In December, engaging your students in challenges that will require them to read and think is essential. It is during this time that find engagement is key!   Holidays Around the World Challenge This challenge requires them to go through 8 different countries. They have a passport that takes them through each country. At each country they will read a passage and answer text dependent questions. Each country requires them to work on a different skill. What skills do they work ... Read More about Holidays Around the World Reading Challenge

Right now, teachers are doing some impossible tasks. They are being asked to be two people at once or to do an insane amount of work. Either way, teachers are superstars and are doing a great job. But I see one question coming up again and again for virtual learners and that is "how do I engage them?" Today, I am going to share with you SIMPLE ideas to engage your virtual learners! Morning Meeting Morning meeting is my favorite part of my entire day! When students log on, have ... Read More about Engaging Virtual Learners

Teaching compare and contrast to student is an essential skill. When they get to the real world, comparing and contrasting things are something that they do daily even if they don't notice. I spend a week explicitly focusing on compare and contrast and then we review it often throughout the year. Comparing and Contrasting Without Text I start with teaching students how to compare and contrast before we start analyzing text. We compare and contrast.... *Objects I bring from ... Read More about Compare and Contrast in Upper Elementary

November in the upper elementary classroom is typically a time of learning and practicing reading skills, plus some fun and engaging themes. Today, I wanted to share with you some of the typical things I do and cover in the month of November! Read Alouds I love a good read aloud and November is no different! With a good read-aloud, you can really teach students many different reading and writing skills and how to enjoy reading! I always read the following books in November. (pictures ... Read More about November in Upper Elementary

This year, we are doing something different and that is virtual parent teacher conferences. I am going to share with you five tips that I have to make these go smoothly. Student Created Welcome I have my students create a sheet digitally that I pull up for when the parents first get on zoom. They write a letter to their family, answer questions about themselves, and take a selfie. This is a great discussion starter and a way to ease into the conferences! Grab it for free ... Read More about Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences