Blog Updates -

Resource Round-Up: Must-Haves for Mastering Equations!

In my 7th grade math class, we are in full swing of our equations unit - one of my personal favorites! I consider integers and equations to be the most important units in all of 7th-grade math, and want to give my students tons of practice to cement their skills. If you’re looking to refresh your equations unit, are looking for supplemental resources, or are planning for some tutoring and summer school activities, don’t worry - I’ve done the legwork for you! Here are some equations practice activities that my students and I have loved! Self-Correcting Digital Mazes At the…

5 Quick Tips for Selling on TeachersPayTeachers!

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Many teachers that I talk to share their interest in starting their own shop on TeachersPayTeachers to sell their resources, but many times, they have no idea where to start! My TPT store has honestly changed my life, so I am happy to share my journey! Here are my tips for sellers that are just starting out! Collect Unique Ideas! Throughout the school year, I keep a list of ideas for TPT products on my phone. Whenever I think of a resource that I need and just can’t seem to find, I write it down. Then, when I have time…

Not Just Another Worksheet – Easy Digital Activities Your Students Will Love!

With copy limits, limited time, and absent students, printed paper copies of assignments can truly be a hassle! During Covid, a lot of teachers were forced to use digital practice activities, and many have continued to make them a constant in their classrooms due to the many benefits of digital activities! Benefits of Digital Practice Activities Declutters your classroom by not having a mess of papers everywhere! Students (and teachers) can't lose assignments! Absent students can access them from afar! Teaches digital literacy skills! Can be self-correcting, which helps students get real-time feedback! Easier to monitor through programs like GoGuardian…

Tips & Tricks for Stress-Free Parent Communication

Depending on your past experience, some teachers find parent communication one of the most daunting parts of the job! Here are my tips for making parent communication more enjoyable and less daunting! Start Early & Be Proactive I make it a goal to reach out to each family during the first two weeks of school with a quick email. I like to introduce myself, share my contact information, and share a specific, positive thing that I’ve noticed about their child and that I am looking forward to a great year with them. This starts the year on the right foot…

Paragraph of the Week: Quick & Easy Writing Intervention Strategy

My biggest issue as a resource teacher? Time! It’s the one thing I can never get enough of, so I am all about quick classroom routines that build necessary student skills. Each year, I notice that my students struggle with writing complete sentences and paragraphs. This year, I implemented and fine-tuned a quick daily routine that I called “Paragraph of the Week” (or POW for short), and what a difference it has made! This routine is exactly what it sounds like - Students write a paragraph over the course of the week, every week. I provide an open-ended prompt or…

$3 Quick Ways to Get Students Talking in Math Class!$

3 Quick Ways to Get Students Talking in Math Class!

Sometimes, my math classroom can feel like it’s all teacher-directed instruction. I’m guilty of being the main talker in my classroom - I have so much content to get through and so little time! Plus, I don't want my students talking about math strategies incorrectly, and many of my students want to sit quietly and let someone else do the talking. Sound familiar? But one thing my old teaching professors would say keeps popping up in my mind - “the person doing the talking is doing the learning”? Well, I want that to be my students, not me! So, I've…

How to Prepare for End-of-Year State Testing: Tips & Tricks for Teachers

April and May bring many things - flowers, warmer weather, field trips, and fresh air. However, they also bring the dreaded end of the year state tests. For students and teachers alike, high-stakes state testing is draining and disheartening. However, you can take steps to help your students feel more prepared for these unavoidable assessments. Practice Common Types of Test Questions Obviously, with each grade level, the questions on the state test will increase in difficulty. However, many times, the question types remain similar. Taking time to teach, model, and practice each of the common testing question types will help…

Celebrate Reading All School Year Long – Fun & Easy Ideas for National March is Reading Month & Other Reading Holidays

March is a popular month to celebrate all things literacy in your school! After all, positive thinking about reading is a huge factor in student reading abilities. But who has the time to plan elaborate celebrations? Luckily, celebrating literacy doesn’t have to take a ton of planning! Here are some easy ways to celebrate reading and encourage literacy in your school, no matter the grade! Reading Themed Spirit Days! There are so many fun spirit day ideas that involve reading! Have a weekly spirit day during March or have a dedicated week to celebrate literacy! Here are a few of…

Mastering Fractions: Effective Intervention Strategies

Fractions are one of the most difficult math concepts for students to master. Each year, I see students in 7th and 8th grade who struggle with a wide range of basic fraction skills, including differentiating what a numerator and denominator actually mean. Of course, school closures with COVID-19 did not help! Many teachers and parents alike are wondering what to do when students struggle with fraction operations. However, there are some strategies that can be used to teach fractions that could make a big difference for your struggling students, especially when used consistently! Use Multiple Strategies Many of our struggling…

A Guide to IEP Goal Progress Monitoring: What Special Education Teachers Need to Know!

I have to be honest - the concept of IEP progress monitoring was something I was very unprepared for as a first-year resource room teacher. Creating ways to gather data, organizing systems to track data, writing progress monitoring reports, sharing progress with parents - on top of everything else I was already buried with? I was drowning! Maybe you feel the same way and are desperately Googling 'how you monitor progress in IEP' or 'what is the easiest way to progress monitor IEP goals'? Luckily, over the years, I've become a lot more comfortable with the process of monitoring student…