Blog - Create Teach Share

Smashing Strategies for Guided Math: Daily Reflections

This is our final week of sharing Smashing Strategies for Guided Math!! In my previous two posts, I discussed different options for Math Warm-Ups and Incorporating Interactive Notebooks into Guided Math. Today I am excited to share how you can use Daily Reflections to wrap up your math block!! For my final post on Guided Math strategies, it is only fitting that I share ways to wrap up or end your math block. Daily Reflections are a great way for students to think back to what they learned, ... [Read More]

Smashing Strategies for Guided Math: Incorporating Interactive Notebooks

We are back this week to bring you more Smashing Strategies for Guided Math!! In my last post I discussed different options for Math Warm-Ups. Today I am excited to share how you can incorporate Interactive Notebooks into your math block!! What are Interactive Notebooks? Interactive Notebooks can take on many different forms. Some teachers use them for taking notes and drawing illustrations and examples. Other teachers use more structured templates, including foldable pieces that require ... [Read More]

Smashing Strategies for Guided Math: Starting the Day With Math Warm-Ups

I am thrilled to be joining a wonderful group of teacher bloggers to share a variety of ideas related to Guided Math!! This is my first post in our Smashing Strategies for Guided Math series, and I thought I would start off by sharing ideas for starting the day with Math Warm-Ups!! Math Warm-Ups are a great way to start your math day! This time at the beginning of your math block is perfect for getting students to start thinking about all things numbers and mathematics!! When used ... [Read More]

A New Favorite: We’re All Wonders

This little gem was just delivered this morning and I am already in love!! This newest addition to the Wonder collection is a picture book called We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio, featuring everybody's favorite inspirational 5th grader. I can hardly wait to share this with my own 5th grade class after Spring Break!! This post contains affiliate links to amazon.com. If you make a purchase from amazon.com through the links on this page, CreateTeachShare will receive a small commission. This ... [Read More]

7 Ways to Celebrate Poetry in the Classroom

April is National Poetry Month, and what better time is there to teach our students all about poetry?! There are so many ways to celebrate poetry in your classroom, and today I thought I would share some of my favorite ways to teach and explore this fascinating genre!! This post contains affiliate links to amazon.com. If you make a purchase from amazon.com through the links on this page, CreateTeachShare will receive a small commission. This helps to support the blog, and allows me to ... [Read More]

Character is Key: Promoting Character in the Classroom

As teachers, we are tasked with teaching so many different concepts and skills. We spend countless hours planning and implementing academic lessons that will prepare our students for the lives ahead of them. But for me personally, there is no task more important than teaching my students to be good people. While there may be no standards for kindness, no curriculum to teach empathy, and no lessons on courage, teaching these character traits should not be overlooked in our classrooms. If we ... [Read More]

Setting the Tone with Scary Stories

I love a good scary story!! Especially during this time of year. The weather is starting to cool down, leaves are falling from the trees, and the days are getting a bit gloomier!! With Halloween upon us, it's the perfect time to break out those scary stories in the classroom. I am thrilled to share with you some favorites from my 5th grade classroom!! This post contains affiliate links to amazon.com. If you make a purchase from amazon.com through the links on this page, CreateTeachShare will ... [Read More]

Exploring Non-Fiction in the Elementary Classroom

I had the great honor and pleasure to write a blog post for the Teachers Pay Teachers Blog. I chose to write all about how I use and teach non-fiction in my upper grade classroom!! Click HERE to learn about how I make non-fiction come to life for my students!! ... [Read More]

Classroom Must-Haves That I Can’t “Picture” Myself Teaching Without

Every teacher has those few supplies, books, and resources that they couldn't possibly teach without! Along with my fellow bloggers over at Upper Elementary Snapshots, we decided to share all about our Classroom Must Haves. We are sharing the things that we simply could not "Picture" ourselves teaching without! Before you go today, be sure to also check out the "Must Haves" of the fabulous bloggers below, and enter our Giveaway at Upper Elementary Snapshots!! This post contains affiliate ... [Read More]

Reinventing Reading Response Journals

As teachers we are constantly REINVENTING THE WHEEL!! Although it can be time consuming, one thing I love about my job, is that I get the opportunity to learn, grow, create, and RECREATE year after year!! I have been using Reading Response Journals in my classroom for over 10 years, and each year I make slight changes in the process, style, and implementation. The Reading Response Journals that I am about to share are a culmination of ideas from the past 10 years!! I have found that reading ... [Read More]