Teaching character traits is SO.MUCH.FUN. I love looking at character traits, motivation, and feelings! The students love digging in deep to their character traits as well. My first lesson is always sticky note traits! For this lesson, you introduce character traits with students and then give them a post-it note. They have to write a trait you have and provide proof of where that trait comes up. They then get to stick it on you. I usually let them do this with each other too! Then we ... Read More about Teaching Character Traits in Upper Elementary

There are two facts about state testing: You have to take them and prepare your students. It does not have to be boring. When many people look at state testing I believe that they think of the big booklets with reading passages and questions that take up a ton of time and are not engaging for the kids. But I am here to tell you in order to get GREAT test scores you NEED to engage your kiddos in the test prep! I am going to share with you 5 different ways that you can ENGAGE your ... Read More about Top 5 Ways to Make Test Prep FUN!

Teaching is TOUGH. And sometimes life can be TOUGH. So, when life gets tough how do you still teach well? Let me start by saying when hard things happen in your real life teaching can be double hard. Sometimes it can be helpful to have that routine and those smiling faces every morning, but sometimes it can just be tough. My second year of teaching I found out that my grandma, who I was really close with, died. I found this out during my teaching day. I wanted to cry, run, and just sit ... Read More about When Life is Hard, but You Still Have to Teach

Holidays are MY JAM! Teaching a holiday is even more my jam! St. Patricks Day in the classroom can be SO.MUCH.FUN. even if you teach upper elementary. You can still challenge your kiddos while having a ridiculous amount of fun. READ FUN BOOKS Like any other holiday, the best way to get into it is with some good BOOKS! Click on the picture books below to head to the affiliate links! Also, check out my favorite read-aloud chapter books! St. Patrick's Day Reading Challenge- Find the ... Read More about St. Patrick’s Day in Upper Elementary

Reading is my FAVORITE subject to teach! I love watching kids fall in love with a good book and I love watching them understand a difficult text. When I sit down to plan my reading instruction I am typically planning it in three different ways: skill based, review based, or novel study! Today, I am going to break down exactly my thought process as I plan these types of weeks. Skill Based If I am teaching a NEW skill that week I will will break it down like this! Monday- Reading ... Read More about A Step by Step Guide to Planning Reading Instruction