What exactly is an Interactive Digital Notebook? How is it similar to a regular Interactive Notebook? How is an Interactive Digital Notebook used in the classroom? What are the advantages over traditional interactive notebooks? Find…
So you want to start using Google Slides™ in elementary grades? But you don’t know where to get started? You’re also not sure how to use them. Or are you students wasting time trying to…
Why do we have to learn math? A popular question among most students. Most kids ask this question because they see math as irrelevant. Something in a textbook that’s not connected to their lives. We…
Word problems are the bane of every teacher’s existence. But word problems shouldn’t be! Why? Because life is a word problem. We use math every day in our lives to solve problems. Math is about…
It wasn’t until a few years after the Common Core was adopted in California did I start teaching students how to round on a number line. Before that, what did I use? Rounding rhymes, tricks,…
Unitizing is not only a mathematical term, but it’s also a business term. Have you ever wondered when businesses ship hundreds of boxes, how do they keep track? By unitizing! The shipping company will unitize…
Tired of giving and grading by hand those weekly spelling tests? Then go digital with Google Forms Quizzes! Set up a Google Forms spelling test in just 10 quick steps which take about 5 minutes. …
Follow my blog with Bloglovin School is once again starting up so that means Back to School Night is not far behind. If you’re a new teacher or a veteran like me, here are 5…
Teaching multiplication can take many forms. Teachers are always finding new and engaging ways of teaching multiplication. Whether it be using manipulatives, arrays, songs, tips or strategies, there is no one way of teaching multiplication.…
If you haven’t heard by now, you might still be teaching your students some outdated skills. In Part 1 and Part 2 of this 3-part blog post, I examined such skills as, telling time on…
Are you still wondering what other skills students are being taught that may just be outdated? In PART 1, I examined the concept of teaching time on an analog clock. Though it is clear that…
Ok, maybe the headline was a little TOO dramatic. But I started to think about this the other day when I began teaching these skills: telling time and counting money. In ten years, these little second graders…
In the final part of this three-part series on multiplication fluency, let’s explore the Derivative Strategies. These are the strategies that are taught AFTER the student has demonstrated proficiency in the Foundation Strategies (see the previous…
In the first part of this series, I wrote that we need to teach mental math strategies for multiplication. This is similar to what we do for addition and subtraction. But first, students need to…
Have you’ve encountered the student who doesn’t study the multiplication facts? Or the student who learns one multiplication table and then seemingly forgets most of the facts? Or the student who studies but has a…
I recently had the opportunity to chat with Rachel Davis of Elite Edupreneurs on her podcast featuring Teachers Pay Teachers sellers. We discussed many topics about being a seller on Teachers Pay Teachers. One important aspect…
It’s that time of year again when you know your students are wondering what gift to get you this year. Students have given me some beautiful gifts that were given with gratitude and from the…
The gateway to learning algebra and higher forms of mathematics is multiplication. It is critically important that elementary school children learn the concept of multiplication as well as, just learning the multiplication facts. I am…
