Teaching with Jennifer Findley
Upper Elementary Teaching Blog
When it comes to building relationships with parents, my philosophy is simple yet powerful: believe that they’re doing the best they can. This approach isn't something I consciously adopted at first—it was just how I viewed the world, shaped by my own experiences with my family. It wasn’t until later that I realized not everyone sees things this way, and that’s okay. And … [Read more...] about Unpacking Classroom Management Success: The Real Secret to Improving Parent-Teacher Relationships
As teachers (and humans), we often carry the weight of "should" on our shoulders, believing that things should be different or better in our classrooms. I know this all too well because I fell into that trap myself. If there's one lesson I've learned from my years in the classroom, it's the power of releasing the word "should" from your vocabulary—especially when it comes … [Read more...] about Unpacking Classroom Management Failures: The Power of Releasing the “Should”
Classroom management often feels like a balancing act—finding the right mix of structure and spontaneity to keep things running smoothly while still keeping the energy alive in your classroom. It’s natural to worry that setting expectations, routines, and procedures might take away from the fun and engagement. From my experience, when done right, these elements don’t just … [Read more...] about Unpacking Classroom Management Success: The Secret to Making Expectations, Routines, and Procedures Really Work
Math centers can be a game-changer in your classroom, but let’s be honest—they can also feel overwhelming if you’re not sure where to start. I’ve been there, making every mistake in the book, from overcomplicating the rotation system to stressing over fancy materials. But after years of trial and error, I’ve figured out how to keep math centers simple, engaging, and—most … [Read more...] about Let’s Be For Real: You Don’t Need 8 Steps—Just These 3 to Nail Math Centers
As teachers, we’re always searching for effective ways to identify our students’ prior knowledge before diving into new lessons or texts. Traditionally, KWL charts have been a go-to tool for this purpose, focusing on activating prior knowledge. However, what if we need to assess prior knowledge instead? And do it in a way that’s both accurate and stress-free for our … [Read more...] about Why KWL Charts Might Not Be Enough: A Better Way to Assess Background Knowledge
Anxiety is real, and it’s something that many of our students face, whether it’s a big test coming up, a social situation they’re nervous about, or even something as simple as getting a new seating arrangement. As teachers, we’re in a unique position to help our students manage their anxiety, and while it’s not always easy, it’s definitely something we can do. In this … [Read more...] about Understanding and Managing Student Anxiety: Practical Strategies for Teachers
One of the most common questions I hear from teachers is, "How do I figure out what’s missing in my students' reading skills? What steps should I take to help my 4th and 5th graders become skilled readers?"You’re probably hearing a lot about the science of reading and various reading components, but what does it all mean for you and your specific students? How can you use … [Read more...] about Getting Started with the Science of Reading: A Guide for Upper Elementary Teachers
If you're anything like me, you've probably done this - you've threatened a consequence that you thought you would never have to implement, and then the inevitable happens. It's really no fun when you get caught in that moment, and it happens to the best of us. You realize, "Oh no, now I have to follow through on this consequence."Let me tell you how it happened to me and … [Read more...] about Unpacking Classroom Success: The Power of Not Making Promises You Can’t Keep
Have you ever wondered why some teaching strategies just seem to work for classroom success, even if you don’t really understand why? I’ve been thinking about how important it is to explain the “why” behind rules and expectations, and how it can make a real difference in connecting with our students. The Insight This idea really clicked for me while raising my … [Read more...] about Unpacking Classroom Success: The Power of Explaining the “Why”
My students always seemed to struggle with all.the.steps involved in fraction operations. To help, I made sure to practice (and assess and practice some more) all the embedded fraction skills that tripped my students up. If your students are anything like mine were, grab the free fraction practice shared on this post. The best part? It's self-grading and no … [Read more...] about Free Fraction Practice (Self-Grading Google Forms for Embedded Skills)
It's definitely a challenge as a 4th and 5th grade teacher to have students who are reading 2+ grade levels below. Unfortunately, it is also a reality for many teachers. One of the most difficult parts is finding a way to teach and have those students practice grade-level skills in a way that is accessible and appropriate for them. Of course, we want to determine what is … [Read more...] about How to Teach Reading Skills to Below-Level Readers
When students get to 4th and 5th grade, there's an expectation that they are reading to learn and that they have already mastered the skill of reading. However, that's really not the case for many students ...and sometimes for the majority of our students. One issue that holds students back in reading are deficits or gaps in their phonics skills. This is especially … [Read more...] about How to Bridge Phonics Gaps in Grades 4-5
