Each year, I begin my reading instruction with the focus on having my students discuss and record their thoughts while reading using think marks in reader's response letters and other write about reading activities. I implement strategies and instruction for this type of reading before we even get into 5th grade level reading instruction. Since the majority of my students ... Read More
Math Constructed Response Tasks {and Smoothie Math Center Freebie}
I am slightly behind posting and I am about to go out to eat with the family. So, I will keep this short and sweet (which is kinda my style anyway). I want to share a new constructed math tasks resource I have been using with my students to improve their performance on math constructed response tasks. How I Use Math Constructed Response I created math constructed ... Read More
Back to School Activities {Free}
Over the years, I have collected several different back to school activities. However, I always like adding to my collection and trying out new activities and printables. So this summer, I designed this free pack of back to school activities that has a few random printables and activities that I thought my students would enjoy. This is perfect for those upper grade ... Read More
Multiplying and Dividing Fractions: OH MY!
I must admit, I was a little rusty when it comes to some of the more advanced math skills when my district first implemented Common Core. Like many of us, I was taught the traditional algorithm for everything! Well now, Common Core is pushing some of these middle school skills into 5th grade. I have taught multiplying and dividing fractions in 5th in the past, but nowhere ... Read More
Math Common Core Assessments
Assessments on Assessments on Assessments! Do you have district assessments, quarterly assessments, and tons of other mandated assessments that it feels like you are testing instead of teaching? With that in mind, I just finished up a complete collection of QUICK Math Common Core assessments and data tracking checklists. I am so excited about this, because I will have a ... Read More
Math Centers and Printable Resources for 5th Grade Common Core
Hello, teachers! I have been extremely busy digging into the Common Core standards and deepening my understanding. While doing this, I have been creating intentional resources for 5th Grade Common Core Math that will help my students master these standards. Here are a few new items in my TeachersPayTeachers store that I wanted to highlight on my blog. These resources are ... Read More
Math WarmUps & Reviews for Common Core
I finally got into my new classroom today, and I am so excited to be starting in a new school for this upcoming year! I cannot wait to share ideas and pictures once the school year begins! For now, I have another Common Core resource to share with you that focuses on math warmups. What's included in the resource? I have made 40 pages of daily/weekly review or math ... Read More
Guided Reading Notes
I recently updated my Guided Reading Binder and wanted (and desperately needed) a new guided reading form to keep more organized and teacher-friendly reading notes. I found that keeping individual papers for each student on each book was too tedious and took up too much paper/time. To help, I made a new guided reading template which I have been using to take daily guided ... Read More
6 Traits Writing Board and Writing Mini-Lesson Checklist
Need a way to remind your students of all the 6 Traits writing strategies you have taught them? This post shares how I organize my writing mini-lessons and how I display them for my students using a dedicated bulletin board. To help you come up with mini-lessons, I also include the writing checklist I use for free. All About the 6 Traits Writing Board For the past two ... Read More
Classroom Pictures 2011-12
I'm so excited to share my classroom pictures with you. This is my third classroom that I taught in last year. I love these pictures because this was in that era before Pinterest and before TeacherspayTeachers. I don't remember feeling stress when I set my room up for it to be as beautiful as all the other rooms you see on Pinterest because I was blissfully unaware. My ... Read More
