When a teacher recommends retention, it can feel overwhelming for everyone involved. Parents may feel worried or unsure, and teachers know this is one of the most important decisions they make all year.

In this episode, we walk through retention from both perspectives. This is not about holding a child back. It is about asking the right question: what will help this child be successful long term?

You will hear:

• What teachers are really looking at before recommending retention

• How age and developmental readiness can impact learning and stamina

• Why some younger students struggle even when they are bright

• When retention may be the right choice and when moving forward may still be appropriate

• Questions parents can ask during conferences

• A simple checklist for teachers to think through before making the decision

This episode is designed to bring clarity, calm, and partnership between home and school. Because the best decisions are made when teachers and parents work together with the same goal in mind.

Get Ready for next year with these ultimate resources.

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In this episode, I’m sharing a simple routine I added to my math block that is making a big difference in what my students actually remember.

I’m still teaching my regular lessons and following my curriculum, but I added just 8 to 10 minutes of review at the beginning of math. I call it “Skittle Review,” and while the Skittles definitely help with engagement, that’s not what’s really making the impact.

Inside this episode, I walk you through exactly what this looks like in my classroom using end-of-unit and back-of-the-book review, how I keep it quick and manageable, and why this small shift is helping me reteach less and build more confidence in my students.

If you feel like your students forget skills as quickly as you teach them, this episode will give you a simple, doable solution you can start right away using materials you already have.

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Get Ready for next year with these ultimate resources.

Get Ready for Kindergarten

Get Ready for First Grade

Get Ready for Second Grade

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Teachers Pay Teachers:

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Are your students able to read sight words… but struggle to spell them in their writing?

Or maybe they can pass a quick sight word check, but don’t recognize those same words in a sentence?

In this episode, we’re talking all about how to teach sight words (or trick words) so students can both read and write them with confidence.

As we head into the final 6 to 8 weeks of the school year, this is not the time to add complicated routines. Instead, I’m sharing a simple, repeatable weekly system that helps build automaticity without overwhelming your students.

You’ll learn:

• Why sight words should not be taught through memorization alone

• How to help students identify the “tricky” parts of words

• A day-by-day routine for teaching sight words Monday through Friday

• How often students should be writing sight words (this is key!)

• A balanced approach to sentence writing that builds confidence without frustration

• How to do a quick, low-pressure Friday check that actually shows what students know

This routine is quick, effective, and easy to stick with during the busy end-of-year season.

If you’re looking for a practical way to strengthen both reading and writing with sight words, this episode will give you something you can use right away in your classroom.

Link for this free resource: Weekly Sight Word Routine

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