Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

Elephant and Piggie Book Activities

I know when I first started teaching, the Elephant and Piggie series didn't exist, but I've been reading the books for so long now, I can't remember my teaching life without them. When my own kids were little, they couldn't get enough of these two unlikely friends. And for well over a decade now, our students are just as in love with these quirky little characters as any kid I've ever … [Read more...]

Word Problems – First Grade Math Support

I remember word problems being hard when I was a kid. For whatever reason, I thought they were a little challenging. I was definitely someone who preferred straight up equations... I'd solve those all day long. But reading about math wasn't something I wanted to do. Reading was for reading, not for math. As I got older, they only got worse. I thought those high school math problems about trains … [Read more...]

Fractions Activities for First Grade

We've loaded up on all sorts of fractions activities this year. It just so happens it's one of our students' favorite math units. Why? Because one of the key concepts is about equal parts. And kids (at least our kids) are obsessed with things being fair. Did everyone get the same amount of time on the swings? Will I get a chance to share my story, too? Is there enough glitter for … [Read more...]

National Grilled Cheese Day

Did you know April 12th is National Grilled Cheese Day? Neither did we, but we do now. For the last few years, we've been in the habit of browsing through the National Day Calendar to see all the quirky days it lists. If you're familiar with the calendar, you know there are a lot of silly, but fun days. Many center around food... jellybeans, pizza, pickles, and so on. This year, we noticed … [Read more...]

Women’s History Month Coloring Pages

As we start planning for Women's History Month, we've been thinking about our students. This year's group has different needs than last year's and we've needed materials that are a little more supportive in their design. We may still use our printable biographies, but we're excited about the format of these COLORING SHEETS as a more manageable alternative. Each features an amazing woman whose … [Read more...]

Tacky the Penguin – An Odd Little Bird

Tacky the Penguin has been on our winter read-aloud list for so many years now. Penguins are one of those obvious seasonal topics this time of year, but there's more to this story. If you know, then you know. However, if this book is new to you, we recommend you check out a copy and save some time to read out loud. It's silly and the kids love it, especially if you give it a little gusto. And … [Read more...]