Prepping for a Sub in 15 Minutes or Less
As teachers, we all know that a day off work can mean more planning, stress, anxiety, and worry. It shouldn't be that way, and ...
Classroom Management
50 Tips from Teachers to Start the School Year
The season is upon us. Are we ready for it? Looking for some tips to start the school year? I am speaking of a brand new scho...
27 Prime Day Deals for Teachers
Here we go again, Amazon Prime Day. The day where teachers get to save money on things that will make their lives just a little...
17 Tips to Start the School Year Off Right
It happens to me every year! I start summer break thinking that I have all of the time in the world. I have all of these big pl...
37 Secrets to a Quiet Classroom
I don’t know about you, but I am at a point in the year where I crave peace and quiet so much that I have found myself driving ...
Education to the Core’s Children’s Book Author Spotlight: Jasmine Shegog
Welcome to Education to the Core’s Children’s Book Author Spotlight. This is a series of blogs that will highlight a specific c...
The Power of "Yes" in the Classroom
I have found that many teachers are constantly seeking ways to improve their community, classroom management, engagement strate...
Ways to Use Exit Tickets in your Classroom
How do you check for student understanding? As educators, we are constantly checking in with our students. Perhaps you are al...
15 Ideas to Engage Your Apathetic Students
Finding something to engage your apathetic students can be like searching for a needle in a haystack! How do you motivate stude...
17 Ways Teachers Manage Bullying and Behavior
We have said it before, but this school year has been the hardest one yet. We are all dealing with our fair share of obstacles ...
The Best Tips to Cultivate a Culture of Success in Your Classroom
Cultivating a culture of success does come with time and experience, but if you need some quick tips on how to start cultivatin...
15 Classroom Activities for the Winter Olympics
If you are a Winter Games buff like I am, you don't want to miss a second of coverage, even if you are in your classroom! I wi...
13 Student Engagement Strategies for Elementary That Work
It's always the first thing my principal does when she walks into my classroom. Quickly scanning my students, she counts how ma...
Homework in the Primary Classroom?
The topic of homework seems to be a hot-button issue in education lately. Do we give it to students? Do we not? If we provid...
19 Ways to Stop Tattling in Your Classroom
"Teacher... (insert name here) is talking." "(So and So) wouldn't play with me at recess." "(Insert name) took my pencil." TATT...
17 Instagram Accounts for Teachers to Follow
There are so many Instagram accounts out there. Sometimes, it is hard to determine which one is worth following. Well, we are h...
33 Teacher Ideas for Using Student Whiteboards
Do you have a set of student whiteboards for all of the kids in your class? I have tons of student whiteboards, but in all hone...
20 Social Media Hacks for Teachers
Once there were encyclopedias, then there was google, and now there is TikTok. We no longer need to hunt high and low for tips ...
Making 2022 an Equitable Year
Did you make a personal New Year’s Resolution this year? Perhaps you are choosing to spend more time with family/friends, or ge...
30 Best Books for Professional Development
Here is a moment of honesty for you: I hate when my administration sets up book study groups on ANY topic for professional deve...
40 Quick Games to Play in the Classroom at the End of the Day
Anybody else’s end of the day complete chaos?!? Just me? Packing up, dismissals, cleaning up their areas, bus calls, announceme...
15 Strategies for the Student Who Can’t Sit Still
Sit down in your seat, it’s time for math. Please sit down in your seat, Tashir cannot see the board. Alright, time to start ...
Elf on the Shelf Classroom Ideas
Some teachers love this time of year in the classroom as they prep for Holidays Around the World Lessons and an Elf on the Shel...
Sub Plans for Teachers: Planning and Prep Done for You!
We've all been there... those days when you really should stay home. You just can't bring yourself to prep sub plans for hours ...
The Benefits of an ETTC Membership
Teachers, there is so much on our plates this year. It feels like every teacher could use a 4 week paid vacation to the tropica...
Focus and Reduce Stress with 30 Breathing Exercises
Talk about stress… we just finished our first marking period, report cards are due, I have parent-teacher conferences coming up...
20 Ways to Quickly and Quietly Transition your Students
Are your students struggling with transitions? Do you find yourself spending a lot of time waiting on them to get ready for the...
Anchor Charts For Your Primary Classroom
"Every sentence begins with a _____ and ends with a ______." I repeated for the tenth time within a 30 minute writing lesson. ...
30 Quick and Easy Time-Fillers
We all have been there. The thirty-minute lesson we planned went much faster than expected, and now we have time to fill before...
66 Fantastic Teachers Comments on Students' Progress Reports
It's that time again for most of us...completing Progress Reports! I don't know about you, but it is a struggle sometimes to ca...
15 Teacher Podcasts You'll Want To Listen To
Shhhhh… I have a little secret. To be honest, I was never a huge podcast guy. I constantly have music playing in the backgrou...
Over 45 Books to Teach Social Skills
Are you starting to see some behaviors in your classroom, such as non-stop talking, bullying, and problems with sharing and sta...
35 Free Rewards For Your Students
Are you looking for some new class rewards to pair with your classroom management system? What if I said, are you looking for ...
15 Fun Ways to Quiet a Classroom
"1... 2... 3... Eyes on me"—and the talking continues. You say it louder, but no luck. If this sounds familiar, you’re likely s...
Social Emotional Learning
Are you worried about how students are going to be returning to in-person learning this school year after the pandemic? Ever w...
All About Desk Pets!
Can you even imagine? Those little mini erasers that teachers have given out to their students for years are suddenly a TikTok ...
20 Tools to Include in Your Guided Reading & Math Baskets
Guided reading and math groups are where all of the magic ? happens. You get to hone in on the specific skills your students in...
35 Books to Teach Emotions
Have you ever had that one student who just seemed angry about everything? Or the one that just cries at the drop of a hat? L...
30 Morning Tub Ideas for Primary Students
Mornings seem to come way too fast! I know in my classroom that my kiddos need time to eat their breakfast and complete somethi...
11 Ideas for Creating Community in Your Classroom
Creating a learning community where students feel a sense of belonging and connection is so important in order to maximize the ...
What Should I Put on my Classroom Walls?
Are you a brand new teacher staring at those blank classroom walls? Or perhaps you are a veteran teacher looking to mix things...
9 Morning Meeting Ideas to Wake Up Your Routine
Have you ever heard of MORNING MEETINGS? (Also known as, the couple extra minutes to take attendance, submit lunch counts, read...
Social Emotional Learning or Character Education
What are your initial thoughts about returning to the classroom this upcoming school year? Do you have any concerns or reserva...
Your First-Year Teacher Questions ... ANSWERED!
We asked first-year teachers in our Fearless Teachers Facebook groups to ask their burning first-year teacher questions and som...
30 Activities for Early Finishers
I'm sure you've experienced this with your early finishers: you are helping little Jake with his reading while also scanning th...
7 of the Best Classroom Management Systems
Classroom management... it is always the big elephant in the room. ? You know that if you don't have a grip on the daily runnin...
30 Ways to Support Sensory Needs
Have you noticed more children struggling with focus and attention? Although you provide all of the bells and whistles to make ...
32 No Prep Activities Perfect for Individual Centers
Individual centers are nothing new...whether pre/post-COVID or in the thick of it, I use them with my students. Center learning...
Restorative Practices
Hello ETTC Teaching Trailblazers! I am thrilled to present another addition to our Vlog series: “Teaching Trailblazers with Ch...
Equity in the Classroom and Beyond
Hello ETTC Teaching Trailblazers! I am thrilled to present another addition to our Vlog series: “Teaching Trailblazers with Chr...
Tips for the Socially Distant Classroom
I am heading back into the classroom for face-to-face learning and I am nervous! I teach first grade and the last time these s...
15 Spotify Artists and Playlists for the Primary Classroom
Music. It has the ability to make us feel emotions like joy, inspiration, gratitude, and more. We listen to it at home, in our ...
Creating a Behavioral Plan That Works For You
Preventive? Check! Instructive? Check! Responsive? Check! Okay, now what? Creating a Behavioral Plan with tons of interventions...
15 Amazon Products Under $15 That Teachers Need
Next to teaching and Netflix, shopping on Amazon is my next favorite hobby. Through COVID restrictions and the holidays, I am c...
15 Responsive Strategies To Do After A Behavior
One may think once a student’s behavior is over you’re in the clear. Let’s face it you’re probably feeling exhausted, stressed...
SEL & PBIS: Your Journey Starts Here!
Hello ETTC Teaching Trailblazers! I am thrilled to present another addition to our Vlog series: “Teaching Trailblazers with Ch...
Using Positive Affirmations in the Classroom
Have you ever found yourself repeating a positive statement enough that you finally believe it? For example, I can do this! I w...
20 Instructive Strategies To Do During A Behavior
One of my most stressful moments of teaching is when a student is involved in a behavioral episode. I feel helpless, alone, fr...
30 Preventive Strategies To Do Before A Behavior
What’s one thing I can do for student behavior that I can see almost an immediate response? Incorporating quick and easy preven...
Relationships Through Team Building: Teaching Trailblazers VLOG
Hello ETTC Teaching Trailblazers! I am thrilled to present another addition to our Vlog series: “Teaching Trailblazers with Ch...
Helping Students Deal With the Loss of a Loved One
Covid-19 has changed our world that we live in completely. Unfortunately, this includes a possible higher probability of havin...
Data Collection ... More Than Just ABCs
Office Discipline Referrals (ODRs), Suspension Rates, Attendance, Academic Grades, and Progress Monitoring are just a few diffe...
18 Emotional Regulation Games for Kids
Have you ever experienced a student who has difficulty with waiting in line or taking turns? What about those students who may ...
The Best Teaching Hacks We Learned in 2020
2020 has been a year of teacher flexibility and innovation. We have come up with the Best Teaching Hacks we Learned in 2020. Te...
What's the Function of Behavior?
After moving the student to the front of the classroom to keep a better eye on them, you continue observing them placing their ...
Creating a Calming Corner for Your Primary Classroom
Whether you are a parent, a teacher, or both; creating a Calming Corner is a great addition to any primary classroom or home en...
17 Icebreaker Videos for Virtual Teaching
If you are like me and many other teachers, you may be tired of the same daily routine for your virtual teaching. I am ready to...
13 Ways to Kick Off the School Year Right
Our alarm clocks are set, bags are packed, and we are ready to take on the rest of the school year! To help you kick off the N...
15 Fun Ways to Review Rules and Procedures After a Break
Returning to school after any break can be challenging, as our students often forget routines, procedures, and rules. Taking ti...
YouTube Videos that Teach Calming Techniques for Kids
Included in this blog are YouTube Videos that Teach Calming Techniques for Kids. By providing these calming activities for your...
To The Teacher At Their Breaking Point
To the teacher at their breaking point, I see you. I hear you. I understand you. Lately, on social media, I have been notici...
10 Centers that Get Kids Moving
I have been working on centers that get my kids moving (especially since we don't get to leave the classroom for lunch or speci...
17 Ways to Use A Doorbell in Class
The Wireless Doorbell has been an amazing addition to my classroom! There are so many great ways to incorporate this into your ...
20 Ideas for Socially Distanced Indoor Recess
It is those dreaded words, ‘indoor recess today’, that make all of us teachers cringe and roll our eyes right now. How are we g...
Teaching Trailblazers VLOG: Mindfulness and Movement
Hello ETTC Teaching Trailblazers! I am thrilled to present our first interview of the series: “Teaching Trailblazers with Chri...
Teaching Tips from Veteran Teachers
Veteran teachers have a lot to offer, but the thing we newbies appreciate the most are the valuable teaching tips from veteran ...
Be Your Own Author… Create a Social Story
Have you ever dealt with a student or child who has meltdowns every time you are going to a specific place? Do they have diffi...
19 Items to Help Students Sit Still
As teachers, we want our students to remain in their seats during the day, but not all students can handle this task at times....
25 Brain Breaks that Keep Students Socially Distanced
Brain breaks that keep students socially distanced will be much needed this year. We've heard many teachers say that their stu...
Tips for Returning to the Classroom After Distance Learning
The feeling is surreal as I turn the key to my classroom door. I am finally returning to the classroom after months of distanc...
How to Help Your Child Stay Engaged in Class
Distance learning has definitely taken its toll on the relationship I have with my middle child. Let's face it... learning on t...
Boards, Menus, and Choices, Oh My!
Choice empowers students as well as provides a tiered approach for teachers to differentiate allowing for more of a challenge a...
Building Community in the Virtual Classroom
Building Classroom Community is always first and foremost at the beginning of the school year for me. But... this year looked ...
25 Mindful Breathing Exercise for Students to Stay Calm and Focus
If you are noticing that you are have been using breathing exercises to help you stay calm and focused, then more than likely ...
Teaching Tips for the Hybrid Classroom
"Starting next week, we will be moving from all virtual to hybrid instruction. Please refer to your guidebooks for next steps...
Moving and Grooving with ADHD
How can "Dancing With the Stars" lead me to write a blog about Moving and Grooving with ADHD?! Well, let me give you a bit of ...
Online Teaching Tips for Primary Teachers
When I first heard that I was going to be teaching remotely for the entire first semester, my heart dropped. I panicked and qu...
35 Chapter Book Series for Elementary Students
Finding the right chapter books that could help in increasing your students vocabulary and reading comprehension, especially fo...
Reward Ideas for Distance Learning
Rewards and positive praise are a common thread in brick and mortar classrooms. But Reward Ideas for Distance Learning?... much...
Reading Strategies for Elementary Students
Reading is a fundamental skill that we all use every single day. Teaching reading strategies for elementary students is so very...
10 Ways to Socially Distance Your Small Groups
Social Distancing while teaching is a huge concern teachers have as we start going back into the classroom. We have come up wi...
Bring the Zoo to Your Home
That annual zoo field trip brings memories of anxiety and laughs. This year, those memories are most likely not going to happ...
How to Upload a PDF into SeeSaw
Have you ever needed to upload a PDF into SeeSaw? We get this question a lot and we want to help you! First up, we wanted to ...
Amazing Virtual Field Trips for Distance Learning
The spring semester usually brings out our best loved units and field trips. With school closures, those field trips had to b...
Tips for Using Google Classroom
At ETTC, our mission is to serve elementary teachers in the best way we possibly can, no matter what. We have been working arou...
47 Boredom Busters for Kids at Home
For many of us, school is happening at home to help keep our students, staff, and families healthy during the Covid-19 pandemic...
10 No Prep Activities to Include in Your Send Home Packets
So you found out you need to make 1-2 week's worth of send home plans, and you need to put something together ASAP! Education t...
9 Ways to Increase Fluency in Students
Increasing reading fluency in our students is one of the main goals of any elementary school teacher. If they are not fluent ...
Handling Parent-Teacher Conferences Like A BOSS!
Whether you are a veteran, or a newbie, parent-teacher conferences are something all of us have to do at some point. After my ...
13 Classroom Management Tips for the New Year
The alarms are set, the bags are packed, and a fresh start is here! As we kick off the second half of the school year, I’m shar...
5 Tips to Manage Independent Reading
Every teacher knows that independent reading is a crucial part of a well-balanced literacy program. Independent reading allows ...
Guided Reading Groups in 5 Simple Steps
It is hard enough planning for whole group reading block and small group centers/stations. We now also incorporate guided read...
Teaching Emergent Readers: 14 Tips to Ensure Success!
“My kindergarteners need to be able to do what?!” I still remember the day my principal sat my team down and explained to us t...
10 Things You Have to Know When You Teach Reading
10 Things You Have To Know When You Teach Reading The more I become experienced in my craft, the more I realize that most teach...
25 Amazon Must-Haves for Teachers
We put together a list of 25 Amazon Teacher Must-Haves that you need for your classroom. Congratulations! You hit the jackpot o...
Literacy Centers: Your Top Questions Answered
You asked, and I am here to answer! Play the video below to get your burning questions answered when it comes to our 1st and 2n...
A 4 Step Fluency Exercise that WORKS
Do you find that making time for fluency is almost impossible? We have so many demands that are placed on us, and by the end of...
Literacy Centers Done Right
You might already know the many different options in which you can run your literacy centers. You can have students work in rot...
Habits of Highly Effective Teachers
Good habits are essential to living a healthy fulfilling life. Making a conscious effort to create good habits can be extremel...
How to Simplify your STEM Challenges
If you have ever been hesitant on teaching the engineering design process along with the stem challenges you do in your classro...
7 Ways to Simplify Your Literacy Stations
Planning and implementing literacy stations can seem so daunting when the possibilities are virtually endless. When I first sta...
Organizing Your Literacy Centers in 3 Easy Steps
Fact: Organizing your Literacy Centers can be a nightmare. Consider this scenario: You find the perfect centers, print, laminat...
29 Chapter Books to Read with Your First Grade Students
Finding the right chapter books that could help in increasing your students vocabulary and reading comprehension, especially fo...
How to Empower Primary Students Using Accountable Talk
For the longest time, I kept hearing all this buzz about ‘accountable talk’…but I was never quite sure what it was exactly. ...
8 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Feel Guilty Your Classroom Isn't Pinterest-Worthy
So let's just start out by establishing that there is nothing wrong with getting teaching ideas from Pinterest. This post is h...
10 Reasons Why Every Primary Classroom Should Have a Grammar Wall
Grammar walls have been all the hype lately. But what's the big deal? Well, it's time to stop wondering! Here are 10 reasons ...
10 Tips for Teaching Christmas Around the World
While many adults begin counting down the days till Christmas as early as July, unable to postpone their excitement for the sea...
Teaching Grammar Using Interactive Notebooks
As a primary teacher, it can be very difficult fitting in grammar instruction into your day. I also have a little secret you...
Engage and Differentiate with Task Cards
Guest Article by Ashley Schroeder from “Schroeder Shenanigans in 2nd” Do you have stacks upon stacks of task cards in your cla...
8 Do’s and Don’ts for Using Games in the Classroom
Whether you’re playing a whole class game, small group game, or individual game, games in the classroom provide great learning ...
5 Ways to Remove Stress from Learning
Guest Post by Jacque Miller from "For the Love of the Children" 5 Ways to Remove Stress from Learn...
Literacy As an Attainable Goal for Severely Disabled Students
Guest Post from Susan Berkowitz, SLP from Kidz Learn Language Literacy As an Attainable Goal for Severely Disabled Students I ...
4 Games to Help Kids Think Critically about Vocabulary
Guest post by Rachael from The Classroom Game Nook Blog. 4 Games to Help Kids Think Critically about Vocabulary We all wan...
Autism: 12 Inclusion Tips for Classroom Teachers
Do you have a student with autism in your classroom this year? Whether you are a veteran teacher or just starting out, you may ...
Tips and Ideas for School Pep Rallies
We got spirit, yes we do! We got spirit, how about you? Find tips and tricks for school pep rallies right here! Guest Post ...
25 Attention Getters to Calm A Noisy Classroom
As teachers, we know the value of having good attention-getters to calm a noisy classroom. Because your time is limited, we ca...
5 Strategies for Reaching Disengaged Students
Disengaged students. We all have them. More interested in what is going on outside the window, or tugging at that loose piece o...
The Best Activities to Try During the First Week of School
I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. I would look at teacher books of my aunt's and I would pretend I was teaching my dolls...
Novel Study Activities Kids Will Love
Novel Study Activities Kids Will Love When doing a novel study, you want the novel itself to be the main focus, not the workshe...
The Best Back to School Tips from Real Teachers
We polled the Education to the Core Community, and these are some of the best "Back to School" tips from real teachers all arou...
Making Technology Meaningful in Primary
“So, what are they doing here,” a visiting teacher recently asked me as she observed my kids scanning QR codes to reveal a math...
Integrating Writer's Workshop Into Your Reading Block
If you are looking to integrate writing into your reading block, you will find an easy and efficient way to make this possible ...
5 Ways to Tighten Up Your Classroom Management
There is always that time of the year when you have to reflect on all that you have done, all that you should have done, and wh...
A Strategic and Efficient Way of Implementing the Daily 5
Since I started teaching, I have always looked for the most efficient way to do things without compromising the learning of stu...