Blog - Primary Planet

Organizing Your Classroom Library

So, if you have been around here at all, you will know that I am a children’s book addict enthusiast. My classroom library is more of a library that has a classroom in it. This year though my classroom library was starting to become a point of stress in my classroom. What do I mean? Let me show you. It may help you with organizing your classroom library! This post contains an affiliate link to Amazon. Before my Classroom Library Makeover: A lot of my book boxes were stored on these metal cubes. They worked FANTASTIC for the first few

Fun Pattern Block Activities (with freebies)!

Ah, Pattern Block Activities! Confession Time. Pattern blocks are my favorite! If I get any time during my school day to get on the floor and interact with my students, I play with Pattern Blocks! I LOVE using pattern blocks in my classroom. These versatile math manipulatives allow you to do so many great pattern block activities! Read on to see how I use these fun math tools in my classroom. This blog post contains an affiliate link for Amazon. If you choose to purchase something through the links provided, I receive a small commission at no cost to you. I use this money

Mentor Text Monday: Mealworm Life Cycle

Hello all! It’s that time of year again! It’s time to study the life cycle of the mealworm or darkling beetle! Are you ready? I have a fantastic book that is perfect for your study and a Mealworm Life Cycle observation freebie! This post contains an affiliate link to Amazon (if you would like to get your own copy of this book!). I came across this awesome book several years ago when I started teaching second grade. I always try to introduce a new topic with a book. This one is awesome for teaching the life cycle of

Teacher Hack: One SUPER SIMPLE thing that I do everyday to help my teacher sanity!

So, I have to tell you honestly, I almost feel silly writing this post. But, teaching is HARD and anything that I can do to help make it even a little easier is always a good thing! This teacher hack is really kind of a no-brainer, but I didn’t put it into practice until last year and it has really helped with my teacher sanity! Read on! Super Simple Teacher Hack! So, here it is! I won’t go home at the end of my teaching day until my desk is clean! No matter what is going on, I always make sure

8 Fun Morning Work Activities Part 2

Welcome back to Part 2 of my Morning Work Activities post! So, without further ado, jump right in to check it out and grab your freebies! In my last post, I started talking about Morning Work Activities that don’t involve worksheets! Check out some other ideas! 5. Talk to your friends! Sometimes the kiddos come in with a story to tell or something that they desperately want to share. I am not a fan of Show and Tell, or Show and Share, so I try to give them time to just come in and talk to one another. Sometimes I

How to Writing with How to Train a Train

Hello all! Thanks so much for stopping by for another Book Talk Tuesday! This week’s Mentor Text is perfect for teaching How to Writing! This post contains an affiliate link to Amazon (if you would like to get your own copy of this book!). How To Writing with How to Train a Train! This week I am talking about How to Train a Train by Jason Carter Eaton. This is a great book for introducing How To Writing and personification. Of course, if you want a train of your own, you will need to catch one.There are several methods of

Mentor Texts for Writing: Teaching Syllables and Haiku!

I LOVE teaching my students to write poetry! I love writing poetry myself. Haiku is my favorite type of poem to teach and to write! I would like to share with you just how I go about teaching this in my classroom and the books that I use to as Mentor Texts for teaching Haiku Writing! I have teamed up with some other amazing teachers from the Reading Crew to bring you this fun hop with great giveaways and freebies! This post contains affiliate links for Amazon. If you purchase through my link I get a small commission with no cost to

8 Fun Morning Work Activities Part 1

Ahhh…the first 20 min. of school after you have happily greeted all of your darling cherubs. We want them to be busy, independent, learning, and calm. I want my morning work activities to help set the tone for the day.I don’t know how you feel, but as a teacher, I really don’t want morning work to be something that I have to later grade, so I have a few fun morning work activities(or bell ringer work) that doesn’t involve worksheets or a whole lot of planning! This post is the first in a 2 part series. Today are ideas 1-4!This post

Math Read Aloud: Data Collection and Graphing!

Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! I am so excited about this ADORABLE book! I even moved out of my comfort zone to create a *gasp* math freebie! This book is a great math read aloud that lends itself really well to a little data collection and graphing activity! Read on to see what has inspired me…This post does contain affiliate links. If you use the link I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for your support. Math Read Aloud: I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey Hello! So happy to see you!

Read aloud for visualizing! This fun book is perfect for when you are teaching your students to make mental images or visualizing! Check out the blog post and grab your freebie!

Super Fun Read Aloud for Visualizing with The Purple Kangaroo!

One of my favorite reading strategies to teach my kiddos is Visualizing or making mental images. This book is such a fun read-aloud for visualizing! In my opinion that is what makes reading so great! YOU get to create the pictures in your head! This book is EPIC read aloud for visualizing or making mental images! This post does contain affiliate links. If you use the link I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for your support. Why teach Making Mental Images or Visualizing? In my opinion, this is the reading strategy that makes

Hilarious Read Aloud for Cause and Effect

Oh My Goodness! If you haven’t read this hilarious read aloud for cause and effect yet, you really need to go out and get this super-fun book! I mean…Potatoes in Pants? Read on my friend… Hilarious Read Aloud for Cause and Effect This post does contain affiliate links. If you use the link I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thanks so much for your support. I am so excited about his book! It is so fun. You have to check out the trailer: My kiddos loved this story too! Potato is really excited because Lance Vance’s

Winter Resource I Love!

I have teamed up with some other amazing teacher authors to bring you this fun winter link up! Read on to see some amazing resources to help you keep them thinking all winter long! Winter is (in my opinion) the best season for reading! Curl up with a good book and a cup of hot cocoa! Help your kiddos to find the joy in winter reading with these fun reading logs and challenges! So much great reading stuff in one place! I love sending home the reading challenge at the beginning of the month

Free Resource Library

Reading

Writing

Classroom Management

Math

Digital

STEM

Other