Happy Labor Day! I know Labor Day wasn’t designed exclusively for teachers, but it sure feels like it could have been. Teaching is definitely a labor of love. #amiright? Teaching has always required a little “extra” something, and in recent years, it’s required a heck of a lot more than that. You teachers are one amazing group! So, whether you are ... Continue Reading
7 Must-Have Manipulatives to Make Your Math Class Awesome!
I love manipulatives! They are the best way to help kids understand new math concepts. And there are lots of great options out there. Today, I am sharing my 7 must-have manipulatives and how I use them in the classroom. How to use math manipulatives I like to use manipulatives when I am introducing a new concept. Using concrete ... Continue Reading
Plan Your Most Successful Writing Workshop with these 5 Tips
I get a lot of questions about teaching writing. How do you find time in your schedule to teach writing? How can you set up a successful writing workshop? What can you do to encourage kids to write more? How can you help students grow as writers? Can teaching writing be fun? A new school year is the perfect time to set up a strong writing ... Continue Reading
How to Make Back to School Fun (for Students and Teachers)
Students and teachers can both feel a mix of emotions on the first day of school. Excitement, happiness, anxiety, sadness, fear . . . Having some fun activities planned for those first few days can help kids transition back to school and show them that your classroom is a fun place to learn. Here are some ways to make back to school fun for ... Continue Reading
Make Back to School Easy with these 5 Simple Tips
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? Check out this video where Caroline talks about using rubrics to teach ... 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
End of Year Carnival Week for grades 2-5!