Test prep does not need to be like this! Last-minute cramming, piles of review packets, tons of practice tests....sound familiar? Preparing for standardized tests is something we all must face in
Reading
5 Ways to Increase Reading Comprehension
Reading comprehension is a phrase you think about daily in the classroom. It may seem like you are stuck doing the same thing repeatedly. Your students read a text and answer questions to check their
A Daily Reading Review System for Reading Comprehension
One of the most effective ways to improve reading comprehension for all students is to include a quality daily reading review system into your routine. When you expose students to quality reading
Morning Work that Works with your Morning Routine
The importance of quality morning work is often overlooked in the elementary classroom. Your morning routine is the perfect time to set the stage for the day and sneak in some valuable learning time.
10 Tips to Help Students Enjoy Reading
Getting students to read nightly because they want to is a pretty difficult task. We all know you really can't make anyone do anything they don't want to do. Kids are NO exception...not even a little
Reading Homework: Making it Meaningful
As a teacher, I always made it my goal to make sure everything I did or made my students do, was meaningful. Whether it be reading homework, math centers, or morning work, I didn't like wasting time;
Top Ten Homework Tips for Teachers
Managing homework is definitely something that many teachers struggle with. Whether your issue is "How much should I give?", "What is the best way to correct it?", or "How can I make it more
Spiral Assessments: Why They Are Necessary
Spiral Assessments are an important part of my classroom. Awhile back I wrote a blog post about "Why Spiral In the Classroom". I explained that I believe a spiraling curriculum is critical in
Homework: An Effective Approach
I have always hated homework. Seriously, it was the word-that-shall-not-be-named, as far as I was concerned. As a kid, I hated that I spent all day in school just to go home and continue the
Tips for Teaching Nonfiction Text Structure
Teaching text structure can feel like such a complicated task, but it really doesn't have to be. Here are a few simple tips for making this topic simple to understand for your students.
1. Text
