People like to remember things from the past — even objects or experiences that no longer exist — for several reasons: Emotional connection: These items, like phone booths, record players, or encyclopedias, are tied to personal memories. Seeing or ...

The Joy of Fall Why Children Love Collecting Leaves, Playing with Sticks, and Exploring Outdoors Autumn is one of the most enchanting seasons for children. As the air turns crisp and the trees transform into a canvas of reds, oranges, and yellows, c...

Creating a family or class newsletter is a great way to keep everyone informed and connected. In a busy classroom, a newsletter helps parents stay updated on upcoming events, assignments, and learning highlights. For families, it provides a way to s...

Today, Halloween is celebrated mostly as a fun holiday. Children dress up in costumes, go trick-or-treating, and attend parties. Schools and communities often host parades, games, and festivals. While it still has ties to ancient traditions, it’s no...

Why Children Love Fairy Tales Fairy tales have been told for centuries, passed down through oral tradition long before they were written into the books we know today. From the Brothers Grimm to Hans Christian Andersen, and from Walt Disney’s animati...

Writer’s Workshop in the Elementary Classroom: How to Set It Up and Why It Matters Writing is one of the most powerful tools we can give children. It allows them to communicate their ideas, express their emotions, think critically, and build connect...

Who is Elly Elementary/ For 25 years, Elly Elementary poured her heart into teaching children in grades K–5, guiding countless students through their first steps as readers, writers, scientists, and thinkers. She was the kind of teacher who could tu...

Teachers need a long summer break to regroup, recover, and recharge because teaching is one of the most mentally, emotionally, and physically demanding professions. Each school year involves not only lesson planning and instruction, but also managin...

Summer slump (also called the summer slide) is the learning loss that students can experience over the summer break when they are not actively engaged in educational activities. During this time, students—especially in elementary and middle school—m...

It’s important to keep kids engaged during the last week of school because it helps them end the year positively, with a sense of accomplishment and excitement about learning. While their energy might be focused on summer, continuing to explore thro...

Writing to our future self is a powerful way to reflect on who we are right now and imagine who we want to become. It helps us think about our dreams, goals, fears, and the things that matter most to us. When we read the letter later, it can show us...

Summer is a vital time for teachers to recharge mentally, emotionally, and physically after a demanding school year. TEACHERS OVER THE SUMMER: Here are some meaningful ways teachers can refuel: 1. Rest & RejuvenateSleep in and rest without guil...

Many of us are still in school during June. Make it even better with some fun activities. You can highlight some of the special days we celebrate: The last month of school can be exciting but challenging—students are eager for summer, but there’s st...

Memorial Day is a national holiday in the United States that takes place on the last Monday in May. It is a day to remember and honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.Americans celebrate Memorial Day in a mix of respectf...

The end of the school year is a time of excitement, reflection, and transition. Classrooms often shift from structured lessons to more relaxed and celebratory activities. Students may work on projects that summarize their learning, complete final as...