Andrea Knight

Teacher · Learner · Author

End of the Year Memory Book

As a teacher, I think an end of the year memory book is a great project to do with students before they leave for the summer. As a parent, I also think this. My kids are grown now, but I still love to look back at what they wrote when they were just six. Actually, they do too. We still have a good laugh at my daughter's kindergarten narrative about her first experience at a hibachi grill. That … [Read more...]

Jokes about Turkeys – Just for Kids

Who doesn't love a few fun jokes about turkeys this time of year? Ok... you and I maybe, but kids don't really get tired of silly jokes. As far as they're concerned, the cornier the better. I figure if I'm going to hear them anyway, I might as well print them so they can read them. Jokes require a definite sense of timing, expression, and smoothness for the perfect delivery, so they're just … [Read more...]

Classroom Posters That Develop Positive Behaviors

What do readers do? Or writers? How about scientists, musicians, and athletes? What does it look like to be an active listener? And what does it mean to be a good friend? The first week of school is right around the corner and these are some of the questions I know we'll talk about as we work on building our culture. These classroom posters have been in my back to school toolbox for years and I … [Read more...]

Informational Writing Templates for Kids

Informational writing doesn't have to be super challenging for kids. Most children like reading, watching, and listening to nonfiction. And they LOVE to tell you all the fun facts and trivia they know about their particular passion topic. I don't know if this happens in other parts of the country, but when I was teaching in Florida, many of my students were obsessed with … [Read more...]

Diaries: A Tiny Twist on the Personal Narrative

Writing personal narratives is a key unit of study in primary classrooms. Most students manage this unit with ease. They're not usually at a loss for ideas and often over-write. As a matter of fact, you've probably delivered a lot of lessons on how to rethink and revise for irrelevant, superfluous content. It feels like that never ends. Ever. Do you have that lesson on repeat too? But some … [Read more...]