Back to School Season is here! Click to see my favorite first week of school activity.
If you’ve ever wanted to use number talks but weren’t exactly sure how to fit them into your math block, you’re not alone. One of the questions I hear teachers ask most often is, “What does a number talk actually look like?” The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. In my…
Every summer, like many teachers, I get the itch to refresh my classroom space. I don’t mean just adding a few borders or posters. I mean creating a space that actually feels good. Somewhere my students and I want to spend time. I loved the mountain classroom theme, but I was ready for a change!…
Spooky Halloween time is right around the corner! We are currently learning multiplication, so I have created some fun multiplication stations to match the Halloween vibe! I love to bring some seasonal fun into my classroom. The students are always so excited for the holidays, so I like to tap in on that energy…. but…
The beginning of the school year is an excellent time to get your number talks routine off to a great start. While you are preparing for back to school, consider these tips to add a number talks routine to your day. Today I’ll share several things to think about when beginning your number talks routine…
One of the most common questions third-grade math teachers have is, “How do I help my students master multiplication and division facts?” I didn’t have a special plan or strategy to help my students master these facts, I just made fact practice a part of our daily math lessons. Each day, I did a number…
If you’ve been to the blog before, you know I’m a huge fan of vocabulary instruction. I believe vocabulary is an intricate part of reading comprehension and an area of instruction that we simply can’t afford to skip. Vocabulary assessment is a key component to solid instruction. Today, I’m talking all about assessment. I’ll share the…
Here’s what I think about weekly vocabulary words: they are crucial! I’m a huge fan of Scarborough’s reading rope (Google it!). The rope is an analogy of the important skills that are involved with reading comprehension. One strand of the rope is vocabulary. When vocabulary is weak… so is reading comprehension! Teachers must devote time…
The first week of school is always a little chaotic. We’re learning names, practicing routines, answering a million questions, and trying to build a classroom where everyone feels comfortable. Some years, I found myself handing out “All About Me” worksheets just because it was easy. My students completed it… and then it would end up…
Classroom transformations have become a fun trend in elementary classrooms. One popular idea is a Glow Day classroom transformation. I recently shared about my glow day on Instagram. I received many questions about how I pulled it off so I highlighted my answers to the top questions below: Q: What supplies do I need? A:…
A Glow Day classroom transformation is a great way to get your students excited and engaged in their learning. There are so many fun glow day classroom games that can be played in small groups. I’ve included some easy games below. With each game, I’ve listed the materials and tips for set-up. Amazon links are…