Hi teacher friend! I’m Rachel, and I’m so glad you’ve found your way to The Teacher’s Cottage—a cozy little corner of the internet where creativity meets classroom practicality. Whether you’re here for lesson inspiration, classroom management tips, or fun and engaging ways to teach math and ELA, you’re in the right place.
I spent years in the classroom teaching middle school and now I am on my 6th year in K-2, and one thing I learned quickly? If you can make learning hands-on, visual, and a little bit magical, your students will be all in. That’s why I started creating resources that go beyond paper-pencil tasks—resources that get kids cutting, coloring, building, moving, thinking, and having fun while they learn.
Now, through this blog and my Teachers Pay Teachers store, I get to share those classroom-tested ideas with teachers like you.
What You’ll Find Here
At The Teacher’s Cottage, my goal is to help you simplify your prep time without sacrificing creativity. Each post is designed to give you ready-to-use ideas that support rigorous standards in fun, flexible ways. Here’s a peek at what you can expect:
- Engaging math crafts that help students practice skills like place value, time, addition, subtraction, and fractions
- Seasonal classroom activities that are low-prep but high-impact (and great for hallway displays!)
- Task card tips and ideas for using them in small groups, centers, and whole-class games
- Creative ways to review core concepts like multiplication, equivalent fractions, and base ten
- Bulletin board inspiration that’s student-centered and standards-aligned
Think of it as your grab-and-go guide to making your classroom a place where learning feels exciting—for your students and for you.
What Makes This Blog Different?
I create resources that:
- Combine academic rigor with creativity
- Are low-prep, teacher-friendly, and classroom-tested
- Work for a variety of learning styles—visual, kinesthetic, and everything in between
From my best-selling Clock Robot Time-Telling Craft to my Place Value BINGO Games, every resource I share is designed to help your students love learning.
Let’s Stay Connected
If this sounds like the kind of teacher inspiration you’re looking for, I’d love for you to stick around! Bookmark the blog, follow me on Teachers Pay Teachers, and keep an eye out for new posts every month from August through May.
And if you want to get started with something fun right away, check out this favorite back-to-school activity:
👉 All About Me 3D Writing Craft – perfect for building classroom community and creating an eye-catching first bulletin board!
Thanks for stopping by. I’m so glad you’re here—and I can’t wait to support you through a joyful and successful school year!