Live Laugh Love to Learn

April is when classroom emotions run HOT. Kids are restless, routines are breaking down, and everyone's counting the days. 😅

Before students can manage their feelings, they have to name them...

and that's exactly what this free Emotions Wheel helps them do.

It covers 8 emotions, happy, sad, calm, worried, frustrated, angry, excited, and confused, each with kid-friendly illustrations and simple definitions students can actually understand.

Print it, laminate it, add it to your calm down corner. It's FREE
➜ link in the comments below. 💛

Which emotion do your students struggle to name the most? Drop it below 👇

That kid who can’t sit still…
Who snaps at their partner…
Who shuts down completely…

It’s easy to label those behaviors as “difficult.”

But more often than not, they’re actually dysregulated, and that’s a big difference.

When we understand what’s really going on, we can respond in ways that actually help instead of escalating the situation.

In this post, I’m sharing a few common signs to look for, and simple ways to support students in the moment 💛

If you want a simple, ready-to-use system for this in your classroom, comment CALM for the link.

March is such a strange month in the classroom.

It’s leprechauns and rainbows…
but also test prep, shifting energy, and students who feel “off.”

That’s exactly why I still use hands-on STEM in March,
but not as a craft.

When students design → test → improve,
they’re practicing perseverance.

When they reflect after testing,
that’s real learning.

I updated my March STEM breakdown and shared exactly how I structure these challenges (with SEL built in).

You can read it here:
🔗 https://livelaughlovetolearn.com/march-stem-activities-elementary/

February is always a turning point in the school year. Routines get harder to hold, energy runs high, and big feelings show up faster.

When I was teaching full-time, this was the point where I stopped trying to push through and instead leaned on resources that supported both regulation and meaningful learning, because academics don’t work when students are overwhelmed.

I put together a short list of things that genuinely help this time of year, including calming supports, purposeful Black History Month learning, and hands-on STEM that also builds communication and teamwork.

If you’ve had any of these saved for later, just a quick heads up that TPT is running a sitewide sale Feb 9–10.

No pressure at all...
just sharing what’s been helpful in real classrooms.

If you want to take a closer look, here’s my TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/debbie-rudtke-live-laugh-love-to-learn

Your class feeling a little chaotic lately?
Try this tomorrow 👇

A quick Feelings Forecast at the start of class helps students:
🌤️ name how they're feeling
🌤️ settle their energy
🌤️ communicate what they need
🌤️ collaborate with more patience and focus

It takes less than a minute — and truly changes the vibe of your day.

Want an easy tool to make it happen?
Grab my free Emotion Wheel! 🌈✨
👇
https://livelaughlovetolearn.com/free-emotion-regulation-tool-emotions-wheel/

Ever had students set goals like “I’ll do better next time”? 😅
Teaching SMART goals turns those vague intentions into real action plans. 🎯

With this free toolkit, your students will learn how to:
✨ Make specific goals
📊 Track their progress
💪 Reflect and reset as needed

Link is in the comments!

Hear me out 👀...most homework at this age is just busywork.

The real growth happens in the classroom, and at home with family time, play, and reading.

Homework ≠ learning.

Agree or disagree? Let’s discuss ⬇️

💡Teacher tip : When you’re frustrated, say out loud how you’re calming down.

“I’m going to take a deep breath so I can think clearly.”

It seems small, but you’re showing your students what self-regulation looks like in real life. 💛

What’s your go-to calm-down strategy during a stressful school day? Share in the comments, I’m always looking for new ideas from teacher friends! 👇

Did You Know? Writing by hand actually boosts memory and learning more than typing! 🤯

There’s real science behind it,

when you write something down, your brain processes it in a deeper, more meaningful way.

That’s why handwritten notes, journaling, and even doodling can make a big difference in how much we remember.

I’m curious… do you still love writing things out by hand, or has typing completely taken over?

👇 Comment ✍️ if you’re Team Handwriting or 💻 if you’re Team Typing!

Your students are arguing over a pencil... again.

Let’s give them the tools to actually handle conflict on their own,

without you constantly stepping in. 👏

🧠 My brand-new Conflict Resolution SEL Unit for 4th & 5th graders is packed with:

✨ Real-life student conflict scenarios
🎭 Role-play cards
📝 Journal pages
🎯 Assessments, anchor charts & more

And it’s 20% OFF through Wednesday only! ⏳

📥 Want the link?
I'll drop it in the comments!

Every teacher knows… sometimes the difference between “I can handle this” and “send help” is a snack. 🙃

That’s why I keep a secret stash: chocolate, almonds, maybe even a bag of pretzels for those long afternoons.

Tell me, friends: what’s YOUR must-have teacher snack to keep on hand?

⬇Comment below, let’s swap ideas and build the ultimate snack survival kit! 🍪🍿🥜

Unpopular opinion alert: Clip charts?

Not a fan. ❌

If you’ve ever cringed at the idea of publicly moving a student’s clip (or watched a kid’s face fall because of it), you’re not alone!

I truly believe we can do better for our kids by building relationships, teaching self-regulation, and focusing on growth—not public shaming.

If you’ve ditched the clip chart, what are you doing instead?

Let’s share ideas and support each other! 💬💡