Ask any teacher what they think about their regular staff development meetings and you’ll likely hear a course of groans. It’s not that teachers are opposed to professional development. In fact, most teachers would classify themselves as “life-long learners.” But those weekly face-to-face staff meetings are dreaded by many and loathed by the rest. WhyRead more
As you get started on TpT you’ll see that space in your store front for your “quote.” If you’re anything like us, you search to find an actual quote to use until you realize that a lot of other sellers are putting really cool graphics and rotating GIFs in that space. There are several tutorialsRead more
Matching Kids to Curriculum Oftentimes schools and districts will purchase a set of curriculum and teachers are asked to use it, regardless of whether or not it meets the needs of their students. Homeschool parents, and teachers with more flexible administrators, may have the ability to make purchasing decisions and/or supplement their prescribed curricula. HereRead more
Making the decision to homeschool is a difficult one for most people. Sure, there are some parents who know from the get-go that homeschooling is their path, but the “unlikely” homeschooler is becoming more common. Here’s what it takes (and doesn’t take) to be a good homeschooler. It Doesn’t Take – Experience Sure having aRead more
Hundreds Chart Shake-Out Here’s a quick and easy activity for your class, small groups, or individual math students. Use your pocket chart with individual hundreds cards (as you can see from the picture, I have had to re-create a few of mine over the years). In front of your students (they love this part), invert yourRead more
Learning how to take notes is an essential academic skill, yet is often falls by the wayside as teachers struggle to cover a large amount of content in their subject areas. Who Should Teach Note-Taking? It is unclear who should teach note-taking skills – is it the responsibility of English teachers, or does it fallRead more
Number Line Cooperative Group Activity Here is a low-prep math activity that will get your students working together and talking about math. It is a great way to set the tone for your math class. While the math work itself is very easy for most students, it will provide a great challenge because it isRead more
Growth Mindset for Kids By now, most teachers have incorporated some aspects of “Growth Mindset” into their classrooms. Students are taught to take strategic steps to build up areas that are harder for them. Students are given positive language to use when tackling challenges. But students don’t live in a bubble. They watch kids and adultsRead more
Dice Place Value Activity (Value of a Number) Here is an easy and low-prep group or solo activity for 2nd – 6th grade. I used this with a 5/6 combo class as a quick place value review. It is super easy to differentiate and the kids had a great time playing. Give each group ofRead more
Why Do People Homeschool? After working with homeschoolers for a 20+ years, we have encountered many types of children and families. Homeschooling is not a rare or strange occurrence anymore – it is mainstream and here to stay. Some of the reasons we have heard for homeschooling are wonderful, and some leave us wondering. OfRead more