Blog – Amanda Garcia Resources

Sweet & Simple Mother’s Day Gift

I have a sweet and easy Mother’s Day project for you! This project works well for many ages, and I’ve adapted it to work for grandmas and aunts, as well. It can be completed in one day (although I prefer to work on it for 3-4 days so we aren’t rushed.) Although,

3 Earth Day Read Alouds

Earth Day is coming up this month, and I have 3 books to help us celebrate our beautiful planet! And don’t forget to scroll to the bottom for an Earth Day freebie, as well my bestselling resource – a Planet Project ideal for spring! 2. The Street Beneath My Feet – This is

Winter Books for Teachers (that Have Nothing to do with Teaching!)

There is little I look forward to more than a day of nothing but coffee, a book, and a blanket. This is a list of books that have absolutely nothing to do with teaching. In fact, they are not appropriate for kids at all! They are just for you! Each book has a

10 Books You Need to Read Aloud This Winter

Reading aloud to kids is one of my favorite things. I just love picture books! Below are 10 that I can’t wait to read every December. 1. The Winter Wish This is a sweet story about a mouse who accidentally breaks his grandfather’s special snow globe. Conversations can be had about taking responsibility

10 Ways to Make Your Classroom Cozy

Hang fairy lights around your whiteboard or across the ceiling for a soft glow. I love these battery operated ones that include a remote.

An Educational (and Meaningful) Holiday Gift for Families

It’s that time of year when teachers start digging in their files for a holiday gift that students can make for their families. I’ve tried a lot of them – hand painted wrapping paper, snowmen made from socks, popsicle stick picture frames, and All. The. Glitter. After two consecutive years of crafting flops (and

10 Would You Rather Questions to Get Students Writing

Teaching writing was always one of my trickiest jobs as a teacher. As a kid, I enjoyed putting pen to paper (and still do!), but realize this isn’t the case for many students. Because of this, I began looking for ways to engage my reluctant writers. Knowing the hardest part of writing

3 Ways to Make Grading Kinda Fun

I never thought I’d be writing a blog post about grading student work. It’s just one of those tasks that teachers have to do. But the truth is, there are ways to make the mundane feel almost new again. These are 3 things I have done to make grading *kinda* fun.

Why I Don’t Ask Students to Trade Papers

I am a BIG fan of students correcting their own school work. Not only does it subtract pages from the teacher’s grading pile, but it also gives students the opportunity to get feedback on their work in real-time. However, in order to make this beneficial for ALL students, students should

5 Read Alouds for Back to School

Reading aloud to students is one of the best parts about being in the classroom. I love introducing them to new authors, old classics, and even rereading our favorites throughout the year. I’m excited to share with you 5 of my go-to books for the Back to School season! A