Where learning feels like play.
Written by Molly Schwab, host of the Firstieland Podcast and YouTube channelJuly 17, 2026 First week of school activities can make all the difference in how the rest of your new school year goes. After teaching first grade for 35 years, I learned that the beginning of the school year isn’t the time to jump right into academics. Instead,… Read More
Written by Molly Schwab, host of the Firstieland Podcast and YouTube channelJuly 15, 2026 Wondering what the first day of school routines and procedures should be in first grade? After 35 years of teaching, I learned that the first day isn’t about jumping into reading and math. It’s about helping your students feel safe, teaching important routines and procedures, and… Read More
Written by Molly Schwab, host of the Firstieland Podcast and YouTube channelJuly 8, 2026 If you feel like you spend your entire day repeating directions, stopping interruptions, or reminding kids what they’re supposed to be doing, you might not actually have a student behavior problem. You might have a classroom routines and procedures problem. After 35 years of teaching first… Read More
Written by Molly Schwab, host of the Firstieland Podcast and YouTube channelJuly 8, 2026 Teaching Students To Work Independently In First Grade One of the biggest frustrations teachers have during literacy centers is constant interruptions. You finally sit down with your small group, and within a few minutes someone needs a pencil, another student doesn’t know what to do, someone… Read More
Written by Molly Schwab, host of the Firstieland Podcast and YouTube channelJuly 1, 2026 If you’re planning your word work centers for first grade, it’s easy to feel like you need a different game every week to keep your students interested, but that’s simply not true. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes I see teachers make is spending hours… Read More
On the last day of school I can always hear Alice Cooper’s voice in my head singing “School’s out for summer!” Now that the lesson plans are done and your class is on their way to summer break, how can elementary teachers relax and unwind? Here are 53 fun summer activities for teachers that I’m sure you’ll love! Relax And… Read More
