Let’s talk daily spiral review – the instructional math routine that completely changed my 2nd grade classroom (and what you need to make sure it works!): A few years ago, I had a frustrating realization. My students were completing their daily math warm-ups. They were doing the work. They were filling out the worksheets. And…
Let’s talk… What Is Spiral Review?: You taught the lesson. Your students practiced. They passed the chapter test. Then three weeks later, you put a similar problem in front of them and suddenly it felt like they had never seen it before. Sound familiar? If so, you’re not alone. This is one of the biggest…
Can You Save Fred? The STEM Challenge Every Elementary Teacher Needs This Back to School Season: Picture this. It is the first week of school. You have got 25 kids who do not know each other yet, a mile-long to-do list, and somehow you are supposed to build classroom community at the same time. Enter:…
Learning how to make an end of the year slideshow does not have to be a 3-hour Pinterest rabbit hole. In fact, with the right plan, you can pull together something genuinely beautiful without sacrificing your sanity or your precious prep time. Ready to actually get your end of year slideshow done? Here is a…
Fun End of the Year Activities for Elementary Students By the time the last week of school arrives, most teachers are juggling two competing goals. First, you want to keep students engaged with end of the year activities. Second, you want to make the end of the year feel meaningful and memorable. However, if we…
How to Teach Word Problems 2nd Grade Teaching word problems in 2nd grade can feel like a completely different subject from teaching computation. Your students can add. They can subtract. They can even regroup. But the second you wrap those skills inside a paragraph with names and actions and extra information? Everything falls apart. So…
Teaching subtraction can be surprisingly challenging, especially once regrouping enters the picture. Here’s the truth: 2 digit subtraction strategies can feel deceptively tricky. Students can breeze through the simple problems and feel confident, but the second you introduce regrouping, everything changes. Suddenly place value disappears, subtraction feels confusing, and some kids start treating the worksheet…
If you have ever taught addition and thought, “They get it during the lesson… then forget it the second I stop holding their hand,” you are not alone. That is exactly why I swear by place value strategy addition instead of jumping straight into the standard algorithm. Because when students actually understand how numbers work,…
After Christmas Break Activities for Elementary Students Let’s be honest – coming back after winter break can feel like you need another break.It’s basically Back to School Part 2 — just colder, darker, and with kids who forgot every routine you taught them in August. Let’s talk about which after winter break activities set you…