Natalie

Educator, YouTuber, & content creator empowering you to confidently navigate your child’s education.

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Why ban books when you could ban homework?

When I taught, I personally hated assigning homework, but I can't say all teachers feel the same. In fact, homework is a huge controversy in schools and each one I taught at had a different policy.

Banned Book Review: Hop on Pop, by Dr. Seuss

Miss Natalie is reviewing famously banned (almost banned) books this week. We'll start off with a review of Dr. Seuss's famous "Hop on Pop" - why was it banned, and will it really cause society to fall apart? Miss Natalie gives her perspective. (Natalie

I met Vivo the Kinkajou! Well, kind of...

Watch Miss Natalie meet the cutest animal around- a kinkajou (honeybear) and realize what a rascal she is! See if she can stay composed as it crawls all over her. Learn a few things and have a laugh at this silly animal. Kinkajous were featured in the Netflix movie Vivo!

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What's Up?

Back to school time was a season I was dreading...

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What we should do about low test scores

Test scores for kids (specifically 9 year olds) dropped to their lowest levels in decades.

Videos

Cute newborn piglets! All about piglets and pigs

Today Miss Natalie is at A Zoo 2 You! They are a mobile petting zoo company, they will set up a petting zoo near you. After meeting piglets at a birthday party, she reached out to meet them. There were 4 day old newborn piglets and 4 month old adult

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Click here for baby animals! 🐷 🦙 🐮

I've been having some fun. In July I went to A Zoo 2 You in Monroe, NC to meet their animals.

All the baby farm animals!

Today Miss Natalie is at A Zoo 2 You! They are a mobile petting zoo company, they will set up a petting zoo near you. Miss Natalie went to the farm to see where these cute animals live. She saw baby goats, emus, a baby babydoll sheep, a baby alpaca,

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Published 😊

I published an article! Since I was in grad school it's been a goal to publish an article on education.

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Ain't no hollaback girl 🍌 phonics #5

Phonics is hard work to teach, but as your child's skills grow, it can actually be really fun.

Why I Quit Teaching - North Carolina teacher vlog

Deciding to leave my job was a hard decision- this vlog shares how I decided to leave and how I made the most of my last few months in the classroom. Subscribe to my newsletter (you will need to click a confirmation email- check your spam folder, please!): https://newsletter.

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...but why is it spelled like that? phonics #4

Teaching a child to spell starts off simple (cat, dog, etc.), but quickly gets challenging

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a, e, i, o, u and sometimes... phonics #3

These five little letters a, e, i, o, u may seem straight forward, they often take the longest time to teach and learn.

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What are Letter Boxes? Phonics series #2

With a little nudge, any new speller can sound out the word pen ✍️ Elkonin Letter Boxes are a tool used to spell CVC words (consonant vowel consonant). They are a tool used to break down the sounds in a word.

How I Teach Spelling - Using Elkonin Letter Boxes to teach your child to spell

Elkonin Letter Boxes - https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elkonin-Letter-Boxes-FREEBIE-8303780 Letter box worksheets and more: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/No-Prep-Elkonin-Letter-Boxes-DIFFERENTIATED-Worksheets-Letter-Boxes-8303805 Subscribe to my newsletter and more: https://links.primaryfocus.tv/

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Let's talk phonics... #1

Over the next 5 weeks I'll share a series on phonics- here's the first one. Phonics simply means the method used to teach reading and writing. It's for languages with an alphabet- like English and it's not for the faint of heart.

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A new beginning

I resigned: Until recently, I thought I would teach for my entire career. I felt sad and defeated as I packed up my classroom, but I knew "it's about damn time."

I resigned from teaching...a message from a teacher's broken heart

I resigned. Before I say another word, I need you to know that I love teaching. I feel like I was chased out of my career. I gave up a position at one of the best schools in my district, because even the incredible environment there could not protect me

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No more negotiating!

As the adults in the room, we are the ones who have to teach kids when to stop trying and accept no for an answer.

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Summer Slide

During those hot summer days, all your child's progress this year could be drifting away

Videos

2022 TOP 3 End of Year Teacher Gift Ideas - Easy Teacher Gifts for Summer

Amazon affiliate links: * Drink dispenser: https://amzn.to/3w2chu5 * Cooler: https://amzn.to/3FCUQUe * Beach bag: https://amzn.to/3wil8Io * Towel: https://amzn.to/3lbvtiH * Sunscreen: https://amzn.to/3FN0WRL * Command Strips: https://amzn.to/3MkqTL9 * Custom teacher stationery: https://amzn.to/3FMZbnA or my favorite store https://littlebirdiepapers.com/

Videos

Are All Flamingos Pink? | All About Flamingos for Kids

Miss Natalie shares facts about flamingos. This video is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade, third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade kids plus adults too! Leave a comment below with more topics you'd like to see videos on! Follow me on Instagram @PrimaryFocus_ Amazon

Videos

The Main Idea Song

This is a sample lesson, teaching main idea and details to kindergarten & first grade This video show how I teach Main Idea and Details to my kindergartners. I also used this song in first grade. I am the creator of this song, so please credit Primary Focus when using.

Videos

The Panther's Shadowy Secret | All About Panthers for Kids

Miss Natalie shares facts about panthers and the surprising answers to which is stronger: panthers, leopards, or jaguars? This video is perfect for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade, third grade, fourth grade, and fifth grade kids plus adults too! There are 19 Black Panthers in this video. If

Videos

Kindergarten Math Lesson: Addition, Subtraction, Equals Symbol

This video is from a math vocabulary lesson explaining addition, plus sign, subtraction, minus sign, and equal sign. I show the children gestures and phrases to help them recall the vocabulary and symbols. They also learn the strategy to determine if a word problem is addition or subtraction. Using whole