Friday, December 12, 2025

FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON - “Preschool ‘Fruit of the Spirit’ - LOVE”

by Teachtree
Pre-Kindergarten - 1st Grade


Your students will love this "hands on" lowercase letters activity. Students are learning to recognize the lowercase letters and having fun at the same time. This is from my Fruit of the Spirit "LOVE" Unit (LEARNING TO LOVE & LEARNING TO RECOGNIZE UPPER AND LOWERCASE LETTERS). This would be great to use in small group, whole group, circle, or center. If you are pleased with this product don’t forget to leave feedback and earn TPT CREDITS!

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If you like this freebie, you will love the complete unit which includes:

  • Terms Of Use page
  • Credits page
  • Suggestions for Use (before and after pictures)
  • Bible Lesson Plan - Fruit of the Spirit "LOVE" (The Good Samaritan)
  • Bible Lesson (wounded man) Connection craft
  • Fruit of the Spirit "LOVE" craft
  • Uppercase Apple Letters
  • Lowercase Apple Letters
  • Blank - Apples (so you can differentiate instruction)
  • I Can Find My Letters - lowercase apple tree (this freebie)
  • I Can Find My Letters - uppercase apple tree
  • Blank - I Can Find My Letters - apple tree (for differentiation)

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Coming Soon!

Fruit of the Spirit - JOY (Learning to Recognize Numbers)

Fruit of the Spirit - PEACE (Learning to Recognize Shapes)

Fruit of the Spirit - LONGSUFFERING (Learning to Recognize Colors)

Fruit of the Spirit - GENTLENESS (Learning to Recognize Same and Different)

Fruit of the Spirit - GOODNESS (Learning to Recognize Picture Words that Rhyme)

Fruit of the Spirit - FAITH (Learning to Recognize Small, Medium, Large)

Fruit of the Spirit - MEEKNESS (Learning to Recognize Position Words)

Fruit of the Spirit - TEMPERANCE (Learning to Recognize Patterns)

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https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Preschool-Fruit-of-the-Spirit-LOVE-4083184





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Thursday, December 11, 2025

FREE MISC. LESSON - “Christmas Holiday Logic Puzzle - Free Activity”

by Beyond the Worksheet with Lindsay Gould
5th - 8th Grade


⭐️ Dive into the holiday spirit with this "Christmas Sweater Logic Puzzle," a free brain-teasing activity for students! This engaging puzzle challenges students to use critical thinking and problem-solving skills to determine who wore each outrageous Christmas sweater.

⭐️ It's an excellent tool for developing logical reasoning abilities in a fun, festive context. As students navigate through the clues, they can enjoy a giggle and test their wits against friends.

⭐️Download now and join the ranks of keen-eyed detectives this holiday season! Perfect for classroom fun during a holiday party or an early finisher activity.

❤️ If your students LOVE logic puzzles, grab one of these two bundles ❤️

For more holiday math activities, check out my Holiday Math Activities for Middle School Resource!


Licensing Terms :

By purchasing this product, you own a license for one teacher only for personal use in their own classroom. Licenses are non-transferable and therefore can not be passed from one teacher to another. If the teacher who purchased this license leaves the classroom or changes schools, the license and materials leave with that teacher. No part of this resource is to be shared with colleagues or used by an entire team, grade level, school or district without purchasing the correct number of licenses. If you are a coach, principal or district interested in transferable licenses that would accommodate yearly staff changes, please contact me for a transferable license quote at lindsay@beyondtheworksheet.com.

Copyright Information :

© Beyond the Worksheet. Please note - all material included in this resource belongs to Beyond the Worksheet Inc. By purchasing, you have a license to use the material but you do not own the material. You may not upload any portion of this resource to the internet in any format, including school/personal websites or network drives unless the site is password protected and can only be accessed by students, not other teachers or anyone else on the internet.

✮✮If you are interested in gaining access to an exclusive set of free resources, CLICK HERE.



https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Holiday-Logic-Puzzle-Free-Activity-1590852




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Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Why Multiplication Fact Fluency Matters

We know, as elementary teachers, that when students struggle with basic facts, their confidence drops — and they waste time on things that should be automatic. That’s where “fact fluency” becomes a game changer. True math fluency is more than speed: it’s being able to recall basic facts quickly and accurately, freeing up working memory to focus on more complex problem-solving, reasoning, and multi-step tasks.

Fact Fluency

Even better research shows that strong recall of multiplication facts supports long-term math success — students are better equipped when multiplication, division, fractions, and higher-level math come around.

Best of all, this resource bundle 3rd Grade Multiplication Tests, Worksheets, Daily Fact Fluency Practice 0-12 does the heavy lifting for you: it provides ready-to-go, low-prep multiplication worksheets and timed-test pages for every factor (0–12), plus tracking charts, mixed-fact reviews, and vocabulary cards. This means your class gets structured, consistent exposure — without you having to design all the materials.

Because the bundle is laid out for yearlong use, you can integrate it into everyday routines (morning work, math centers, homework, early-finishers) — making fact fluency feel like a normal part of your math block rather than a cumbersome add-on.


Real Benefits Teachers Notice Right Away

  • Saves planning time — no need to create worksheets from scratch or scramble to design practice each week. The bundle gives you a full, grade-appropriate program.

  • Consistency without chaos — you don’t have to hunt down random facts or scramble to design valid timed drills; you get structured, scaffolded materials that cover all facts 0–12.

  • Visual tracking = student accountability & motivation — the included chart lets students see their progress over time, which can build ownership and a sense of growth (“Look how many facts I’ve mastered!”). Teachers Pay Teachers

  • Flexible use — works for centers, morning work, intervention groups, homework, early finishers, or sub plans. That flexibility helps when your schedule is unpredictable or when you need a quick, meaningful activity. Teachers Pay Teachers

  • Prepares for timed environments — Many state assessments or school tests are timed. Having fluency means students don’t waste time on basic calculation — giving them a fair shot at fuller problem-solving.

Another feature teachers really appreciate in this bundle is how it supports conceptual understanding while building speed and accuracy. The Multiplication Vocabulary Cards, Games, & Activities resource is a perfect match for your daily fact fluency sheets. While students are practicing their multiplication facts, the vocabulary cards help them learn the math words behind the numbers — like factor, product, and commutative property. This builds confidence and makes math talk part of everyday learning. The best part? These cards work well in centers, small groups, or quick warm-ups, so students get both fluency practice and a deeper understanding of what multiplication really means.

A Sample Daily Plan to Build Multiplication Fact Fluency (3rd – 4th Grade)

Try this, here’s a detailed weekly rhythm — but you can adapt it for daily, every-other-day, or as your schedule allows.





Time of DayActivity & Purpose
Morning Work (5–7 min)Give students the timed-test page for a single factor (e.g., 6s) for that day. Use the one-page timed test in the bundle. This primes their brains for fluency every day without taking much time.
Mini Lesson/ Warm-up (5 min)Next, review or practice a handful of facts mentally (e.g., number talk: “If 6×5 = 30 then…?”), or use the vocabulary cards from the bundle to reinforce multiplication language and connections.
Math Block (during partner/center time)At the sametime, use the bundle’s mixed-fact worksheets or graphic-organizer charts. Students who master the timed page can work on mixed practice or fact games while others work on that day’s factor.
Independent Practice / Homework (optional)After that assign a second quick worksheet (untimed) from the bundle for homework or independent practice — reinforcing the same factor or challenging with mixed facts.
Progress Tracking (once/week or fortnightly)Use the included graphing sheet: have students record their mastery (color-bar or line-graph) to visualize improvement. Celebrate growth — this builds motivation and ownership.
Intervention / Small-group Differentiation (twice weekly)Meanwhile for students struggling, pull small groups and review facts using skip-counting, multiplication strategies, or peer-mediated drills. Use the bundle’s factor-by-factor worksheets to scaffold.
Monthly Mixed Timed TestOnce students have worked through several factors, give a mixed-fact timed test (from the bundle) to assess overall fluency. Use results to guide targeted review.

Throughout the month, this routine cycles students through all factors 0–12, with repeated exposure + mixed-fact practice + performance tracking. As a result by keeping practice short and regular, fluency becomes part of class culture — not a dreaded add-on.

Why This Balanced Approach to Fluency Works (and Supports Student Confidence)

Some educators worry that timed tests focus too much on speed over understanding. That’s valid. The research suggests fluency emerges best when timed drills come after students have first developed conceptual understanding and accuracy. Counting With Kids+2Mr Barton Maths+2

When timed practice is part of a broader cycle — conceptual work, timed practice, then reflection — students build automatic recall and flexible number sense. Association for Psychological Science+2Mr Barton Maths+2

Using a bundle like this allows that cycle to be manageable: you don’t need to design every piece; you just orchestrate the rhythm. Students get regular, low-stress exposure, with visible progress, which can build confidence rather than anxiety.

Tips for Implementation (Teacher-to-Teacher)

Start slowly — begin with 5 minutes a day in morning work or warm-up; once students are comfortable, layer in center work or homework if desired.

Whenever possible, Celebrate progress — use the graphing sheet and publicly — in a positive, encouraging way — in addition, show growth. Build excitement about “mastering facts.”

Use mixed-fact reviews early and often — don’t wait until the end; mix in mixed-fact worksheets sooner, to help students connect facts and build flexibility.

Differentiate — some students may require extra review, or repeated timed exposures; others will fly through. Furthermore, mall-group or peer-tutoring time works well.

Make it routine, not a one-off — consistency is key. Embedding this bundle in daily routines ensures students don’t forget facts after “learning” them.

Conclusion

Right now is a perfect time to try a no-fuss, teacher-tested way to build multiplication fact fluency in 3rd/4th grade — in a way that saves you time, supports students, and fits into daily routines — ultimately, this 0–12 multiplication bundle is a solid, practical choice. It gives structure without rigidity, and supports a balanced approach (fact recall + conceptual understanding + student motivation). And honestly, as teachers, getting high-quality materials that honestly lighten our load is rare — this one fits the bill.

I explain one of my favorite quick routines in this post:
Multiplication Timed Tests ⏱️ Are a Game Changer

Have a great week!

ESL
Let’s Teach!
Lori

Happy Teaching

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FREE LANGUAGE ARTS LESSON - “Christmas Idioms Freebie”

by Kathy Babineau
2nd - 6th Grade


Celebrate Christmas with this fun Christmas Idioms Freebie. Tis the season to be jolly! Here's a simple, easy-to-use freebie to learn about those funny Christmas Holiday expressions! Simply print out the colorful cards, laminate them (if you wish), and use them for talking about idioms and figurative language for the holiday season. Try one a day as part of your English Language Arts instruction, or address multiple figurative language expressions in small group lessons.

This freebie includes 18 cards with a separate answer key (giving simple explanations for the idioms).


Idioms included:
It looks like we might get snowed in.
The more the merrier.
It's the thought that counts.
Tis the season to be jolly.
Deck the halls.
Trim the tree.
There's no time like the present.
He decided to quit cold turkey.
I'm dreaming of a white Christmas.
Bah humbug!
Christmas came early this year.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
You better chill out.
Jack Frost will be nipping at your nose.
Don't be left out in the cold.
She looks as snug as a bug in a rug.
I don't know why he's giving me the cold shoulder.
She's been burning the candle at both ends.

Enjoy! Happy Holidays!

If you like this product, you may also like:

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☆ Christmas Social Skills Activities

☆ Idioms All Year - Figurative Language

Kathy Babineau



https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Idioms-Freebie-2893622




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