Learning In and Beyond the Classroom

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  My Favorite First of Week School Routines (& Which Ones I Ditched)
  In August, I’ll begin my 14th year of teaching. Over the years, I’ve tried, perfected, and completely thrown out more first week of school routines than I can count. Some worked beautifully and made my classroom calmer. Others… well, they were gone by day two. The routines that stuck are the simple ones — the … Continued
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  Easy Summer Math Games to Keep Skills Sharp
  The summer slide is a real thing, but I’ve never felt that drill‑and‑kill worksheets are the best way to help students hold onto their skills. They have their place, and in moderation, they can be useful, especially when you’re trying to spot gaps. But they’re not the only option, and definitely not the most enjoyable … Continued
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  Teaching Earth’s Rapid Changes Through Reading and Hands‑On Science
  Upper elementary students are fascinated by dramatic Earth events, earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, and floods. The moment you mention shaking ground or erupting lava, you’ve got their full attention. That natural curiosity makes Earth science the perfect place to blend informational reading with simple, hands‑on investigations that help students make sense of rapid and slow changes … Continued