Serving as a mentor teacher for a new teacher is never "easy," and it certainly isn't made easier when your school life is flipped upside down. Mentoring and coaching when schools suddenly closed for coronavirus threw us a whole new learning curve (as did most things school-related!). Given that we ... [ Read More ]
Must-have Books to Teach the Sun, Earth, and Moon
Trade books are always on my list of resources when I teach any science, social studies, or math unit. I wanted to save you some time browsing the shelves by sharing some of my favorite books to read with students when they're learning about the sun, Earth, and moon. All of these are great additions ... [ Read More ]
7 Ways to Use Google Earth with Upper Elementary Students
If you're looking for instant engagement with your elementary students, Google Earth is it. Nothing is cooler to a bunch of kids than seeing a birds' eye view of their community, or visiting places they've only read about! Before I go further, what do I mean by Google Earth? Google Earth is a ... [ Read More ]
Free Distance Learning Digital Resources for Upper Elementary Students
With many school districts closing on short notice due to the coronavirus, I know a lot of us are scrambling to provide appropriate, standards-based distance learning options to students. Many companies are offering free digital resources for educators and families while schools are shut down, which ... [ Read More ]
Teaching Students to Identify Sensory Words
Teaching students to identify sensory details as they read is a great way to teach author's craft. And, bonus, it helps to encourage students to use descriptive language in their own writing! Here are some ways that I teach and review sensory words in the upper elementary classroom. I'll also share ... [ Read More ]
