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Memory-Making Quarantine Activities for Kids to do Outdoors
Quarantine, social isolation, and social distancing with children is difficult. I’ll be the first to admit – its tough on everyone. Try these memory-making activities with your kids and change the trajectory of this time.
Learning Math Outdoors: A Cheat Sheet for Parents
Learning math outdoors may seem like a monumental task with little kids. You may even gasp at taking your entire third grade class outside to learn math. With this in mind, I created a cheat sheet to help you find ways to make learning math outdoors a fun, engaging activity – whether you are a […]
Top 5 Best Websites for Outdoor Classrooms
Outdoor classrooms are assets to elementary and high schools alike. Whether you have a dedicated space for outdoor learning or not, you can still use these websites in almost any outdoor space. Alternatively, you can use these top 5 best websites in your regular classroom and still reap the benefits of using them. Like saving […]
Cactus Colouring Pages – Print & Go!
Cactus colouring pages are a huge hit at my house! It’s probably because my children know, just as well as my students, how much I love those plants. So if you’re looking for something different to do with your kids (or even just for yourself!), then this post is for you. Although I have never […]
EPIC Virtual End-of-year Activities
While some of us may be nearing the end of school, there are still several weeks to go and the planning for virtual end-of-year activities has begun! I am so excited to share with you some of the ideas that I have gathered that would be fun to use in the virtual learning environment. The […]
Our Distance Learning Schedule
distance-learning-schedule
The Ultimate Scavenger Hunt Collection
Keeping your children busy Are you looking for something educational and entertaining for your kids right now? Well, look no further! The Ultimate Scavenger Hunt Collection is the perfect tool to have your fingertips. Challenges in Social Isolation Here’s something we both can agree on – Keeping our children busy when in social isolation can […]
How to make lemon squares, for kids
How to make lemon squares Are you social distancing or self-isolating due to COVID-19? Then cooking lemon squares will help you pass your time. There are so many great reasons to bake – to treat someone you love, to increase serotonin levels when you eat something sweet or just for something to do to pass […]
What can I do with pinecones?
What can I do with pinecones? Now that there is more time to spend in the forest with my kids, there is more time to craft with the amazing materials Mother Earth has given us and my children have collected. You might find yourself asking, “What can I do with all of these pinecones?” Bookmark […]
A Winter Theme Drama Game Your Students will LOVE!
Winter Theme Drama Game Get ready to rock your drama class with this highly engaging winter theme drama game. Luckily, drama doesn’t have to be a challenge. It’s so important that we challenge students to collaborate and communicate. This charades-style game is easy to prep, great for a variety of ages and helps build vocabulary. […]
Effective Assessments for the Primary Mathematics Classroom
Effective Assessments for the Primary Mathematics Classroom Let me get straight to the point – There is no one perfect assessment tool for any classroom let along a primary mathematics classroom. Whether you are doing formative or summative assessments, using a myriad of tools is the best approach to maximize student learning. Keep reading to […]
9 Amazon BASICS for the Third-Grade Teacher
I am a HUGE advocate for keeping things simple in every part of your life. While sometimes I like to be extra, there are some things that I have loved having in my third-grade classroom that have been life-savers. Here is the best BASIC amazon teacher wish list for anyone teaching third grade: The Cactus […]
Hello, First Year Teacher. Know this.
YOU are the most important resource you can bring to the classroom. I’m going to tell you a few things and you can digest them however you like. This is purely from my own experience and my own ideas on how to prepare yourself mentally and physically for your first year teaching. You don’t need […]
Bees, Butterflies, Bats…and Bombs?
How many times have you been stung by a bee? To many people, bees can be scary and bring anxiety (“Don’t swat that bee!!”). The chances of you being stung are declining, however, because the number of bees are declining around the world. Did you know that bees pollinate around one-third of our food […]
8 Inspiring Books to Read on World Autism Awareness Day
Hamburgers and fries. Milk and cookies. Cake and ice cream. Spaghetti and meatballs. What do these combinations all have in common? Yes, that’s right – they are all part of the FOOD category. But, that’s not where I am going with this. All of these foods, when combined, are perfectly complimentary and delicious. Aren’t we […]
Welcome to The Cactus Class
Hello Teacher Friends! Welcome to my website. I am so happy that you are here. You might be wondering why I am doing this blog. Well, let’s just start off by saying I might be a little crazy and I may be a glutton for punishment. But, hey, this isn’t a marathon, right? I heard […]
One Simple Word for 2019
It’s a New Year! I have decided that this year I will focus on this word: build. It means many things to me and I just think that it might help you, too. I picked this word because it has a positive vibe and it’s encompassing of many areas of my life. I would like […]