Google Jamboard is a Digital Whiteboard where students can collaborate in real-time. Much like other Google apps, like Docs or Slides, teachers can share "Jams" with students to use individually or as a group. Students can use these Jams to add sticky notes, text, drawings, shapes, or images. Jamboard is a great tool to use in the classroom because it allows students to interact, share, and collaborate. Today I am sharing 5 ways that you can start using Google Jamboard in the classroom right ... [Read More]

We have all heard the adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words." This could not be more true when using photos to teach and reinforce key language arts skills. When I was teaching 4th grade, I would teach with photos mostly by using them as writing prompts. I would project a photo up on the board and give students the chance to free-write. I quickly noticed how much more my students were able to pull from just one photograph. I would hear them using descriptive adjectives and verbs, as well ... [Read More]

My experience with Exit Slips started long before I knew what they were. I remember cutting scratch paper into thirds, passing them out to my students, and then putting some type of math problem or science question on the board to see what students learned from a lesson. I usually did this right before recess, lunch, or the end of the day, as students were about to leave the classroom, hence the term "exit slip". Sound familiar?? Over the years, I realized that there were so many different ways ... [Read More]

World Read Aloud Day is the perfect opportunity to celebrate reading in the classroom. This day was established 13 years ago by a non-profit organization called LitWorld. According to LitWorld, this amazing day of reading was created "to celebrate the power of reading aloud to create community and amplify new stories, and to advocate for literacy as a foundational human right." As someone who has always valued the power of sharing reading with others, I was thrilled to learn that there was an ... [Read More]

Building a classroom community is more important than ever! It hasn't been easy for students to adjust to life and learning during a pandemic. As students head back into classrooms, or even if they're still online, classroom discussions are a great way to help students feel like they belong in their classroom environments. Ten to twenty minutes a day, is all it takes to give students time to chat and engage in meaningful discussions. Whether it's during morning meeting, or after lunch, spend ... [Read More]

Status of the Class is a classroom tool that can be used to track students’ independent reading, while also providing positive reinforcement and feedback regarding their reading habits. This digital version allows you to track students’ reading habits in Google Slides or PowerPoint, in the classroom or through distance learning. Use this tool during students’ independent reading time. Easy to Prep: Choose the month you want to use. Optional: Add the school dates for the month. Make a ... [Read More]

Every year when I would prepare for the back to school season, I would find myself flipping through my filing cabinets, searching the files on my computer, and emailing coworkers to find everything that I needed for the first days of school. Sound familiar?? It finally occurred to me that teachers need a place to organize everything they need for back to school. Today I am sharing all about creating a Back to School Binder, where teachers plan, make lists, and organize their ideas and ... [Read More]

It seems like every conversation I overhear students having starts with, "Would you rather..."! I remember having these same conversations with my friends when I was in school!! So, why not use conversations that students are already having, and apply them to critical thinking, opinion writing, and collaborative discussions!! [Disclaimer: The pictures throughout this post feature printables from my Would You Rather resource. However, you can also come up with your own Would You Rather ... [Read More]