, and by the end of the day, you’re wiped. Sometimes a break helps, but often, it’s not enough. That’s when it’s time to…
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Make It Count: 5 Engaging Student Activities to End Big
Whether it’s the end of term or the end of the school year that is just around the corner, students can feel it—and let’s be honest, so can we. The classroom walls feel a little closer, attention spans a little shorter, and the energy a whole lot wilder. The worst part, often it can seem…
