I want my students to LOVE reading! As an RTI teacher, many of my students come to me with the attitude that they are “not good at reading” or they “don’t like reading”. Some of these are first grade students! This breaks my heart. I want to motivate reluctant readers so they look forward to…
How to Engage Your Class Using Free Task Card Templates
Task cards have always been a permanent fixture in my class. Learn how to easily incorporate them into your routine with a free editable task card templates. I was using task cards before I knew they were called task cards. My first year in the classroom, I taught an amazing bunch of third graders who…
Multiplication Fact Fluency – How to Make it Stick
One of the biggest obstacles in math for many of my students is that they do not know their multiplication facts. They spend time and exert energy finding the same products over and over again. Their lack of fact fluency has a negative impact on their ability to learn new skills. For this reason, I…
Organize Your Classroom and Save Time with Absent Student Folders
Did I miss anything while I was absent? This question drives me bananas! Yes! Of course you missed something…you missed a lot of things. Now the challenge is getting the student back up to speed and ready to learn while continuing instruction for the rest of the class. Keep reading to find out how to…
Top 10 Reasons to Go Digital for Math Review Games
BINGO! As a child I loved it when my teacher would break out the class bingo sets. She would pass out cards and the dots to mark our cards. Then she would stand at the front of the room calling off the problems as we searched our boards for the answers. I never understood why…
Classroom Routines and Procedures are the Key to the Best Year Ever
If I’m being honest, my first year teaching was a mess. I didn’t know just how much I didn’t know. This was evident the very first day when my students walked in. I realized I hadn’t properly thought out classroom routines and procedures. I made them up on the fly. You can imagine how that…
Do You Need a Simple and Effective Behavior Management System?
Want to hear about the only behavior management system that has consistently worked in my classroom? It includes carnival tickets and an auction! Heck yeah! For years, I tried to find the perfect way to promote positive behavior in my classroom. I implemented a clip chart, a treasure box, classroom currency, whole group rewards, marble…
Class Newsletter – How to Get Parents to Actually Read It
Ever have parents ask you questions that you addressed in your letter home the week before? Do parents get upset because they feel like you didn’t give them notice of an upcoming event or project…even though it was in the class newsletter you sent 2 weeks ago! Do you feel like you are writing your…
Easy First Day of School Games and Activities
Easy relationship building games for the first day of school. Low prep games for students in upper elementary to get to know each other and get moving.