What is CGI you ask? It is a way of teaching math critical thinking that focuses on students figuring out the problem solving process. The teacher acts as a facilitator, and students learn problem solving strategies from each other. Students use what they already know to build on their learning. What does CGI look like in the classroom? There are different problem types that increase ... [ Read More ]
Sammie STEAM the Adventure Dog!
Last year my kindergarteners were studying needs of animals in the science lab. I had been on a lovely trail walk with my family. We were lucky enough to see beavers swimming into their lodge! I thought, “Wouldn’t it be great if some of my students could have this same experience with their families?” I decided that I would create a “Beaver Challenge.” I handed out this optional challenge ... [ Read More ]
Ultimate Collection of How To Use Task Cards
Many teachers are seeing the value of using task cards in the classroom. However, some are left wondering - how do I use task cards? This blog post is a compilation of some of the best ways on how to use task cards in the classroom. Many Great Uses for Task Cards Let's get started with this website with 31 great ways on how to use task cards in the classroom. If this is the only link ... [ Read More ]
All Things Exponents
It seems exponents are a bit tough to teach. Students need to understand how they work. Ideally, they should even have the basic ones memorized - particularly if you're working on order of operations! So it's time to get a little practice in! Here's a round-up of all the great exponent activities I could find! Create a Foldable This first idea is one of the first exponent activities I found ... [ Read More ]
Teaching Rounding {Great Ideas, FREEBIES, and More!}
Rounding is one of those topics that some students instantly "get", while others seem to be lost from the word go. As teachers, it's obviously our job to make sure all our little lovelies understand how to round. It's in the math standards, but it's also just a great life skill to have! This is exactly why teaching rounding is so important! I've compiled a few ideas for rounding activities you ... [ Read More ]
Teaching Place Value {Great Ideas, FREEBIES, and More!}
It seems like most math curriculum and teachers start the year teaching place value. It makes sense. After all, students need to understand how to break numbers apart before they can learn to do much else with them. And regardless of how many times they've learned place value in the past, there will be at least a couple who act as if this is a foreign concept. That's ok! They'll get it. ... [ Read More ]
Summer Learning Ideas
If you are a teacher looking for some activities for your students to do this summer, OR if you are a parent who wants to keep your child from the dreaded "summer slide" - this post is for you! ReadingFind out if there is a local reading program. Or maybe your state has one. Do some checking and see what you can find!Set aside a little bit of time each day to read! Even as little as 15-20 ... [ Read More ]
Test Prep – Ideas for Prepping for Math, Reading, Dealing with Test Anxiety, and MORE!
It's that time of year again - high stakes testing! Whether you love it or hate it, it's here. With that, I wanted to highlight some of the blog posts I've shared here before, as well as a couple new things I think you'll enjoy regarding test prep. Do your students sometimes struggle with following directions when it comes to testing? Maybe they rush through? Or they don't explain themselves ... [ Read More ]
Our Students Needs Hands-on Time with Manipulatives!
Our Students Needs Hands-on Time with Manipulatives!Break out those manipulatives!Now that the majority of the states have adopted and implemented the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for Mathematics, we have been promised that there will be less concepts to teach while having more time to teach a concept in depth so that children can develop these deep understandings of the concepts. ... [ Read More ]
Students Missing School – Part 2: Alternate Assignments
Throughout my teaching career, I've had parents and guardians approach me to ask what their child can do when they have to miss a day (or more) of school. Here is the second part of a two part series on how I handle students missing school. You can read the first post here. Writing Journal I often assign the students a writing journal to complete during their vacation. I've had many parents ... [ Read More ]