Author name: middleschoolinthemitten

Engaging Resources & Strategies to Make Fractions Stick in Your Classroom

In my opinion, fractions are the hardest concept for elementary and middle school students to truly understand – and many students agree with me! Each year, I have middle schoolers who can’t tell me what a numerator really means or try to add or subtract denominators within a problem, so fraction review is something I […]

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Resuming the Classroom Routine: Essential Activities for an Easy Return After Winter Break

Returning from Winter Break can feel almost more difficult than the beginning of the school year. In August, you feel rested from the summer off and excited to meet your new students. In January, after the holidays, this excitement may have dwindled and to be honest, you are probably in need of another week off!

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Add a Dash of Holiday Spirit to Your Math Class: Easy Tips & Effortless Ideas

As soon as the first snowflake falls here in Michigan, my students are thinking about winter break. This makes it really hard to hold their concentration and motivate them to do their best on school work for weeks in December! I’m sure my class is not the only one that feels like we are hanging

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An Attitude of Gratitude: 3 Quick & Easy Classroom Activities for Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is a great time of year to focus on class routines around thankfulness, but that doesn’t mean it is the only time to practice showing appreciation! Incorporating academic activities that focus on thankfulness throughout the year can help students develop a sense of gratitude and encourage positive attitudes and appreciation. Plus, they can be

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IEP Goal Writing Made Easy: Tips & Tricks for Educators

A quick little disclaimer: The following information is what I have personally learned through 8 years of teaching special education in Michigan. It should be used for inspirational and entertainment purposes only. Check with the special education department leaders in your school district with specific questions regarding your students’ IEPs and special education needs.  Over

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Unlocking the Joy of Reading: Proven Strategies for Teachers & Parents to Cultivate a Reading Habit in Reluctant Readers

Reluctant readers, unmotivated readers, whatever you call them, parents and teachers alike are running out of ideas to help increase reading scores around the country for students that just will not pick up a book to read. Students have so many other preferred activities, like video games or scrolling TikTok, that reading falls by the

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Using Digital Task Cards in the Classroom: A Quick How-To Guide for Teachers!

Since the pandemic, teachers everywhere have been incorporating more technology into their classroom practice. It makes sense – digital activities have a lot of benefits that the distance learning era brought to light. For example, digital assignments are easy to share with students whether they are present at school or not. They save paper and

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