Is a dolphin a fish? What type of animal is a cardinal? These are the types of questions students will learn to answer while studying…
You announce that it’s time for math. You hear grumbling. Sadly, by the time students arrive in our upper elementary classes, many have already decided…
As upper elementary students delve into more complex texts, they need help developing reading comprehension skills. When students enter my upper elementary classroom, most of…
What is place value and why is it important? Place value is the foundation for understanding numbers. Without a solid understanding of the value of…
When students walk into a classroom and see a pet, their eyes light up. Not only are the best classroom pets engaging and fun, but…
Laying the groundwork for differentiation is a critical part of setting up the school year. Students in my upper elementary class should expect to see…
It’s Monday morning. Most of your students are at their desks, pencil in hand, happily working through their Puzzle of the Day challenge. Some students…
Have you noticed that kids give up too easily these days? Yeah, me too. It seems like teaching perseverance should now be a part of…
When the kids start to get antsy, it’s time to pull out the bells and whistles. AND…by bells and whistles I mean invisible ink, of…
I’m always looking for creative ways to manage my classroom. I find that things just operate more smoothly when there is a system in place.…
