Classroom Management: What To Do When Your First Grade Class Isn’t Being Kind

In this episode of The Firstieland Podcast for Elementary Teachers, your host Molly Schwab shares practical, real-life ways to teach elementary students about kindness in a way that actually sticks.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by unkind behavior in your classroom or wondered how to build a stronger classroom community, this episode is for you. You’ll learn how to weave it naturally into your everyday classroom routines, language, and discipline.

Molly shares a personal story that sparked this episode and then walks you step-by-step through simple strategies she used year after year in kindergarten and first grade to help students understand what kindness looks like, how to practice it, and why it matters.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ Why modeling kindness as the teacher is more powerful than any worksheet or lesson

✔️ How to use picture books to spark meaningful conversations

✔️ Simple role-playing and writing activities that help students practice kind choices

✔️ A fun “secret mission” idea that encourages daily acts of kindness

✔️ How to use intentional language during discipline to reinforce kindness

✔️ A classroom “gifts” strategy that helps students see value in themselves and others

By the end of this episode, you’ll have practical, manageable ideas for building a classroom where kindness becomes part of the culture, not just a lesson. You’ll walk away with tools you can start using immediately to help your students treat one another with respect, empathy, and care.

Kindness Unit - https://firstieland.com/kindness

Blog Post - 30 Picture Books About Kindness – https://firstieland.com/kindess-books

Visit the website: www.firstieland.com

Need classroom resources? Visit the TPT store: https://firstieland.com/TPT-store

Have questions or want more ideas? Send me a message on Instagram @firstieland

To see everything mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes:

https://firstieland.com/podcast

Be sure to tap follow so you don’t miss an episode.

If this podcast has been helpful to you, I’d love for you to leave a review.

🍎 APPLE PODCASTS – https://firstieland.com/apple

🎧 SPOTIFY – https://firstieland.com/spotify

Have a wonderful day and remember to make learning feel like play… see you next week!

Molly 💜

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links, which means if you purchase through that link, I receive...

Grading Papers In First Grade: How To Save Time And Be More Efficient

In this episode of The Firstieland Podcast for Elementary Teachers, your host Molly Schwab shares simple, realistic ways to make grading papers in first grade faster and far less overwhelming. If grading feels like it’s taking over your evenings, weekends, or mental space, this episode is for you.

Grading doesn’t have to mean stacks of papers following you home or hours spent entering grades. Instead of trying to grade everything, you’ll learn how to be more intentional about what actually needs a grade and what doesn’t.

Molly walks you through the exact grading systems she used in her own first grade classroom to stay organized, save time, and still collect meaningful data for report cards. From quick checks and grading while students wait to batching papers and choosing a weekly grading day, these strategies are practical and easy to implement right away.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ Why you don’t need to grade every paper and what actually should be graded

✔️ How to grade student work quickly during the school day instead of at home

✔️ Simple systems for batching and organizing papers to save time

✔️ The best way to grade multi-page tests without wasting hours

✔️ How rubrics and easy graders can simplify writing and assessment

By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more confident about your grading routine and have a clear plan to make grading papers more efficient, manageable, and less stressful.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Writing Templates with Built-In Rubrics -

https://firstieland.com/rubric

EZ Grader - https://amzn.to/49KlyLm

Let’s Stay Connected

Visit the website: www.firstieland.com

Need classroom resources? Visit the TPT store: https://firstieland.com/TPT-store

Have questions or want more ideas? Send me a message on Instagram @firstieland

To see everything mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes:

👉 https://firstieland.com/podcast

Enjoying The Podcast?

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How To Rate And Review

If this podcast has been helpful to you, I’d love for you to leave a review.

🍎 APPLE PODCASTS – https://firstieland.com/apple

🎧 SPOTIFY – https://firstieland.com/spotify

Have a wonderful day and remember to make learning feel like play, see you next week! 💜

Molly

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links, which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

In this episode of The Firstieland Podcast for Elementary Teachers, your host Molly Schwab shares fun and easy Valentine’s Day activities that fit naturally into your first grade classroom, without adding stress or extra prep to your day.

February can feel long and Valentine’s Day excitement can quickly turn into distraction. Instead of trying to push through with business as usual, this episode shows you how to add a simple Valentine twist to reading, writing, math, and even your class party, while still keeping learning front and center.

Molly walks you through her favorite Valentine’s Day ideas she used in her own first grade classroom, including picture book read alouds, opinion writing, math activities using Valentine candy, friendship-building lessons, and a Valentine classroom transformation. These ideas are easy to implement, budget-friendly, and designed to keep kids engaged without losing a full day of instruction.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ Valentine-themed read alouds that work perfectly for writing and comprehension

✔️ Simple Valentine themed opinion writing activities

✔️ Easy Valentine math ideas for sorting, graphing, and problem solving

✔️ Friendship-building activities that focus on kindness and cooperation

✔️ A low-stress way to handle Valentine’s Day with stations instead of chaos

By the end of this episode, you’ll have plenty of ideas to make Valentine’s Day feel fun and meaningful in your classroom, while still sticking to routines that help your day run smoothly.

Valentine’s Read Aloud Activities and Writing – https://firstieland.com/february

Friendship Stations and Friendship Soup – https://firstieland.com/friend

Cupid Valentine Classroom Stations – https://firstieland.com/cupid

Visit the website: www.firstieland.com

Need classroom resources? Visit the TPT store: https://firstieland.com/TPT-store

Have questions or want more ideas? Send me a message on Instagram @firstieland

To see everything mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes:

👉 https://firstieland.com/podcast

Be sure to tap follow so you don’t miss an episode.

If this podcast has been helpful to you, I’d love for you to leave a review.

🍎 APPLE PODCASTS – https://firstieland.com/apple

🎧 SPOTIFY –

Literacy Center Strategies That Actually Work In First Grade

In this episode of The Firstieland Podcast for Elementary Teachers, your host Molly Schwab shares literacy center strategies that actually work in a real first grade classroom. If you feel overwhelmed and exhausted from planning and organizing centers or if keeping kids on task is a struggle, this episode is for you.

There are so many different ways teachers run literacy centers and it can feel confusing trying to figure out what works best. Instead of chasing the “perfect” system, this episode breaks down different approaches and how to choose something that fits your classroom and your time.

Molly shares what worked best for her after years in the classroom, including why she moved away from weekly centers and switched to monthly literacy centers. You’ll hear how this simple shift can save you time, reduce burnout, and make center time more engaging and manageable for both teachers and students.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ The most common literacy center challenges teachers face and why they happen

✔️ A clear explanation of Daily Five, Must Do May Do, and other popular center systems

✔️ Why monthly literacy centers can save time and reduce teacher burnout

✔️ How to keep students engaged and on task while you teach small groups

✔️ Simple ways to differentiate centers without relying on endless worksheets

By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more confident setting up literacy centers that feel manageable and realistic for first grade, without spending your nights and weekends prepping materials.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Monthly Math & Literacy Centers - https://firstieland.com/learningcenters

Learn more literacy center strategies here - https://firstieland.com/centers

Let’s Stay Connected

Visit the website: www.firstieland.com

Need classroom resources? Visit the TPT store: https://firstieland.com/TPT-store

Have questions or want more ideas? Send me a message on Instagram @firstieland

To see everything mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes: https://firstieland.com/podcast

Enjoying The Podcast?

Be sure to tap follow so you don’t miss an episode.

How To Rate And Review

If this podcast has been helpful to you, I’d love for you to leave a review.

🍎 APPLE PODCASTS – https://firstieland.com/apple

🎧 SPOTIFY – https://firstieland.com/spotify

Have a wonderful day and remember to make...

Text Connections & Opinion Writing With Brave Irene - Book Bite #4

In this episode of The Firstieland Podcast for Elementary Teachers, Molly shares how to use Brave Irene to teach character traits, problem and solution, and opinion writing in a simple, meaningful way. This winter classic is perfect for discussing courage and perseverance while hitting key reading and writing skills.

You’ll learn:

✔️ How to teach character traits through Irene’s determination

✔️ Easy ways to text connections

✔️ Teaching opinion writing

Resources Mentioned

FREE Winter Read Aloud Challenge – firstieland.com/challenge

Brave Irene TPT resource - firstieland.com/irene

Book - Brave Irene - https://amzn.to/4oTQLRq

Let's Stay Connected

Visit our website: www.firstieland.com

Need resources? Visit our TPT store: https://firstieland.com/TPT-store

Need more help or ideas? Send me a message on Instagram @firstieland

To check out all the resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the show notes: https://firstieland.com/podcast

Enjoying The Podcast?

Be sure to tap the follow button so you don’t miss an episode.

How To Rate And Review

If you’re enjoying this podcast and it’s helpful to you, I’d love it if you’d leave a review.

🍎 APPLE PODCAST – https://firstieland.com/apple

🎧 SPOTIFY – https://firstieland.com/spotify

Have a wonderful day and remember to make learning feel like play… see you next week! 💜

Molly

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are affiliate links, which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Surviving Indoor Recess: Simple Play Ideas That Won’t Drive You Crazy

In this episode of The Firstieland Podcast for Elementary Teachers, your host Molly Schwab shares simple ways to survive indoor recess without losing your sanity. If indoor recess in your classroom feels loud, chaotic, or completely exhausting, this episode is for you.

Whether it’s freezing temperatures, pouring rain, or just one of those days when going outside isn’t an option, indoor recess happens more often than we’d like. Instead of dreading it, you’ll learn how to put a plan in place that keeps kids playing, happy, and calm, all without a ton of prep or structure.

Molly walks you through how she handled indoor recess in her own first grade classroom, from setting clear expectations to choosing play options that actually work. You’ll hear practical ideas for free play, simple materials kids love, and low-stress games that don’t turn your classroom upside down.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ Why indoor recess still needs rules and how to set them up ahead of time

✔️ Simple indoor recess expectations that help keep noise and behavior under control

✔️ Easy free play ideas kids love, like art, building toys, and playdough

✔️ How to use classroom centers during indoor recess to give kids choice

✔️ Favorite whole-group indoor games that are fun but not wild

By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more confident walking into your next indoor recess with a plan that allows kids to play while still keeping your classroom under control.

Favorite Indoor Recess Toys List – https://firstieland.com/indoor-toys

Visit the website: www.firstieland.com

Need classroom resources? Visit the TPT store: https://firstieland.com/TPT-store

Have questions or want more ideas? Send me a message on Instagram @firstieland

To see everything mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes:

👉 https://firstieland.com/podcast

Be sure to tap follow so you don’t miss an episode.

If this podcast has been helpful to you, I’d love for you to leave a review.

🍎 APPLE PODCASTS – https://firstieland.com/apple

🎧 SPOTIFY – https://firstieland.com/spotify

Have a wonderful day and remember to make learning feel like play… see you next week! 💜

Molly

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links, which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Fun January Room Transformation With Snowmen At Work - Book Bite #3

In this episode of The Firstieland Podcast for Elementary Teachers, your host Molly Schwab shares quick and easy ways to use Snowmen at Work to boost engagement during the long winter stretch. You’ll learn how to use this playful picture book to teach reading skills, spark creative writing, and bring joy back into your classroom with a simple winter room transformation.

You’ll learn:

✔️ How to teach story elements and predictions with the snowman jobs

✔️ Simple writing prompts your kids will love

✔️ Easy ideas for a Snowman Village room transformation

Resources Mentioned

FREE Winter Read Aloud Challenge – firstieland.com/challenge

Snowmen At Work TPT resource: firstieland.com/snowman

Book - Snowmen At Work - https://amzn.to/49qbirQ

Let's Stay Connected

Visit our website: www.firstieland.com

Need resources? Visit our TPT store: https://firstieland.com/TPT-store

Need more help or ideas? Send me a message on Instagram @firstieland

To check out all the resources mentioned in this episode, head over to the show notes: https://firstieland.com/podcast

Enjoying The Podcast?

Be sure to tap the follow button so you don’t miss an episode.

How To Rate And Review

If you’re enjoying this podcast and it’s helpful to you, I’d love it if you’d leave a review.

🍎 APPLE PODCAST – https://firstieland.com/apple

🎧 SPOTIFY – https://firstieland.com/spotify

Have a wonderful day and remember to make learning feel like play… see you next week! 💜

Molly

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are affiliate links, which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Teaching Animal Habitats in First Grade: Project-Based Science and Writing Unit

In this episode of The Firstieland Podcast for Elementary Teachers, your host Molly Schwab shares how to integrate science with writing with a project based learning unit about Animal Habitats.

If you’ve ever wondered how you’re supposed to fit science and writing into an already packed day, this episode is for you. Instead of teaching everything separately, you’ll learn how to use a simple project-based unit to cover multiple standards at once, without adding more to your plate.

Molly walks you step-by-step through her favorite animal habitats unit, a unit she taught year after year in first grade, and shows you how to make it engaging, manageable, and fun for kids.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

✔️ How to introduce animal habitats in a way that’s simple and age-appropriate for first grade

✔️ Easy ways to build background knowledge using books, videos, and anchor charts

✔️ How to guide students through basic animal research, even with emerging readers

✔️ A simple writing project that helps students organize facts and write an animal report

✔️ How to wrap up the unit with a hands-on shoebox habitat project kids love

✔️ How combining science and writing actually saves time and increases student engagement

By the end of this episode, you’ll have a clear picture of how to plan and teach an animal habitats unit that covers science standards, strengthens writing skills, and keeps students excited about learning, all without needing a formal curriculum.

Animal Habitats Unit (TPT) –https://firstieland.com/animalhabitats

Animal Habitats Blog Post – https://firstieland.com/animalhabitatblog

Visit the website: www.firstieland.com

Need classroom resources? Visit the TPT store: https://firstieland.com/TPT-store

Have questions or want more ideas? Send me a message on Instagram @firstieland

To see everything mentioned in this episode, head to the show notes:

👉 https://firstieland.com/podcast

Be sure to tap follow so you don’t miss an episode.

If this podcast has been helpful to you, I’d love for you to leave a review.

🍎 APPLE PODCASTS – https://firstieland.com/apple

🎧 SPOTIFY – https://firstieland.com/spotify

Have a wonderful day and remember to make learning feel like play… see you next...