I've got so many great resources for making multiplication facts so much fun for elementary students! Check out my blog post for details!

Engage your students with these 20 fun learning math center ideas that are perfect for upper elementary teaching! These activities are not my products to purchase but true math center ideas that you can implement right away!

Students benefit from hands-on activities to help boost their conceptual understanding of math. This focuses on measuring liquid volume.

It's always fun to find division games math teachers AND students will enjoy. These are a twist on some classics and new games to teach division too!

Analyzing writing curriculums, planning writing workshop and teaching writing lessons can be overwhelming. You might think, how am I going to fit everything in and produce successful writers? Where do I start? What skills do they need? This post will share the 7 BASIC WRITING LESSONS that every teacher should teach! With this basic knowledge, students will be able to perform other writing assignments more effectively. The following skills are not only effective in upper elementary, they are often needed at the middle school level for review or the primary level for differentiation. So yes, every teacher should teach them! If you start with these 7 fundamental skills, it will set the expectations for your writing lessons and assignments throughout the year! Frequently Asked Questions What are the basic skills and what order should I teach them? Sentence Structure 1. Complete Sentences Lesson for complete sentences 2. Fragments Lesson for fragments 3. Run-ons Lesson for run-ons Paragraph Writing 4. Topic Sentences Lesson for topic sentences 5. Relevant Details Lesson for relevant details 6. Transition Words Lesson for transition words 7. Closing Sentences Lesson for closing sentences How much time should I dedicate to teaching these fundamental skills? I recommend one day for each skill. If you spend a whole writing block for each skill, students will benefit from the practice. How do I teach each skill? First: Start with an anchor chart explaining the skill. (See each lesson link above for effective anchor charts.) Second: Provide examples. Students can share examples too! Next: Students should take notes. I love using Interactive Writing Notebooks to take notes. Research supports the use of interactive notebooks through studies on multiple intelligences, the brain and note taking. Here are a few videos to Set Up Interactive Writing Notebooks. Click photo for the Upper Elementary Version. A Primary Version is also available. Then: Identify the skill. Provide practice sheets and task cards for students to practice identifying the skill in sentences and paragraphs. Last: Apply the skill. Students should have the opportunity to write their own sentence or paragraph to apply the particular skill. What if I can't fit the lesson in one writing block? If you can't extend the days to complete them, there are other ways to get the whole lesson in. You can put practice sheets or task cards in a center, or you can have students apply the skill for homework or morning work the next day. What if my students, some of my students, or absent students can't do interactive notebooks? Make a small anchor chart to put in their notebooks with the same information! If you don't have a printable poster, take a picture of the anchor chart you used in class and print them off! I hope you found this post helpful and your students become successful writers this year! Connect With Me! TPT Store Facebook Pinterest My Blog

Teaching area and perimeter in your upper elementary math class? This blog post shares a collection of ideas for teaching area and perimeter!

Halloween season in the classroom can certainly be chaotic, but I'm here to help you harvest the spirit of the season and have a little fun with your students while still learning! Halloween math worksheets are a great way to practice skills in a spooktacular way! Incorporating the fun spirit of all things fall into lessons makes them so much more engaging for students!

Need some ideas for your math teacher observation lessons? This post has five ideas for upper elementary and middle school math teachers.

Higher level math centers will really get your students thinking and writing about math. Read about my top six favorite higher level math centers.

In an era of high stakes testing, art is sometimes the first thing to go but we as teachers need to find ways to continue providing art experiences for our students. Not only is art just plain fun, and let's face it, kids do need fun, but it's much more than that. Art is beneficial in so many ways! Find out ways to incorporate art in this post by The Teacher Next Door.

There are so many ways to use math task cards in upper elementary and middle school. This game uses math task cards with a bit of a twist!

Want to implement guided math centers in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom? Grab lots of FREE math centers to try out here!

Read about six fun activities to help teach the scientific method in your upper elementary classroom.

ClassDojo can be used in upper elementary, too! It's a fun way to reward positive behaviors. FREE ClassDojo resources included!

Hands-on learning is incredibly important for kids. There are a million reasons why! Today I am highlighting more than 60 elementary hands-on math teaching ideas that I have featured over the years on my site.

Math Journals, or problem solving notebooks are a great way to get students writing about their mathematical thinking. They are also especially effective for giving you a glimpse into their problem solving process. I use math journals almost daily in my class and often start with this strategy to help my students more coherently explain their thinking. Teaching 4th grade in Nevada means teaching the dreaded constructed response math questions for our state test. One thing that I have been trying in my class that has been very successful is the making a MESS model for problem solving. As you can see from the anchor chart the MESS acronym stands for: M - Model E - Equation S- Solution S- Sentence The students learn to use the acronym to help them set up a written response to a math problem so that they not only know where to start, but also all of the parts to include. It is really easy to remember and they LOVE the idea of being encouraged to "Make a Mess". I started my students off with the anchor chart above, then gave them my math journals which are set up using this method, and include 4 math prompts for each standard. I print out the ones that my students need to work on most and place them in a folder for math journal time. This student started to divide the given numbers (963/10) but then raised her hand and asked if she could round first. I told her, "Try it!" The students become better and better at writing responses as we share methods and responses throughout the year. Towards the end of the year in preparation for testing, I start giving them prompts without the model to guide them. After working with the MESS model all year, they know what to do, and are better prepared. I really emphasize perseverance and trying things out before raising their hands to ask for help. I compare it to a video game. I say, "If you don't pass a level on a video game, you don't call me up and ask for help, you try something different, you persevere until you figure it out. That is exactly what mathematicians do!" I have been blown away by some of the feedback that I have received! Grade Level Math Journals Available: 1st Grade Math Journal 2nd Grade Math Journal 3rd Grade Math Journal 4th Grade Math Journal 5th Grade Math Journal 6th Grade Math Journal Here are a few links with sample constructed response questions http://tn.gov/education/assessment/ConstructedResponseAssessment.shtml http://www.sandi.net/cms/lib/CA01001235/Centricity/Domain/217/Math%20Documents/Archives%20K-5/Grade%204%20Modules%201-10%20Response%20Guides.pdf http://www.opi.mt.gov/PDF/Assessment/CRT/RI/07/07Gr3MathCR.pdf I also have a Pinterest Board where I pin Math Journal Ideas. I am linking up with Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday. Head over there for some other amazing ideas, or to share something you have tried recently! This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog. All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love. I would love to hear from you! ❤️ Have a question? Idea for a resource you might find helpful? Be so kind and leave a comment below.

Math Stations Made Easy! Tips, strategies, and resources from Laura Candler about how to implement math stations and math centers in the upper elementary classroom.

Then try these FREE ideas, resources, and tips to make them experts. Click here:

In this blog post you will learn about how to implement and be successful at soft start mornings in your elementary classroom.

Help build number sense in your math class with your upper elementary students with these steps and grab a freebie to get started.

Skip the stress of planning your first day of math class! Read about four first day of school math activities that are easy to plan and fun for students!

14 Brilliant Ways to Quiet a Noisy Class! Check out these behavior management strategies for classroom management!

Hey teachers! Get those kids thinking and having fun with 4 pages of math problems based on true facts about the Olympics. Students will use every operation while solving problems about diving scores, important Olympic Games dates, skaters' rotations per minute, weights of curling stones, and mor...

I've heard it from teacher after teacher: " I dread teaching measurement every year. " It's hard to blame them. There's nothing ground-shaking about measurement. There's nothing exciting about metric vs. customary. It's just one of those skills that our stud

When determining which students need a math intervention program, we to understand WHY they are struggling.

Now all your students can have math manipulatives and math resource guides in their hands at all times! Once your students create these interactive hands-on resources, they will have them to use and keep all year long. Minimal prep and additional resources are needed. In addition to this resource, you may also want to purchase bright cardstock, washi tape, and have access to a binding machine if you are wishing to create your own place value flip charts. This resource is made for 3rd-5th grade students. HERE ARE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE INCLUDED: Ten Frame Cards, 0-10 Place Value Flip Chart, millions to hundredths 100s Chart 120s Chart Multiplication Chart, 0-10 Base-Ten Blocks, 1,000 to 1 Fraction Number Lines, halves to twelfths (labeled) Whole or Mixed Number Fraction Number Lines, halves to twelfths Fraction Number Lines, halves to twelfths (blank) Various Whole Number Lines Circle Fractions, wholes to sixths Fraction Bars, wholes to tenths Clock with Hour & Minute Hand (moveable) Various Spinners (games or centers) Plane, Solid, & Quadrilateral Resource Table with Visual Liquid Volume Resource Table with Visual INB Pocket (to be glued) Binder Pocket Folder (to be 3-hole punched) Want to Stay in Touch? The Creative Apple Teaching Resources Blog The Creative Apple Teaching Resources Facebook The Creative Apple Teaching Resources on Pinterest The Creative Apple Teaching Resources on Instagram

Whether your students are reading a novel, learning a math concept, or being introduced to new content in Social Studies and Science, critical thinking activites play an intricate role to help students learn on a deeper level. Being able to think outside the box or at a deeper level, helps students not only retain the information, but they develop an appreciation for the lesson. This post will provide you with ideas for provoking critical thinking to use across the curriculum and FREE charts to use with your students. 1. Think Pair Share TPS is a strategy in which students work collaboratively to answer a question or solve a problem. This strategy helps focus attention and engage students in comprehending the material. The model is desgined for teachers to: a. Think- Ask students a specific question about the topic or a theme in story. Tell them to "think individually" about what they know or have learned about this topic or theme. b. Pair- Pair your students with a partner or small group. c. Share- Encourage students to share their ideas with their partner or small group, then as a whole group. 2. Choice Provide students with a choice. Choice motivates, empowers and leads to a deeper understanding. In many instances, it caters to Multiple Intelligence. Choice can be provided in many ways. You can give your students a choice of how to present a project or a choice of strategies to solve a challenging problem. The opportunities are endless and will feed your students' innate desire for variety. An example in math might be showing them different ways to achieve the correct answer. For example, students can: a. draw a diagram b. make a list c. create a table or graph d. model with objects. This can be accomplished with specific skills as well. For example: Multiplication: a. Teach the traditional way b. Teach the method of lattice multiplication Students can use the method that works for them or a combination of methods and in turn they will be able to explain how to get the correct answer better. 3. KWHLAQ It began with KWL charts to encourage students to think deeper. This chart elicits students prior knowledge, sets a purpose for reading, and helps students to monitor their comprehension. Begin a new social studies unit with one of these charts. K- What do I know? W- What do I want to know? L- What did I learn? Next the H got added: KWHL H- How do I find out? Then Silvia Rosenthal Tolisano developed 21st century chart: KWHLAQ A- What action will I take? Q- What questions do I have now? CLICK FOR FREE CHARTS 4. Shared Inquiry I first learned about his strategy when teaching a gifted class with Junior Great Books. Shared Inquiry is a type of student-led discussions that are engaging and thought-provoking. It is recommended to read the literature twice prior to the inquiry. Students sit in a literacy circle and the teacher begins with an interpretive question that has more than one plausible answer. For example, "Students then learn to take part in a discussion where each person actively participates and the teacher listens. Students ask questions, respond to questions, interpret the text, refer back to the text, listen to the thoughts and idea of others. Once you introduce this strategy and students learn how to use it, you will see them develop a deeper understanding of their reading. Shared inquiry has three basic kinds of questions:. Here are examples for Jack and the Beanstalk a. Factual- What was the name of Jack's cow? b. Interpretive- Does Jack believe the beans will grow right up to the sky? c. Evaulative- Is it necessary to take risks to grow up like Jack does? 5. Notice Think Wonder Another chart that is effective when looking at historical illustrations, is NOTICE THINK WONDER. It can be used in other subject areas too. Find a photograph that depicts an event in the social studies unit. Display it on your smart board or give each group a copy. I found it is best to do one step at a time. Have students discuss NOTICE in small groups, then discuss as a whole group. Students will be fascinated at what others are thinking and cause them to think even deeper with the next step! Notice- Talk about the things you notice in the illustration. Think- Then think deeper and tell what you think is happening. Wonder- What questions do you have? CLICK FOR FREE MANIFEST DESTINY PRINTABLE 6. Scientific Method The SCIENTIFIC METHOD is a great tool for promoting critical thinking in science. 1. ASK QUESTIONS- Ask: "What do I want to learn more about?" "I wonder what might happen if...?" 2. GATHER INFORMATION- Research your topic to better understand it. 3. MAKE A HYPOTHESIS- Make an educated guess to your questions about the topic. 4. CONDUCT AN EXPERIMENT- Plan and follow steps to test your hypothesis. 5. OBSERVE AND RECORD RESULTS- After making an observation, reflect on your results and draw conclusions. 6. SHARE RESULTS- Present your results by sharing your experiment, observations, and conclusions. 7. Poetry An activity I found extremely effective when I want my students to dig deeper into a topic or story, is writing poetry. I love this quote from a modern-day poet Criss Jami, "When a poet digs himself into a hole, he doesn't climb out. He digs deeper, enjoys the scenery, and comes out the other side enlightened." I've found this statement to be true when students write poetry about a topic they are learning. Examples: Ideas from this blog post were collected from: The Critical Thinking Consortium NEA.org Reading Rockets Great Books Foundation Education World Poetry templates can be found here: Connect With Me! TPT Store Facebook Pinterest My Blog

Attention Getters will cut out your classroom chaos and work for all grade levels. Attention getters in the classroom are the perfect solution if you are...

Spring and summer is the perfect time to take your students outdoors for some outside learning activities. This post shares 10 activities with freebies!

Get your students moving with active review games. Tons of fun ideas to review the standards while having fun in the classroom.

Lesson ideas and activities for listening skills practice and monitoring

Paragraph writing is a big challenge for many students. This post includes a step-by-step method to help your students write great paragraphs in no time.

Three fun ways to respond to reading to improve reading comprehension

So how can we best support our beginning ELLs in math? There is a reason I put vocabulary instruction at the top of the list. It simply cannot be ignored if

Take a peek into what guided math centers look like in my upper grades classroom. Lots of FREE guided math centers included.

Whether they're completed on a piece of paper, a tablet, or a whiteboard, exit tickets are a powerful tool to use in your classroom. Exit tickets are formative assessments that provide a quick snapshot about your students' learning and understanding of a topic faster than any other tool in the classroom.

Do you dread having early finishers in your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classroom? Every classroom has them. Grab some free challenges in this post!