The Best 5th Grade Morning Work for a Stress-Free School Year
If you’ve ever found yourself scrambling to find something meaningful for students to do while you take attendance, answer emails, or help a student, you’re not alone. Morning work shouldn’t create more work for you. It should be one of the easiest parts of your day. After years of teaching fifth grade, I realized that […]
Why Every 5th Grade Math Classroom Needs a Strong Morning Work Routine
I remember my first year teaching vividly. I was so excited to decorate, organize, and create the most welcoming classroom possible. And I did. It looked adorable. I carefully planned every detail. I had clear classroom rules, high expectations, and a positive classroom environment. I thought I had everything figured out. Then the students arrived. […]
How to Make the First Week of Math Fun in Upper Elementary (10 Easy Activities)
The first week back after summer break can be tricky! You want to get to know your students, build a positive classroom community, and help everyone transition into a new school year as smoothly as possible. At the same time, you need to get a sense of where your students are academically without overwhelming them […]
The Best First Week of School Activities for Building Classroom Community
The first few weeks back to school are filled with excitement, anticipation, a few nerves, and plenty of chaos—for both teachers and students! While it’s hard to say goodbye to carefree summer days spent playing with friends and sleeping in, there’s something comforting about returning to the familiar routines of the school day. Those first […]
Setting Goals: New Years Classroom Bulletin Board Activity Students Love
Coming back from winter break is hard. Students are out of routine. Energy levels are all over the place. And while you know goal setting is a meaningful way to reset the classroom, the planning alone can feel overwhelming. Creating something that is reflective, engaging, developmentally appropriate, and low-prep? That’s a lot to ask during […]
Incorporating Mindfulness in the Classroom
Mindfulness in the classroom can be beneficial to both teachers and students. My daughter was extremely fortunate last year. Her fourth grade teacher was all about yoga, mindfulness, and keeping calm—and the ripple effects of that from the classroom to the home and beyond were impossible to ignore. She was able to incorporate so many […]
How to Introduce Math Centers in the Classroom
I still remember the moment I realized something had to change during math. I was standing at the front of my classroom while three students needed reteaching, two were halfway through their assignment, and at least four were staring at the ceiling waiting for help. One had already finished everything and was poking around in […]
Math Test Prep Center Activities for Upper Elementary
The end of the year test prep chaos can be super daunting. You are just counting down the days until the next long weekend while trying to survive the spring fever taking over your classroom. I get it. I’ve been there. In this article we will learn all about how to tame the chaos by […]
How to Teach Measurement Conversions: A Free Printable Reference Chart for Students
When I first started teaching measurement conversions, I dreaded it. The endless tables, the confusing rules—my students struggled, and honestly, so did I. But once I started paying attention, I realized how often we use conversions in everyday life: 📏At the grocery store – Converting ounces to pounds for produce or meat📏 At home – […]
How to Help 5th Graders Master Multi-Step Word Problems for Test Prep Success
How to Help 5th Graders Master Multi-Step Word Problems for Test Prep Success Test prep season is here, and for many fifth graders, multi-step word problems are one of the biggest challenges they face. If your students freeze up when they see a long word problem, they’re not alone! These problems require more than just […]