It’s back to school season! The first day of school is right around the corner, and that can be a stressful time for teachers. You might be feeling a little sad that summer vacation is over. And even though you are excited to meet your new students, it can be overwhelming to get back into the swing of things. Here are five tips to help make back to ... Continue Reading
How to Organize Your Math Materials
Teaching math can be a lot of fun, especially when you use math workshop. Manipulatives, centers, games, project based learning . . . there are so many great ways to engage students and help them understand math concepts. But figuring out how to store all those math materials can be overwhelming. So, today I’m sharing my best tips for how to ... Continue Reading
How to Use a Rubric to Teach Writing
I am a big fan of using rubrics in the classroom. They make grading everything from science fair projects to math assessments to writing masterpieces so much easier. And they are a helpful tool for students too. But did you know you can even use a rubric to teach writing? What is a rubric? You’ve probably used a rubric to grade students’ ... Continue Reading
How to Launch a Vocabulary Routine in 10 Minutes a Day
You know vocabulary is an important skill for children to learn. The more robust a student’s vocabulary, the better their reading comprehension. A strong vocabulary also leads to better verbal and writing skills. Luckily you don’t need much time to establish an effective vocabulary routine. You can teach vocabulary in just ten minutes a ... Continue Reading
Teacher Summer Bucket List
Woohoo! Summer vacation is finally here! It’s time to kick back, relax, and enjoy the sunshine. Put away your grade book, lesson plans, and to-do lists. The only list you need to worry about this summer is your teacher summer bucket list! Okay, okay . . . I know that summer vacation is not all fun and games. A teacher’s work isn’t done just ... Continue Reading
Hold Students Accountable in Math Workshop with These 4 Simple Tips
It’s no secret that I love math workshop. I think it is hands-down the best way to teach math. It increases student engagement, decreases behavior problems, allows for easy differentiation, and helps students learn to love math. But I know some teachers worry that it’s difficult to hold students accountable in math workshop. There’s no reason to ... Continue Reading
How to Improve Student Behavior in Math Workshop
Do you struggle with student behavior issues during math class? Kids fidgeting, getting up from their seats? Doodling, daydreaming, not being on task? Chatting with a friend? Misusing manipulatives? If so, you are not alone. But I’ve got great news. Adopting the workshop model for your math instruction will help improve student behavior. Some ... Continue Reading
How to Add Math Centers to Your Existing Curriculum
You probably have a math curriculum you “have to” use. And chances are, that math curriculum does not include math centers. Or even the option to use math centers. Does that mean that you can’t add math centers to your math block? Heck no! Math centers are a great addition to any math block, regardless of what math curriculum you are using. They ... Continue Reading
The Best Ways to Help Your Struggling Math Students
One of the most common concerns that kept popping up in my Facebook groups this year was how to help struggling math students. I am here to tell you that math workshop is the solution. You know that many students are now below grade level. Many have not mastered the same math skills that typical classes knew just a couple of years ago. Lots of ... Continue Reading
3 Ways to Increase the Effectiveness of Your Math Class
If you’ve ever wanted to increase the effectiveness of your math class, this post is a must read. We’ve all been there . . . You plan the perfect math lesson. Start with an engaging problem. Grab the right manipulatives. Walk your students step by step through different problem-solving techniques. Prepare a host of practice ... Continue Reading
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