Main Idea can be difficult to teach, especially in the upper elementary grades where the texts are more complex. It isn't always easy to ascertain what the author is mainly trying to tell the audience. Now, as teachers, we may see the main idea as obvious, but to a child it's not … [Read more...]
Why Writing Projects are a BIG YES in Upper Elementary!
Why using writing projects will benefit your students Why should you be using writing projects with your class? Let's dig into this a bit and see how you can support developing writers and have fun doing it! First of all, what is a writing project? Well, to me a writing … [Read more...]
Have you heard? ELA Next Generation Learning Standards are Here!
Change is inevitable in education. However, it often seems the changes we want are slow to come and the changes we can do without are numerous and frequent. Am I right? If you're a teacher in New York State you're probably aware of the changes being made to our learning … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Engage Students in the Narrative Writing Process
Graphic Organizers Narrative writing is probably the most fun we have in fifth grade ELA class! Not surprising, right? Kids love to write stories and they are full of imaginative ideas just waiting to take flight. Well, some kids are and some need a nudge, or two. All About My … [Read more...]
The Great Sticky Note Challenge: Improving reading comprehension, one sticky note at a time!
Engaging with text is a goal of many ELA lessons. The last thing any teacher wants to hear are moans and groans when a new passage is handed out or a new reading assigned. After all, if they are turned off from the very beginning, students will unlikely engage in any meaningful … [Read more...]
My 90 Minute ELA Block in 5th Grade
Here’s the true story of what happens during my literacy block. I have a detailed post on this exact topic which I wrote pre-pandemic (2019) and you can read it HERE. Since then, I’ve changed a few things, so I decided it was time for a new post. 5th Grade Writing … [Read more...]
Christmas in the Classroom
If you celebrate Christmas in your classroom, here are two of my favorite resources and my most loved book for those last few weeks before break. Enjoy! A Home for the Holidays Christmas Writing Activities that Promote Kindness Red and Lulu Check out … [Read more...]
Great Classroom Finds
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, this means I may earn a small amount from your purchase at no additional cost to you. Back to school season can often mean back to spending… This year I opted for simplicity. I didn’t spend very much on my classroom, but … [Read more...]
First Day of School Tips for New Teachers
So, you just landed your first teaching job. Yay! Now what? Here are 10 tips to help you succeed on the first day of school. I wish I knew these things when I started teaching! Here are some ramblings from an experienced teacher. A brain dump of all the things I wish … [Read more...]
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