The Blog
6 Creative Ways to Build Community Connections Beyond the Classroom
Building a strong sense of community within our classroom is something we all strive to do as teachers. Shared experiences, teamwork, and mutual support create the foundation for a year of success as a classroom family. But what happens when…
Practical Advice for New Teachers, Straight From Our Community
Starting your teaching career comes with a mix of excitement, nerves, joys, challenges, and a million memorable “firsts” throughout the year. From figuring out how to set up your classroom to classroom management to writing engaging lesson plans, there’s so…
5 End-of-the-Year Teacher Tips for August Success
We know the final school year bell hasn’t rung yet, but I’ve found that now is actually the perfect time to start setting your classroom up for a successful back-to-school season! A few years ago, I booked a trip that…
How to Prevent Summer Slide in Upper Elementary
If you’ve been in education for any length of time, you’re probably aware (and scared) of the summer slide. If you’re a parent, you’ve probably landed on this page in an attempt to prevent summer slide in your own student….
Book Recommendations | Homeschool | Literacy | Math | Novels & Picture Books | Picture Books | Projects
Units of Study Using Rich Picture Books
I’ve shared before about my love of project-based learning as one way to make learning more engaging and authentic. Teaching with units of study based on beautiful picture books is another one of my engagement hacks! My husband might also…
Academic Competitions That Build Connections
Academic competitions can be exciting and rewarding additions to your school club options. In fact, my own daughter recently wrote in an “About Me” section that one of her hobbies is entering academic competitions! For upper elementary and middle school…
How To Use Student Assessment Data: Practical Tips for Differentiation and Growth
We’ve all been there, staring at our stack of data from recent assessments and wondering how to make the most out of it. Score breakdowns, performance bands, growth indicators, percentiles, etc.… there’s so much information, but the hardest part is…
Test-Taking Tips for Morale and Motivation
It may not be a popular opinion, but standardized tests play an important role in measuring growth for students, informing instruction for teachers, and guiding decisions for schools and districts. But the testing season and necessary test prep can, admittedly,…
The Best Test Prep Tips, Strategies, and Resources for Upper Elementary
The standardized testing season is an opportunity for students to showcase all of the incredible knowledge they’ve gained throughout the year. As educators, we take pride in helping our students feel confident and successful. With the right preparation and encouragement,…
The BEST Test-Taking Strategies
State testing season is just around the corner, and we know the pressure it brings… not just for students but for you as their guide and biggest cheerleader. To help make test prep a little easier, we’re sharing the BEST test-taking…
Women’s history month activities for upper elementary
March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the incredible contributions of women throughout history. It’s also an opportunity to encourage thinking about the value these women have brought to our world and the impact they’ve made through discussions…
Gifted and High-Achieving Students: How to Identify and Support These Students
Identifying the differences between gifted and high-achieving students is a conundrum I encounter often in my role as the gifted facilitator at our school. In my current position, I work closely with our primary (grades K-3) gifted students through a…
