Top 50 Elementary Teacher Blogs
Elementary teacher blogs contain rants and reflections on the state of education, classroom blogs that extend lessons beyond the school walls, creative classroom content, practical resources and personal stories. Fusing new tech tools with traditional teaching methods puts these teacher bloggers on the cutting edge of 21st century education.
History is Elementary
A treasure trove for history buffs, History is Elementary is the work of “EHT”, a Georgia teacher and columnist who finds teaching opportunities in academic controversy, compares the Declaration of Independence to a write-up slip for England’s transgressions, faces the challenge of educating kids raised on the Disney version of Pocahontas, and exposes persistent myths like the location of the original gold rush.
5th Grade Rocks, 5th Grade Rules
Laughing and learning are two words that Mimi Hager lives and teaches by. On Mimi’s site, 5th Grade Rocks, 5th Grade Rules, visitors will find a comprehensive list of teacher resource websites, plus many ideas for Back to School Night. First, there’s one of Mimi’s favorites, the ‘Fake Class’ for which students draw life-size likenesses of themselves to ultimately create a mock class that will surprise parents. For the Open House, students also compile biography poems and silhouettes, and write about their summer vacation activities in a ‘Shades of Summer’ Writer’s Workshop activity. Outside of the classroom, the ‘goofy’ but ‘strict’ Mimi is passionate about football and flamingoes.
Class Antics
National Board Certified Teacher and children’s book author Corey Green offers advice on her blog ClassAntics.com: How kids really act, think and learn in today’s classrooms. Corey, a former military child who once lived in Italy, writes posts on topics ranging from pointers to make Picture Day a success, back-to-school advice, and ideas on teaching everything from civil rights to literacy. Corey also offers a multi-part series that details how to set up a classroom – advice that would benefit both newbie and veteran teachers. There are many tips for parents, too, including how to prevent a summer slide in learning.
The Polka-Dotted Teacher
Prior to working with the second and fourth graders who have helped her better relax, Georgia educator and Polka-Dotted Teacher scribe Jessica Carlton admits that she was a perfectionist. The fan of University of Georgia football, sweet tea, and craft projects produces posts focusing on helping students understand the elements of a story’s plot, developing an effective home-reading accountability system, and mothering her brother-sister dog duo.
Scribble Doodle and Draw
On Scribble, Doodle and Draw, Christine Lanyon’s personal and professional worlds intersect. The part-time primary school teacher with a penchant for drawing and design showcases her own twins’ artistic masterpieces while enticing readers with giveaways and autumn activities like do-it-yourself fall fingerplay puppets, leaf and pinecone-studded sensory bags, and acorn counting, which targets fine-motor skills.
The Teaching Thief
When a new school year approaches, Texas teacher Amanda considers the arsenal of resources she has to get her through the first trying but exciting week: caffeine, chocolate, a valued team of colleagues and her school tote bag which her husband and high school sweetheart has playfully nicknamed the ‘bag of doom.’ On The Teaching Thief, this fourth-grade educator who confesses a love of borrowing ideas, pens a Fiction Friday feature in which she reviews her beloved children’s literature. She also divulges classroom management advice and ideas for introducing metacognition.
Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge
A visit to Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge will get teachers geared up for the holidays, thanks to the posts of third-grade teacher and scrapbook-enthusiast Christina Bainbridge. Her Christmas Around the World unit includes book recommendations, a pattern for a Christmas tree tangram, as well as tools for students to design their own suitcases and passports for a make-believe journey that will teach them how Christmas is celebrated in countries such as Germany, Liberia and Mexico. Valentine’s Day offerings include a woven heart decoration activity and candy holders that students can fashion out of recycled milk containers.
The 3 AM Teacher
Night owl Michelle Tsivgadellis’ love of design is apparent on her blog, The 3 AM Teacher. The Arizona elementary teacher offers readers custom-made graphics for sale in her blog store, and she frequently doles out freebies, such as vibrant blog backgrounds and eye-catching clip art. She also posts tutorials that she has created on such topics as making PDF files secure and securing documents with passwords. When she’s not creating digital art until the wee hours of the night, Michelle and her husband embark on hikes in the rugged Arizona desert and she spends time with her beloved dog, Roxie.
Busy Bees
In Robynn Drerup’s and SueBeth Arnold’s kindergarten and second-grade classrooms, students celebrate the legendary 100th day of school by stringing Fruit Loops necklaces, stacking 100 cups in 100 seconds, making words out of a 100-day phrase, and trying to estimate a 100 penny bunch as they grab them from a larger copper stash. Visitors to Busy Bees will also find an organized array of indexed topics ranging from pirates, phases of the moon and President’s Day activities to seasons, segmenting and storage.
Primary Inspired
Brenda, a first and second-grade looping teacher, is mad about mathematics. This passion is evident on her site, the Primary Inspired, which is chock full of math resources ranging from discussions from a Guided Math book study she’s participating in, to an exclusive interview with a Guided Math book author/expert. When she’s not talking digits, Brenda also shares organization ideas that will inspire teachers to create ‘Teacher Toolboxes,’ brightly-colored hanging book shelves, and Math Corners resembling a cozy home environment.
Pitner’s Potpourri
On Pitner’s Potpourri, readers will discover an abundant source of math and literature freebies, thanks to the work of second and third-grade looping teacher Mary Pitner, who previously was a fourth and fifth-grade looping teacher. The Tennessee resident, who is passionate about such children’s literature favorites like Stellaluna and The Polar Express, shares activity ideas that help teach skills like sequencing, comparing and contrasting, and identifying character traits, while ultimately teaching the standards.
My Life as a Third Grade Teacher
When it comes time to teach her young readers how to visualize a story that they are reading, third-grade reading and language arts teacher Lindsay Noren brings out a trusty prop – gigantic, green clown glasses. The Texas native, who is pursuing a master’s degree to enable her to become a reading specialist, cites third grade and literacy as her passions. Though Lindsay writes that she previously struggled to increase her students’ vocabularies, she and her new teaching team have compiled a successful formula, which she outlines and discusses on her blog, My Life as a Third Grade Teacher.
Keeping Kids First
As the voice of Keeping Kids First, North Carolina 4th grade teacher Kelly Hines offers tips for newbies that include finding a substitute and observing school parking etiquette, lists pot luck dinners and hand-crafted gifts as reasons to love teaching, and ponders ways to fill the void in textbook-free classrooms.
Learn Me Good
John Pearson is the Dallas 3rd grade math teacher and author who prepares for a new school year coinciding with a book debut, survives a first day of bus schedule mix-ups and cafeteria burrito shortages, and chronicles the day-to-day challenges of the profession in his blog and book by the same name, Learn Me Good (now with a sequel!).
Primary Graffiti
On Primary Graffiti, Cheryl Saoud offers such sage advice as using students as living post-it notes since they will always remind you of your promises – with a caveat to prepare for the backlash if you fail to follow through; the Florida 2nd grade teacher hopes her school can create a forest with a Green initiative that ties tree donations to good grades.
Learning Is Messy
The experience of heading a Nevada model technology classroom leads to invitations to participate in NBC’s Education Nation Teacher Townhall and the New York Times Schools for Tomorrow Conference for 30-year teaching veteran Brian Crosby; this Huffington Post contributor and Learning is Messy blogger looks for light at the end of the school reform tunnel and plays a kind of musical chairs to get students acquainted.
Teach123
A recent transplant to California, veteran teacher Michelle lassos in Teach123 readers with self-designed, cowboy-fun lesson packets, giveaways, and homework systems with titles ranging from Popcorn Sounds to Bubblegum Words. She offers K-8 packets designed to help document Common Core Standards and even donates select proceeds to causes related to her themes.
Second Grade Shenanigans
When she is not slathered in paint from her classroom decorating, crafter extraordinaire Hope King inspires fellow teachers in the virtual world to design innovative classroom seating, eye-catching banners, and Positive Thought Walls. On Second Grade Shenanigans, she discusses classroom gadgets and possibilities for the creative lesson plans she’s authored.
4th Grade Frolics
Tara Eiken is a mother of two and the blogger behind 4th Grade Frolics, which offers glimpses into her Florida classroom. Her Book Recommendation Trees, Story Stones and Book Cover Bunting are all designed to motivate budding readers and writers. Although Tara joined the teaching profession later in life, she exudes great enthusiasm and a willingness to assist others in the field, while frequently sharing freebies and promoting classroom-related giveaways.
3rd Grade Thoughts
Stephanie, an Ohio native and 3rd Grade Thoughts creator, is a Colorado teacher and a mother passionate about the third grade and Pinterest. Her blog is peppered with wisdom from her 7 years of teaching as well as a plethora of Whole Brain and Comprehensive Daily 5 resources. She even tosses in a few Pinterest project ideas from time-to-time, encouraging readers to create eraser-themed, back-to-school manicures, and do-it-yourself dyed clothespins.
Runde’s Room
“Live. Love. Laugh. Learn.” These are the words that Canadian teacher and blogger Jennifer Runde lives and writes by. At Runde’s Room, Jennifer distributes free lesson plans with instructions for making ‘Character Rocks,’ which are designed to promote character education. She also shares posters and plans for ‘Glow & Grow’ and ‘Traffic Light Comprehension’ student assessment strategies. Occasionally, the art enthusiast offers glimpses into her home life by sharing engaging projects she’s created with her own family.
Learning in Bliss
As the voice of Learning in Bliss, Marcia, who is an upper elementary, language arts teacher and a K-12 language arts committee member, ponders such topics as frustrations faced inside the classroom, alternatives to traditional classroom parties and appreciative words delivered by the most unlikely of students. Ever passionate about technology, Marcia also shares techniques for incorporating it into the classroom.
A Cupcake for the Teacher
With four years of teaching experience under her belt, Teri, now a 1st grade teacher in New Jersey, fills A Cupcake for the Teacher with a plethora of sweet treats, to include: lesson plan giveaways, material trinket contests, and a ‘Good Things’ feature where she highlights sample incentive programs. On top of lesson units that pay homage to Martin Luther King, Jr. and Johnny Appleseed, she also presents interesting craft ideas, such as a ‘summer vacation countdown rainbow.’
Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies
For mother and teacher Lorraine Vasquez, being an educator is “a dream come true.” She harbors a love for frogs, as evidenced by the frog-themed freebie posters that contain inspirational quotes. This Texas teacher also files journal-like posts about the ups and downs of teaching, ranging from such topics as unhealthy competition among educators to Open Houses that went exceptionally well.
Fern Smith’s Classroom Ideas!
Designated as ‘Teacher of the Year’ at her Florida school, 3rd grade teacher and team leader Fern Smith offers a treasure trove of spelling and math practice sheets as part of her Freebie Friday feature. Fern Smith’s Classroom Ideas is also chock full of center games, parent involvement recommendations, printable coupons and recipes.
Little Literacy Learners
K-4 reading teacher Mrs. McKown issues an Open House letter reminding parents of the importance to provide laptops – but not the computer kind; this New York blog-stalker turned enthusiastic participant shares her favorite teacher blogs and offers resources galore, including teaching games, book reviews and giveaways, on Little Literacy Learners.
Oh’ Boy Fourth Grade
Mrs. Farley is the creative word inventor and onetime Disney worker graduating to 4th grade after a decade teaching in 3rd; her photogenic 3-year-old co-stars on Oh’ Boy Fourth Grade, a blog overflowing with freebies, story problem strategies, carnival-themed classroom highlights, and regrets about the constraints of a robotic curriculum with no room for glitter.
Sunny Days in Second Grade
Struggling to keep a sunny attitude in the midst of school budget cuts is one challenge Denise describes on Sunny Day in Second Grade; this self-confessed Dollar Tree addict who began creating classroom materials out of sheer necessity now shares her creations along with tales of breaking free from Friday Folders and finding a new obsession in lapbooks.
The Schroeder Page
Ten years in elementary school means constantly adapting to new standards and laboring to create new materials, which makes the Old School giveaways and generously shared ideas all the more welcome on The Schroeder Page; blog author Mrs. Schroeder waxes nostalgic for old-fashioned chalkboards and blissfully reports on a perfectionist daughter who gets the gift of a teacher with a refreshing attitude toward homework.
Juice Boxes & Crayolas
Juice Boxes & Crayolas continues a blog started as a chronicle of a teaching newbie’s baptism of fire; now a 5th grade teacher getting a grip on time and classroom management, this blog author, passionate runner and new vegan converts to behavior clip charts, carries out a classroom sports theme by ending each day with a closing huddle, and can’t wait to try out her new teaching tablet.
Rockin’ Teacher Materials
Reflections on unforgettable classroom characters who carve out a special place in a teacher’s heart and wistful feelings for phased-out parent-teacher conferences find expression on Rockin’ Teacher Materials, where 2nd-grade teacher and real-life Brady Bunch mom Hilary Lewis also shares tips that range from organizing Rocket Math to teaching moon phases with Oreos.
The Kennedy Korral Blog
Missy Kennedy is the 17-year teaching veteran and mom of 6 behind The Kennedy Korral Blog – Third Grade, which offers ideas for celebrating Dr. Seuss’ birthday, an invitation to recognize excellence with nominations for teacher awards and a bounty of fresh activities – including more ways of incorporating candy corn into the classroom than you could ever imagine.
Second Grade is Splendid
Star students, bee binders and a Miss Tattle bucket exemplify creative classroom management, while apostrophe showers, marching antonyms and New Year’s toast decorate clever bulletin boards in Second Grade is Splendid! Ms. Durning’s Fairytale, which is also brimming with printables and Daily 5 inspiration.
Kevin’s Meandering Mind
Author, presenter and 6th-grade teacher Kevin Hodgson signs his posts ‘dogtrax’ and finds similarities between game design and the writing process; the ‘Boolean Squared’ creator inspires reticent writers with digital story projects and invites readers to distill a day in a sentence on Kevin’s Meandering Mind.
First Grade a la Carte
Kathy packs First Grade a la Carte with giveaways galore and smart tips for inspiring parent-involvement superstars and starting classroom management at registration; the antics of storybook mice inspire color and shape lessons, weather activities spring from Eric Carle’s ‘Little Cloud’ and ‘Chicka Chicka Boom Boom’ sets the stage for classroom decor for a 22-year teaching vet who finds herself back in first grade.
Oceans of First Grade Fun
6 AM wakeup drills, a purse stuffed with school supply receipts, and fingers that bear the scars of hot glue and paper cuts signal back-to-school time for the blogger behind Oceans of First Grade Fun who extolls the benefits of warm-up number talks, math analogy puzzlers, gummi bear bingo and M&M graphing to keep kids engaged.
Mr. Avery’s Classroom Blog
A Massachusetts 6-grade class equipped with its own green screen and headed by a teacher Rookie of the Year whose career has already spanned several states is the setting for Mr. Avery’s Classroom Blog, which boasts readers on every continent and serves as an extension of lessons launched during class time; watch a time-lapse video that shrinks a typical school day into under a minute and Math Movie Network highlights starring students on this classroom blog.
One Extra Degree
Starting the year in a new school district with a new curriculum while awaiting move-in day into a new home poses plenty of challenges and opportunities for growth for self-confessed teachaholic Amanda Nickerson, the 3rd-grade teacher/blogger of One Extra Degree who decides to embrace change and continue passionately creating classroom activities, like Economy 101 featuring Play-doh-nomics.
Mrs. Yollis’ Classroom Blog
The creator of Mrs. Yollis’ Classroom Blog is a 25-year teaching vet, eager traveler, classroom technology expert and district Teacher of the Year who enjoys participating in professional development via e-conference and utilizes this classroom blog to connect her 3rd graders to students across the globe and extend lessons on topics like family traditions and ‘How I Spent My Summer Vacation’.
Kleinspiration
TubeTalk videos that launch creative writing and Tiny Tech Tips aimed at primary classrooms are a couple categories featured on Kleinspiration; teacher, presenter and classroom technology enthusiast Erin Klein highlights fellow teacher blogs and partners with classroom resource providers to offer product reviews and giveaways.
Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons
Discover a fairy tale unit that includes Venn Diagrams comparing ‘The Ugly Duckling’ versions and a challenge to create a stay-put Cinderella slipper when you Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons; dual-language Texas teacher and Zumba enthusiast Amy Lemons eagerly awaits casual Fridays and the chance to implement ideas gleaned from the blogosphere.
I Thought A Think
Cognitive dissonance created by hypocritical politics and the crippling uncertainty that threatens public schooling are fodder for I Thought A Think by Washington 1st-grade teacher Ryan who spins a timely tale starring a new group of horsemen – including Testing, Evaluation and Funding – that signal the end of our education system; online school advocates with an agenda to destroy teacher unions and the separate rules that govern public and charter schools inspire passionate debate on this blog.
3rd Grade Gridiron
Grad student, football fan and proud cockapoo owner Dana advises fellow teachers to leave school work and lousy moods behind when the last bell rings; Scholastic books, laminating machines, glue sticks and hanging files are a few essentials in the teaching arsenal of the blogger behind 3rd Grade Gridiron.
The Elementary Educator
3rd-grade teacher Mark Pullen ponders the best way to grade teachers, considers teaching recess to build community, challenges teachers to go paperless by ditching worksheets and calls for transparency with state standardized test results; along with practical resources, The Elementary Educator includes reflections on budget cuts and the worrisome move to mass produce education.
Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher
Back-to-school means sayonara to smores and swings, hello to gridiron games and the alarm clock’s buzz to Mrs. Lutton, self-confessed soccer mom, Pinterest fanatic and creator of Thoughts of a Third Grade Teacher, a blog brimming with clever classroom ideas including tips for launching story-writing and crafting computer password tags.
Teacher, I Don’t Get It
Hoping for a return to common-sense math instruction, weighing in on school politics that inspire creative terms like ‘Reformenzies’ and reaching for help to deal with a student who loses a parent are examples of issues faced with refreshing honesty on Teacher, I Don’t Get It; adventures in dating in the brave new world provide funny and poignant fodder for the 3rd-grade teacher who posts as Ms. Understood.
Miss Brave Teaches NYC
Taking her pseudonym from the typical response to inquiries about a profession that combines manual laborer, social worker and McGyver, the 3rd-grade teacher/blogger behind Miss Brave Teaches NYC goes back to school determined to avoid repeating past mistakes or turning into a bitter teacher stereotype by trying to view the year ahead as 185 opportunities to teach.
NC Teacher Stuff
North Carolina 5th-grade teacher Jeff Barger provides a rich classroom resource on NC Teacher Stuff; Non-fiction Mondays and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Fridays are regular features on this blog brimming with book reviews tagged with helpful labels and links to websites featuring educational activities such as Engaging Science and Web of Life.
All-En-A-Day’s Work
Author, staff developer and 25-year teaching vet Patrick A. Allen is the blogger behind All-en-A-Day’s Work; committing to purposeful persistence in workouts and workshops, finding treasures at a bookstore called The Tattered Cover and hoping to inspire the next generation of dreamers with kid-lit favorites like ‘Me…Jane’ and ‘Queen of the Falls’ are examples of posts by this library card-carrying member of a book club nicknamed Friday Freaks.
Just Another Day In…First Grade
Transitioning from the 1st-grade classroom to a new dual role as Kindergarten teacher and literacy coach is the latest chapter in the ongoing narrative of Just Another Day In…First Grade; creating classroom materials like a literacy unit inspired by the ubiquity of storybook mice and evolving from a reader’s workshop that resembled a ‘hot mess’ into a thoughtful approach aided by the wisdom of mentors are examples of what readers find in this blog by Mrs. Tabb.
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More Great Elementary Teacher Blogs to Read – Honorable Mention
Betty’s Blog
Keeping in touch with members of a profession that’s also a family tradition is the motivation behind Betty’s Blog – Timely Teacher Talk; retired from public school teaching, this Texas blogger is awestruck by the current crop of teachers and still experiences a mixture of wistfulness and relief when the air crackles with the back-to-school buzz – although she now relives the anticipation and anxiety through grandkids.
Integrating Technology in the Primary Classroom
Australia-based team teacher and Reform Symposium participant Kathleen Morris is the blogger behind Integrating Technology in the Primary Classroom; interactive whiteboards, netbooks, iPods and an iPad are part of the 2nd-grade arsenal for this classroom tech enthusiast who offers tips for encouraging blog comments and teaching kids computer troubleshooting.
Reflections on Teaching
Starting fresh with a move to a school that isn’t a perennial poor performer but still struggles with test anxiety, Alice Mercer chronicles strides made in a classroom that is a work in progress, content with a class of ‘imperfect’ kids but dissatisfied with overly helpful textbooks that spoonfeed instead of encouraging critical thinking; reflecting, networking and incorporating technology are the goals of the 5th-grade teacher behind Reflections on Teaching.
Educating Alice
Author, Huffington Post contributor and Peace Corps volunteer are a few resume highlights for Monica Edinger, the teacher blogger behind Educating Alice, a nod to the beloved storybook character; children’s lit is the focus of this blog packed with book reviews, author interviews, suggested read-aloud titles, favorite tween reads, and musings on subjects like the enduring charm of Harry Potter.
Mrs. Kilburn’s Kiddos
A nine-year veteran in special and general education environments, Californian Barbara Kilburn compiles resources for teachers and parents on her crisp and organized site, Mrs. Kilburn’s Kiddos. This 2ndgrade teacher, who is also married to an educator, shares a wealth of free and printable products of her own creation, a gallery of bulletin board ideas, and thematic units ranging from dental health to life ‘down on the farm.’
Elementary, My Dear, or Far From It
For Jenny, back to school in Virginia means kids burdened with supplies, endless inquiries of “What’s that?” and a sense of awe over the job of refining another class of raw 1st graders; on Elementary, My Dear, Or Far From It, a resolution to blog about each unique classroom personality inspires student nicknames like Curious George, Pippi, and Harold of Purple Crayon fame.
East Dragon Den
A recent entrant into the blogosphere, East Dragon Den exemplifies the profound and practical purpose of a classroom blog that utilizes the comments section to extend lessons and serves as a bridge to the wider world; live-blogging the President’s speech using Cover It Live and connecting with high school writers by offering story feedback illustrate the opportunities that technology affords these 5th graders.
Blogging Through the Fourth Dimension
Passionate about being the change, opposed to endless and often unearned student rewards and unapologetic in the fight for better schools describe 5th-grade teacher Mrs. Ripp; on Blogging Through the Fourth Dimension, this Great American Teach Off finalist and creator of the Global Read Aloud project points out the backward thinking that permeates school policy and shares kid wisdom on ‘Why the Internet is Like the Mall.’
A Day In the Life
Teaching kids who know firsthand about hunger and healthcare gaps but have never walked through a woods are challenges bravely faced by California elementary teacher and artist Sarah Puglisi; pondering how art can regain its place in the classroom and the lost opportunities for creative learning in the drive for uniformity are examples of topics on A Day In the Life.
It’s Not All Flowers and Sausages
It’s Not All Flowers and Sausages is an outlet for venting about soap opera-worthy school drama, with categories titled My Co-workers Have Lost Their Minds and Administrative Madness; students are the saving grace for Mimi, who lists her ability to freeze kids with a raised brow and shield them from the madness right outside the classroom door as her own amazing teaching feats.
Ladybug’s Teacher Files
As head of an ELL magnet classroom, Kristen tackles the challenge of educating students representing the spectrum of language fluency; this 4th & 5th grade teacher gets by with the help of the teacher/blogger community and fills Ladybug’s Teacher Files with reader and writer workshop ideas, tutorials for blogging and technology in the classroom, and a Printables Shop stocked with classroom signs and themed ABC lines.
The Teacher Wife
Lindsey is the The Teacher Wife whose life comes full circle when she finds herself working across the hall from her own 1st grade teacher; this Utah newlywed teaching ‘looped’ 2nd graders gleefully embraces the teacher blog community, both soliciting help and contributing ideas for tracking home reading with beaded dog tags and a kid-created classroom pledge that includes being the first to say “Hi!”
Philly Teacher
A move from public to charter school is part of the journey chronicled by Mary Beth Hertz on the Philly Teacher; setting the tone for a classroom democracy with a student-created ‘Can Do Wall’ and weighing in on hot-button topics like school choice and school reform are examples of reflections by this elementary teacher, Robotics Club founder and Great American Teach Off finalist.
Creative Literacy
Blogger Katied shares classroom iPad apps that foster a range of skills and a delightful bulletin board featuring kid-lit characters rendered by her 1st-grade artists on Creative Literacy; trading the idea of homework for the concept of connected learning and reflecting on change as a new school year begins amid a home move are some of the musings of this Ohio teacher.
Creating Lifelong Learners
Incorporating digital movie-making in the classroom is an ongoing mission for Mathew Needleman, who busts a few education myths, offers advice for teachers who hog the classroom limelight, and advocates lunching with fellow teachers to build community; utilizing multimedia, including daily test prep and emphasizing authentic writing are a few of the principles that guide the literacy coach and K-5 teacher behind Creating Lifelong Learners.
Raising Readers and Writers
Implementing children’s lit is the focus of Raising Readers and Writers by 20-year teaching veteran Julie Johnson who shares with readers her picture book faves and teaching success stories that include a well-attended monthly parent-child book club, kid-created digital poetry anthologies, and student bloggers finding their authentic voices.
Regurgitated Alpha Bits
Humor is a powerful weapon for elementary teacher Edna Lee, who blogs about field trip misadventures, tales of the techno-cursed, and encountering a former student now old enough to be her caretaker on Regurgitated Alpha Bits; fellow teachers can commiserate with the heartbreak of discovering a bullied student and the problem pupil inherited by a newbie teacher.
TeachFactory
Krissy Venosdale offers the perspective of a grade 3-6 gifted education teacher, avid classroom tech user and advocate of real academic rigor instead of busy-work; 5-minute fillers that make time fly, ‘postcards’ from Space Camp, and an invitation to participate in the Virtual Von Braun project are a few highlights of TeachFactory.
My Life Untranslated
My Life Untranslated reflects a constant struggle to find words to translate the rich tapestry of another culture, and it is a metaphor for a marriage of mixed native speakers raising a bilingual child; Ms. Flecha is the pseudonymous blogger and second-career NYC ESL teacher who posts about the special challenges and political firestorm faced by students who represent the new Ruby Bridges.
A Year of Reading
Franki and Mary Lee are the loyal readers, authors, veteran teachers and members of the KidLitosphere who fill A Year of Reading with graphic novel picks, exclusive book excerpts and new releases in series faves; this teaching pair welcomes high and low tech library tools and delights in matching student readers with just the right books.
Borderland
Smart commentary on reformist absurdity, cartoon politicos, and the sense of being ‘school policy roadkill’ fill Doug Noon’s Borderland; taking responsibility in a school identified as failing, serving as the scapegoat when the impossible is not achieved, and bemoaning standardized testing for non-standardized students are some of the timely topics in this blog by a veteran Alaska elementary teacher who takes seriously the job of educating participants in a democracy.
Teaching in Heels
Style maven, Pinterest addict and newly assigned K-3 reading teacher specialist MJ (Miss Jones) is the Los Angeles blogger behind Teaching in Heels whose advice for newbies includes asking for help and taking advantage of the generous resource represented by teacher blogs; pics of celeb fashionistas like the Kates – Middleton and Beckinsdale – offer a break from the classroom.
A Teacher’s Tale
A Marine Corps stint prepared John Howell for time in the classroom trenches, where the vow to leave no member behind is equally apt; how to steal minutes for reading in a hectic day, spread kindness with a message from Oreo cookies, and use Google Earth to dramatize social studies lessons are some of the reflections that highlight the art and science of teaching on A Teacher’s Tale.
The Teaching Palette
Elementary teachers Hillary Andrik and Theresa McGee are the creators of The Teaching Palette, a collaborative blog focused on art education that includes reader-contributed art lesson faves, sources for stretching art budgets, top apps for art teachers and tested classroom management tips like the teacher who holds up Mona Lisa and Vincent Van Gogh as behavior models.
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