Interactive math notebooks are an amazing way to anchor your students' learning. In my classroom, our interactive notebooks become a personalized student textbook. The day before our mid winter break, I snapped a few pictures of my favorite interactive notebook pages from our math notebooks. I wanted to share these pages with you as a diverse look at all the different … [Read more...] about What Can You Put in an Interactive Notebook? {Freebie Included}
Differentiated Fraction Tasks {And FREEBIE Computation Challenge}
If any skill will be the death of me, it is definitely Fractions! They are so hard for 5th graders to wrap their heads around. And the standards for 5th grade? Gah, I remember learning some of these standards in middle school! But, unfortunately, they must be taught. In order to make Fractions a bit more tolerable, I created Fraction Tasks and Challenges … [Read more...] about Differentiated Fraction Tasks {And FREEBIE Computation Challenge}
Math is Real Life – 5.NF.3 Freebie!
This is probably the oddest freebie I will ever share on my blog, but it matches my post and it would spark an interesting conversation in the classroom, so here goes this 5.NF.3 Freebie! My sons love Spam. The thing with Spam is people either love it or hate it. Well, my kids could eat it every day of the week if I let them. The other day I was making them some Spam … [Read more...] about Math is Real Life – 5.NF.3 Freebie!
Preparing Students for Online Assessments {Online Test Prep}
A few weeks, my team and I were told that there was a possibility that our 5th graders would be taking the state test online this year. Yikes! I immediately knew that I needed to up my game when it came to getting my students on the computer for assessments. (Note: I do not have 1:1 devices. Instead, we have a handful of computers and tablets to use.) After asking a few … [Read more...] about Preparing Students for Online Assessments {Online Test Prep}
5th Grade Schedule (Self-Contained)
One question I am constantly being asked is what my 5th grade schedule looks like as a self-contained teacher, so I wanted to share it with you. I personally love seeing other 5th grade schedules and how that plays into their instruction. I think see other teacher's schedules in the same grade level can help when developing your own class schedule. It can also really … [Read more...] about 5th Grade Schedule (Self-Contained)
5th Grade Fractions | Pacing and Checklist
Fractions..most either love them or hate them. I have a love/hate relationship with them. I love the models and how the skills can sometimes be made pretty concrete. I don't love how all the skills build on each other and all the skills the students must have mastered to complete one problem. By the time the students get to 5th grade, if they have gaps in their fraction … [Read more...] about 5th Grade Fractions | Pacing and Checklist
4th and 5th Grade Reading Center {Low Prep and FREE!}
One thing that I have discovered teaching 5th graders is that sometimes you need to gamify a task or activity (even in the smallest way) to get student buy-in. For math, I did this easily with my roll and answer math centers and my students really enjoyed the slightly different way of practicing computation skills. For quite some time, I have wanted to create similar roll … [Read more...] about 4th and 5th Grade Reading Center {Low Prep and FREE!}
Multiplication Facts Strategy for Upper Grades {Freebies}
Do you have students in your 4th-6th grade class who just can't seem to master their multiplication facts? No matter what you try (flashcards, incentives, computer based programs), they just can't get past their 5s (and are shaky with their 3s and 4s)? I have always had several students in my classrooms over the years that really struggled memorizing and recalling their … [Read more...] about Multiplication Facts Strategy for Upper Grades {Freebies}
Time Saving Tips this Christmas Season
Happy Holiday Season! I am joining with some fantastic TpT author/bloggers to bring you some time saving tips to get help you get through the holiday season! The biggest issue that hinders time management during the holidays is definitely behavior management. Something about the holiday season and the looming Christmas break that makes kids (and teachers...) a little … [Read more...] about Time Saving Tips this Christmas Season
Autism is…What Having an Autistic Child is Like
As a parent of an 11 year old, nonverbal severely Autistic son, I find it difficult to balance work, life, family, and everything in between. I am not a writer by any means. However, I wanted to share this quick poem I wrote about what life with an autistic child is like. This may resonant with anyone who has an autistic child or has or has had students with … [Read more...] about Autism is…What Having an Autistic Child is Like
Partial Quotients: Easy Breezy Division {Lots of Freebies}
Long Division is every teachers' (and students') worst nightmare, it seems! Every year, my students come to me with very little number sense. This makes dividing with two digit divisors so difficult. In response to this, I started teaching my students "Easy Breezy" division, a spin off of partial quotients that provides that much needed support for struggling … [Read more...] about Partial Quotients: Easy Breezy Division {Lots of Freebies}
Math Warm Ups {Guest Post: Freebie}
Hey there! It's Amanda from The Primary Gal! Earlier this week, Jennifer invited me to write a guest post in order to share one of my newest morning routines. As many of you, I have the standard morning routines, such as turn in homework, sharpen pencils, and go to the restroom. From there, rather than the typical morning work that I have previously used, I have began … [Read more...] about Math Warm Ups {Guest Post: Freebie}