We always want to be prepared for all things in our classroom, but one thing that is sometimes challenging but essential is being prepared for State Testing. Today, I am hopeful that I can provide a few test prep strategies for elementary students and ideas to inspire you. If your students are getting ready to take the state tests, you may… Read More
Test Prep Strategies for Elementary Students
Writing Strong Hooks Intros and Conclusions
Why is it important to teach your students how to write strong intros and conclusions in their writing? Let’s think about it for a minute. Have you ever picked up a story from a student and known exactly how it would turn out after reading the first line? Each sentence was predictable. There was no spark and no excitement. This… Read More
Teaching Life Cycles in Upper Elementary
Watching students’ eyes grow wide in amazement as they learn about watch seeds grow into plants is a one-of-a-kind experience. It’s similar to watching students discover how caterpillars turn into butterflies in a few short weeks through learning about life cycles! Engaging and fascinating for students, life cycles cover a wide range of plants and animals. Students gain new respect… Read More
Growing Students Word Choice and Vocabulary
Do you notice many of your students do not have a strong foundation of word choice, and vocabulary? Let’s set the stage… you notice your fourth-grade student is struggling with reading and reading comprehension. She is able to read the words and sound them out, but for some reason, she really doesn’t like reading. One reason many students don’t enjoy… Read More
Spring Poetry Bulletin Boards Ideas
Looking for the perfect spring-themed poetry bulletin board to put up in your classroom? Why not have your kiddos write some spring-inspired poems? Poems can make the perfect bulletin board display while also giving your students the chance to hone their poetry skills. I like to give my students the opportunity to explore poetry throughout the year, both by reading… Read More
Teaching Fables in Upper Elementary
Do you know what a fable is? These popular stories feature animals and also include a moral. If you’re a teacher, then you’ve definitely heard of them when you were reading through the Common Core Standards! In the third through fifth grades, they are part of the literature requirements. But, how do you make these stories come alive and engage… Read More
Teaching Fairy Tales in Upper Elementary
Do your students love fairy tales? Teaching Fairy tales in upper elementary can be timeless, with the magic, exciting storylines, and fascinating characters. I love incorporating fairy tales into learning in my classroom! There are so many lessons to be learned! Here are some of the ways I teach using fairy tales: Teaching Fairy Tales for Writing Practice Children often… Read More
Teaching Figurative Language Activities
Do you want your students’ writing to grip you like a thriller novel? Marvelous, moving writing makes use of figurative language to interest readers. In fact, both skilled writers and readers need to know their way around figurative language. So, how can you teach your students about figurative language? There are plenty of options for teaching figurative language in engaging… Read More
End of Year Activities and Freebies
It is the time of the year we are looking for motivation to help us have a successful End of Year. We reflect on all the things we have learned, taught and still want to teach our students. It always seems shocking how quickly the year actually flies by. So, as you start to prepare for the last few weeks… Read More
Spring Writing Bulletin Board Ideas
It’s spring! This means it’s about time to change your bulletin boards to match the season. Why not get some meaningful writing practice while also creating a gorgeous spring writing bulletin board display? I love using writing prompts to inspire my students to practice their writing. Plus, once finished, their writing can make a beautiful display that students can be… Read More
Celebrating Earth Day with Student Activities
The beautiful blue sky, the trees swaying in the breeze, the warm cheerful sunshine. These are just a few things we can appreciate about the Earth, our wonderful home. Celebrating Earth Day every April, we take one day to celebrate our planet and all of the wonderful gifts it gives us. From a young age, it’s important to instill in children an… Read More
Ideas for Teaching Women’s History Month
I love celebrating all holidays and especially recognizing influential women during Women’s History Month. Have you been wondering how to celebrate Women’s History Month in your classroom? Through studying women’s history, children can learn about important figures, our collective past, and current struggles for gender equality. There are many ways you can help your students appreciate and learn more about the… Read More
Using Choice Boards & Menus in the Classroom
“But teacher, that’s boring!” Or “But I don’t wanna do that!” These are commonly heard phrases in the classroom. Even when you’ve planned a fun, exciting activity, there may be a few students who aren’t into it. And when students aren’t motivated to do an activity, chances are they won’t put their all into it. So, how can you solve… Read More
Teaching Reading Skills and Strategies
How do you teach reading skills in your classroom? My biggest fear as a teacher was that my students would not comprehend what they were reading. Therefore, I always set a goal to grow my students into successful independent readers. I created a plan and throughout the years I gathered many basic ideas and strategies to help me teach my… Read More
Tips for Teaching Grammar to Elementary Students
Tips for Teaching Grammar to Elementary Students. Grammar can bring groans and dismissive shrugs from students and teachers. There are so many strategies to teach grammar with some educators in the teaching grammar in connection with writing while others believe grammar should be taught in isolation. Even though grammar may not be a favorite subject to teach, there’s one argument… Read More
Teaching Character Education and Traits
Teaching character education in the classroom is essential. Regardless if you have class meetings daily, weekly, or even monthly it is important to discuss character traits. I am guilty, this is something I did not make much time for my first years of teaching, but later realized it was the backbone to my classroom. There are hundreds of character traits… Read More
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