The Blog
How To Encourage Critical Thinking in Math
Critical thinking is more than just a buzzword… It’s an essential skill that helps students develop problem-solving abilities and make logical connections between different concepts. By encouraging critical thinking in math, students learn to approach problems more thoughtfully, they learn…
Teaching Regions of the United States: Cross-Curricular Learning Projects
I began my teaching career in an International Baccalaurete school that focused on units of study, so I really love thematic teaching and cross-curricular learning projects! When we dive deep into topics across multiple subject areas, students are more invested…
The Complete Guide to Teaching Addition and Subtraction
Addition and subtraction may seem like basic skills for upper elementary students, but there are numerous ways to extend addition and subtraction skills with our students. I usually teach this unit right after place value (since they are so closely…
April Read Alouds and Related Seasonal Activities
I love April in the classroom! By this point in the year, we really have become a community of learners that’s like a little family. Our classroom routines are well established, we’ve covered most of our new standards for the…
Improving Inference Skills
When you hear the word “inference,” does it make your head spin? If I had a penny for every time my coworkers and I talked about improving inference skills, I’d be rich! Inferencing is always a big topic of conversation…
The Complete Guide to Teaching Main Idea and Theme
Determining the main idea and/or theme of a text are critical reading comprehension skills. While it may seem like main idea is a pretty simple skill for upper elementary, once you start digging into the complexities of adding theme as…
Math Concept Pictures
Math + Drawing = Win! Over the years, I have created several math picture activities to use throughout the year in order to practice math skills. Some of these math concept pictures have been created for seasonal use while others…
Free Day After Spring Break Lessons
Let’s talk lesson plans after a holiday break. I know I always rest easier during a vacation when my plans, copies, and activities are all prepped and ready to go for the first day back. Being strategic about your lesson…
Teacher Care GIVEAWAY + Exclusive Bundle
Is it test prep season for you? We have spring break coming up and then it’s time to dig into allllll things test prep. If you’re doing the same, I have a fun GIVEAWAY for both you and your students…
March Read Alouds and Related Seasonal Activities
Read alouds are one of the best things about teaching elementary school! Between the start of Spring, St. Patrick’s Day, Holi, and International Women’s Day, March is a super fun month for connecting read alouds to current events. There are…
Age Appropriate Ways to Use Current Events in the Classroom
Teaching current events in the classroom can be a daunting task, especially when current events can sometimes feel difficult to process as an adult. However, if we don’t teach current events to our students, we miss out on an opportunity…
4 Easy Activities to Increase Student Engagement
As we settle into February, it can become harder and harder to engage students. If we view student engagement as closely linked to student motivation, and the school year as a marathon, this makes sense. It’s important to go into…
