The first week of school is filled with creating routines, establishing expectations, and connecting with your students. Each year, I have an activity that I love doing with my students both at the very beginning of the year, and then again at the very end.  I call it "The Compliment Paper". Here's What You ... Read More about Build Trust Week One: A Back to School Activity

I can't believe I spent so many pre-planning years doing this.... Typing up questions to ask about my new class of students Printing the form and handing it to parents Waiting 10-15 minutes for them to fill it out (pens usually going dry, parents shaking their hands out from cramps) Receiving (some) of ... Read More about PAPERLESS Back to School Info Form

We're always asking parents to question their children when they come home from school or when parents get home from work or whatever the scenario may be. Parent:  "What did  you do today in class?"  The usual response?.... Student:  "nothing"... Parent:  "Nothing? Your teachers aren't teaching you ... Read More about Instagram in the Classroom: A Communication Tool

Do your students struggle to have a strong understanding of place value? One of the skills I have found most challenging to get across to my students is not only the value of a digit, but also its value compared to others.  I wanted to find a way to get my students to be able to see place value in a different way ... Read More about Interactive Place Value Chart

How Can I Set Up An Interactive Place Value Chart? Take a day where you can devote time to printing, laminating, cutting, and assembling.  Although it can take some time, I promise that it will be time well spent, especially if you find a space that you can keep it up all year long and use again in future school ... Read More about Setting Up an Interactive Place Value Chart

If you have your place value chart set up, it's time to get your students interacting with it. How Can I Use This Right Away? Read a number to your students and have them form the number in standard form on the chart (whole numbers or decimals) Have students create a number and challenge a partner to write ... Read More about Activities to Use with an Interactive Place Value Chart