Rethinking “Which One Doesn’t Belong?” — Open-Ended Questions for Deep Thinking

If you've ever asked your students “Which one doesn’t belong?” and expected one right answer, it’s time to shake things up! In my classroom, I use open-ended versions of this classic task to spark conversations, build confidence, and encourage flexible thinking.

These aren't your typical multiple-choice worksheets. Each prompt includes four items and every option has a reason it could be the odd one out. Students are asked not just to choose, but to explain their thinking.

Let's take a look at one math-related slide and the possible answers:

Quick: Which one doesn't belong to you???

Why is this powerful?

✅ It invites deeper thinking. Students look for patterns, exceptions, and relationships.
✅ It values all voices. There’s not just one “right” answer—there are many justifiable answers.
✅ It builds math vocabulary (if a math slide!). Kids naturally start to use words like “greater than,” “even,” “tens place,” or “symmetrical.”
✅ It makes formative assessment easy. You’ll quickly see who’s noticing what—and how they’re reasoning.

How I Use Them in the Classroom

• ✏️ Morning Work or Do-Nows
  A great way to get students settled and thinking at the start of the day.

• 💙Morning Meeting Activity!  Truly the perfect activity and it wakes up their brains. A double win!

• 👩‍🏫 Math or Reading Workshop Warm-Ups
  Perfect for mini-lessons or number talks. One slide, one conversation—tons of insight!

• 🤝 Partner or Small Group Work
  Students explain and debate their choices—collaboration meets critical thinking!

• 🧠 Early Finishers or Centers
  These tasks feel like puzzles—but sneak in serious learning.

I recently attended a PD Session which featured a woman who gave valuable insight: When kids answer, just nod head in agreement. Don't "make a fuss" over the ones that blow you away.  I've been doing these a long time and I was the one fussing.  But I overdid it and kids knew the answers I "loved."  Now I "love" them all equally!

TIP: These are a GREAT way to open up an observation lesson with. I have done it many, many times and admin always loves to see the deeper thinking.

What’s Inside My “Which One Doesn’t Belong?” Resources?

I’ve created grade-friendly sets for first and second grade with:

• Full-color slides for digital display that come in Google Slides and PowerPoint

• Printable versions in black and white only.  A different format but just as good.  

• A mix of visual and numerical reasoning prompts

• Open space for writing and drawing to explain thinking

Whether you're building number sense or stretching higher-order thinking, these flexible prompts are easy to plug into your routine.

Ready to Try It?  Here's a free sample to get you started.  

Which One Doesn't Belong? FREEBIE

I also have two wildly popular Which One Doesn't Belong products and have recently created monthly versions.  Get the bundle below for $25 which is $11 off the regular price. That's like getting 3 months FREE!  Gotta love that!

I never have to worry about last minute plans or having something READY at a moment's notice.  These Which One Doesn't Belong? slides are life-saving for me!

My Favorite Low-Prep Literacy Hack (Especially for Sub Plans!)

Ever feel like your read-aloud just needs something after it’s over?

You know the moment: your class loved the story, everyone’s engaged, and then… crickets. Do we write? Do we draw? Do we move on?

Enter one of my favorite grab-and-go solutions:

Book It: Retell It, Write It, Make It!

These printable mini-packets are the perfect follow-up to your favorite picture books—especially the ones featured on Storyline Online (Yes, the free site where celebrities read books aloud 🙌).

They’re a total lifesaver when:

• You need something quick but meaningful

• You're prepping for a sub

• You want students to practice literacy skills without extra planning

💡 What’s Inside Each Packet?

Each Book It! packet includes:
📚 A Retell-It page (oral and written)

 

✏️ A Write-It prompt (A story-connected writing activity

🔤 A Make-a-Word phonics page – built around a key word or theme from the book

They’re print-and-go and student-friendly for Grades 1-3!

📚 Which Books Are Included?

So far, the Storyline Online Growing Bundle includes 16 titles:

• Henry Holton Takes the Ice
• The Empty Pot
• Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch
• Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies!
• When a Dragon Moves In
• Trombone Shorty
• Strega Nona
• A Bad Case of Stripes
• Maddie’s Fridge
• I’m Not Scared, You’re Scared!
• Enemy Pie
• Chester’s Way
• Jabari Jumps
• Arnie the Doughnut
• Stellaluna
• The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen

New packets are being added every week!

Try One for Free!

Want to see what they’re like?
Grab the free Book It for The Sandwich Swap
It’s perfect for character-building and discussion, too.

💰 Snag the Growing Bundle Now!

The Growing Bundle currently includes 16 packets (a $32 value)
But right now it’s only $12 — just 75¢ each!
And every new addition is included automatically. 🎉

➡️ Storyline Online Book It Growing Bundle

Whether you’re lesson planning at midnight (we’ve all been there) or prepping an emergency sub tub, Book It! packets have your back. Easy, engaging, and done for you. ✅

Let me know if you try one—I love hearing which books your kids connect with most!

✏️ Teacher tip:

Make a few copies, pop them into a plastic sleeve, and store them with a QR code to the read-aloud video. Instant sub plan or early finisher bin!

Why 120 Chart Puzzles Belong in Your Math Centers

Looking for a low-prep, high-impact math center that builds number sense, encourages perseverance, and keeps kids engaged? Try120 Chart Puzzles  Such a small-but-mighty math activity that packs in tons of learning with minimal teacher effort.  Very minimal!

✂️ What Are 120 Chart Puzzles?

They’re exactly what they sound like! Take a 120 chart, cut it into pieces, and ask students to reassemble it like a puzzle. You can use a blank 120 chart as a base or let kids build directly on a table or tray.

Just print, laminate if you want, cut, and toss the puzzle pieces into a baggie—and you're DONE. It’s an instant, reusable center that students can work on solo, with a buddy, or in a small group. NOTE: I do not laminate. Instead, I print directly onto construction paper.  Sturdy enough. Just use different colors in case pieces wander about. This way, it will be easy to get the piece back into the right baggie.

🧠 What Skills Do 120 Chart Puzzles Build?

These puzzles do more than just keep early finishers busy. They actually strengthen key number concepts, including:

• Number Sequencing – Kids get constant exposure to counting patterns and one-more/one-less logic.

• Place Value Understanding – Students see how tens and ones interact as they place pieces.

• Number Pattern Recognition – Rows go up by 1s, columns by 10s. The more they build, the more these patterns stick.

• Problem-Solving & Perseverance – Rebuilding a 120 chart isn’t always easy, especially when the pieces are irregular. It encourages stick-to-itiveness!

• Spatial Reasoning – Students have to rotate and flip pieces to find their correct spot.

• Math Talk – These are great for partner work and guided math groups. You’ll hear rich conversations like “This number should be right above 54…” or “There’s a 72! That means this piece might go here.”

🧺 Simple to Prep, Easy to Differentiate

The beauty of this activity is that it’s low-maintenance for you and highly adaptable for your learners.

• ✅ Use full puzzles for beginners

• ✅ Cut charts into larger chunks (like rows or columns) for support or K students.

• ✅ Use more complex cuts for early finishers or second graders

• ✅ Offer blank 120 charts or clues to scaffold learners that they can place pieces directly onto.

NOTE: Download a free chart on TpT...so many of them!

🎯 Perfect for…

• Math Centers

• Early Finishers

• Morning Tubs

• Sub Plans

• Take-Home Practice

• Small Group Interventions

• Partner Challenges

✨ Final Thought

120 Chart Puzzles look simple but they’re loaded with learning. Best of all? Once you’ve prepped them, they’re ready to use all year long. Mine above have lasted a few years so far.

Minimal prep. Maximum impact. That’s a teacher win.

Why Poetry Belongs in Every Classroom

I got an email on Tuesday asking me why I'm so passionate about using poetry and songs in the classroom.  I pulled together my Top 10 reasons why I think using poetry binders in my First Grade classroom is beneficial:

1. Builds Early Literacy Skills

• Encourages fluency, phonemic awareness, and vocabulary development.

• Provides repeated exposure to high-frequency words and patterns.

2. Promotes Reading Confidence

• Poems are often short and rhythmic, making them approachable for young readers.

• Repetition and predictable structures help build self-assurance.

3. Enhances Listening and Speaking Skills

• Reciting and performing poems improves oral language skills.

• Encourages expressive reading and articulation.

4. Supports Memory and Retention

• Rhyming and rhythm aid memorization.

• Helps students recall language patterns and content.

5. Encourages Creativity and Imagination

• Sparks interest in wordplay, imagery, and storytelling.

• Inspires students to create their own poems.

6. Creates a Personal Reading Resource

• Students can revisit poems independently, building a sense of ownership.

• Acts as a growing portfolio of literacy progress throughout the year.

7. Facilitates Cross-Curricular Connections

• Poems can align with science, social studies, or seasonal themes.

• Reinforces concepts through engaging language.

8. Strengthens Home-School Connection

• Students can take binders home to read with family.

• Encourages literacy outside the classroom.

9. Fosters Classroom Community

• Shared readings of poetry promote a sense of belonging and shared learning.

• Class favorites can become part of daily routines or transitions.

10. Supports Differentiated Instruction

• Binders can be customized with poems suited to individual reading levels or interests.

• Provides an accessible entry point for struggling or emerging readers.

There you have it!  Thinking of starting a poetry binder this year? Here are 20 FREE poems to get you started. Have fun with them  Enjoy!!!

Piggie & Elephant to the Rescue! Directed Drawings

If your students are anything like mine, they’re obsessed with Mo Willems. And if you’re anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for activities that check all these boxes:

✅ Engaging
✅ Low prep
✅ Tied to literacy
✅ Actually FUN

Well, friend, consider it done! Let me introduce you to my Piggie & Elephant Directed Drawing Printables — aka: the magical combination of writing, reading, drawing, and "LOOK WHAT I MADE!" moments that will make you feel like a superhero (without the cape or paperwork).

What’s the Deal?
Your students get to follow simple, step-by-step directions to draw Piggie, Elephant, the Big Guy (hi, whale 🐳), Love Birds, a car, and a ship. That’s SIX different drawing options—differentiated FOUR ways—because you teach real humans, not identical robots.

Some pages are no-writing-required (perfect for kinders or “I lost my pencil” days), and some have sentence-writing options with different line types depending on your students' abilities or handwriting stage. There's even extra paper for your little novelists. I see you, future Mo Willemses.

Why Teachers Love This:

• It’s a sneaky way to reinforce comprehension. (“Let’s draw Gerald! But wait… what’s he feeling in the book again?”)

• It builds fine motor skills without a single clothespin or play dough in sight.

• Students become very proud of their creations. Like, “Please display this until I graduate” proud.

• It’s fun for centers, sub days, Fun Fridays, or “we finished math early and I am NOT starting a new lesson at 2:17 PM.”

Bonus Teacher Tips:

• Do all six drawings over a week while reading the books aloud = INSTANT cross-curricular magic.

• End the week by having students combine characters into one scene = hilarious and bulletin board-worthy.

• Let them record themselves reading their sentences on Seesaw. 

• Keep a binder of reusable directed drawings in sleeves = easy access, forever engagement, zero excuses.

Whether you’re team Piggie, team Elephant, or team “please let the pigeon drive the bus already,” this resource is a go-to gem you’ll use year after year.

Check out the other Directed Drawings I have in action and a full preview of how I format the packet...I think you'll recognize some cool characters your kids will love!

This is Bundle 1: Save $5 which saves you 33%  Piggie and Elephant will be available in Bundle 2 when it's ready...by the end of July.  Happy 4th!

Why Did I Wait So Long?! The Poetry Binder Hack That Saved My Sanity

I've finally figured out a classroom poetry binder system that actually saves me time—and I’m kicking myself for not doing it sooner! If you’re a teacher looking to simplify monthly poem organization, you’re going to want to try this.

The Struggle Was Real

Every month, I’d print out our classroom poems, pass them out, and watch 20 tiny humans try to line them up with the three rings in the binders.  Of course I'd help but by the time I got all the way around the room, poems were upside-down, backwards and out of order. 😅

I did this September-June!  Every. Single. Month..

I thought I was doing things efficiently. I really did.

Spoiler: I was not.

Enter: My New Binder System

This year, I did something wild — I printed the entire year's worth of poems ahead of time. Yup. All of them. Double-sided. Sorted by month. Dividers which were simply labeled, "September Poems, October Poems, etc. included.

I handed out binders in September and said to my colleagues, “I'm done.” And guess what? I really was!

Here's What I Do Now

• Copy/paste just the poems I want into one master document (Thank you, Google Slides link in my TPT packet ).

• Number every poem so we can find them quickly

• Print double-sided and sorted by month (include Month dividers!)

• Put into binders just ONE TIME!

• Done and done.

Bonus: A Google Slides Shortcut!

If you're using my TPT poetry packet, grab the Google Slides link. I just drop the poems I want into one doc, and it's way easier to edit and prep for print. Then when I'm introducing a poem, no more scrolling. They are in the exact order I need them and display perfectly on my projector.  (I also have PDFs included which I used for display for years.  But while helpful, not ideal.  Slides much better!)

Seriously, Try It

I feel like an idiot for not doing this sooner — but also like a genius now. 😂 If you're still doing the month-to-month chaos, consider giving this full-year method a try. It’s honestly one of the best time-saving shifts I’ve made.

And don't forget, my September Poetry Packet is FREE!  

Draw Like Dav Pilkey : Directed Drawings from Dog Man

If your students are obsessed with Dog Man, you're in good company! Dav Pilkey’s graphic novel series is a favorite in my classroom and from what my colleagues say, their classrooms, too. 

While, full disclosure, it's not a favorite of my personal taste, I am fully here for anything that gets kids excited about reading and this fits the bill!

I aim to please so please I did....my kids went WILD yesterday when I shared my latest Directed Drawing packet with them. (Thanks to my husband who actually makes the drawings for me.)

It was at the end of the day so I wasn't able to take too many pictures.

Take a peek at some of their art from past packets. I'll have to get better at taking pictures!

This resource includes step-by-step drawing guides for 6 Dog Man characters — perfect for beginning artists and young readers alike! Each drawing breaks down the character into simple steps. Build confidence for sure! Read about the benefits of Directed Drawings if you are new to them.

Characters Included

• Dog Man

• Petey

• Petey's Lab

• Mayor

• Hot Dog 

• Chief

 Why You'll Love This

• ✔️ No drawing experience needed — each step is scaffolded to support your youngest learners

• ✔️ Great for literacy connections — pair it with Dog Man read-alouds or independent reading time

• ✔️ Perfect for brain breaks, Fun Friday, art centers, sub plans, or bulletin boards, Do Nows, Fast Finishers, Summer Send Off, etc.

• ✔️ Inspires storytelling — students can write about their characters once they draw them!

Easy Prep, Big Engagement

Want to take it a step further? Let students create their own comic strips or Dog Man-style adventures using the characters they’ve drawn!

Ready to Draw Some Laughs?

Whether you’re a lifelong Dog Man fan or just discovering the world of Dav Pilkey, this directed drawing pack is a fun, low-prep way to build confidence, creativity, and giggles.

👉 Grab the Dog Man Directed Drawing Pack for K–2 now and unleash your students' inner illustrator! 

Lots more packets coming this summer.  Thinking Pete the Cat, Bruce the Bear, Pig the Pug, Fly Guy, Piggie and Elephant, David....any others?  Hmmm...thinking, thinking...

UPDATED:  I made a Pete the Cat Packet and made  MONEY SAVING BUNDLE! Save $5!

FREEBIE! Meet Your New Best Friend in the Classroom—Making Words!

Hey there, teacher friend! Happy New Year! I love January with my First Graders...the growth really accelerates by leaps and bounds once January hits! It's exciting to see. I still have a few more days of vacation but wanted to share one of my favorite classroom activities with you: Making Words! 

I did speed it up so you I could show you my words. Can you guess my thought process?  I can hear my Firsties saying, "I just used the digraph -ck!"  Every time I made a plural word, I envisioned, "Yes! She added the s to make more than one!"  I love how this engaging hands-on activity is like their own second dose of Fundations for the day!

I’m excited to show you why (and how) I use this game-changing tool that will make your teaching life even more amazing—and I have 13 FREE January/February themed Making Words ready for you to print out today and share with your class.

Do you have lots of magnetic letters? If so, you can make this activity center below as a year-long area for your kids to get more practice making words. My kids are always there...even during their Free Choice time.  Kids like to go in groups of 2 or 3 and just write messages or play school and practice sight words.

Here's a picture of one student using the Making Words Center to leave me a message.

They often write their parents a message and send it home via Seesaw. One parent even replied using refrigerator magnets and sending a message back to her child. Fun!

So, what's all the buzz about? Well, let me tell you how this tool is going to take your classroom to the next level of engagement and learning. Promise! 

What is Making Words?

Making Words is a hands-on, interactive learning resource that allows students to practice spelling, phonics, and vocabulary through word-building activities. The best part? It's completely adaptable for your classroom's needs. The FREE January/February Making Word packet comes with 13 Make-a-Word worksheets. While I don't use all 13, I do use, at a minimum, eight.  One per week where kids work together and then 1 per week that we do together.  I use magnetic letter on the board that they come up and manipulate into words and write down on their worksheet. (Or use Doc camera if you don't have letters.)  NOTE: I do add others to Free Choice time and send home when kids request them...which is often. Families do together.  Fun!

Making words is like a word puzzle, Fundation lesson, and a learning adventure all rolled into one. What’s not to love? 

If you do this:

then there is a very high probability that you will LOVE making words with your class!

Why You’ll Love It

1. Endless Fun with Themes Galore!
   With 13 Making Words per monthly packet, there’s a fresh word-building challenge for every month—and let’s not forget the holiday themes! From Pumpkin Spice words to Winter Wonderland vocabulary, your students will be excited to create and learn with each new theme.

2. Simple Setup, Big Impact
   You don’t need a PhD in lesson planning to get started. Each packet is designed for quick, easy implementation, saving you valuable time. Just print. That's it! Plus, with the activities aligned with the K-3 curriculum, you can quickly integrate them into your existing lessons without skipping a beat.

3. Helps with Phonics, Spelling, and Vocabulary
   Making words isn’t just a fun activity—it’s a critical literacy tool! Your kiddos will master phonics skills, improve their spelling, and expand their vocabulary all while playing and collaborating with their classmates. 

4. Perfect for Small Groups & Independent Work
   Whether you're working with small groups or letting kids dive into independent learning, Making Words has you covered. It’s versatile enough to use in a variety of ways. And the best part? It’s not just something your students will do once. They can revisit it again and again—making it a year-long valuable resource.

5. Boosts Confidence and Builds Creativity
   When students start creating words from scratch, something magical happens—they feel empowered! It builds their confidence and fosters creativity. Seeing a student light up when they’ve created a new word or finally recognize and can spell that Trick Word in Fundations, is an unforgettable moment that shows how powerful this tool is.

6. Helps with Differentiation
   You’ve got a class full of diverse learners, and Making Words is designed with that in mind. Whether they’re beginners or more advanced, it meets every child’s needs. Plus, the variety of words offered means there's always something new for everyone to explore!  

Why It’s a Must-Have for Your Classroom

Alright, let’s get real. We know that as teachers, you’re constantly on the lookout for tools that save time, maximize engagement, and boost learning. Well, guess what? Making Words checks all of those boxes—and more.

It’s a one-stop resource that will provide hours of educational fun throughout the year. Imagine the smiles as kids dive into themed word-building challenges, the high fives when they spell a tricky word, and the excitement of learning through play. Can you say "classroom gold"?

But don’t just take my word for it—this tool has been crafted with teachers in mind, and I can’t wait for you to see the difference it makes in your classroom.

How I Use Making Words in My Classroom:

1. Pick out a Making Words Sheet and gather your kids on the carpet area.  You can either use Magnetic letters or cut our the letters.  Either way, I do prefer kids to actually move the letters around to make the words.  Ask kids, "Can anyone make a word out of these letters?"

2. Record words on board. 

3. I often guide students who lack confidence. "Dan made the word at.  Look at the word, Sarah. If I put a C in front of -at, what is my new word?"  

4. Repeat the above and if students don't mentions diraps, plurals etc, guide them. Help them make those connections.  Point to the Word Wall area and remind kids to make those words too.

5. Group Work: Once a week, while kids are eating snack at desks, I will whip out a Making Words.  They can eat and think at the same time! 

6. Independent Time! When kids are ready to work without me, I will let them work independently at times but OFTEN in a group.  They make/record words together.

7. Share Words: Halfway through, I get everyone's attention and ask if anyone wants to share a word.  This is the best part. The kids love to show what they know.  The student says the word as I write it on the board.  I tell the kids that they can add this word to their own paper if they want. Most do. 

My colleague uses these Making Words activities but does NOT have kids cut the letters out. Personal preference. Do what's best for your kids.  I do have kids store words in a snack baggie so they can work on their words throughout the week.

In the beginning, the words in First Grade start off as mostly 2-3 letter words but that really changes fast.

Side Note: A few years ago, our First Grade Team was concerned that so many of our kids struggled with RHYMING WORDS for the first time.  A downward trend that I feel was reversed by Making Words. 

Are you up for a new activity in 2025? Grab your Making Words set today!

Happy teaching!