Create Your Balance with Literacy

Kara M. Rickman
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Welcome, K-2 Teachers! My name is Kara Rickman, and I'm a 25-year first-grade teacher with a passion for helping fellow colleagues develop their craft in teaching cross-curricular.  If you want to take your classroom to the next level for your students, check out my podcast episodes! I will share all about how to easily teach cross-curricular and help your students make better connections! You will learn how to use the gradual release of responsibility using the "I DO, WE DO, YOU DO" cross-curricular approach with reading, math, science, writing, and social studies! 

  1. FEB 8

    Cross-Curricular Fun for February

    In this free webinar from my Facebook Group: Create Your Balance with Literacy, I share activities, topics, and engaging fun for February. Topics I share are:  Groundhog Day Valentine's Day Famous Inventors Black History Month  100th Day  Presidents/American Symbols Presidents' Day  Money and much more!  Do you want FREE LESSON plans for American Symbols and Presidents??? Click HERE to sign up on my email list!  Connect with me:  TPT Store YouTube Channel Facebook Group Instagram Pinterest Blog Cross-Curricular Connections Membership with Subscription Box!  Support the show Thank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level!

    45 min

  2. JAN 26

    Literacy Center Reboot: Day 5

    Today's episode, I answer the burning questions from teachers who attended my Literacy Center Reboot. Questions include:  Do you have a list of theme unit displays? When do you start introducing your centers one at a time? Do you model how to fill these pages out when you introduce the center? Do you keep all resources needed for the year in the trays or do you switch out as needed throughout the year? With 4 choices a week, do you do something differently on the 5th day? What would it cost if we’d like both the  math and writing subscription box? You say you do centers for 30 minutes a day- I do a modified Daily 5 for an hour each day. But, I’m trying to decide how I can incorporate your centers with the Daily 5 as it does work, but I want more choices for my kids. I pull small groups during the daily 5. Any suggestions are welcome!  How do you determine the Star Student? How do you differentiate your center pages for striving writers? And... much more!  Connect with me:  TPT Store YouTube Channel Facebook Group Instagram Pinterest Blog Cross-Curricular Connections Membership with Subscription Box!  Support the show Thank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level!

    36 min

  3. JAN 18

    Literacy Center Reboot: Day 4

    Join me today as I unpack these literacy centers in my first-grade classroom:  Technology, Listening, Finger Puppets, Drama, Theme, Games, and Science!  I share how I manage, maintain, if I switch them out, and how I introduce them to my students. Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block. Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around! Connect with me:  TPT Store YouTube Channel Facebook Group Instagram Pinterest Blog Cross-Curricular Connections Membership Support the show Thank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level!

    38 min

  4. JAN 11

    Literacy Center Reboot: Day 3

    Join me today as I unpack these literacy centers in my first-grade classroom:  Read/Write the Room, Math, Felt Board, Calendar, Author Study, Word Work, and Kitchen!!! I share how I manage, maintain, if I switch them out, and how I introduce them to my students. Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block. Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around! Connect with me:  TPT Store YouTube Channel Facebook Group Instagram Pinterest Blog Cross-Curricular Connections Membership Support the show Thank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level!

    46 min

  5. JAN 2

    Literacy Center Reboot: Day 2

    Join me today as I unpack these literacy centers in my first-grade classroom:  Library, Poetry, Big Books, Geography, Art, and Writing!!! I share how I manage, maintain, if I switch them out, and how I introduce them to my students. Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block. Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around! Connect with me:  TPT Store YouTube Channel Facebook Group Instagram Pinterest Blog Cross-Curricular Connections Membership Support the show Thank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level!

    39 min

  6. 12/30/2025

    Literacy Center Reboot: Day 1

    Join me on day 1 of my Literacy Center Reboot as I unpack my Behavior Management strategies to start streamlining your literacy centers into a well-oiled machine! You can still register for my Literacy Center Reboot HERE!!!  Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block. Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around! Connect with me:  Literacy Center REBOOT TPT Store YouTube Channel Facebook Group Instagram Pinterest Blog Cross-Curricular Connections Membership Support the show Thank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level!

    50 min

  7. 12/28/2025

    2 More Days to Reboot Your Centers!

    Ready to Fall Back in Love with Your Literacy Centers? ✨ Cart is OPEN now until Sunday, Dec. 28th! Snag if for only $10.00! When: Dec. 29-Jan.2: 4 Days of LIVE Trainings with 10 FREE Literacy Center Resources for your classroom!  Where: Private Facebook Group- after you register, you will receive an email with an invite to join. Hey teacher friends! 👋 If you’ve ever felt like your literacy centers are more chaos than calm, this is for YOU! Join me in my Literacy Center Reboot — a fun, practical training designed to help you: 📚 Keep students accountable and on task during centers 🧩 Learn which centers you actually need (no more overwhelm!) 🔄 Know when and how to change them out to keep engagement high 🪄 Master behavior management so you can finally teach during small groups 📦 PLUS—get a sneak peek at my brand-new Literacy Center Subscription Box! 🎁 🧩 Schedule of LIVE Trainings: 🎁Day 1 (Dec. 29): Behavior Management,  Student Accountability, Center Rotation Board, Center Folder, Center Checklist, “I CAN” Cards, and How to Utilize a Star Student.  🎁Day 2 (Dec. 30): How to Manage, when to change out, and materials for: Library Center, Poetry Center, Big Book Center, Geography Center, Art Center, and Writing Center Subscription Box.  🎁Day 3 (Dec. 31): How to Manage, when to change out, and materials for: Kitchen Center, Math Center Subscription Box, Calendar Center, Felt Board Center, Read/Write The Room, Word Work Center, and Author Center.  🎁Day 4 (Jan. 1): How to Manage, when to change out, and materials for: Technology Center, Listening Center, Finger Puppet Center, Construction/STEM, Drama Center, Science Center, and Theme Center.  🎁Day 5 (Jan. 2): LIVE Q&A!!! You will get a chance to ask questions with Kara and get immediate feedback! You will also get your name put in a raffle to win a $30.00 Amazon Gift Card!  Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block. Let’s make your centers work for you—not the other way around! Connect with me:  TPT Store YouTube Channel Facebook Group Instagram Pinterest Blog Cross-Curricular Connections Membership   Support the show Thank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level!

    33 min

  8. 11/28/2025

    Special Literacy Center Reboot Offer!

    ✨ Ready to Fall Back in Love with Your Literacy Centers? ✨ Hey teacher friends! 👋  If you’ve ever felt like your literacy centers are more chaos than calm, this is for YOU! I’m giving a Literacy Center Reboot — a fun, practical training designed to help you:  📚 Keep students accountable and on task during centers  🧩 Learn which centers you actually need (no more overwhelm!)  🔄 Know when and how to change them out to keep engagement high  🪄 Master behavior management so you can finally teach during small groups 📦 PLUS—get a sneak peek at my brand-new Literacy Center Subscription Box! 🎁Whether you’re a new teacher or just ready to reboot your system, this is your chance to bring clarity, confidence, and connection back to your literacy block. Check out my Literacy Center Reboot HERE to register and get your BLACK FRIDAY offer of 50% off!  Connect with me:  TPT Store YouTube Channel Facebook Group Instagram Pinterest Blog Cross-Curricular Connections Membership Support the show Thank you so much for listening! Let's take your classroom to the next level!

    28 min
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About

Welcome, K-2 Teachers! My name is Kara Rickman, and I'm a 25-year first-grade teacher with a passion for helping fellow colleagues develop their craft in teaching cross-curricular.  If you want to take your classroom to the next level for your students, check out my podcast episodes! I will share all about how to easily teach cross-curricular and help your students make better connections! You will learn how to use the gradual release of responsibility using the "I DO, WE DO, YOU DO" cross-curricular approach with reading, math, science, writing, and social studies! 

Information

  • Creator
    Kara M. Rickman
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    96
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Create Your Balance with Literacy
  • Show Website
    Create Your Balance with Literacy