The Blog
Skittles Math!
There are a few reasons that I always keep Skittles on hand in my classroom. First of all, they are one of my favorite sweet treats. Second, I never know when I am going to need them for some math!…
Multi-Step Word Problems Mastery
How many of you cringe at the thought of teaching your students multi-step word problems? (RAISES HAND!) I get it. I know. It’s tough. It is overwhelming, and it’s not necessarily something that just “clicks” for kids. They need practice,…
Complete Sentences and Beyond!
Even though I teach fourth grade, I still find that, at the beginning of the year, I have many, many students who struggle with writing complete sentences. It’s usually a pretty quick fix to remind them what a complete sentence…
Meet the Teacher Night Made Easy!
It’s almost time for Meet the Teacher nights to commence around the country, and it has always been one of my very favorite nights of the year! I get so excited to meet all of my new students and their…
No Homework Policy: One Year Later
.Last school year was a really big year in my classroom. We started flexible seating (you can read more about that adventure HERE), we implemented a Bring Your Own Device program, and we did away with homework. Like I said– BIG year!…
Teaching Students to Dissect Responding to Reading Prompts
I have a list a mile long of activities and concepts that I want and need to blog about, but I just HAD to take a few minutes today to share this one. It truly is a game-changer for those…
Going Digital with Student-Led Conferences
Happy spring! I can’t believe how quickly this year is flying by. Before we know it, we’ll be prepping for the end of the year. It seems like just yesterday we were gearing up for the beginning of the year. Isn’t that always…
Using Topple Blocks with Task Cards
Remember back in September when I bought several sets of Topple Blocks for my students? THIS post might jog your memory! Since then, we have used the Topple Blocks to increase engagement time and time again. They never seem to…
Additions to our Fraction Unit!
I’m popping in quickly to share a few additions I’ve made to our fraction unit this year that have really brought some added depth to student learning. Before (or after) you browse here, make sure you stop by my original…
Flexible Seating Reflections
Starting the new year in August, we were implementing some massive changes! We were the first grade level piloting BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), we stopped assigning homework, we were gearing up for our IB Reauthorization Visit, and the biggest…
Using Pictures to Teach Reading and Writing Skills
For years, I have witnessed, over and over again, the value of using pictures to teach reading skills in my classroom. I always use them to introduce reading skills like inference, story elements, cause and effect, compare and contrast, etc. I…
MORE Multiplication Resources and Ideas
It’s that time of year for us– we have begun diving head first into multiplication. Since I teach 4th grade, that means reviewing the basics of multiplication that they learned last year AND teaching them multi-digit multiplication. It’s always a…
