Motivating Readers Through Our Classroom Reading Challenge!
This interactive bulletin board is a great way to motivate students to read and discuss their reading with their peers. After the students finish a book, they fill out a "completed book square" to add...
View ArticleGet to Know Your Class Using Poetry and the Common Core
The first few days of school are typically spent getting to know your students through various ice breaker activities and projects. This poetry writing activity is not only engaging for all students,...
View ArticleClassroom Management Compliment Chain
I use a "compliment chain" to promote positive behavior, respect, and responsibility within my classroom. This super simple management technique has made a huge difference this year! All you need is...
View ArticleCategorizing Character Traits in a 5th Grade Class
We've successfully transitioned into our Character Study unit and I'm liking the direction it's going so far! To begin our unit, the students worked cooperatively to create a list of character traits...
View ArticleMorning Meeting with Upper Elementary Students
Every morning after the students arrive in the classroom, we designate about 10 minutes to morning meeting. Morning meeting is a really great way to start off the day. It sets a positive tone in the...
View ArticleFrankenstein Compare & Contrast Project
The Common Core Standards are placing a large emphasis on comparing and contrasting in the Upper Elementary grades. Students are responsible for being able to compare and contrast different characters,...
View ArticleMarch Madness Book Edition – Part 1
At the end of March, my students took the standardized state PARCC exam for the first time. They worked SO hard for so long and I wanted to reward them with something after the exam. Enter the first...
View ArticleMarch Madness Book Edition – Part 2
Here's part 2 of the March Madness Book Edition! See how the books advanced and the students earned their points for their individual brackets :) The post March Madness Book Edition – Part 2 appeared...
View ArticleIntroducing Our Poetry Unit
We are currently in the middle of our poetry until and so far everyone is having a blast! Every year our students love writing poetry because it’s a totally different type of writing than they have...
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