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When I was in the classroom, one of my goals every

When I was in the classroom, one of my goals every November was to help my students understand the true meaning of Veterans Day. 🇺🇸 I wanted them to know it’s more than just a day off. It’s a time to honor and remember those who have served.

We’d dive into the history of the holiday, talk about how it’s celebrated across the country, and wrap it all up with a meaningful writing and art project that my students loved every year. ❤️🤍💙

Want to bring this lesson to your classroom? Comment VETERAN and I’ll DM you the link to grab this resource!

#lessonplanideas #writinglesson #teachingtips #elementaryschoolteacher #teacherideas

When I was an ELD coach, I loved supporting teache

When I was an ELD coach, I loved supporting teachers with practical strategies that made language development accessible and engaging for all students. 💕 One of my favorite ways to do this was with Language Frame Bookmarks and Writing Templates that supported both writing and academic conversations.

✨ Bookmarks
Perfect for writing assignments or collaborative conversations with structured language. Students can:
✔️ Staple them to their writing
✔️ Keep them in their writer’s notebooks
✔️ Or put all four on a ring for a handy, go-to resource

✨ Writing Pages
These include opinion writing templates with built-in success criteria + language frames to help students organize their thoughts. I even added a PowerPoint with editable slides so teachers can customize prompts and criteria to fit their lessons.

I’ve seen firsthand how much these supports can help students grow as writers and communicators!

Comment BOOKMARK and I’ll DM you the link to check it out!

#eld #ell #teacherlife #teachingideas #lessonplans

The power of belief is real! When we set high expe

The power of belief is real! When we set high expectations for our students and truly believe in their potential, they rise to the challenge. 💪

How do you show your students that you believe in them? Drop your thoughts below!

#teachermindset #teachingtips #iteachtoo #collectiveefficacy #teacherlife

Effective teaching doesn’t happen by chance. It re

Effective teaching doesn’t happen by chance. It requires intentional planning, evidence-based instructional practices, and a clear understanding of how students learn.

Here are 5 high-impact strategies to incorporate into your classroom! 👇🏻

1️⃣ Direct Instruction
Explicit, systematic instruction where teachers clearly model skills, guide students through practice, check for understanding, and gradually build students’ independence.

2️⃣ Success Criteria
Success criteria make learning visible by helping students understand what success looks like. They can include “I can” statements, rubrics, exemplars, and student-friendly descriptions of quality work.

3️⃣ Teacher Clarity
Teacher clarity means being intentional about what students need to learn, why they’re learning it, and how they’ll know they’ve been successful. It starts with analyzing standards and aligning instruction, learning goals, success criteria, and assessments.

4️⃣ Classroom Discussion
Meaningful classroom discussions go beyond simply asking questions. Structured conversations, academic language, and purposeful questioning give students opportunities to explain their thinking, engage with peers, and deepen their understanding.

5️⃣ Formative Assessment
Formative assessment is an ongoing process of gathering evidence of student learning and using that information to make instructional decisions. It helps teachers identify misconceptions, provide feedback, and determine next steps while helping students recognize their own progress.

👏🏻 Here’s the thing: These strategies aren’t meant to work in isolation. When intentionally incorporated into lesson planning and instruction, they work together to create meaningful learning experiences for ALL students.

✨ Want to be more intentional with your instruction?

Comment DIRECT and I’ll send you my FREE Direct Instruction planning template to help you plan explicit, purposeful lessons that support student success!

You’ll also have the opportunity to be the first to know when my complete Direct Instruction Toolkit launches! 🎉

#directinstruction #highimpactteaching #teacherclarity #formativeassessment #teachertips

An easy and simple way to build positive teacher-s

An easy and simple way to build positive teacher-student relationships. ❤️

Comment NOTES and I’ll DM you the link to my “Student of the Day” note templates. #teachingideas #iteachtoo #upperelementary #teachergoals

Ever wonder what a direct instruction math lesson

Ever wonder what a direct instruction math lesson looks like when the standard is broken down into clear, student-friendly learning goals?

This post is a snapshot of the lesson slides included in my 5th grade math resource, all built around the standard CCSS 5.NBT.A.1: Recognize that in a multi-digit number, a digit in one place represents 10 times as much as it represents in the place to its right and 1/10 of what it represents in the place to its left.

In this lesson, students learn to explain that each digit in a number is 10 times greater than the digit to its right and 1/10 as much as the digit to its left.

The full resource includes:
✨ Step-by-step direct instruction slides
✨ A complete lesson plan with success criteria
✨ Guided & independent practice
✨ Differentiation ideas
✨ An exit ticket to check for understanding

It’s a ready-to-teach lesson that makes the Power of 10 finally click for students, and it models what clarity looks like in action. 🙌

Want the link to grab it? Comment TENS and I’ll DM it to you!

#teacherclarity #directinstruction #5thgrademath #placevalue #mathteacher

Direct Instruction works. And there’s a reason why

Direct Instruction works. And there’s a reason why. 👏

I’ve been passionate about Direct Instruction for YEARS because I’ve seen firsthand what happens when teachers are intentional about how they teach and how students learn.

And one of the biggest misconceptions about Direct Instruction? That it’s rigid, scripted, or just a teacher standing in front of the classroom talking.

That’s not what effective Direct Instruction looks like.

It’s clear. It’s explicit. It’s systematic. And when implemented well, it’s incredibly responsive to student needs.

We model. We guide. We check for understanding. We provide feedback. We adjust. And we gradually release responsibility when students demonstrate they’re ready.

But here’s what I really want teachers to understand:

Direct Instruction and differentiation are NOT mutually exclusive.

In fact, effective Direct Instruction gives us opportunities to anticipate misconceptions, scaffold learning, monitor student responses, and make instructional adjustments BEFORE students fall further behind.

And when we strengthen our Tier 1 instruction, we give more students the opportunity to experience success with grade-level learning.

We shouldn’t have to wait until students struggle to give them the instruction they need.

We need to be proactive, not reactive.

If you’re looking to be more intentional with your lesson planning, I’ve got something for you!

💙 Comment DIRECT and I’ll send you my FREE Direct Instruction Lesson Planning Template! You can also join the priority list for my upcoming Direct Instruction Toolkit, where I’ll be sharing even more resources to help you plan effective, explicit, and systematic instruction.

#DirectInstruction #ExplicitInstruction #Tier1Instruction #TeacherClarity #InstructionalStrategies ElementaryTeachers FormativeAssessment

This had to be my favorite activity to complete wi

This had to be my favorite activity to complete with my fifth graders. 🧡 ⁠
⁠
I based this mini-lesson from @cultofpedagogy’s Marigold blog post. 👏🏻 If you haven’t read it, it’s a beautiful blog post of advice for first year teachers to find their marigold. A marigold is someone who protects them, helps them thrive, and encourages their growth-similar to marigolds in a garden with other vegetables.⁠
⁠
Jennifer’s message has a lot of meaning for me. I have my marigolds and I hold on to them tightly-all while trying not to focus on the walnut trees (colleagues who may suck the life out of you or spread negativity).⁠
⁠
How does this fit in with my students? Well, we had been reading Wonder together, and it dawned on me... August has his own marigolds, too! 🧡 I decided I wanted to teach my students to find their marigolds, while being marigolds for each other. I adapted the blog post for my students and we annotated the text, held structured conversations, and wrote a little response to text about what a marigold is to people. 🤗 We also made some pretty awesome 3D marigolds.
⁠
Read more about it on my blog and grab some FREE resources for this lesson.

Comment MARIGOLD and I’ll DM you the link!

#teachingideas #teachertips #lessonplans #marigold #elementaryschoolteacher

We say all students can learn. But are we willing

We say all students can learn. But are we willing to take responsibility when they don’t?

It’s easy to point to what students aren’t doing. They’re not paying attention. They’re not motivated. They’re not putting in the effort. They should already know this.

But how often do we stop and examine our own instruction?

Just because we taught something doesn’t mean students learned it. And just because we finished a lesson, completed an activity, or stayed on track with the pacing guide doesn’t mean students mastered what we intended to teach.

Effective teaching isn’t measured by how much content we cover. It’s measured by what students actually learn.

That means being willing to reflect on our instructional practices, check for understanding, respond to misconceptions, and adjust our teaching when students aren’t getting it.

And no, this doesn’t mean students shouldn’t be held accountable. Quite the opposite! We should hold students to high expectations while providing the direct instruction, modeling, guided practice, and support they need to meet those expectations.

Because when students struggle, our first response shouldn’t be to lower the bar or assume they aren’t capable.

We need to rethink the instruction.

Want to strengthen your instructional practices?

Comment DIRECT and I’ll send you my FREE Direct Instruction template! You’ll also have the opportunity to join the priority list for my upcoming Direct Instruction Toolkit so you’re among the first to know when it launches!

#DirectInstruction #ExplicitInstruction #TeacherClarity #FormativeAssessment #TeachingStrategies

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Search the blog

When I was an ELD coach, I loved supporting teache

When I was an ELD coach, I loved supporting teachers with practical strategies that made language development accessible and engaging for all students. 💕 One of my favorite ways to do this was with Language Frame Bookmarks and Writing Templates that supported both writing and academic conversations.

✨ Bookmarks
Perfect for writing assignments or collaborative conversations with structured language. Students can:
✔️ Staple them to their writing
✔️ Keep them in their writer’s notebooks
✔️ Or put all four on a ring for a handy, go-to resource

✨ Writing Pages
These include opinion writing templates with built-in success criteria + language frames to help students organize their thoughts. I even added a PowerPoint with editable slides so teachers can customize prompts and criteria to fit their lessons.

I’ve seen firsthand how much these supports can help students grow as writers and communicators!

Comment BOOKMARK and I’ll DM you the link to check it out!

#eld #ell #teacherlife #teachingideas #lessonplans

The power of belief is real! When we set high expe

The power of belief is real! When we set high expectations for our students and truly believe in their potential, they rise to the challenge. 💪

How do you show your students that you believe in them? Drop your thoughts below!

#teachermindset #teachingtips #iteachtoo #collectiveefficacy #teacherlife

Effective teaching doesn’t happen by chance. It re

Effective teaching doesn’t happen by chance. It requires intentional planning, evidence-based instructional practices, and a clear understanding of how students learn.

Here are 5 high-impact strategies to incorporate into your classroom! 👇🏻

1️⃣ Direct Instruction
Explicit, systematic instruction where teachers clearly model skills, guide students through practice, check for understanding, and gradually build students’ independence.

2️⃣ Success Criteria
Success criteria make learning visible by helping students understand what success looks like. They can include “I can” statements, rubrics, exemplars, and student-friendly descriptions of quality work.

3️⃣ Teacher Clarity
Teacher clarity means being intentional about what students need to learn, why they’re learning it, and how they’ll know they’ve been successful. It starts with analyzing standards and aligning instruction, learning goals, success criteria, and assessments.

4️⃣ Classroom Discussion
Meaningful classroom discussions go beyond simply asking questions. Structured conversations, academic language, and purposeful questioning give students opportunities to explain their thinking, engage with peers, and deepen their understanding.

5️⃣ Formative Assessment
Formative assessment is an ongoing process of gathering evidence of student learning and using that information to make instructional decisions. It helps teachers identify misconceptions, provide feedback, and determine next steps while helping students recognize their own progress.

👏🏻 Here’s the thing: These strategies aren’t meant to work in isolation. When intentionally incorporated into lesson planning and instruction, they work together to create meaningful learning experiences for ALL students.

✨ Want to be more intentional with your instruction?

Comment DIRECT and I’ll send you my FREE Direct Instruction planning template to help you plan explicit, purposeful lessons that support student success!

You’ll also have the opportunity to be the first to know when my complete Direct Instruction Toolkit launches! 🎉

#directinstruction #highimpactteaching #teacherclarity #formativeassessment #teachertips

An easy and simple way to build positive teacher-s

An easy and simple way to build positive teacher-student relationships. ❤️

Comment NOTES and I’ll DM you the link to my “Student of the Day” note templates. #teachingideas #iteachtoo #upperelementary #teachergoals

Ever wonder what a direct instruction math lesson

Ever wonder what a direct instruction math lesson looks like when the standard is broken down into clear, student-friendly learning goals?

This post is a snapshot of the lesson slides included in my 5th grade math resource, all built around the standard CCSS 5.NBT.A.1: Recognize that in a multi-digit number, a digit in one place represents 10 times as much as it represents in the place to its right and 1/10 of what it represents in the place to its left.

In this lesson, students learn to explain that each digit in a number is 10 times greater than the digit to its right and 1/10 as much as the digit to its left.

The full resource includes:
✨ Step-by-step direct instruction slides
✨ A complete lesson plan with success criteria
✨ Guided & independent practice
✨ Differentiation ideas
✨ An exit ticket to check for understanding

It’s a ready-to-teach lesson that makes the Power of 10 finally click for students, and it models what clarity looks like in action. 🙌

Want the link to grab it? Comment TENS and I’ll DM it to you!

#teacherclarity #directinstruction #5thgrademath #placevalue #mathteacher

Direct Instruction works. And there’s a reason why

Direct Instruction works. And there’s a reason why. 👏

I’ve been passionate about Direct Instruction for YEARS because I’ve seen firsthand what happens when teachers are intentional about how they teach and how students learn.

And one of the biggest misconceptions about Direct Instruction? That it’s rigid, scripted, or just a teacher standing in front of the classroom talking.

That’s not what effective Direct Instruction looks like.

It’s clear. It’s explicit. It’s systematic. And when implemented well, it’s incredibly responsive to student needs.

We model. We guide. We check for understanding. We provide feedback. We adjust. And we gradually release responsibility when students demonstrate they’re ready.

But here’s what I really want teachers to understand:

Direct Instruction and differentiation are NOT mutually exclusive.

In fact, effective Direct Instruction gives us opportunities to anticipate misconceptions, scaffold learning, monitor student responses, and make instructional adjustments BEFORE students fall further behind.

And when we strengthen our Tier 1 instruction, we give more students the opportunity to experience success with grade-level learning.

We shouldn’t have to wait until students struggle to give them the instruction they need.

We need to be proactive, not reactive.

If you’re looking to be more intentional with your lesson planning, I’ve got something for you!

💙 Comment DIRECT and I’ll send you my FREE Direct Instruction Lesson Planning Template! You can also join the priority list for my upcoming Direct Instruction Toolkit, where I’ll be sharing even more resources to help you plan effective, explicit, and systematic instruction.

#DirectInstruction #ExplicitInstruction #Tier1Instruction #TeacherClarity #InstructionalStrategies ElementaryTeachers FormativeAssessment

This had to be my favorite activity to complete wi

This had to be my favorite activity to complete with my fifth graders. 🧡 ⁠
⁠
I based this mini-lesson from @cultofpedagogy’s Marigold blog post. 👏🏻 If you haven’t read it, it’s a beautiful blog post of advice for first year teachers to find their marigold. A marigold is someone who protects them, helps them thrive, and encourages their growth-similar to marigolds in a garden with other vegetables.⁠
⁠
Jennifer’s message has a lot of meaning for me. I have my marigolds and I hold on to them tightly-all while trying not to focus on the walnut trees (colleagues who may suck the life out of you or spread negativity).⁠
⁠
How does this fit in with my students? Well, we had been reading Wonder together, and it dawned on me... August has his own marigolds, too! 🧡 I decided I wanted to teach my students to find their marigolds, while being marigolds for each other. I adapted the blog post for my students and we annotated the text, held structured conversations, and wrote a little response to text about what a marigold is to people. 🤗 We also made some pretty awesome 3D marigolds.
⁠
Read more about it on my blog and grab some FREE resources for this lesson.

Comment MARIGOLD and I’ll DM you the link!

#teachingideas #teachertips #lessonplans #marigold #elementaryschoolteacher

We say all students can learn. But are we willing

We say all students can learn. But are we willing to take responsibility when they don’t?

It’s easy to point to what students aren’t doing. They’re not paying attention. They’re not motivated. They’re not putting in the effort. They should already know this.

But how often do we stop and examine our own instruction?

Just because we taught something doesn’t mean students learned it. And just because we finished a lesson, completed an activity, or stayed on track with the pacing guide doesn’t mean students mastered what we intended to teach.

Effective teaching isn’t measured by how much content we cover. It’s measured by what students actually learn.

That means being willing to reflect on our instructional practices, check for understanding, respond to misconceptions, and adjust our teaching when students aren’t getting it.

And no, this doesn’t mean students shouldn’t be held accountable. Quite the opposite! We should hold students to high expectations while providing the direct instruction, modeling, guided practice, and support they need to meet those expectations.

Because when students struggle, our first response shouldn’t be to lower the bar or assume they aren’t capable.

We need to rethink the instruction.

Want to strengthen your instructional practices?

Comment DIRECT and I’ll send you my FREE Direct Instruction template! You’ll also have the opportunity to join the priority list for my upcoming Direct Instruction Toolkit so you’re among the first to know when it launches!

#DirectInstruction #ExplicitInstruction #TeacherClarity #FormativeAssessment #TeachingStrategies

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