As educators, we're told we must utilize every bit of time we have for instruction. It's easy to think the time wasted is a missed opportunity. We're already pressed for time. What if I told you that you're boosting productivity, creativity, and social skills in your classroom when you make time for brain breaks? That's great, right? But what if I told you that some brain breaks ...
7 Tips for Student Engagement in Math Centers
Engagement is essential for math centers because you can run small groups effectively when students are engaged. Engagement means students will give their attention to the work because they are motivated and interested in it. I will give you 7 tips for student engagement in math centers, but first, let's talk about motivation. The key to motivation is interest; to unlock interest, you ...
3 Surprising Reasons Why Students Should Write About Math
"So you're saying I have to write about math?" This was the exact response from one of my former students. That statement alone informed me that he only thought about math superficially. As for me, I was sick and tired of teaching kids how to manipulate numbers, only for them to forget about it the following week. I wanted to understand better what concepts stuck and what misconceptions they ...
Inexpensive Holiday Gift Ideas
For Students and Teachers This year gift buying is stressful because of inflation. Everything is super expensive. It's a challenge to go into the grocery store and get two days' worth of groceries for under $50. I know it's stressful, so I want to share some inexpensive holiday gift ideas for students and teachers. They're so good! If you're an administrator or parent, you've got to see ...
How to Differentiate Your Worksheets
There are benefits to having worksheets, but after a while, it gets boring doing the same thing over and over. Some students need more support than others, while others need more of a challenge. You can do that! Let me show you how to differentiate your worksheets in this post! Here are five ideas on how to differentiate your worksheets! Vocabulary Hunters You'll need a worksheet with ...
How to Plan for a Substitute
I don't know about you, but this time of year is when all the germs and allergies start affecting my immune system, and I inevitably lose my voice or get sick. I never learned how to plan for a substitute in college, and I thought it'd be helpful to share some tips I've learned through feedback from my substitute friends. I'll share how to plan for a substitute in this blog post. Plus, I've ...