Mr. Lee's Learners

As mid-July hits, the Fourth of July holiday is in the rearview window, teachers find themselves in that strange summer limbo. Some are already shopping for back-to-school supplies, while others are still fully in beach mode (and rightfully so!). If you're somewhere in the middle—itching to feel  a little  more prepared without diving headfirst into full-on school mode—this post is for you. Here are five low-pressure ways to get your mindset and systems ready while still soaking up the last few weeks of summer: 1.  Reflect on What Worked (and What Didn't) Grab a notebook, open your notes app, or just take a quiet walk and think back on last year: What routines made your life easier? What was more stressful than it needed to be? Is there something you promised yourself you'd do differently next year? 2.  Declutter One Digital Space Instead of trying to reorganize your whole Google Drive, just pick one folder: Maybe it's your "End of Year" files or your math cen...

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is at the heart of every successful classroom. Helping students believe in themselves, bounce back from challenges, and treat others with kindness is just as important as mastering math facts or reading fluency. That’s why I created this set of  25 SEL Motivational Coloring Pages —a fun and purposeful way to build a positive classroom culture while giving students space to express themselves creatively. Why Motivational Coloring Pages Work These aren’t your average coloring sheets! Each page features a kid-friendly  positive affirmation or growth mindset phrase  to help students internalize important SEL messages like: “I Can Do Hard Things” “Mistakes Help Me Grow” “My Voice Matters” “Kindness is Cool” Students color while reflecting on these ideas, often leading to powerful classroom conversations and lasting mindset shifts. Classroom Uses for SEL Coloring Pages Whether you teach kindergarten or upper elementary, these pages are flexible a...

If you're working with students who are still developing strong number sense, especially with numbers 0 through 20, double ten frame cards are an essential tool to add to your math instruction toolkit. Whether you teach kindergarten or early elementary students, these cards can help children make sense of quantities, subitize, and build a firm foundation in math fluency. This set of  Double Ten Frame Cards  to help students visualize numbers in different ways and increase their flexibility with composing and decomposing numbers. There are a total of 168 cards included in this resource with 8 cards of each number.  These cards are easy to prep, simple to use, and incredibly versatile! Why Use Double Ten Frames? Double ten frames help students: Understand numbers beyond 10 in a visual format See how numbers are composed (5 + 7 = 12) and decomposed (12 = 10 + 2) Develop fluency with addition and subtraction facts Build confidence in working with teen numbers Classroom & ...

As the school year winds down and summer break approaches, keeping students engaged becomes more challenging—and more important! That’s why I love using seasonal, high-interest stories to wrap up the year with both fun and purpose. One of my favorite ways to end the school year is with a  Reader’s Theater Companion for  The Night Before Summer Vacation  by Natasha Wing . It’s low prep, fun for students, and packed with learning value! What’s Included in This End-of-Year Reader’s Theater Resource? This engaging packet is a companion to the much-loved book  The Night Before Summer Vacation , a rhyming tale that captures the excitement (and chaos!) of preparing for a big summer trip. Here’s what’s included: Reader’s Theater Scripts for 2 and 3 students  – Perfect for partners or small groups. A  Summer-Themed Word Search  to reinforce vocabulary in a fun, independent activity. Answer Key  for easy grading or self-checking. 5 Summer-Themed Coloring Pa...

Reading comprehension is at the heart of literacy instruction, yet it’s often one of the most challenging skills for young learners to master. As a math interventionist who also supports reading instruction, I’ve found that guided questioning is one of the most powerful tools for helping students move beyond surface-level reading and begin thinking deeply about texts. In this post, I’ll share practical strategies for using guided questioning to scaffold comprehension and spark meaningful reading discussions—even with struggling readers. What Is Guided Questioning? Guided questioning is a teaching strategy where the teacher poses specific, intentional questions before, during, and after reading to help students engage with the text. These questions guide students toward a deeper understanding by encouraging them to: Make predictions Visualize events Infer meaning Analyze character motives Summarize key ideas Reflect on themes or personal connections Why It ...

For many of us, the words “timed test” still bring a rush of anxiety. Rows of facts, ticking clocks, and pressure to perform fast—this was the traditional approach to mastering math facts. As a teacher, I’ve seen how this method can cause unnecessary stress, especially for students who are still developing number sense. That’s why I’ve embraced a shift in my classroom: moving away from timed tests and toward strategy-based fluency. What Is Strategy-Based Fluency? Rather than memorizing isolated facts, students learn and apply strategies that help them understand how numbers work together. These strategies include: Counting on (e.g., for 3 + 2, start at 3 and count up two) Making ten (e.g., turning 8 + 5 into 10 + 3) Using doubles (e.g., knowing 6 + 6 helps with 6 + 7) Decomposing numbers (e.g., breaking apart 9 + 6 into 9 + 1 + 5) These are not just tricks—they're foundational ways to build number sense. When students understand these patterns and relation...

Mother's Day is such a special time to celebrate the amazing women in our students' lives — and what better way to mark the occasion than with a  Mother’s Day Reader’s Theater   performance? Inspired by  The Night Before Mother’s Day  by Natasha Wing, this  Reader’s Theater Companion Packet  is a fun and engaging way to build reading fluency, teamwork, and confidence — all while getting students excited for Mother's Day! 🌸 What’s Included? This packet is packed with everything you need for a smooth and memorable experience: 2 Versions of Reader’s Theater Scripts (Shorter and longer versions depending on your students' needs) Comprehension Worksheets Help students think deeper about the story Mother's Day Letter Template Students can write a heartfelt note after the performance Vocabulary and Word Search Activities Extend learning with themed literacy practice Everything is designed to be  low-prep  and  easy to use , so you can focus on help...