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Ask the Teacher Blog
Welcome to the Ask the Teacher Blog, your trusted source for creative, practical, and classroom-tested ideas to support K–6 teaching and learning. Whether you're a teacher looking for lesson inspiration, classroom management tips, or engaging writing prompts—or a parent supporting learning at home—you’ll find helpful content designed to make your job easier and your students more successful.
This blog delivers fresh, relevant content every week to help you teach smarter, not harder.
You’re Not Behind. January Is Just Hard.
If you are standing in your classroom in mid January wondering why everything suddenly feels harder, you are not alone. The energy is different. The routines feel shaky again. Students seem more tired, more wiggly, or more emotional. And that quiet voice in your head starts whispering, I should be further along by now. Let’s say this clearly and right up front. You are not behind. January is just hard. Why January Feels So Heavy in Elementary Classrooms January is one of the
Jodi Rabitoy
3 days ago2 min read
Making Valentine’s Day Happy (and Not Chaotic!) in the Elementary Classroom
Valentine’s Day can be one of the sweetest days of the year in elementary school… and also one of the noisiest. Between the candy, the cards, and the excitement of celebrating with friends, the day can quickly go from adorable to overwhelming . But with a few simple strategies, you can turn February 14 into a fun, fast, and manageable celebration that everyone enjoys — including you. Here are some tried-and-true ideas for hosting a Valentine’s Day party that keeps smiles h
Jodi Rabitoy
Jan 133 min read
A New Year Shift: How Real Teachers Are Changing the Way They Carry the Job
The start of a new year has a way of making teachers pause. Not because January suddenly fixes anything. The emails still come. The workload is still heavy. The expectations do not magically reset. But a new year offers something quieter and more powerful: permission to adjust how we carry the job . Instead of big resolutions or unrealistic promises, many teachers are choosing small shifts. Changes that protect their energy, their time, and their sense of self. We asked real
Jodi Rabitoy
Jan 63 min read
New Year’s Eve With Kids: Fun, Simple, and Not Exhausting
New Year’s Eve has a reputation for being loud, glittery, and a little chaotic… but if you’re celebrating with children, it doesn’t have to be any of those things. As teachers, we know two things for sure: Kids love traditions, countdowns, and feeling included. Parents love sleep. So here’s the good news: you can absolutely have a memorable New Year’s Eve with your kids without staying up until midnight or filling your house with confetti that you’ll still be vacuuming up in
Jodi Rabitoy
Dec 29, 20253 min read
The Most Overlooked Phonics Skill:
Why Blending Deserves More Time in the Classroom If you have ever taught a student who knows all their letter sounds but still cannot read simple words, you are not alone. Many early readers can tell you that S says s and M says m but freeze the moment you ask them to read the word Sam. The problem is not usually sound knowledge. The problem is blending. Blending is the quiet hero of early reading instruction, but research shows it is also one of the most overlooked practices
Jodi Rabitoy
Dec 22, 20253 min read
Holiday Week Rescue Kit for Teachers: Quick Wins to Survive the Week Before Winter Break
The week before winter break is famously magical and famously exhausting. Students are excited. Routines feel wobbly. Schedules get interrupted. Your patience gets tested. And somehow, instruction is still happening in between assemblies, glitter projects, door contests, and sugar induced energy levels. This is the time of year when teachers need real, practical, grab and go tools that don’t take hours to prep. So think of this post as your Holiday Week Teacher Rescue Kit .
Jodi Rabitoy
Dec 15, 20253 min read
Micro Goals for Micro Humans
Tiny people. Tiny goals. Because if you’ve ever tried to explain “New Year’s resolutions” to a six year old, you already know—they have no idea what you’re talking about. Big goals are made for grown ups with planners, coffee addictions, and the emotional stamina to handle a bullet journal. Little kids, on the other hand, live in a world of right now , snack time , and where did I put my glue stick? So instead of asking our micro humans to think about where they want to be “
Jodi Rabitoy
Dec 8, 20253 min read
The Magic of One Minute: Why Short Brain Breaks Reset the Classroom
If you’ve ever stood in front of your class and watched twenty tiny brains slowly melt after a long stretch of reading, writing, or math, you already know the truth: attention isn’t infinite. Especially not in kindergarten through second grade. Kids need movement , variety, and small moments to reset their minds before they can move on to the next learning task. And it turns out, sometimes all it takes is one minute . Let’s talk about why short brain breaks work, where the id
Jodi Rabitoy
Dec 1, 20253 min read
How to Nail Your Next Teacher Observation (Without Losing Your Mind)
Let’s be honest — even the best teachers get that tiny jolt of panic when they see their admin walk in with a clipboard. You could be teaching your favorite lesson, students fully engaged, and still feel your pulse jump. Why? Because observations can feel like someone is grading your every move . Here’s the truth: a great observation isn’t about performing perfectly. It’s about showing what you already do every day — with a bit of intention and polish. Here are practical, tea
Jodi Rabitoy
Nov 24, 20253 min read
🌞 10 Simple Morning Meeting Ideas That Build Classroom Community
The Power of a Morning Meeting Mornings set the tone for the entire school day. A few minutes spent connecting with your students can make the difference between chaos and calm — between disconnection and belonging. That’s where a great morning meeting comes in. When students start the day with purpose, laughter, and reflection, the rest of the day flows more smoothly. Morning meetings don’t have to be complicated or take a lot of time. Even five intentional minutes can boos
Jodi Rabitoy
Nov 17, 20253 min read
How to Lighten the Load (Without Quitting)
Hey Teacher Friend, If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re feeling stretched thin. Maybe your to-do list is longer than your lunch break. Maybe you’ve said “I’ll get caught up this weekend” one too many weekends in a row. Or maybe you just feel… tired. I see you. I’ve been there. And I want to remind you of something really important: you are not the problem. Teaching is a beautiful, exhausting, world-changing profession—but it can also drain every ounce of ener
Jodi Rabitoy
Nov 10, 20252 min read
Easy-to-Prep Holiday Projects (That Make Perfect Classroom Decor or Take-Home Gifts)
The holiday season is full of excitement, glitter, and… let’s be honest… a little bit of teacher exhaustion. Between concerts, report cards, and classroom parties, December can feel like a blur! That’s why I love simple, meaningful projects that double as both classroom decorations and student gifts to send home. If you’re looking for festive ideas that don’t require hours of prep (or a hot glue gun meltdown), here are a few of my tried-and-true favorites: 1. “Snow-tast
Jodi Rabitoy
Nov 3, 20252 min read
Rethinking Thanksgiving in the Classroom: Celebrating the Harvest and the Hard Work Behind It
When November rolls around, classrooms everywhere start talking about Thanksgiving . For many teachers, it can feel tricky to navigate—how do we celebrate without getting tangled in complicated history or leaning on the same “what are you thankful for?” activities that sometimes fall flat? Here’s a different way to think about it: focus on celebrating effort, preparation, and the joy of reaping what we’ve sown. A Harvest Mindset When we step back, the idea of “Thanksgiving” i
Jodi Rabitoy
Oct 27, 20253 min read
How to Bring Holiday Cheer to the Classroom (Without the Headache)
As the winter holidays approach, many teachers find themselves walking a familiar tightrope — balancing celebration, inclusion, and school policy while trying to keep the season joyful for every student. You want your classroom to feel warm and festive , but you also want every child to feel seen and included, no matter what traditions (or none) they celebrate at home. The truth is, there’s no single right way to handle the holidays in the classroom. Every school community i
Jodi Rabitoy
Oct 20, 20253 min read
Differentiation: You’re Already Doing It (Even If It Doesn’t Feel Like It)
If you’ve been teaching for more than about five minutes, chances are you’ve heard this question: “So, how are you differentiating?” It usually comes up in a meeting, a walk-through, or a data chat, and even though it’s meant to sound supportive, it can sometimes land like an accusation — as if we’re not already trying our hardest to meet every child where they are. Let’s just say it out loud: teachers differentiate all day, every day. You do it instinctively, creatively, a
Jodi Rabitoy
Oct 14, 20252 min read
Why Teachers Are Leaving - and How We Can Start Changing the Conversation
(Written by a classroom teacher who knows what it feels like to give your all, every single day — and still be asked for just a little...
Jodi Rabitoy
Oct 6, 20254 min read
Why Every Teacher Needs a Personal Prep Desk™ (And How It Saves You Hours Each Week)
If you’re a teacher, you already know the Sunday night scramble. You’re staring at the week ahead, juggling standards, student needs, and...
Jodi Rabitoy
Oct 2, 20252 min read
Spook Up Your Writing: Using Descriptive Language in Your October Lessons
There’s just something magical about teaching in October , isn’t there? The pumpkins on desks, the bats and cobwebs creeping into...
Jodi Rabitoy
Sep 29, 20252 min read
Why a Daily Spark Can Transform Your Morning Meetings
Mornings set the tone for the entire school day. When students walk into your classroom, they’re carrying with them all kinds of...
Jodi Rabitoy
Sep 22, 20252 min read
How Teachers Can Respond to Difficult Parents Quickly (and Move On With Your Day)
Every teacher has been there: you’re juggling lessons, grading, and a million little tasks when a parent email or comment pops up that...
Jodi Rabitoy
Sep 17, 20252 min read
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