Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

Mother’s Day Gifts from Kids

Mother's Day gifts from kids are so special, especially when they're made by hand. With Mother's Day right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about gifts our students can make. I've done my fair share of flowers made from tiny hand prints. And of course we always make cards that feature pictures of our moms... which, by the way, never really reflect how they actually look. My own … [Read more...]

Easter Games for Kids

Minute-to-Win-It games are pretty easy to set up and play. They're fast paced and fun, so they even make good brain breaks when you feel the energy dipping. Easter week is a great time to play these games. They're perfect for school, but they're also fun to play with friends and family at home. 💡IDEA: Share the link with your students' families. Parents are always looking for ways to keep their … [Read more...]

5 Anchor Charts to Support Reading Discussions

Anchor charts don't have to be complicated.  As a matter of fact, they shouldn't be... especially for primary children.  I once read that anchor charts should be designed the way advertisers design billboards... simple, clear, and to the point.  A driver needs to be able to look quickly at the sign, see a few key words and images, and understand what the message is about. … [Read more...]

St. Patrick’s Day Games

I love Minute-to-Win-It games.  A few years ago, I even planned a whole "Christmas Minute-to-Win-It Day" where each adult came over with a game idea of their own and a small amount for the Prize Pot.  We didn't exchange gifts that year (except for the lucky person... my sister... who won the prize money). Instead, our gifts were memories... it was so fun!  These … [Read more...]

Open-Ended Flip Books

Flip books are popular. I've made flip books about activists, presidents, mothers, even groundhogs. (Speaking of which, I'm so ready for spring.) I've also seen flip books for specific book titles, but sometimes you need a template for a different book. And that's when it happened... an idea for blank flip books... templates I could use with any book... fiction or nonfiction... and open-ended so … [Read more...]

Happy New Year – Fun Activities for Kids

Happy new year! Ok, yes, it's only December and I haven't even finished my Christmas shopping yet. But I'm already thinking about ringing in the new year with my students. In between all of my shopping and thinking-about-shopping, I finished putting together a set of my favorite classroom activities for celebrating the new year with the children. It's a collection of ideas we do on the first … [Read more...]