With budgets decreasing more and more, many schools require teachers to have fundraisers to supplement field trips or pay for club functions. Today I want to share some tried and true fundraising ideas that are easy and students love. Many of these require no money up front and can be started immediately. My teaching experience has been exclusively in Title 1 schools so … [Read more...] about Fundraising Ideas for Schools and Teachers
Higher Level Math Centers for Upper Elementary Students {Including Free Centers}
Math centers are a huge part of my math instruction, and over the years I have had my students complete a lot of different math centers. However, in the past three years as I become more comfortable with math centers, I have begun incorporating at least one higher level math center as part of my normal math center rotations. To see what I typically have in my guided math … [Read more...] about Higher Level Math Centers for Upper Elementary Students {Including Free Centers}
Solving Word Problems Without Relying on Key Words
One of the toughest things about teaching fifth grade is definitely the word problems. By fifth grade, a lot of students have become so dependent on using key words that they no longer even read for meaning when they're solving word problems. However, as fifth grade teachers know, key words only take the students so far. I have read many articles and blog posts that are … [Read more...] about Solving Word Problems Without Relying on Key Words
Textbook Reading Tips {How to Make Textbooks Engaging and Comprehensible!}
Though I have never been a "textbook teacher", I can definitely see the benefit of using a common text with the students, particularly in science and social studies. I typically use only a textbook or common text for social studies, occasionally for science, and never for ELA or math because my district does not have a mandated textbook for either of these subjects. … [Read more...] about Textbook Reading Tips {How to Make Textbooks Engaging and Comprehensible!}
Teaching Students How to Justify Answers in Math
Teaching students to justify their answer in math can be difficult, but thankfully it doesn't have to be. I want to share with you some ideas for teaching students how to justify answers in math, as well as some of my favorite resources for providing much needed practice with math tasks and word problems. 1. Create an anchor chart with clear examples and your … [Read more...] about Teaching Students How to Justify Answers in Math
Valentine’s Day Activities for Upper Elementary
Valentine's Day is one of my favorite classroom holidays. I love promoting kindness even more than usual this month through the class party, read alouds, and discussions. In addition to promoting kindness in the month of February, I love having my students complete Valentine's Day themed activities. Today I want to share some of my favorite Valentine's Day activities for … [Read more...] about Valentine’s Day Activities for Upper Elementary
3 Ways to Use Flocabulary to Enhance Test Prep Review
A few months ago, I was introduced to Flocabulary, a web-based learning program for all grades and subjects. The program uses engaging educational hip-hop music videos to teach and review academic concepts. The videos are standards based and include activities and printables that align with and support the videos. After spending some time trying out this online resource, … [Read more...] about 3 Ways to Use Flocabulary to Enhance Test Prep Review
Why I Went Back to Teaching
Do you ever get into such a stressful rut that you feel like leaving teaching? Grading papers, creating lesson plans, a mountain of paperwork, and the pressure from high stakes testing are enough to drive anyone into another profession. Then, factor in the stress from your personal life, and how do we all not lose our minds? For those of you that know me on a more … [Read more...] about Why I Went Back to Teaching
Free Groundhog Day Activities {Printable and Digital}
Groundhog Day isn’t the first holiday I generally think of when the month of February rolls around. However, I welcome any chance I can get to engage my students and spice up my classroom activities to give my students a break from our day-to-day routine (especially in the winter months). Whether or not Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow, these free Groundhog Day … [Read more...] about Free Groundhog Day Activities {Printable and Digital}
Generating Writing Topics Using Lists {Writing Workshop Ideas}
It has been a while since I have shared a writing idea, so I thought I would write about one of my favorite ways to get some super authentic writing topics for your students. This post is all about generating writing topics using lists in a writer's notebook. To read about generating writing topics using heart maps, click here. To read another method for generating … [Read more...] about Generating Writing Topics Using Lists {Writing Workshop Ideas}
Field Trip Activities {Free Field Trip Resources}
I have a love/hate relationship with field trips. Some years they are great, and some I just want to sleep for twelve hours after the field trip and never speak of it again (surely I am not the only one, right?). Field trips can fun and super educational, though. It is nice to take the students out into the "real world," to expose them to new experiences, and teach them … [Read more...] about Field Trip Activities {Free Field Trip Resources}
Math Groups (Two Ways I Use Math Groups in my Classroom)
I have received a lot of questions since posting about how I use math centers in a Guided Math format in my classroom. Click here to read that post that gives a peek into my guided math centers I thought I would take some time to write another post specifying more about the two types of math groups I use in my classroom to maximize instruction and differentiate … [Read more...] about Math Groups (Two Ways I Use Math Groups in my Classroom)