How to Incorporate Handwriting Instruction in the Classroom Daily

Every minute of the day is accounted for because there’s so much to fit in! And because time is so tight, if a lesson takes more time than I planned or our students come in 5 minutes late from recess, somethings gotta give…And it usually ends up being handwriting practice. But it’s not a lost cause! By finding creative and manageable ways to incorporate handwriting instruction into your daily classroom routine, it is possible to enhance your literacy outcomes without overloading your day.

Molly WheatleyDecember 21, 2024Handwriting, Literacy stations, literacy, Daily 5Comment

How to Use Elf on the Shelf in the Classroom for Engaging Holiday Writing Activities

I love adding a little thematic flair to my Daily 5 activities. With Christmas just around the corner, now is the perfect time to add a little holiday cheer to your literacy block. What’s my favorite way to add some Christmas spirit to my writing centers? Elf on the Shelf! With some careful planning and purposeful activities this holiday tradition can be productive and fun for both you and your students!

Molly WheatleyDecember 7, 2024Daily 5, Holidays, Literacy stations, literacyComment

Strategies to Master Daily 5 Expectations with Whole Brain Teaching

Mastering how to clearly explain expectations - and ensuring students actually follow them - is the key to a well-managed classroom, especially during independent work time (the heart of the Daily 5 framework!). However, getting students to stick to expectations without feeling like you're constantly nagging can be tricky. When I incorporated Whole Brain Teaching strategies, everything shifted for the better…

Molly WheatleyNovember 30, 2024Daily 5, Classroom management, Classroom expectations, Literacy stations, literacyComment

Top Tips for Successfully Implementing the Daily 5 in Kindergarten

Struggling to keep your kindergarteners engaged while building strong literacy skills? Organizing an effective literacy block can feel impossible with so many moving parts—and with such short attention spans! Discover how implementing the Daily 5 framework can transform your kindergarten classroom. Learn how to build literacy skills, foster independence, and create a smooth, efficient literacy block that works!

Molly WheatleyNovember 16, 2024Daily 5, kindergarten readiness, literacy, Literacy stationsComment

Book Clubs in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Wanna know what I enjoy most about teaching fifth graders? Book Clubs! I know, I’m a bit of a Daily 5 junkie, but Book Clubs help me build strong relationships with my students while still teaching the content I need to cover. But choosing books for upper elementary Book Clubs can be a challenge, which is my I’m sharing my favorite books for upper elementary Book Clubs. These book recommendations are ones my students LOVE, and yours will, too!

Molly WheatleyOctober 26, 2024Daily 5, literacy, Literacy stations, Classroom managementComment

3 Simple Ways to Make Handwriting Practice More Fun

As a first grade teacher, I understand the importance of proper handwriting technique. I’ve seen the total gamut of pencil grips over the years I’ve spent teaching kindergarten and first grade.

Molly WheatleyFebruary 20, 2022Handwriting, Teaching, Daily 5, literacyComment

How to Teach Handwriting with Limited Time

With so much technology in our student’s hands daily, you might be wondering if handwriting practice serves a purpose anymore. No matter how much technology our students use daily, I’m here to tell you that handwriting is just as important today as it was 50 years ago. In the primary grades, students are practicing fine motor skills when they learn how to hold a pencil and form their letters correctly.

Molly WheatleyFebruary 15, 2022Handwriting, literacyComment

Letter Identification Activities

Letter identification is a skill that involves being able to say the names of both upper and lower case letters of the alphabet quickly, without having to think very long about each letter.

In an ideal world, kindergartners would come to school having this skill.

Is it necessary? No. They’ll absolutely learn this skill in kindergarten.

One caveat: kindergartners who already know their letters and sounds, start reading faster than kids who don’t. This has been my experience as a kindergarten teacher for many years.

Molly WheatleyJuly 6, 2020kindergarten readiness, literacyComment

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