Thinking about using novel studies in your classroom but feeling a little overwhelmed about where to begin? You’re not alone. Novel studies can feel like a big leap if you’ve never done them before—but I promise, they’re so worth it, and they’re not as complicated as they might seem.

There are so many wonderful books to celebrate African American history. In my classroom, I love filling my shelves with all different types of African American books. African American history is American history. It needs to be shared and celebrated! Here are some of my favorite books. You can click on each picture to access my Amazon affiliate link. Picture Books Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges Ruby Bridges was just six years old when she became a symbol of the civil right

I don't know about you, but I think the first day of school is one of the hardest days of the year! From bell to bell, there are little eyes just staring at you, waiting to be entertained. With so many rules and procedures and routines to cover, the day can feel like it lags on forever. Here are some tips to help ease those first-day jitters. I've included morning work, reading ideas, Easy Ice Breakers, Math games, and a Science idea. First Day of School Seat Work Activities

When I moved to 5th grade and started teaching American history, I had to scramble to find interesting and engaging lesson on the thirteen colonies. I wanted my students to be able to understand the culture of colonial life within the New England Colonies, Middle Colonies, and Southern Colonies. Here are some books, videos, and independent activities for an awesome unit on the colonial regions. Books and Read Aloud: If you're looking for basic, straightforward information for

Some teachers are awesome math teachers, others are amazing writing teachers, one of the things I pride myself on is creating a classroom...

Teaching the American Revolution can be a lot of fun. Kids love learning about history, especially when there's a power struggle between two sides, but how do we find time to teach Social Studies? Here are three ideas for kicking off your American Revolution unit. 1. Engage Students with Book Clubs Book clubs are a great way to get kids engaged in a topic. I Survived the American Revolution and Time Travel are historical fiction books that take place during the American Revo