All Things Swampy

Feel free to download this freebie Swamp Powerpoint Presentation to help your students as an introduction or review of a unit on the wetlands ecosystem. Recently I went to visit family in Louisiana. I decided to put the tons of photos I took during a swamp tour at Honey Island Swamp in Pearl River, LA, to good use. Since the In my district, the wetlands ecosystem is studied in third grade so I created a presentation. It is made with a large photo on each slide with some information and guiding questions. Each slide is meant to launch a discussion on the various topics covered in a wetlands unit such as ecosystem, food chain, animals adaptations, living and nonliving things, and natural/human-made changes to the swamp.

Subbing Adventures

Today I am so excited to present Brandi from Really Good Stuff as my guest blogger. It turns out she did some time as a substitute teacher and shares her adventures... and a poem... with all of us at Sub Hub.

Download Free Animal Picture Writing Prompts

Visit Sub Hub to download a free document with eight animal picture writing prompts. Download and print the file, or visit the Pinterest board where they all live happily along with many other fabulous picture writing prompts. Many thanks to my husband who took most of the photos.

Kindergarten Makes Its Mark

Although I have subbed for four years, I have spent only three of those days in kindergarten. Yesterday was one of those days, and I took some time to note my observations and conclusions. See what you think.

Things to Love about Subbing

Yes, subbing is tough, and definitely not always fun, but I have found plenty to love about being a sub. And I counted them off in my latest blog post. Go read more at Sub Hub.

Escaping on the Underground Railroad

This week I had a wonderful opportunity to volunteer at my son's school as his grade level was re-enacting escaping on the Underground Railroad. The event was complete with filled knapsacks, a quilt-marked journey, bounty hunters, safe hiding places, snacks, and the Great Lakes (blue paper on the stage). And, yes, we made it to Canada for playing and popcorn. Come read all about it at Sub Hub.

FREE Lorax Fun... No Thneeds Needed

I have gotten so excited for the new Lorax movie to be released on March 2, which is also Dr. Seuss's birthday. To celebrate the movie release, the birthday, Earth Day, and my favorite Seuss book of all time, I made a The Lorax Unit for grades K-5. There are at least five activities for each subject. And as if that weren't enough, I also made a free Lorax moustache hat pattern.

If You Need a Fantastic Graphic Organizer Resource, Look No Further

Graphic organizers are a must for every teacher and sub to have. Luckily for us all, Laura Candler at Teaching Resources has just published a new book full of them. Graphic Organizers for Reading is jam packed with different types of organizers, along with instructions on how to use them. To read more, visit Sub Hub.

It's a Cabinet. It's a Storage Device. It's a... T-chart!

Some teachers are just so clever! And as a sub, I get the chance to see so many different ways of using the same old things. Check out how one teacher I subbed for uses her boring two-door storage cabinet. She could cover it in posters, but no, she came up with a clever way to incorporate it into the curriculum. Visit Sub Hub to see more.

Make the Most of Downtime

Downtime for a teacher is troublesome, but downtime for a sub can spell doom. When left to their own undirected devices, many students crumble. Don't let this happen to you! My Down with Downtime product line offer suggested activities to add on to the end of any lesson to occupy the students. And now Reading and Language Arts packets are available to go along with the previously published Math. All sets are great for K-5. Visit Sub Hub to find out the scoop.

What's All the Hubbub?

It's Sub HubBub, the new monthly newsletter of the Sub Hub blog. Don't miss the first issue Feb. 1. Visit Sub Hub to become a subscriber!

Doing What Matters Most

I was lucky enough to get to review Start Something That Matters by Blake Mykoskie, chief shoe giver of TOMS. It may seem that the book would have nothing to do with teaching and blogging, but there are actually quite a few connections. Read the full review and enter to win a copy of your own at Sub Hub.

Don't Leave Out Math and Science for Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is usually all about writing stories and poems, reading holiday-themed books, classroom parties (maybe), eating candy, and exchanging cards. But don't forget that you can celebrate during math and science too. I have just the freebie for you. Check out my Valentine's Day Math and Science Ideas.

Celebrating a Baby with Some Math and Writing

Since all of my long-term subbing jobs have been for teachers on maternity leave, I came up with a baby math and writing activity to help the students feel connected to their missing teacher... and to help the teacher feel missed and appreciated.

I use the baby's stats for a math activity, and then the students make cards for the baby offering it advice for the future. The students (and the teacher) love it! Visit Sub Hub to see all the details.

Valentine Poetry Writing Freebie

I have planned ahead for you and made a quick little Valentine poetry writing freebie. Read a book, and the students write poems that follow the pattern. Free printable cards are included for students to make their own Valentines.

Down with Downtime!

Greeting, Blog Hoppers! I invite you to check out my latest blog post featuring the first release of my new line of substitute products. This is called Down with Downtime and features subject-specific time fillers based on the Common Core State Standards. Down with Downtime: K-5 Math is now available along with a free sample.

Bowing to the King

Here's hoping many of the U.S. fans have today off in celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Personally, I feel it is one of the most important days to remember a great man in our history, but it is also a very delicate subject. Come see how I have handled it in second and third grade classrooms. I have had good success getting students to reflect and connect, and I am sharing it with you. It's not a complicated idea and is simply based on my favorite book about Dr. King and its accompanying tear-jerker of a video. Read all about it here.