It's the most wonderful time of the year. Or is it? It's only the beginning of December, but students everywhere are counting down the days until the holiday break. Let's face it - some teachers are, too. Finding activities to keep students engaged at this time of year can be a challenge. Here are ... READ the POST
Archives for 2018
Digital Math Centers for Upper Elementary
Math stations or centers are an important component of Math Workshop. My students rotate through four centers each day: Math Facts & More, At Your Pace (independent work), Teacher's Choice, and Hands-on. The Hand's On station is my digital station. Digital centers are perfect for the ... READ the POST
Student-Led Conferences
Parent conferences can be stressful for teachers, parents, and students. The purpose of a conference is to discuss student learning, but planning and organizing conferences can be time-consuming. What if I told you that I found a system that works? I realized that students should take part in ... READ the POST
Tips for Teaching Volume
Volume can be a difficult concept for students. Fifth-grade students are expected to understand the concept of volume, calculate volume by counting cubes and by using a formula, and understand that volume is additive. Here are my tried and true tips for teaching volume. 1. Review Area ... READ the POST
How to Get Started with Google Classroom
Are you using Google Classroom? I started using it a few years ago and I LOVE it! Fun fact: Youdon’t need to be a 1:1 school to use it! I have access to a shared Chromebook cart and use GoogleClassroom every day. I have embraced the power of digital learning in my classroom and you can, too.The ... READ the POST
6 Tips for Back to School Night
Getting ready for back to school also means getting ready for Back to School Night aka Open House. Back to School Night at my school is for parents only. It is meant to be a time for teachers to introduce themselves, the classroom expectations, and an overview of the upcoming year. Planning a ... READ the POST
End of Year Tips and Tricks
Most people love when the end of April rolls around. Warmer weather (especially if you live in New England), longer days, and the thought that the summer months are almost here. I am here to tell you that this is NOT what teachers think about at the end of April.Teachers, for the most part, have ... READ the POST
How to Use Google Classroom Without Being 1:1
Some teacher friends have expressed frustration that they are unable to use Google Classroom because they are not in a 1:1 situation. Plot twist! You CAN use Google Classroom with one student or a group or students. The first step is to set it up so that your students have access. (You can read more ... READ the POST
Fun Activities for the Long Month of March
March is the month that makes many teachers feel queasy because winter break has happened already and spring break seems so far away. Here are a few of my favorite activities to make the long month of March fly by!Tournament of BooksMy students love any type of friendly competition! They also happen ... READ the POST
Celebrate Digital Learning Day with Digital Task Cards
Do you use task cards in your classroom? If you answered YES, then you should give Boom Learning™ a try because it is basically a task card's trendier cousin aka a digital task card. Boom decks can be used on interactive whiteboards, computers, and tablets that have modern browsers (released within ... READ the POST