After Testing Tricks

It's been a while and I'm hoping to get back on here for some fun and engaging posts! 

A Fun and Easy Teaching Trick for After Testing

Testing time can be exhausting for kids. After all that bubbling in answers and thinking hard, they need something fun but still engaging to do. That’s where Choice Boards come in!

What is a Choice Board?

A Choice Board is like a menu of activities where students get to pick what interests them. It keeps them busy while still learning—without feeling like extra work.

Why Choice Boards Are a Great Idea

1. Gives Students Control: Kids love having options and making their own choices.

2. Works for All Learning Styles: Whether they like moving around, drawing, reading, or building, there’s something for everyone.

3. Takes Away the Pressure: No grades, no stress—just fun learning activities.

4. Covers Different Subjects: You can include reading, math, science, and creativity all in one place.

Choice Board Activity Ideas

Here are some fun activities to keep kids engaged after testing:

• Tall Tale Time: Write a funny story about a superhero with a unique superpower.

• Build It Up: Use toothpicks and marshmallows to build the tallest tower you can.

• Doodle Away: Draw a picture showing how you feel now that testing is over.

• Book Talk: Pick a favorite book and share why you love it.

• Nature Hunt: Go outside and find five cool things in nature, then describe them.

• Puzzle Time: Solve a fun brain teaser or crossword puzzle.

How to Use a Choice Board in Your Classroom

• Let students pick a few activities over a couple of days.

• Offer a mix of individual and group activities.

• Include a mix of hands-on and written activities to keep it interesting.

• Get students involved in creating their own Choice Board options.

Final Thoughts

Choice Boards are a great way to keep kids engaged after testing without adding extra stress. They let students have fun while still learning in a relaxed way.

Writers Center Area: Writing Kit Idea for Organization

Organizing a writing center in an elementary classroom can be simple if you have the right package! One of the hardest parts of teaching writing is guiding students through the entire writing process as they move along through a piece of writing. That's what led me to create this Writing Center Kit that helps keep them organized and walks them through the different forms of writing. 

With this kit, students can learn about the three forms of writing while covering all 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade writing standards without even realizing it. This kit includes easy prep activities, printables, and a center station set-up (posters, prompts) that will help you build organized writing centers! These centers focus on opinion, informative, and narrative writing for the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades Common Core.

What’s Included

• 60 Task Cards that cover the three forms of writing: leveled for 3rd-5th grades
• Common Core posters for each type of writing
• Sentence starter cards for each type of writing leveled 3rd-5th
• Transition Words: First detail (3-word cards), Middle details (5-word cards), Last Detail (3-word cards), and concluding sentence (3-word cards)
• “I Can” statement posters for the writing standards for 3rd-5th
• Opinion, Informative, and Narrative Posters (3)
• Blank coordinating cards for you to add your own touch!! They're EDITABLE in PowerPoint (A list of fonts used is included!!!)
• Recording Sheet Checklists
• Answer Sheet for recording writing responses
• Black and White Printer Friendly version included!!!!
• BONUS: A doodle B+W with a POP of color theme 
  

Easy Prep Spring Bulletin Boards

Spring Bulletin Board

It's time for spring, well, I actually just have spring fever and I can't wait for winter to end! Period. I despise colder days and hate socks so that really doesn't help a thing. Prepping for spring is all about making the atmosphere inviting in the classroom! I will admit that sometimes as a teacher, I am a wee bit of a procrastinator when it comes to changing up the theme of my decor with the seasons. It's tough, people. It is a challenge to make sure you're getting everything accomplished in a day as an educator, end of story. 

So with all that being said, I have created some Spring bulletin board kits with easy prep decor for your classroom! I hope they can help to brighten up your room. Even on those colder last few weeks of winter, maybe they can help to make coming into school a little easier. 

Boho Spring Bulletin Board

Running a Biz...Side Hustle Madness

So I just gotta say...anyone out there that thinks running a business is easy as a side-hustle and a day job too has no clue what they're doing haha. I literally cannot tell how I'm doing with my shop updates. I've done so many my brain is almost mush. 

I've worked my little guts out updating resources this summer and making them even better for classrooms and improving dated resources. I'll be honest, I am one exhausted momma and sometimes I wanna give up. I work late at night. I do my best to work when their little eyes are closed and they are snuggled in their beds. Life as a momma and even for you dad's out there, and having a side hustle can be tough, but it can also be rewarding. 

I feel like those those rewards sometimes come slow and yes sometimes we can get discouraged, but other times I feel like just giving it my all and never giving up. Feels like that is the best thing that I can do for myself and my babies. 

I hope you all, teacher-preneurs and all are having a wonderful summer! It has flown by and the days of summer are soon coming to a close for me. I hope those of you who still have another month or so soak it up!!

Casey