There are lots of trends in education, but using technology in the classroom is not one of them. Google Forms is just one-way teachers are making learning more meaningful and simplifying the process of teaching.  Yes! That's right! Google Forms are actually making the lives of teachers less complicated while also benefiting the student. If you are thinking about using Google Forms in your classroom, you are in the right place. I'm going to walk you through what they are, the benefits of using them, and how to get started.  Once you are ready for the next step, check out my blog post "Tips and Tricks for Using Google Forms in the Classroom." Let's get started! What are Google Forms? Chances are, you've used Google Forms when filling out a survey of some sorts. Google Forms were created so that the user can quickly ask questions and collect information from others. That's it! Simple! Benefits of Google Forms (in the classroom) Don&#...
Why should you follow Upper Elementary Snapshots? Upper Elementary Snapshots was formed to provide teachers and homeschool parents a place to find effective and creative ideas to help students be academically and socially successful. The advice here on UES is from qualified professionals with hands-on experience in all subject areas. We also have our own children and can see education from a parent's perspective. Read on to learn about us and why you should use our blog for trustworthy advice! What is our experience? The 17 teachers here at Upper Elementary Snapshots have taken their dedication to education seriously. We have: 13 teachers with a Master's Degree in education 3 teachers with a National Board Certification 1 teacher with a double Master's Degree 1 teacher with a Gifted and Talented Certification 1 teacher with a degree as an Educational Specialist 1 teacher with a K-5 Math Endorsement What roles do/did we have in education? The teachers here...
The Teachers Pay Teachers Cyber Monday sale is here, and it's the perfect time to stock up on resources for your classroom at 25% off with promo code CYBER18 ! This list is comprised of our 16 favorite resources for the Cyber Monday sale. Many are great year-long, while others will help you engage your students in meaningful learning before the holidays. Take a look at each of the resources below and grab what works best before the Cyber Monday sale ends on November 27th at midnight EST! Escape to Winter Break Escape to Winter Break is a great way to review your ELA standards before winter break! It makes it easy to get your students excited about skill practice, and it also helps you identify gaps that you need to cover when your students return to school after break. The best part is that each escape takes around 15 minutes to prep. The way it's organized keeps each student accountable for the work, and it teaches students cooperation skills as they work in smal...
When teachers mention the term "persuasive writing" some students already fall down for the count. But we are here to teach you how to pack persuasive writing with a P.U.N.C.H. P ick a topic that matters. The most effective persuasive essay will be the one in which you allow your students to choose the topic that matters most to them. Do not tell your students that they need to pick from a list of your teacher-selected topics. That immediately takes away ownership and investment of the students in their self-selected topics. Instead help them brainstorm topics that are important to them. It may be bullying in school, picking up trash in the neighborhood, or as complex as finding ways to stop animal abuse. The point is to allow them to select a topic that they truly care about. U npack the evidence. In order to have an effective persuasive essay, there has to be evidence to back up students' claims. You will need to provide students with the resources that...
Geometry can be lots of fun, but it can get overwhelming for students. I've created this free resource to help students review important vocabulary words in a fun way. They will plot points on a coordinate grid to create line segments, angles, and shapes.  Review Sheet #1 Students review the following vocabulary words: obtuse angle acute angle right angle parallel perpendicular After plotting the ordered pairs, students use the vocabulary words to complete each sentence. You could give students markers/crayons to complete these at a math center. To save paper, place each sheet inside a sheet protector and have students use dry erase markers. Review Sheet #2 Students review the following vocabulary words: pentagon square rectangle trapezoid parallelogram Here's a fun way to review shapes!  You could also have students draw: A rhombus that is not a square A parallelogram with 4 right angles. A parallelogram that is no...