Every year around this time those conversation candy hearts begin to show up everywhere I look, and every year I fall for buying them.  Honestly, I don't think they taste good at all!  In fact the only ones I like are the white ones.  So....I have all these candy hearts with nothing to do with them, until now! Candy Heart Math for Big Kids contains five free printables.  Students use these colorful candy hearts to practice the following skills. Factors & Multiples Greatest Common Factors & Lowest Common Multiples Fractions Line Plots Area & Perimeter You can grab this free printable HERE . Teaching With Simplicity Pinterest Facebook Instagram Teachers Pay Teachers ...

Since February is about a week away, I thought I'd focus on the subject of firsthand and secondhand accounts. I find that it works perfectly to tie this concept in with Black History month. There are so many excellent primary and secondary sources related to Black History. The book Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges is my favorite resource to have when teaching about firsthand and secondhand accounts. If you don't have a personal copy and your library doesn't provide one, I highly recommend requesting that your librarian order a copy the next time she places a book order. It's an incredible book that teaches students a lot about the Civil Rights Movement- from the perspective of a child. Many of the accounts are jaw-dropping, and are sure to spark the beginnings of some powerful discussions. I thought  I knew the gist of the Ruby Bridges story... until I read this riveting book! The book is entitled Through My Eyes , but there are many accounts written in the sidebars b......

Fitting everything in is one of a teacher's greatest challenges. A great way to keep on track is to use the clock functions on your phone. If you have a regular schedule each day, set alarms for each subject or transition. Never be late for specialists or lunch again by setting it to go off 5 minutes before they start. Use the timer to pace workshop rotations. The options are endless. Conducting reading conferences and taking running records is a valuable use of time, but can be time-consuming. Increase your efficiency by downloading an app that not only does the calculations for you, but also enables you to record a student reading to document progress. Running Record Calculator is my favorite. I hate to think about the countless hours I spent organizing student portfolios and managing student work samples. Streamline documenting student work by simply snapping photos of the items you would normally file, scan or photocopy.  Set up a folder on your computer ......

Your batteries are energized. You have just spent the summer on a well-deserved vacation from the classroom. But now it's time to start  the school year stronger then when you ended last year! We have come up with the top 5 tips to start the year off right. 1. Get Plenty of Sleep This has to be at the top of every educator's list for 2016! It is so easy to stay up late and correct papers, catch up on a favorite show, or to snuggle with a loved one, but those of us who are getting less than 7 hours a sleep a night really need to put down the remotes and crawl into bed. According to the National Sleep Foundation , the recommended hours of sleep for adults is 7-9 hours. Lack of sleep can lead to irritability and sluggishness at work. We all know that is a potent combination when working with children. 2. Exercise The most common excuse for educators not to exercise is time. When is there time? What do I need to get rid of? It can't be my favorite TV shows. It can'......

I may be weird, but I love doing report projects with my kids. Instead of dreading each one (yes, we do several each year), I actual enjoy the process. Lucky for me, because I think when we enjoy something, the kids can tell and are more likely to view the whole process in a positive way. So, how exactly do I lead these 30 or so kids into creating meaningful, well-written, and researched projects? Let me tell you five tips that may just come in handy. 1. Plan Ahead This is a must-do and not a may-do! Starting a new report project is definitely not one of those times that you can show up and wing it. Here are a few things you'll want to do in advance: Make copies of all of the papers needed  Schedule the entire project out in your lesson plans (You'll need to have every due date firmed up ahead of time) Reserve library time for research if needed (I like them to have at least one book) Reserve the computer lab/laptop carts if needed for researching/writi......

Most districts are now requiring teachers to provide data-driven differentiation.  What can you do for those students who are labeled as gifted learners?  If they are already high achievers, it can be difficult to help them reach a higher level of success.  These tips will help you and your students achieve their goals and keep you from pulling your hair out!  Let's start by defining each of the terms. What does data-driven mean? Data-driven is when data from test scores are broken down and used as the foundation for instruction. What is differentiating instruction? Differentiating instruction is when teachers modify instructional ideas, tools, resources, and/or activities to meet the students' individual needs.  For example, teachers may use leveled books so each student can read about the same material on their own reading level. Who is the gifted learner? A gifted child may have some of the following traits: creative extreme curiosity sen......

Last-minute cramming, piles of review packets, tons of practice tests....sound familiar?  Preparing for standardized tests is something we all must face in upper elementary, but it doesn't have to be a horrible experience for everyone involved!  If you start early enough (why I'm writing this post in January) test-prep stress can be a thing of the past in your classroom.  Here are some tips and strategies that have worked year after year in my own classroom. 1. Teach Test-Taking Strategies NOW, not later As early as I can each year, I begin teaching testing strategies.  I don't cram them all into one lesson, but instead, I take my time and teach them just like I would anything else: Model, Guide, Practice.  By the middle of the year, my students use test-taking strategies naturally.  It isn't something I have to continue to remind them to do...they just do it. Here is a fun "Testing Strategies Rap" I use to teach my students throughout the year.......