Okay, are you feeling that test-prep crunch? We’ve all been there. Preparing students for standardized testing in upper elementary reading can feel overwhelming, but don’t
As spring approaches, so does standardized testing for most teachers. Love it or hate it, testing season always seems to sneak up quickly. As students
Reading nonfiction texts in the classroom is an excellent way to build a solid foundation of knowledge. This is due to nonfiction texts spanning many
February 14th is fast approaching! Upper elementary students eagerly await the fun-filled day to pass out Valentine’s cards they have bought or prepared with love.
As the temperature drops outside, the classroom becomes a warm place for learning. Since students are indoors more, there is a golden opportunity to explore more
Teachers are constantly trying to reinforce the character trait of kindness. What better time to focus on kindness than the holiday season?! Honestly, December is the perfect time to practice intentional kindness in upper elementary.ย Students in upper elementary are old enough to enjoy the season beyond Santa, gift-giving, and fun celebrations. This festive season provides a unique opportunity to teach students empathy, compassion, and generosity. Luckily, teachers can teach these values through random acts of Christmas kindness.ย
As the air gets cooler and the autumn breeze rolls through, colorful leaves and pumpkins decorate the classrooms. October brings a different kind of excitement between costumes, candy, and spooky stories. Upper elementary students begin counting down the days to trick-or-treating as teachers are busy crafting festive lessons to fit the monthโs vibe! Honestly, keeping students focused on academics during this busy month is tough. Luckily, there are ready-to-go Halloween activities to keep students learning and bring in the spooky fun!
Grab your backpacks and sharpen your pencils because it’s back to school time! Are you fully prepped for an awesome school year ahead? While some may still be squeezing in those last few beach days, teachers are busy strategizing for a successful new year. From hunting for unbeatable back-to-school bargains to fine-tuning lesson plans, these 10 genius teacher tips will have you rocking the classroom like a pro, whether you’re a seasoned expert or a fresh-faced newbie. Get ready to conquer the new school year with ease!
As teachers, we always look for ways to encourage good student behavior. Fun yet effective classroom rewards systems are a fantastic way to do this! One of my favorite classroom reward systems is punch cards! You are missing out if you aren’t using punch cards in the classroom! Punch cards will give you an easy-to-use tool to encourage excellent student behavior, goals, rewards, and more. The best part is all you have to do is print and punch! Here are some ideas on using punch cards that you can quickly and easily implement into your classroom reward system.
Mornings in the classroom can be full of chaos and excitement. You might find yourself being pulled in multiple directions. Add to that the morning administrative tasks, and it can be a not so calm start to your day. But . . . they don’t have to be that way. With some morning work ideas that get kids ready for their day, you will be able to find a little extra time to take care of all those morning tasks. Adding morning work to your student’s daily routine takes very little or no prep and helps students develop important independence skills! I am so excited to share how you can set the tone for the day with engaging morning work. With purposeful morning work and a routine you can commit to, you will be well on your way to a successful year with your students.
Do you dread teaching poetry? I get it! I’ve been there! The concepts of poetry are oftentimes difficult for children to understand and that makes it challenging to teach. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way. After years of teaching and practice, I’ve nailed down a few strategies for teaching poetry effectively in the classroom. They say practice makes perfect, right?
Engaging students in reading comprehension activities can be so hard. As teachers, however, we know the importance of these skills. So working to keep reading comprehension lessons and activities fresh and fun is half the battle. It is so important to keep students engaged so they can fine-tune their reading comprehension skills. Sure, we can assign reading passage after reading passage, but who really wants to do that? Instead, let’s focus on some engaging reading comprehension activities that will make reading lessons fun!
Teaching main idea and supporting details to students isnโt all that easy. Many students struggle with the concept and the process. They get confused and caught up in all of the little details when reading through the text. Some even confuse summarizing a passage with finding the main idea. So, how can you as a teacher make sure that this doesnโt happen to your students? After many years of trial and error, I have the solution that has worked in my classroom time after time. I’m excited to share with you my strategies for teaching main idea and supporting details.
March is a month of budding potential in the upper elementary classroom. It’s a time when the academic year is in full swing, students are eager for a change after the winter blues, and teachers are looking for engaging activities to keep the learning environment exciting and educational. From springing into new seasonal reads to adding some St. Patrick’s Day charm in lessons, here’s a pot of gold full of ideas to enrich your upper elementary classroom.
December in the classroom might be the shortest month of instructional days, but it might be the hardest, too. Students are excited about the holidays and school break. Their thoughts are consumed with Christmas and gifts and travel and well . . . just about anything but school! And teachers are just as busy, too! There are lessons to plan, students to engage, and a Christmas party to plan – and that is just at school. So, let me help you fill your lesson plans with fun and engaging December activities that your students will love!
I’m Kim, the founder of A Love of Teaching. My ultimate goal is to empower teachers to reclaim their afternoons and weekends, all while feeling confident in their role as educators. I’m passionate about inspiring teachers with fresh ideas and providing them with time-saving materials.ย
I’m happy you’re here!
COPYRIGHT ยฉ 2024. Kim Miller.
