Quick Friday Check-In Quick note, teacher to teacher. February moves fast. Valentine’s week is already loud, and then Pizza Day shows up right in the middle of it. Pizza Day is Monday, February 9. I just released a Pizza Day Classroom Theme Kit for days when you still want learning to happen, but don’t want to reinvent your plans. It’s low-prep and fits into a typical literacy and math block. Reading.Writing.Math.Early finishers.Nothing extra to manage. If you need something ready to go, here...
19 days ago • 1 min read
Planning Black History Month One of the questions I hear every year around this time is: “How do I plan Black History Month in a way that’s meaningful, but still realistic for my schedule?” Here’s the honest answer I’ve learned over time:You don’t need a brand-new unit to do this well. Strong Black History Month instruction often comes from thoughtful structure, not more activities. A clear plan for read-alouds, discussion, and follow-up work gives students space to engage deeply without...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Weekly Classroom Reset Week 4: How to Tighten Routines Without Starting Over By now, January has fully shown its hand. The excitement of a fresh start has faded. Students are a little restless. And routines that felt solid a few weeks ago might feel shaky again. If that’s you, I want you to hear this clearly:This is normal. Mid-January isn’t the time for brand-new systems. It’s the moment to tighten what’s already there. This week’s classroom reset question: What can stay the same, even when...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Hello Reader, With Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday coming up on the 15th, you may be deciding how to approach this week. Not just what to do, but how to do it well. Here’s what I focus on every year. I plan for one connected week of instruction instead of disconnected activities. When your students read, talk, write, and reflect around the same topic, learning sticks and the classroom flow will remain steady. Let me break down how I structure an MLK week in my classroom: I use a shared text...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Weekly Classroom Reset Week 3: How to Hold Your Day Together Tomorrow If you’re reading this on a Sunday night, you’re probably thinking about tomorrow more than you want to admit. Not the lesson plans. The flow. This is the stretch of January where routines start to wobble, energy dips early, and holding the room feels heavier than it should. So here’s this week’s question: How do you maintain classroom stability without starting over? The answer isn’t new systems. It’s letting the structure...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Reader, This year, I’m writing to you a little differently. These notes are not about doing more, chasing trends, or fixing what isn’t broken. They’re about rhythm, clarity, and protecting what already works in your classroom . If something here helps you breathe easier or think differently, pass it along to another teacher who might need it too. Now let’s talk January. Before the new year gets busy, here’s something worth remembering. You don’t need to reinvent your classroom in January. You...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, Coming back from winter break doesn’t require a full reset. It involves support that holds the structure while everyone settles back in. This time of year, teachers don’t need more ideas. They need something steady. Something that carries the week without asking them to start over. That’s exactly why I created the Winter Reset Lesson Plan Framework. This resource is built from real classroom weeks I’ve already taught — refined into a low-lift, plug-and-play structure for the week...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader! The week before break can feel like a lot. Your students are bouncing. Your energy is low. Planning something detailed right now? Not happening. ❄️ That’s why I created The 5 Days Before Christmas Break Activities — to help you keep structure and joy without adding extra work. The 5 Days Before Christmas Break In my classroom, I used these bags as a simple daily countdown. Each morning, we opened one together, and the activity set the tone for the day. My students stayed excited...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Happy December Reader! December is full of festive fun—holiday books, cozy vibes, and countdowns that bring classroom joy. But let’s be real. It’s also packed with early release days, behavior shifts, party planning, and the sprint to break. The good news? You don’t have to do it all alone.I pulled together simple, ready-to-use resources to help you finish the semester strong and stress less. Featured Resources The Sweetest Class on Earth Bulletin Board + Writing Craft Create a meaningful...
3 months ago • 1 min read