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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.
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
5 days ago3 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 243 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 173 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 102 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 32 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 273 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 203 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 142 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 64 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 22 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 292 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 222 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 172 min read
The Best Free Resources Every Teacher Should Know About
Let’s be honest—teachers deserve free stuff. Whether it’s a fresh stack of sticky notes, a new bulletin board border, or a resource that...
Jodi Rabitoy
Sep 123 min read
The Best Advice I Was Ever Given as a Teacher
When you think back on your teaching career, chances are there’s one piece of advice that has stuck with you. The kind that plays in the...
Jodi Rabitoy
Sep 32 min read
When the School Year Feels Overwhelming: Simple Tips to Help You Breathe
The first few weeks of school are always a whirlwind. New students, fresh lesson plans, back-to-school nights, and a never-ending to-do...
Jodi Rabitoy
Sep 12 min read
One Simple Trick for Keeping Your Cool When the Classroom Gets Crazy
If you’ve been in the classroom longer than a week, you already know: things don’t always go as planned. The beautifully written lesson...
Jodi Rabitoy
Aug 271 min read
How to Talk to Unsupportive Administrators (Without Burning Bridges)
If you’ve been teaching for more than five minutes, you’ve probably realized that not every administrator is going to feel like your...
Jodi Rabitoy
Aug 212 min read
Why Sight Words Still Matter (And How to Teach Them the Smart Way)
Hey teacher friends! Let’s talk about something that’s been around forever in the elementary classroom: sight words . You know—the little...
Jodi Rabitoy
Aug 163 min read
Why Laughter Belongs in the Classroom: The Power of Humor in Elementary Education
Hello teacher friends and educating parents! Let's talk about something simple but powerful: laughter. As educators, we often focus on...
Jodi Rabitoy
Aug 42 min read
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