Supporting Struggling Students
Practical, honest strategies for the students who need more than a standard lesson plan — from meltdowns and ADHD to OCD, mental health crises, and everything in between.
Teaching Students with Difficult Behaviors in the Classroom
Practical strategies for students with difficult behaviors, from deescalating meltdowns to teaching self-regulation and getting support from administration.
Read More →Supporting Families to Diagnose and Treat Students with ADHD in the Classroom
It can be difficult to support families to diagnose and treat students with ADHD that may be negatively affecting them in the school and classroom environment.
Read More →Lisa Teaches ADHD: Helpful ADHD Reading Strategies and Resources for Teachers and Parents
A variety of ADHD reading strategies to support your student (or yourself) in becoming a reader who picks up a book and finishes it within a reasonable amount of time.
Read More →A Teacher’s Guide to Helping Students After a Mental Health Hospitalization
FYI: I only endorse things that I've personally used or have come highly recommended from my teacher friends and family and think they may be helpful to you. If you buy anything mentioned using my Amazon referral links, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Understanding sensory overload, safety concerns, and academic catch-up as students return to school after a psychiatric hospitalization or mental health crisis.
Read More →Report Card Comments for Struggling Students
Suggestions and ready-to-use language to help you write thoughtful, growth-minded report card comments for students who struggle.
Read More →Teaching Students with OCD in the Classroom
Tips, tricks, and observations for recognizing obsessions and compulsions and supporting students diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Read More →Teacher Tips for Successful Parent Teacher Conferences
Discussion topics, helpful handouts, and scheduling tricks for making the most of parent teacher conference time — especially for students who are struggling.
Read More →Dealing With Difficult Student Behaviors During Morning Meeting
Practical ways to address disruptive behavior during morning meeting while building routines, supporting students, and protecting a positive classroom community.
Read More →Teach Students to Abandon Books They Don’t Enjoy
Learn how to teach students when to give up on a book, choose better independent reading books, and support students who rarely finish what they start.
Read More →Books to Share with Struggling Readers
A few of my go-to categories for reluctant and struggling readers — short, high-interest, and built to get finished.
See the Full List →Scary Short Story Collections
Horowitz Horror, R.L. Stine’s Scream and Scream Again, and other short-story anthologies that get right into the action in just a few pages.
Jake Maddox Sports Books
Around 70 pages each with a consistent structure, making them low-lift and satisfying for readers who need to actually finish a book.
The Terrible Two Series
A goofy, prank-filled favorite for a First Chapter Friday read-aloud — the book my students beg me to keep reading.
Gary Paulsen’s Shorter Titles
Danger on Midnight River, Lawn Boy, and Crush — lower page counts and lower lexiles than Hatchet, for readers who need a shorter runway.
Guys Write for Guys Read
A genre-organized short story series from well-known authors, curated with reluctant readers in mind.
How They Croaked (and its sequels)
Gross, engaging nonfiction in 3-8 page bites — a read-aloud favorite that hooks even the most reluctant readers.
Quick Video Tips
Bite-sized strategies you can watch in under a minute.
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From TikTok
Hey, I’m Lisa
I’m a fifth grade teacher who loves helping busy educators find creative reading (and general teaching) ideas, practical classroom supports, and engaging activities that make teaching a little easier. I’m especially passionate about supporting neurodiverse learners, students who struggle with focus and executive functioning skills, and struggling, disengaged students.
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