Do you teach the long division algorithm? It can be difficult for students because there are so many steps. Here are my favorite tips! Take Notes Using guided notes is one of my favorite strategies. I like to use partially filled in note templates that we ... READ the POST
Archives for 2019
Save Time in the Classroom with Google Forms
Google Forms are one of my FAVORITE teacher tools. There are lots of reasons to embrace using them, but the biggest one, in my opinion, is that they can save you time. Anything that saves time in the classroom is something worth trying. When you share a Google Form it collects responses ... READ the POST
3 Ways to Really Get to Know Your Students
Building a classroom community is one of the most important things for teachers to think about at the start of a school year. Successful classroom communities begin by forming positive relationships with students. For that to happen, you have to really get to know your students and let them get to ... READ the POST
Kindness Rocks in the Classroom
Have you heard about the Kindness Rocks Project? The trend started several years ago with the simple mission of "one message at just the right moment can change someone's entire day, outlook, life." This mission spoke to me and I wanted to bring it to life in my classroom. The project started ... READ the POST
5 Chapter Books to Read Aloud This Year
Read-aloud time is my favorite part of the day. We come together as a class to listen and discuss books. The conversation is important because it helps us grow. There are many ways to choose read-aloud books. I look for books that will spark conversations. I also like to use the first book in a ... READ the POST
Instagram Worthy Classroom Activities
My friend Luke teaches history at the secondary level. He just shared a great blog post about "insta-worthy" teaching activities that are great for any level! The title refers to museums catering their exhibits to Instagram. Because people love documenting their experiences on social media, museums ... READ the POST
STEM Challenges with Classroom Buddies
Have you ever considered starting a buddy program? I did and I loved it! Older students act as mentors to younger students and both groups gain from the experience. Younger students get the opportunity to learn and grow with an older peer model while older students develop important skills like ... READ the POST
Fun February Activities for the Upper Elementary Classroom
The month of February lends itself easily to holiday-themed activities and projects. Groundhog Day, the 100th Day of School, and Valentine's Day are all perfect for school. I don't celebrate Groundhog Day, but I do like to incorporate some holiday fun for my fifth graders because let's face it ... READ the POST