Teacher Tips & Tricks
Classroom Exit Tickets: A Quick Routine with Big Benefits
If you walk into my classroom, one routine you’ll probably see is students either completing or reviewing exit tickets. I use exit tickets almost every
Easy Scaffolding Strategies for Teachers
As teachers, we hear the same buzzwords all the time; words like differentiate, formative assessment, and scaffolding come to mind for me. We hear these
3 Easy, Engaging, & Fun Review Games for Your Math Class
Happy October! You’ve survived the back-to-school rush, teaching all the expectations, and are now probably deep into your first units – you deserve a whole
3 Easy Teaching Strategies that Really Work!
Throughout our preteaching education programs and years of teaching experience, we learn so many strategies, but not all of them truly add value to the
5 Easy Activities For The First Week of School
Recently, I was talking with my student teacher, and she asked me a question that I am sure a lot of new (and old) teachers
Back to School Math Activities: 3 Fun & Easy Ideas to Start The Year Off Right!
Now that summer is in full swing, many teachers are swapping their ID badges, work computers, and teacher planners for sleeping in, beach days, and
Time-Saving Tech Tips for Creating Classroom Resources
Over the last few years, I’ve made countless digital activities for my own students (and yours – check out my TPT store here!). Over the
5 Time-Saving Tech Tips for Busy Teachers
I am known around my school as being a ‘tech wiz’ – I know A LOT of time-saving tips, tricks, and hacks that leave my
Insightful Interview Questions for Your Student Teacher
Whether you are looking to host your first student teacher, or have hosted many, you may feel anxious about starting on the right foot! After
5 Quick Tips for Selling on TeachersPayTeachers!
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
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
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
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
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
Building a Strong Team: Tips for Setting Your Teacher Assistants Up for Success
As a special education teacher, having a teacher assistant can be a lifesaver! Maybe your school calls them paraprofessionals, teacher aides, instructional assistants, or something
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
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
5 Quick Tips for Setting Up Your Classroom
Setting up a classroom, especially the first classroom that is all your own, is overwhelming! It’s tough to know where to start, and many teachers
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
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
5 Quick Tips to Set Up A Stress-Free Classroom
Setting up a classroom, whether it’s your tenth classroom or the first classroom that is all your own, is overwhelming! It’s tough to know where
The Great Classroom Escape: Using Escape Rooms to Ignite Student Learning
When most people hear the term “escape room”, they picture elaborate puzzles, locked rooms, hidden keys, and a ticking timer. Modern escape rooms have developed
How to Easily Teach Technology Skills in Your 21st Century Classroom
“Wait, how do I copy and paste again?” “I didn’t mean to do that!” “Can you show me how to…” Sound familiar? I love using
I Taught it but They Still Don’t Get It! – 3 Easy Strategies to Stop the Cycle & Make Your Lessons Stick!
“I taught it but they still don’t get it!” Sound familiar? You’re not alone! Millions of teachers every year run to their teacher BFFs to
Accommodations Explained – Checking for Understanding
As a classroom teacher, providing the necessary accommodations to your special education or 504 students may feel like ONE MORE THING added to your already
Successful Co-Teaching Practices for Happy Teachers and Engaged Students
Coteaching is becoming a very popular arrangement in education. It is a way for special education students to receive support in their general education classrooms
What to Buy for Your Classroom and What to Leave Behind For Less Back-to-School Stress
I am a shopaholic. I admit it. It’s true. Want to hear something even worse? My shopping addiction only gets worse when I feel stressed
Getting Started with Student Council – Quick Questions to Help Find Your Vision!
A few years ago, I was cornered at the copier. Through a short but persuasive conversation with my principal, I was “voluntold” to lead our
We All Make Mistakes – Error Analysis in the Middle School Math Resource Classroom
We all make mistakes, so let’s learn from them! One of the most difficult parts of being a teacher is having a great lesson with
Just Give Them Multiplication Charts, Already!
Every now and then, I see a post on a teacher facebook group regarding middle school students and their lack of automaticity with math facts.
Beating the Sunday Scaries: It’s Time to Take Back Your Weekends!
With the start of the school year comes the return of the Sunday Scaries – that feeling in the pit of your stomach caused by
Easy Breezy IEPs: A Beginner’s Guide to Organizing & Leading IEP Meetings – Part 1
As a new special education teacher, IEP meetings, short for Individual Education Plans, can be the most stressful, scary, and overwhelming thing! I remember spending
5 Effortless Activities for the First Week of School
With all of my local stores putting up their back-to-school displays, it’s hard to shake the feeling that the new school year is just around