February Read Alouds; For the Love!

February Picture books add some seasonal fun and flair to your teaching day. Enjoy these cute tales hand-picked by the teachers at the Southern Schoolhouse.

More Everyday Winter Outfits for Teacher

There’s nothing like putting on a warm and cozy outfit to embrace the chill of the winter. Whether it’s a soft, oversized sweater paired with your favorite leggings or a hoodie with fluffy socks.

January Read Alouds to Beat the Winter Blues

Loud Winter Nap,
Meet January,
Tacky the Penguin,
Snowman Paul and Kate’s Olympic Dream,
The Snow Thief,
How to Catch a Snowman,
Snowmen at Night,
Snowmen at Work,
The Mitten,
Squirrel’s New Years Resolution

Terrific Educational Games That Work in the Home and Classroom

Growing up, many of us played classics like Chutes and Ladders, Monopoly, and Scrabble. While those games are timeless favorites, sometimes we want something fresh games that truly spark excitement and bring the family together. In this article, I’m excited to share some fantastic reading and math board games that are not only educational but also a blast for everyone to play.

Turn Math into an Adventure with Math Start Books!

I use the Start Right books with my younger students to reinforce various math concepts, making learning both educational and enjoyable. I am still building my collection and have mostly Level 1 books because that is where a lot of my resource students fall. Below you will find some of my favorites!

Counting Made Fun with These Magical Counting Storybooks!

I love using these magical counting storybooks by by Amanda Sobotka with my younger students throughout the year! Whether it’s counting pumpkins in a Halloween tale, reindeer at Christmas, leprechauns on St. Patrick’s Day, or counting turtles, bulldozers, and fish, these books make learning fun and engaging! Each story features vibrant illustrations and exciting themes that keep kids excited as they count, touch, and explore.

Poke-a-Dot Adventures in Reading

Poke-a-Dot books are popular and fun because they connect interactive play with storytelling. Kids love pressing and popping the colorful dots, which adds a tactile part to reading, making it more engaging.

Wear Your Passion: Apparel for Specialty Area Teachers

Themed shirts have become a popular trend at our school, with teachers showcasing unique shirts for holidays like Halloween, Christmas, St. Patrick’s Day, and more. Now, we’re introducing everyday shirts designed just for our specialty area teachers! These shirts let Art, Music, PE, Reading, and Math teachers show their school spirit and add a fun, personal touch to their wardrobe all year round.

Teacher Tested Sneakers, Pain No More!

Walking and standing on the school’s tile floor and putting style over comfort, led to knee and hip pain. Wearing shoes with no support had to be discarded as I switched my focus to supportive shoes. I invest in my shoes because it invests in my body. When I first put on my On Cloud Monsters, I could not believe the difference they made. I was actually able to run with no knee pain. I have had three past knee surgeries and thought running was a thing of the past. Although a higher price tag, I believe in the product and would highly recommend buying a pair. The following shoes have been tested by myself or my family. They are my top choices for teacher comfort sneakers and super cute too.

Chapter Books for the Hesitant Reader

Most of my experience as a regular education teacher has been with the upper elementary students.  As the students move into 3rd grade, they move towards reading chapter books instead of picture books.  A pattern I noticed over the years is that students enjoy having that chapter book in hand whether they can actually read it or not.  The thicker the better.  Chapter books just become “the thing” when the students get into the upper grades.