Thanksgiving Activities That Keep Upper Elementary Students Learning
There’s something special about that week before Thanksgiving break. Half of your students are already mentally checked out, and the other half have completely forgotten all the classroom procedures and routines. And somehow you’re still supposed to keep teaching content. Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between keeping students engaged and covering the skills you’re […]
Sound Wall vs. Word Wall: What Elementary Teachers Need To Know
If you’ve been teaching for more than 3 months, you’ve probably had a word wall in your classroom. Maybe it was thoughtfully organized and used to the max. Maybe…. it slowly became a collection of laminated words nobody looked at after September? No judgement here. We’ve all had a classroom display that started with the […]
5 Descriptive Writing Activities That Go Beyond “Add More Details”
If you’ve every written “add more details” on a student’s paper and then watched them just stare at you in confusion, you’re not alone. We know what we mean, but they definitely don’t. For a lot of students adding more details usually ends up with them adding one random adjective, repeating the same idea in […]
Easy Halloween Math Activities for Upper Elementary That Still Include Real Learning
By the time that October rolls around, your students know exactly what’s coming. Costumes. Candy. Parties. And all the chit chat about what everyone is going to dress up as. Trying to completely ignore that Halloween excitement usually doesn’t get us very far. A better option is to use some of that excitement to make […]
How to Use a Classroom Sound Wall During Your Reading Lessons
A classroom sound wall can be a really helpful tool, but only if students actually use it. It’s easy to spend time getting one set up, making sure everything looks right, and introducing it to your class… only to realize a few weeks later that it has basically become very educational wallpaper. Thankfully, using a […]
5 Classroom Organization Systems to Set Up Before the Paper Piles Take Over
There’s something so satisfying about a freshly organized classroom at the beginning of the school year. The bins are labeled. The papers are stacked neatly. Every marker has a home. Your teacher desk is actually visible. And then school starts. Within five minutes, the papers begin multiplying. Parent notes appear in random places. Student work […]
How to Use Daily Slides for Classroom Management
Sometimes the simplest changes make the biggest difference in our classroom management. Clear directions, predictable routines, and fewer “What are we doing?” moments of confusion can prevent a lot of chaos before it even starts. That’s where daily slides can help. Daily slides give students one consistent place to look for what they should be […]
10 Simple Ways to Build a Positive Classroom Culture
Creating a positive classroom culture does not have to involve complicated behavior systems, a giant classroom economy with a rewards store, or another routine you have to manage every five minutes. Often, the simplest classroom tools make the biggest difference. The signs, displays, and routines you already use can help students feel welcomed, valued, and […]
10 Back to School Classroom Setup Must-Haves
Back to school classroom setup can get overwhelming. Fast. You start with one bulletin board and before you know it, you’re surrounded by border scraps and a pile of things you “might use somewhere.” Ask me how I know. But here’s the thing: your classroom setup does not need to include every single poster, display, […]
4 Classroom Management Systems That Save Your Sanity
Routines sound simple until you’re answering “Can I sharpen my pencil?” during small group instruction, reminding someone of the voice level for the seventh time, and explaining what “independent work” means… like they’ve never heard the expectations. Classroom routines are a huge part of any classroom management system. Strong classroom routines can make all the […]
What To Hang First? A Classroom Setup Guide for Teachers
Setting up your classroom always starts with the best intentions. You walk in with your coffee, your fresh bulletin board borders, matching labels, and a hope that this is the year you’ll be SO organized. Wait. Maybe that last part is just me? Then suddenly you’re standing in the middle of the room holding some […]
6 Ways to Make Your Word Wall Bulletin Board More Useful
A word wall bulletin board sounds like one of those classroom displays that should be no brainer. You print the words. You hang them under the letters. You admire your freshly stapled display for a couple weeks. And then writing time starts. “How do you spell because?” “How do you spell friend?” “How do you […]