Well hey there, primary teacher/difference maker/go-getter. Yes, that is right, my friend. I know what kind of teacher you are, because you’re here in this moment sharing your brain space with me in hopes of finding something to better serve your students. I thank you for being here and for doing what you do. Today, …
The Go-Getters Guide to Teaching the Alphabet: Engagement Read More »
Well, hi there sweet teacher! I hope if you are listening in real time, you are fully engaged and enjoying your summer break. Girl, you deserve it. Today we are jumping into part two of our Go-Getters Guide to Teaching the Alphabet. And although it seemingly sounds boring, assessment can actually be one of the …
The Go-Getters Guide to Teaching the Alphabet: Assessment Read More »
Well hello there, sunshine! Welcome to another learning series. Today we are jumping right into one of my FAVORITE things to teach, and that is the alphabet. Letters and sounds are so stinking fun! And although I’m a second grade teacher now, I still geek out on the memories of teaching letters and sounds. I …
The Go-Getters Guide to Teaching the Alphabet: Mindset Read More »
Check out this VLOG that corresponds with this content. So, I’m literally psycho about classroom management strategies. As you may have read in some of my earlier posts about Classroom Routines and my favorite Classroom Management Tricks, I’m “un poco loco” (a little bit crazy) about keeping student behavior under control. This great addiction is …
Yay, summer break is here. Can I get a hip hip hooray for all of us teachers who survived the craziest year in education ever! Today we’re going to think about our summer break. It is here and oh, how we’ve missed it. But now what? Although binge watching YouTube videos and avoiding real pants …
Hey there, sweet friend. Today, I want to talk about you. I know you so well, because I think about you all the time. Here you are volunteering your time to get more information, motivation and encouragement to continue doing what you do and what you love most. Making your impact in the classroom and …
Core Beliefs of the Most Effective Primary Teachers Read More »
Hey there sweet teacher, can you believe that we are actually in the end of the year season of this historical and absolutely crazy year? We did it, we’re almost there almost to the finish line. That doesn’t mean we are not still stressed and overwhelmed with all of the things that are on our …
Well, hi there sweet teacher! If you’ve been with me for any amount of time, you know that bringing teachers joy that will help them sustain their careers is absolutely what sets my heart on fire. I want impactful and incredible teachers to stay in the classroom and spread that impact to their little learners. …
Hey there, sweet teacher friend! Welcome to a unique week on the blog. Whether you are religious or not, the positive thinking and affirmations that can be found within a prayer can be healing and powerful to our minds. We definitely need this kind of help, and we all know there are many times we …
Hey there, wonderful teacher! Has anyone told you today how incredible you are? If not, please give me the honor. You’re doing a fantastic job, and I love the privilege of visiting with you every week. This week, I want to share with you a classroom management issue that arose in my students recently, and …
3 Sure-Fire Ways to Improve Students’ Pride in Their Work Read More »
Every year about this time, many teachers ask for advice about the skill of word blending. I’ve also worked with students who have deficiencies in learning including blending. Here it is, we’re nearing spring break, and the end of the school year is right around the corner. How do we teach blending to these struggling …
Word Blending Strategies for Struggling Learners Read More »
Teacher, I have waited so long to use the word SPRING!! It’s finally here. Can we throw some confetti?!? We’ve made it through winter, and this is a great time to do some spring cleanup when it comes to classroom management and behavior issues. Can I just say one more time that it’s SPRING? 🤩 …
Let me be real with you. Today’s topic is one that isn’t easy for me to deliver. You know that normal Toni is totally encouraging and uplifting to teachers, because in the deepest part of my soul, I believe that great teachers are one of the best gifts to society that have ever existed. Our …
If you’re tuning in as this releases, it’s about the time of year when we have to get real about sight word identification problems we’re having among our students. Sight word identification is so, so important, and we are in the final stretch of the school year. We have to address this now or never. …
Hi there, Teacher! I’m Toni, and my goal is to help teachers like you be more joyful in your career so you can have your ultimate impact on your little learners. One area of our career that’s not always the easiest is dealing with parents and families. They can either be your best friend or …
I have said it before, and I will say it again and again and again: classroom management will either make or break your career as a teacher. It is one of the differences in being a miserable teacher and a truly joyful teacher who has the greatest impact on their students. Today, I’m bringing you …
With Valentine’s Day this month, it’s a great time to talk about love. If you ask any teacher you know if they love their students, they will of course say yes. But, as a fellow teacher, I’m willing to bet you’re currently serving students who are hard for you to love. If not now, then …
Our kiddos love Valentine’s Day, so let’s hack that enthusiasm! Our primary students’ hearts are so eager for any kind of theme. Themes make learning more fun, and using a holiday theme can improve their engagement. Don’t let the party planning take all of your energy – save some for boosting their learning. Try a …
As teachers, we widely feel unsupported. Why are we doing this? Why do we put ourselves through this? We feel that teaching is a very thankless career. We work long hours and tirelessly serve our students, but who in the world appreciates it? I’d be lying if I said every person does appreciate it. Many …
In the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, did you know there was an exercise room in the bears’ house? Oh yes, and guess what was in it? Three treadmills. One for Mama Bear, one for Papa Bear, and one for Baby Bear. They each had different pacing settings, so they ran at different …
Hey there, teacher! I’m so excited for today’s topic, because literacy is my THING. Today we’re going to talk about the kiddos who are struggling to learn to read and how to get them over the finish line to become proficient readers. Whichever primary grade you teach, this is absolutely for you. No matter what …
Consistency: The #1 Thing Struggling Readers Need Read More »
Hey there, teacher friend! Welcome to a brand new year! Instead of giving you even more goals to add to the ones you’ve maybe already set, here are three teacher bad habits you can bust. Kicking these three bad habits to the curb can increase your joy and peace in the workplace. We all need …
I’m so glad to get to share my excitement about morning meetings with you. My friend, Susan Matthews, was kind enough to join us on the PODCAST to share her insight. She has so many practical ideas and recommendations that I just can’t wait to tell you about. She has taught for 11 years in …
Teacher, are you ready for some rest over Christmas break? I know I am! This year hasn’t been as physically demanding as most years, but my brain is fried. So if you need a break before you read this post or listen to the PODCAST, bookmark it for later. But if you’re ready to starting …
Did you know there’s one word that all of your students crave hearing? This one word is so powerful that it has the ability to make students feel more engaged and connected to you, their teacher. These are two areas we need to focus on in our teaching. Without those two factors, nothing else we …
I hope this week’s post (or PODCAST episode) finds you, like me, napping after a turkey dinner and enjoying a much needed Thanksgiving break with family. It’s so easy to get into holiday mode in the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but we have three solid weeks of valuable instruction time! So here’s your pep …
Teacher, I am thankful for you. I don’t want you to read that sentence quickly. Hear each word in your head and feel it in your heart. I’ll say it again. Teacher, I am thankful for you. There isn’t enough gratitude going around, so today I’m going to explain why it’s important, how to show …
Gratitude in your Teaching Life – Grow it and Show It Read More »
Teacher, I see you in the back row with one hand covering half your downturned face. You’re struggling, exhausted, and wondering how you can keep going on. Hoping that like Mia in Princess Diaries, you are invisible and good at it, so no one knows. So that no one realizes you are a tired teacher. …
Teacher, would you like a way to mix things up for your primary classroom? One aspect of learning that students are missing out on this year is fieldtrips. They aren’t a necessary part of education, but they’re so important. Many of our learners would never have the opportunity to go to the places we can …
26 Virtual Field Trips to Bring the World to Your Students Read More »
Teacher, you’re in the business of taking care of little people. You’re diligent to meet their needs and make sure they are in the best mindset possible to do their work of learning. Now, let me ask you, when was the last time you checked in on yourself? If self-care seems about like an oasis …
Post Promise: Literacy is vital to our students’ success, and phonological awareness is crucial to mastery of this skill. Today, I’ll share one big reason some of your learners may be having trouble grasping this important concept (hint: it isn’t that they aren’t intelligent enough!). Keeping learning style in mind is vital to gaining phonological …
Secret Sauce for Phonological Awareness: Learning Style Read More »
I want teachers to love what they do, because if teachers love what they do, children will love to learn. When I talk to teachers and ask what takes away their joy in the classroom, one of the most common responses is classroom management. So here are three classroom management mistakes I’m going to show …
Could you use some joy, hope, and peace as a teacher in these strange times? We’re all struggling right now, and since we can’t change the situation, we can prepare ourselves and our mindsets for it. Think it’s not possible to enjoy virtual teaching? You’re in the right place! I’m going to share 3 reasons …
Is the virtual classroom draining the excitement out of your instruction, especially with sight-words? Well, if teaching were a fall festival, this post would be the apple cider, cinnamon stick and all. Because you can’t have fall without apple cider! Today, I’m going to share 10 engaging sight-word activities to spice up your virtual classroom. …
Ten Sight-Word Activities to Vitalize Virtual Classrooms Read More »
Hi there, teacher friend! This time we’re talking about student engagement. This topic is one of my favorites, and I can’t wait to share some strategies about student engagement in primary with you. Let’s take a close look at what is student engagement in primary (K-2)! Are your students engaged? How can you tell? How …
Post Promise: Today, I’m going to share with you a fantastic strategy that you can incorporate into your daily routine to practice literacy skills in an engaging way. Meet the morning message and three reasons you need to try it! Get your FREE Teacher’s Guide to Morning Message Success! Send my Guide! We respect your …
Get your FREE Phonological Awareness Skills Overview! Send my Reference Sheet! We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime. Post Promise: Phonological awareness is vital for our learners to achieve, but it isn’t just one concept. It’s made of many skills. I’ll break them down for you here so you can ensure your students have a …
Teacher friend, hello! Today’s topic is one I wish wasn’t so relevant to this school year. Many of us are going to be using classroom video a lot for our learners this year, but we’ll be in front of the cameras! I’ve had an online business for 10 years, and while being on video is …
5 Strategies for Creating Engaging Classroom Video Read More »
Hello there, teacher friend! This week’s topic was so much fun for me, and I know it will be helpful for you too. We’re going to talk about social emotional learning for primary grade students. I’ll share three strategies you can start using in your classroom now plus a free resource for you at the …
3 Social Emotional Learning Strategies for Primary Grades Read More »
Hello there, teacher friend! Today, I’m going to share three active learning strategies that will engage your learners whether you are in person or teaching virtually. Plus, if you’re teaching virtually, I’ve got a tool especially for you at the end – The Virtual Classroom Survival Guide. Did you know that I’m sharing content in …
3 Easy Active Learning Strategies (That Also Work Virtually) Read More »
Post Promise: Classroom cheers aren’t only fun, they are an effective tool for teachers. Today, I will share with you the key benefits of using Cheer Cards in your Primary Classroom, whether you are teaching in-person or virtually. Stick to the end to find your free set of cheer cards (in English and Spanish) created …
Hey there, teacher friend! I’m extra excited to share the news I have for you today. Can I get a drum roll? 🥰 The Primary Teacher Friends Podcast is LIVE! I’ll be bringing my quirky Southern voice to you with encouragement, strategies, tips, and insights to make your teaching journey enjoyable and successful. Those two …
During this unusual season of uncertainty and unrest, the anticipation and drive with which educators typically get ready to go back to school might feel more like anxiety and dread. Will we be teaching in-person, hybrid, virtually, or all the above? And though those of us going back virtually may be equipped with the technology …
How to Build Authentic Relationships in the Virtual Classroom Read More »
Post Promise: Literacy is one of the most vital skills we teach in the primary grades. In this post I’ll help clear up what phonological awareness is and how it’s different from phonemic awareness and phonics. This will set the stage for future posts where I share what skills are involved in phonological awareness and …
What is Phonological Awareness? (v. Phonemic Awareness & Phonics) Read More »
Post Promise: In this post you will find my TOP FIVE tips for how to manage teaching your K-2 child at home. If you haven’t implemented these ideas, they have the power to transform your home-school experience. Don’t miss the FREE Home-School Survival Kit included below that can help you implement these ideas as soon …
5 Game-Changing Tips for Home-School Success with a FREE Home-School Survival Kit Read More »
Post Promise: In this post, I will provide you some helpful tips and resources to help your student(s) master a deck of flashcards- whether these be sight-words, math facts or any other skill. Don’t miss the FREE Rainbow Flashcard System included at the end of this post! See my FB Video Training Here! The Dreaded …
How to Teach with Flashcards: Flashcard Teacher Secrets for Grades K-2 Read More »
Post Promise: On this page you will find 5 fun classroom incentives that you can use during your distant learning endeavors in grades K-2. With the FREE Virtual Rewards BUNDLE included below and a little prep time, you can implement these strategies as soon as today. Watch the Video of this Content Digital Learning: An …
Virtual Classroom Rewards for K-2: How to Engage Students in Distant Learning Read More »
Post Promise: Within this post you’ll find a FREE Teen Number writing routine that will help your students master those tricky teen numbers 10 through 19. With the Teen Number Song and the Teen Number Writing Routine download you’ll find at the end of this post, you can implement this fun and simple strategy as …
Teaching Teen Numbers: A FREE Song & Routine your Students will LOVE Read More »
Post Promise: Are you looking to get your K-2 students more engaged in learning sight words? In this article I will share with you three powerful (and easy-to-implement) sight-word strategies that will boost the engagement and help your students master those sight-words. (Don’t forget to grab the FREE Sight-Word Engagement Guide at the end!) See …
3 Sight-Word Strategies (scientifically-proven) to BOOST Engagement in Primary (K-2) Read More »
Post Promise: Are you fretting over how to get your little learners writing complete sentences? In today’s piece, I’ll give you an easy to implement strategy that you can use to help your Primary students (K-2) master simple sentence writing. Don’t miss the FREE Sentence-Writing TOOL KIT at the end of the post that …
Post Promise: In today’s piece, the focus is on word families: what they are PLUS why, when and how to teach them so you can guide your students to mastery. Don’t miss the complete set of FREE three-letter Word Family Posters at the end of this post so that you can get started as soon …
Post Promise: Within this piece, I will provide you with three strategies that will bridge your students from letter/sound practice to CVC-word writing masters. If you are in that transition within your own classroom (or have 1st or 2nd Grade students who need intervention in this area) this information can help you get them there. …
Writing CVC Words: 3 strategies to help your students become CVC Word Masters Read More »
Hey there, Teacher friend! Looks like you’re gearing up for your 100th Day Celebration in your Primary classroom. Me too! I don’t know about you, but I like activities and projects that are low-prep, created with little hands in mind and and those that are just plain fun for my students. That is why, in …
Free 100th Day of School Printable Activities for Primary Read More »
Post Promise: If you teach Primary and are having trouble with too much student traffic and/or movement during inappropriate times during the day- this post is for you. I will tell you how I combat unnecessary traffic in my Kindergarten classroom using class discussion, rules, routines and student hand signals. I’ll even give you a …
Classroom Management: Managing Movement in the Primary Classroom (K-2) Read More »
Post Promise: If you’re a Primary Teacher and you need some extra classroom management MAGIC to get you through a tough-time OR would simply like to spice up your game, this post has you covered. Don’t miss the free Happy Bag resources I’ve included for you at the end of this post. Teacher friend, it …
Primary Management Tip: A Happy Bag for Hard Times Read More »
Hey there, friend. I hope you happened upon this post with intentions of helping your students to increase their letter and sound fluency- because I’m totally about to drop that bomb. I will describe an incredibly easy approach that will boost student engagement (whether you’re a teacher or home-school parent) and help your students master …
How to Increase Letter & Sound Fluency in Kindergarten Read More »
Are you a Preschool or Kindergarten teacher looking for an exciting way to celebrate your classroom study of the Alphabet? If you’re like me, you’ve spent nearly 26 weeks this school year focusing on each letter, helping students become fluent identifying and making their sounds AND have assessed their knowledge many times. You and your …
Teaching and practicing number formation in Kindergarten can be a daunting task. If you’ve never had 20+ five-year old students in your care who could barely hold a pencil, you may not fully comprehend that statement. If you are on the struggle bus along with me, you’ll love me for what I’m about to tell …
I created a VLOG to go along with this content. You can see it here: Y’all, I’d never brag on myself- it’s truly against my religion- but I can faithfully say that I live, eat and breath CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT. I sincerely believe without effective classroom management strategies in Kindergarten, First and Second Grade- you’ll never …
3 TOP-SECRET Classroom Management Tricks for Primary Grades (K-2) with Video Demos Read More »
If you’re a NEW TEACHER who is just beginning your journey or a returning teacher who hasn’t mastered the beauty of classroom routines, I urge you with all of my heart to jump on board with this idea. In case you missed it, I’ve already sung the praises of EFFECTIVE CLASSROOM ROUTINES in an earlier …
Create an Effective Classroom Routine in 5 EASY Steps Read More »
I’m proud to assert that I am a “Happy Teacher.” Are you? Are you sure? No matter your answer to my question, I personally challenge you to take this simple Happy Teacher Test. Say this, out loud: “I’m a Happy Teacher. I love what I do and find energizing joy from doing it.” How did …
Happy Teachers: What THEY have that YOU may be missing. Read More »
