About a year and a half ago, my district went 1:1 with technology.  It's definitely exciting, but for those who aren't technology savy, it can be overwhelming! Google Classroom is a great place to share links, post announcements, assign assignments, and much more.  It the past, the use of Google Classroom was limited to those who were known as a Google School.  That is no longer the case!  What does that mean for you?  If you have a Google account, you can now set up your own Google Classroom.  The only thing that you need to do beforehand is to check into your district's pooicy on creating Google user names for your students (my own recommendation). I use Google Classroom on a daily basis.  I can't lie, I still do a lot of paper/pencil activities, but I provide about as much technology activities as paper/pencil. If you are just getting started, or if you are like me and have been using Google Classroom for awhile, there is always something to learn.  S...
I will admit, I  disliked teaching fractions . It was a topic that students struggled to understand, and I found myself frustrated as I followed the book. I made it my goal to not feel that way again. I searched online and found an amazing resource that every teacher needs to read . This book literally changed how I taught fractions. I no longer needed to follow the book, because I understood how students build their understanding of fractions. If you teach grades 3-5, you need to get yourself a copy.   Let's talk about comparing fractions Teaching fractions can be hard, and students will need plenty of opportunities to explain their thinking. Students begin by explaining their thinking using drawings. Their drawings can be in the form of area models or models on a number line. Students will then need other strategies as they move from a concert understanding to an abstract understanding of fractions.  Below are 4 strategies students can use to explain th...
        I love it when I find a teaching tool that has so many benefits! Playing games in the classroom is actually one of my favorite teaching tools because besides being fun, it helps kids in so many ways.                   There are lots of different kinds of games, from digital to whole class, to board games, and each is beneficial in different ways. In this post, I'll share some of the reasons low-tech board games for learning can still be a valuable tool in every classroom. Benefits of Board Games: 1. Increased Engagement         Board games allow teachers to add variety to the types of activities offered in the classroom, and games add  a certain excitement to the classroom!  Best of all, even though the game may be a learning game, to students, board games feel like play. This element of fun may mean that kids have more buy-in for the activity and are more apt to be attentive. Also, we all know those kids who thrive on competition (for the smallest of rea...
Reading strategy groups are a highly effective way of grouping your students during Guided Reading.  Instead of grouping students by ability, you are simply grouping students based on the strategy they need help with.  While this way of grouping sounds ideal, there are some problems you may run into if you've never grouped this way before.  Here are a few tips to help you along the way. Don't forget to grab the FREEBIE! Tips for Grouping Your Students Once you have worked with your students enough, you'll start to learn their strengths and weaknesses that go beyond their reading levels. It is important to recognize if a student is struggling with a particular skill, or if they are just struggling with reading the passage. Here are a few tools you may want to use to help you decide if/when a student should be placed in a strategy group. Classroom Reading Assessment - group students that miss similar problems on an assessment. Conferring Notes -  Skim t...
Are you a teacher looking for quality tips and ideas for the upper elementary classroom?  You've come to the right spot! These dedicated teachers have ideas busting out of the seams and are ready to share them with you. Meet the teachers below by reading the 16 reasons why you should follow them and click on each blog to find more about their expertise on teaching and managing an upper elementary classroom.  Their tips and advice will guide you through a successful school year! You will also find what type of resources are offered in their stores to help teachers around the world! 1. Rockin Resources Check out Rockin Resources . Along with ideas for teaching reading, scaffolding lessons, managing instruction and character education, Pam has a series of 38 posts for Writer's Workshop! Pam skillfully designs effective Step-by-Step Reading, Writing, and Social Studies resources. She is best known for her Interactive Writing Programs (Grades 1-8) that help thousands of...