Teaching Bible stories to kids can sometimes feel like a challenge, especially when you’re trying to make ancient stories come alive for young hearts. But what if I told you there’s a way to make one of the most powerful Old Testament stories fun, interactive, and memorable? That’s where the […]
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God Speaks, But Do We Listen? The Powerful Story of Samuel & Eli
Teaching Kids to Listen for God’s Voice Have you ever had a child ask, “How do I hear God?” It’s one of the most beautiful questions a young heart can ask, and the story of Samuel and Eli is the perfect way to help kids understand that God speaks to […]
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Kindergarten Math Made Easy: Subitizing Worksheets and Activities
A Fun & Hands-On Way to Build Number Sense! Let’s be honest—kindergarten math should be fun, engaging, and hands-on! When little learners enjoy what they’re doing, they absorb concepts so much faster. That’s exactly why I created this spring-themed subitizing resource—to help young mathematicians recognize numbers without counting one by […]
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I made math fun for my 1st graders with this one simple trick!
Let’s face it—some students need a little extra support when it comes to math. Maybe they struggle with addition and subtraction, or they get overwhelmed by the rigorous early units in IM Grade 1 Math™. I’ve been there, and I know how frustrating it can be to watch a student […]
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Writing and Learning on the 100th Day of School
Can you believe we’re already at the 100th day of school? It’s such an exciting milestone, and I know we all want to make it a celebration that’s not just fun, but also meaningful! 🎉 Here at It Takes a Village Learning Center, I love finding ways to make every […]
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10 Engaging No-Prep Winter Math Activities Your 1st To 3rd Graders Will Love!
Winter is here, and you know what that means—it’s time to add a little extra magic to your math lessons! Between the snowflakes, hot cocoa, and cozy vibes, winter is the perfect season to keep your students engaged while reinforcing their math skills. But let’s be honest, as teachers, this […]
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5 Exciting Math Mysteries That Turn Test Prep into an Adventure
Picture this: your students leaning in, excitedly whispering about clues, their pencils flying across their papers as they solve one math problem after another. The energy is electric, the focus is real, and best of all—they’re actually loving math! That’s the magic of math mysteries like “The Case of the […]
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How To Effortlessly Ace Conferences with Ready-Made Parent Reports for IM Grade 1!
Imagine this: it’s conference day, and you’re juggling stacks of papers, trying to recall which student belongs to which group, while mentally preparing for the big question… “How is my child really doing in math? And what are these Cool Downs they keep mentioning?” Good news! Now you can showcase […]
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41 Time-Saving Math Anchor Charts To Make Your Year Easier
You head to Pinterest to find an anchor charts. It’s super cute! It’s colorful, nice and neat, and the graphics are amazing! But who has time to create that!?!? You’re knee-deep in lesson planning, grading, and a thousand other tasks that keep piling up. Plus, Illustrative Mathematics (IM) has got […]
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Easy Prep Craftivity: All About Me Math Themed Posters for 1st – 3rd Grade
An All About Me activity is an exciting way for students to share their personal stories while building various skills. These activities usually involve creative projects where students answer questions about their likes, dislikes, family, hobbies, and more. But wait, here’s the twist! We’re adding a math spin to it, […]
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