I feel like a failure. Last month, those were the words that I said to my husband more often than I have ever said them. Like many teachers, I feel like a failure on a regular basis. However, recently I have felt even more like I am failing all the people in my life. If you know me really well, you know I have a son with severe autism and severe cognitive delays. He … [Read more...] about Dear Teacher: What To Do When You Feel Like a Failure
Test Prep Games {How to Use Board Games and Other Popular Games for Test Prep)
One of my favorite things to do is to use board games or other popular games for test prep or review. I have found that my students respond better and are more engaged with test prep games involving popular games they love to play. In this post, I will share how I use any game for a test prep game or review for a large unit assessment. I will also share the strategies I … [Read more...] about Test Prep Games {How to Use Board Games and Other Popular Games for Test Prep)
Outdoor Learning Activities for Upper Elementary
The spring and summer seasons are the perfect time to take your students out of the classroom for some outdoor learning activities. Your students will be more motivated to work before, during, and after the outdoor learning activity. Outdoor learning is also an excellent behavior motivator for when your students have spring or summer fever. There are so many ways to … [Read more...] about Outdoor Learning Activities for Upper Elementary
Spring Activities for Upper Elementary
Spring is in the air! Spring is such a fun time in the classroom, but it can also be a not-so-fun time. The kids (and teachers) get spring fever and are ready for Spring Break. And most state tasting falls around this time, so that makes it really difficult for teachers. I decided a long time ago to embrace the spring fever and use it to my advantage. How do I do that? … [Read more...] about Spring Activities for Upper Elementary
Online Testing Strategies: Prepare Your Students To Take Online Assessments
Online testing can be super frustrating for teachers and students. I can remember the first year we found out we were taking our state assessment online. We literally found out in January of that school year. Needless to say, I was more than a bit panicked! I had spent all year teaching my students to authentically close read a text and annotate all over the text. … [Read more...] about Online Testing Strategies: Prepare Your Students To Take Online Assessments
Introducing Paired Texts and Paired Passages
Paired texts and paired passages can be really tricky for students, especially those who are not fluent readers. I have found the best way to help my students master paired passages is through repeated practice and exposure (and as authentic as possible - especially in the beginning). In my opinion, it is really important that your students see paired readings and … [Read more...] about Introducing Paired Texts and Paired Passages
How to Teach Writing in 5th Grade
Let's be real for a moment. During my first year teaching I did a terrible, horrible, rotten job at teaching writing. My students (3rd graders at the time) were not assessed on writing, and I really didn't know how to teach writing at that point in my career (especially since my students seriously struggled with all things literacy when they came to me). I remember … [Read more...] about How to Teach Writing in 5th Grade
Helping Struggling Readers in Upper Elementary
Nothing makes a teacher feel like a failure more than having students who can't read and not knowing how to best help them. Especially when you are an upper elementary teacher. In my first few years of teaching, helping struggling readers in 5th grade felt like an uphill battle. I was constantly fighting huge gaps in knowledge, disinterest, time, and increasing … [Read more...] about Helping Struggling Readers in Upper Elementary
Types of Writing Lessons (Writing Workshop Ideas)
I recently spoke with a teacher who asked me what writing program I use to teach writing. When I told her I didn't use a program, she was a little shocked and wanted to know how I knew what to teach. As I explained to her how I generate my lesson topics, I realized this might be something useful to share on my blog. Keep reading for three types of writing lessons, how I … [Read more...] about Types of Writing Lessons (Writing Workshop Ideas)
Playing Spoons in the Classroom {Highly Engaging Review Game}
A few years ago, I was introduced to a highly motivating, fast-paced academic version of the games Spoons. After playing a few rounds and having a lot of fun, I knew this was something I wanted to incorporate as much as possible into my classroom. The academic version of Spoons is a great way to motivate your students to review almost any concept! (If you are not … [Read more...] about Playing Spoons in the Classroom {Highly Engaging Review Game}
Organizing Anchor Charts
I don't know about you, but I love anchor charts. They are a regular part of my daily instruction in all subjects. Some (okay, most) are not Pinterest worthy, but they are a great anchor for what we are learning and a valuable reference for the students. However, with anchor charts comes the issue of displaying and storing them. Which ones do you hang? Which ones … [Read more...] about Organizing Anchor Charts
How to Get Students Excited About Writing
My first year teaching third grade, I had a student in my class who had very strong feelings toward writing. He hated it with a passion and wasn't afraid to let others know about how he felt. I am not sure that first year that I made that much of an impact one way or another on his feelings toward writing. To be honest, my first year teaching was kind of a big blur. I … [Read more...] about How to Get Students Excited About Writing