Preparing students for the real world is an essential part of our job, so integrating technology into our lesson plans also becomes essential. However, it’s not as easy as it seems to manage a classroom full of 3rd grade, 4th, grade, or 5th grade students and the technology we would so like to integrate. I surveyed over 100 teachers in …
Looking for a Venn Diagram alternative to help spice up your compare and contrast lessons? Check out the 9 activity ideas below for your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom.1. Have Students Write a Compare and Contrast Essay / ParagraphAn essay can be a daunting task at first, so start your students off small! Have them start off by writing …
Most 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers I know could easily tell you their favorite fiction books to read aloud to students, but choosing a nonfiction book is harder. We just don’t read nonfiction or informative texts as much as we read fiction texts because it is harder to find engaging books and series. We lean on fiction books with …
Every school year is a fresh start, and teachers are always trying to improve and learn. Who better to learn from than other teachers? Only teachers can really understand the complexity of teaching 3rd grade, 4th grade, or 5th grade students. Fellow teachers understand our joys and our struggles. Only teachers are truly qualified to offer back to school teacher …
Fiction read alouds were an essential part of my education in elementary school. Almost 30 years later, I can still remember the chapter books that my 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers read aloud to my class. Those read alouds helped instill a love of reading in me that has withstood the test of time. Some of my favorites as …
If you Google “What are the best first week of school activities,” you’ll get a plethora of answers. But who better to get activity ideas and tips from them actual 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers? I asked almost 400 teachers what their favorite first week of school activities and ice breakers were. The answers were amazing! Teachers gave first …
Since 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teachers (as well as every other type of teacher) have to pay for many classroom supplies out of their own pocket, you need to know what supplies are most important. What can you absolutely not do without if you want your students to be successful? This is a hard question, and varies by teacher. …
By the time students enter 3rd 4th, and 5th grade, they have most likely had four years of alphabetized word walls designed to help them learn their sight words. While this word wall idea is useful for primary students, upper elementary students don’t benefit as much from this type of word wall. Ideally, by upper elementary – and especially 4th …
Welcome to Day 5 of the 5 Days to a Better School Year Challenge! Every day this week I’ve been asking you to reflect on something specific from last school year that annoyed/bothered you and help you take action to change it for this upcoming school year.Classroom behaviors and routines don’t change without being intentional about it – being intentional …
Sometimes I recommend products using affiliate links. If you click through and buy, I may be compensated at no cost to you.Welcome to Day 4 of the 5 Days to a Better School Year Challenge! Every day this week I’m asking you to reflect on something specific from last school year that annoyed/bothered you and help you take action to …