# All That Teacher Sparkle


## Posts

- [The reading log alternative that changed the way my students read at home](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/reading-log-alternative/): For many of my early years teaching 4th grade Reading, I wanted a Reading Log Alternative but didn’t know exactly what to use in place of traditional Reading Logs. Plus, all the other teachers I knew used Reading Logs so I didn’t want to rock the boat by doing something different if I wasn’t 100% sure it would work. So, I continued to use the same old calendar page templates. I also continued to see the same pattern in how my students responded to Reading Logs. Week in and week out, the kids who always did their homework turned in […]
- [9 creative back to School Activities For Upper Elementary](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/back-to-school-activities/): There’s so much to be excited about when it comes to a brand-new school year!  Sweet Back to School activities are high up on my list of why I love the first week of school! Whether it’s how I want to welcome my new students, what activities will help me start getting to know them, or what fun ideas I can come up with to help everyone come together as a school family, I enjoy spending time those last few weeks of Summer thinking about these things! Even though I’m always a bit nervous the day before our first day […]
- [10 End of the Year Activities for the Last Week of School](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/end-of-the-year-activities/): When I was teaching in the classroom, I started planning end of the year activities for the last week of school at the beginning of May. Ok, maybe not writing actual lesson plans, but I was definitely thinking, “What am I going to do to keep my students busy and contain the chaos so that I make it through the rest of this year?!” Ha! Am I the only one, or do you feel the same way, Teacher Friend? While finishing a school year is a huge accomplishment, planning for it can feel overwhelming when you’re completely exhausted and ready […]
- [7 Useful Tips for Improving Teacher Mental Health](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/teacher-mental-health/): As much as I love teaching, I can’t lie and say that my teacher mental health has always been where I wanted it to be! Between creating lesson plans to get in all the standards, dealing with student behavioral and educational issues, and handling emergencies that arise out of nowhere, teachers are ridiculously overwhelmed by EVERYTHING! Did I mention the expectations placed on teachers by everyone who isn’t a teacher? These pale in comparison to the expectations we place on ourselves– I promise! While most of the causes of Teacher Stress are completely out of our control, there are things […]
- [10 Ways to Spread Joy at Christmas](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/2022-12-02-spread-joy-at-christmas/): Being able to spread joy at Christmas is one of the reasons I love teaching so much! Whether it’s for my students or my fellow teachers and staff, I love doing things that make other people happy! Christmas is a magical (and crazy!) time in schools and you can share the Christmas Spirit with others in so many ways! If you want easy ideas to add holiday spirit to your school, I have 10 creative ways to spread joy at Christmas! 1. Decorate to get into the Christmas Spirit! A little bit of tinsel here. A string of lights there… […]
- [5 Things You Must Do The Day Before the State Reading Test](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/day-before-the-state-reading-test/): You did it! All those weeks of Test Prep, and now you are HERE! The day before the State Reading Test! Tomorrow, it’s Game Day, friend! It’s finally time for your hard-working students to show what they know!   The last day before the Big Test is the most important day for one crucial reason. This is your last chance to cram as much review as possible until your students can’t take it anymore. JUST KIDDING!!! That is absolutely the OPPOSITE of what you want to do! This last day is your opportunity to pump your kids up and get their […]
- [4 Effective Reading Test Prep Strategies](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/strategies-for-reading-test-prep/): I’m just gonna say it (and I have a feeling no one will argue with me here…)! Reading Test Prep is tough! The “test modeling” style of review is excellent for teaching students the “right way” to take a test (click here if you missed that post!), but it can be exhausting for everyone due to the level of focus, energy, and brain power that goes into that! Full-on “Test Modeling” is only a one or two-day-a-week activity (unless you want to completely fry your students’ brains!). You may be thinking, “What should I do the other 3-4 days of […]
- [Review for the State Reading Test: My Fool-Proof Strategy](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/review-for-the-state-reading-test/): Trying to review for the State Reading Test can be so stressful and overwhelming! As a classroom Reading teacher for 19 years, I know exactly how you feel and want to share all the things I’ve learned over the years to help teachers like you make Test Prep easier! I’ve already shared how I lessened student Test anxiety, but now that your kids are feeling more confident, it’s time to prep your kids for the actual Reading Testing itself. How? By teaching them what to expect on the Test and how to take it! Read on for my step-by-step strategy […]
- [The best way to ease Student Reading Test Anxiety](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/test-anxiety/): Spring Break has come and gone and soon another school year will come to a close. Yet, instead of being excited that the end was in sight, the dread of test anxiety always washed over me. I knew it was coming. The hardest part of the year was just around the corner and if I wanted my Summer Break, I had to make it through…*gulp*… End of Grade Testing!  I think just about every teacher hates State Testing (or however your school refers to it) for a million different reasons. The way tests are conducted is not fair for all […]
- [Spring Break Survival Tips for Classroom Teachers](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/2022-03-14-a-teachers-spring-break-survival-guide/): Friends, I am not even gonna sugar coat it… by March, everyone needs Spring Break! Students are done with work (even the kids who love school!). Teachers are done with work (even the teachers who love school!). And what’s worse than everyone being exhausted? Everyone being exhausted and still HAVING TO WORK! *ugly cries* I have been there and know exactly what you’re going through! When teaching the week before Spring Break seems impossible, know that not only are there ways to get through it… you might even enjoy it! Ok, at least not hate it! Here are my favorite […]
- [How to Review Theme Using Dr. Seuss Books](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/2022-02-23-how-to-review-theme-using-dr-seuss-books/): I love Read Across America week just as much as the next teacher- maybe more! Amongst all the fun activities and silly dress-up days, there is one thing I make sure I do every year… Review Theme! In my last post, I shared several fun ways to celebrate Read Across America Week that I have personally used in my classroom over the years! For me, Read Across America was “permission” to do things differently and I took advantage of it! But even though my clothes were mismatched or I was wearing 3 pairs of wacky socks, I still made sure […]
- [4 Fun Ways to Celebrate Read Across America Week in the Upper Elementary Grades](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/fun-ways-to-celebrate-read-across-america-in-the-upper-elementary-grades/): When it comes to Read Across America Week, I truly get excited! Every year by the end of January, I start looking forward to dressing up and doing class a little differently for a few days… What theme days will we have? Which books should I share? How can I creatively review Reading standards, but keep the activities fun? It helps shine up my Teacher Sparkle that may be in need of a bit of rejuvenating at this point in the Winter! Many schools celebrate just March 2nd, which is Read Across America Day, but my schools always did the […]
- ["Why I Matter"- building Student Self-Esteem](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/why-i-matter/): Somewhere between the optimism of January’s “fresh start” and the excitement of getting out of school for Spring Break, there is a sneaky joy thief that needles its way into your classroom. That’s right, people. I’m talking about the “winter blues”. Cold temperatures and a lack of sun on too many gray, dreary days on end leave many people feeling really down. I always struggle during January and February and count down the days till March 1st. It’s like some magical date that instantly fixes me (and psychologically, it kind of does). I also noticed it wasn’t just me, but […]
- ["Spreading Sparkle"- A Challenge to Encourage Teachers](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/encourage-teachers/): So many of my friends who are still in the classroom are telling me they need more people to encourage teachers! This year, by far, is the hardest year they have ever had since becoming a teacher. Teaching conditions are worsening, resources to support teachers are practically nonexistent, and subs are nowhere to be found. I think it really just boils down to teachers being flat-out worn down by the unrealistic expectations and pressure to perform that is inexplicably unyielding. If you are on my Email List, I have shared with you the toll that pandemic teaching took on my […]
- [5 Fun Ideas for Teaching Reading Using Theme Days!](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/2022-01-18-5-fun-ideas-for-teaching-reading-standards-using-theme-days/): Theme Days- that magical part of teaching when you are able to turn standards that students find boring (I’m looking at you, Reading Fluency!) into engaging lessons that they will remember years after they have left your classroom! How could a student forget the time everyone dressed up as actors to perform their most dramatic reading “on stage” (while you were rockin’ a fluency lesson…)? Obviously, they won’t! And that is totally my point! So, let’s get a little Teacher Sparkle going on and turn those ordinary reading lessons into something special…. Theme Days! Why Do You Need Theme Days? […]
- [3 Fun Ways to Ease into "Back to School After Christmas Break"](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/2022-01-02-three-fun-ways-to-ease-into-back-to-school-after-christmas-break/): I will be the first to admit that, as much as I love teaching, I dread going back to school after Christmas Break! Especially after enjoying two glorious weeks of sleeping in late… spending extra time with my kids… Did I mention that my house is actually clean and the laundry is caught up? *sheds a single, silent tear* Well, I do dread it! The night before I go back to school, I’m a bundle of nerves because I know that all that peace and freedom I felt over break is gone and I will be a maniac until May! […]
- ["Teacher Sparkle"- Being Yourself in the Classroom](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/2021-12-23-being-yourself/): When you hear the phrase “Teacher Sparkle”, does being yourself come to mind? Probably not since many people might think of sparkle as a lot of song and dance- turning your classroom into a dog and pony show, if you will. But Teacher Sparkle is much simpler than all of that. Teacher Sparkle is all about being yourself in your classroom and making learning fun in ways that are unique to your amazing personality! Read on to hear more about what Teacher Sparkle really is! Is Teacher Sparkle Important? If I’m being honest here, I have to admit…I am a […]
- [A Teacher Sparkle Welcome- Let's Start at the Beginning](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/2021-12-13-teacher-sparkle-welcome/): A warm Teacher Sparkle Welcome, Teacher Friend! I’m sure that I’m not the only teacher who has lost their joy for teaching at some point in their career. And I’m also sure that I’m not the only one who found their joy once again! This entire blog is dedicated to sharing teaching ideas and resources to help support and encourage teachers who feel overwhelmed and don’t love teaching anymore. Read on to see just how this little blog began… Welcome to All That Teacher Sparkle! To say that I am excited today is an understatement! I never thought in a […]

## Pages

- [Professional Development and School Consultation](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/professional-development-and-school-consultation/): Professional Development& Consulting Services Kristen Higdon can equip your teachers with Brain-Based Teaching strategies and philosophies that inspire student learning while physiologically increasing their ability to read! CONTACT ME FOR RATES AND SCHEDULING As a classroom teacher, I knew that many of my kids couldn’t read on grade level but I didn’t know what to do differently to catch them up and still teach my regular reading standards. Then one year, Dr. Fritz Mengert consulted with my school on how the brain functions in conjunction with how kids learn.  When I began implementing his Brain-Based Teaching philosophies and strategies, I […]
- [LINKS](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/links/): I’m so glad you’re here! List of Creative Teaching Ideas- Freebie My TPT Store Free Resources for Teachers Read My Blog Book a free teacher chat Work with me Workshops and School Consultation Join My Email List
- [Home](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/): Shake up your teaching with creativity & fun! At All That Teacher Sparkle, I create unique Reading Resources for and share amazing teaching ideas with Upper Elementary Reading Teachers who want to get their students excited about learning and have a blast while teaching them! Don’t spend hours trying to create “WOW!” activities and lessons on your own when I have already done all the hard work for you!  Whether you’re looking for easy-but-meaningful printables, fun digital Reading resources, or a coach who will work with you to implement new teaching ideas that’ll knock your students’ socks off, here is […]
- [Terms of Use and Privacy Policy](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/privacy-policy/): Terms of Use This site was created and is maintained by Kristen Higdon. Images, posts, resources and other content on this site are either created through the use of Canva (with a Pro Account- Commercial Use License) or owned by Kristen Higdon (unless otherwise noted). They are protected by copyright law, and may not be used without my permission. You may post about this site with links back to it and pin posts and images from this site. You may not use images from this site without permission. You may not copy or use my content as your own. All […]
- [Work with Me](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/work-with-me/): have  you  lost  the  joy  of  teaching  reading? Let me help you find it again! The stress of teaching difficult Reading Standards makes your job tough enough as it is, but adding the expectation that you must raise those Reading Test Scores can make teaching Reading feel impossible.  Or worse…  completely kill your love for it. Perhaps the “teaching the standards” part isn’t the problem. The lack of engagement and effort you see in your students is what’s stealing your teacher joy! Either way, you’re not alone!  I’m here to help! Book a free teacher chat If you want your Teacher Joy […]
- [Freebies](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/freebies/): Free Teacher Resources just for you! Grab a little something! If you’re looking for a quick sprinkle of sparkle to add to your classroom, then these free Teacher Resources are exactly what you need! I hope you enjoy these Resources and that they help make your Teacher Life easier and more FUN! Love these free Resources? Sign up for All That Teacher Sparkle’s “Sunday Sparkle” Email to get teaching tips, encouragement, updates on new TPT resources, and Email Exclusive Freebies not available on this page!  Sign up Here!  The full Terms of Use Agreement is at the bottom of this page. […]
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- [About](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/about/): About Me Hi! My name is Kristen Higdon!  I was a classroom teacher in NC public schools for almost 20 years. I taught mostly 3rd- 5th grade Reading, but 4th grade Reading/ELA was where I spent the majority of my time (and is my favorite grade!). Over the 20 years I spent teaching kids, I have made some amazing memories with my students, made plenty of mistakes that taught me a lot, and persevered through difficult times in my personal and professional life- yet I lived through it all!  How?  By trying to forget the mess going on around me […]
- [Blog](https://allthatteachersparkle.com/blog/): I’m the face behind All That Teacher Sparkle! I’m so glad you’re here! Learn More About Me Latest on the Blog


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