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This blog is a place for teachers, parents, and anyone who loves helping kids learn. You’ll find helpful tips, creative lesson ideas, classroom-tested strategies, and honest reflections from real teachers who have been in the trenches—celebrating the wins and learning from the chaos. You're in the right place.
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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
22 hours ago2 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
Smart Start: Why Day One Expectations Set the Tone for the Whole Year
Ah, the smell of fresh pencils. The glare of laminated name tags. The sweet chaos of finding out your new class includes a kid named...
Jodi Rabitoy
Jul 252 min read
Why Class Size Matters in Elementary Schools (and What Teachers Can Do About It)
Class size is one of the biggest factors shaping the daily life of students and teachers in American elementary schools. From student...
Jodi Rabitoy
Jul 193 min read
Welcome to Ask the Teacher!
Welcome to Ask the Teacher: Helping Students Learn Anytime, Anywhere At Ask the Teacher , we believe learning doesn’t just happen in the...
Jodi Rabitoy
Jul 182 min read
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