Outlawing the words "I'm done" changed my classroom! Find out how to reform fast finishers and improve the quality of work in your room!

Simple Science experiment that shows how liquid impacts a magnet.

Establishing consistent accountability when using the workshop approach to teaching and learning may seem daunting at first. After all, your students are producing, and consuming an immense amount of content during workshop on a daily basis…far more than you can (and want) to grade. The good news is, you don’t have to grade every activity. I know what you’re thinking…”If I stop grading every single thing…there won’t be enough accountability.” The reality is, there are other far more efficient ways to establish accountability and boost meaningful student growth. One of these ways is routine student self-reflection. If you’re ready to bring more student reflection to your classroom, these tips can help you establish routines that maintain consistent accountability in your workshop classroom. Creating Rubrics Together A foundational rubric will help you and your students create a common language that can make ongoing assessment more meaningful and fluid in your classroom. Begin by pulling the rubric your district requires you to use, or write a rubric that communicates your parameters for each level of understanding in your classroom. Rewrite this rubric in your own student-friendly language so you can share these parameters with your class. Making a slide or poster for each level on your rubric so it is easier for students to digest may be helpful. Set aside time in your schedule each day to create a one-week series of work sessions when you and your students can rewrite the rubric again as a class using language that is actually produced by your students. You may opt to: Have all slides/posters on display simultaneously while students rotate to stations where they work in groups to make meaning of each level of understanding. Students can then write their interpretations on the slides/posters, which can be aggregated on the final day. Display one slide/poster each day and host a class conversation that facilitates meaning-making for each level of understanding. Record student ideas as you work toward a common, and final definition for each level of understanding. At the end of these series of work sessions, you and your students will have a rubric that is unpacked by them, rewritten by them, and ready to be used by them. Working together as a class to write a final rubric that will be adopted as the foundation makes conversations about assessments more meaningful and productive. Rubric Drawers Once your class rubric is created, you can make it easy for students to consistently reflect on their work by submitting any assignments to “rubric drawers” that are marked with the definitions for each level of understanding. This built-in practice of self-reflection builds students’ intrinsic motivation to reach higher and produce quality work. If you notice your students have a tendency to submit work to the “wrong” drawer, this signals they need a follow up lesson on the type of work quality required to achieve each level of understanding. Using exemplars (examples of each level of understanding from a particular subject area or activity) can help students build a stronger definition for what work quality looks like. As students build their ability to accurately assess themselves, you can also have them attach a short note of justification for their self-scoring. This will provide insight about any misconceptions they may have about their work or the rubric levels your class has written. If you want to track the score students give themselves on an activity, provide a special pen or stamp that allows them to mark their score before placing it in the drawer. In addition, you can have students submit work with the help of a partner. Once an activity is complete, a student can briefly confer with their assigned partner to get feedback, and make a decision about which drawer a piece should be submitted. This provides an additional layer of motivation for students to reach higher, as they know a peer will be reviewing their work quality. Reflection Letters Another routine that can boost student growth through self-assessment is the writing of reflection letters on a routine basis. Students thrive when they know they have an important role in their assessment process, and will be eager to read your response. Begin by creating a prompt that asks students to reflect specifically on different areas of the assignment that will support their goal setting and goal progress. Also direct students to refer to their rubric to self-assess, and provide justification for their assessment as part of their reflection process. This routine will remind students the importance of keeping the rubric in mind as they complete their work each week, which will foster stronger performance. Set aside time to read these reflection letters and write brief responses which may include your own score using the same rubric, and comments that support your scoring. This written dialogue further emphasizes the value you place on student work and growth. If you find the need to differentiate this letter writing process to support the unique needs of students in your classroom. Here are some differentiation ideas: Have students dictate as you record their reflection. Have students circle their score on a rubric and mark evidence with color-coding or sticky notes. Provide sentence frames to scaffold independence. Self Assessment & Reflection In Your Classroom Ready to give self-reflection a try in your own classroom? Here are a few editable tools to help you get started. Once you’ve established student self-reflection routines in your classroom, stop by and share your experience. I look forward to hearing about the growth your students make, and the freedom you feel from teaching in a workshop classroom where accountability and engagement are off the charts.

It’s funny how the very same students whose eyes glaze over when you put a worksheet in front of them, perk up when you present the same kind of work in a novel way. Take

I love to see my students work together! So I use a Whole Class Rewards system where students do that. This is a whole class rewards system that teachers...

While observing your class gather materials for a science experiment, you notice a student kicking the heels of the boy in front of them. But because you’re in the good habit of letting misbehavior play out, you decide to watch a bit longer before ... Read more

I never would have thought I would be tracking data digitally, I am really not that savvy when it comes to tech, however, when someone pointed out how easy it was, I had to try it. You guys, its sooo much easier than my typical paper and pencil tracking system. I had data sheets EVERYWHERE!! […]

Checkout these 5 amazing plants for the classroom! Plants bring life and brightness to any space in the classroom and can instantly transform your room!

Movie days are a rare, special occurrence in school. But what seems like a simple lesson isn't. Read more for Rated G Movies and lesson extensions.

A blog with classroom tips and ideas, teacher mentoring, educational resources, and classroom practices for elementary and middle grades.

Students love watching short films. These films vary from funny to scary with no bad words. Enjoy these Halloween animated shorts.

The Unfair Game is a totally unfair twist on Jeopardy that your students will LOVE to hate! Learn how to play and find sample game boards in this post.

11 Practical Classroom Management Ideas 2 comments Back to School, Classroom Ideas, Classroom Management, Popular Posts, Tips and Tricks One of my favorite things to do is peek inside other teacher's classrooms. I love seeing what kinds of things they are up to, checking out their favorite tricks of the trade, and to sniff out new tips that I can bring back to my own classroom. If you're like me, then keep reading. This post is full of all my favorite classroom management ideas and tips. Warning: This post is long, so grab a cup of coffee and cozy up while you enjoy peeking inside my classroom. :) This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase through one of my links. For more information about my Disclosure Policy, please visit this link. MOVEMENT CODE WORD I started using a movement code word just this year. My class just couldn't seem to wait for me to finish giving directions before they started to "follow" them. To save my sanity, I started using a code word system which turned our transitions into a game of sorts. The students had to wait for me to give directions and could not move until I said the code word. I will say, I wasn't sure if this would work, but it did! So, I stuck with it all year. And, I'm going to continue to use it in the future. As you can see, I don't do anything special as far as displaying the code word. I just write it on the board. Pretty printouts aren't necessary for everything. ;) I change my code word at the beginning of each week, and I like to use fun/funny words. Some people like to use vocabulary words, but I prefer keeping it light and fun where I can. :) Some code words I used this year include: -Cactus Pants -Llama llama -Rainbow Dash -Sugar Cube -And too many others I can't remember WIRELESS DOORBELL If you ever feel like your go to "attention getter" isn't getting the attention it needs, then I highly suggest you invest in a wireless doorbell. For $13, it's a fun and effective way to mix up your attention getters. Click here to see this item on Amazon. I don't use the doorbell exclusively, I use it when the kids are working in pairs or groups and the voice levels in the room are above a whisper level. It's easily heard and immediately gets their attention. When I ring the doorbell, I tell the class to fold their arms and face me. Then, I say what needs to be said, and everyone returns to what they were doing. It's great! CHANTS Sometimes transitioning from desks to the carpet area can be slow. One way to help pick up the pace, and eliminate talking along the way is to lead students in a chant. We used a few chants this year, and once the kids learned them, I would let them be the chant leaders. I would signal for table groups to head to the carpet one at a time as the chant was going on. I'd like to say that I'm so incredibly talented that I can write my own chants, but that would be a HUGE lie. I'm the least musically/rhythmically inclined person I know. Buuuut, click here for a (free) fun transition chant I found at Classroom Freebies. Pinterest is also a great source of chant ideas for those of us who need it. ;) GUIDED READING GLASSES Guided reading is that sacred time of day where we all tell our students not to bother us unless something extreme is happening. It is also the time of day where our students seem to forget that we are not to be interrupted for minor things. Or, was that just my class this year? Seriously, my class this year was just.not.getting.it. Every time guided reading rolled around they seemed to forget that we had a hand signal system in place. To them, I abandoned the role of teacher and swapped it for role of IT professional. I've never had problems with students solving their own problems or using hand signals during groups before, but this year was different. So, I invested in a pair of special glasses. These glasses became my "Don't talk to me during reading groups" glasses. I hoped that something visual like the glasses, that I only wore during group time, might remind them to follow procedures. Guess what? It did (of course there were a few hiccups here and there, these are kids we're working with, after all)! Click here to see these glasses on Amazon. If glasses aren't your thing (or you already wear them), then a headband or hat would work too. HAND SIGNALS The last thing I want to hear is "Can I get a new pencil/tissue/drink of water/go to the bathroom?" 95 times a day. Thank goodness for hand signals. I introduce these on day one and they are a sanity saver. My only rule is, don't use a hand signal during teaching time unless it is a dire emergency. These hand signal posters are from Rachel Lamb- The Tattooed Teacher. You can edit them to meet your needs! YOU TUBE FOR RELAXATION I used to play relaxing music via my CD player, but this past year I've relied on You Tube for all our relaxing sound needs. I could use Spotify, or other music apps, but I like to project the image from the You Tube video for extra ambiance. "Meditation Relax Music" is one of my favorite channels. Toward the end of the year, the "A Day of a Unicorn" song/video quickly became a class favorite. TABLE POINTS/STICKER BOOKS I have an entire post about this. Check it out HERE! All I will say here is that my students loooooooove their sticker books. And thank goodness, because I loooooooove to buy new stickers. POINT OF ORDER Whenever we enter the classroom (from our morning patriotic ceremony, from Specials, after lunch, etc.) I use point of order. The students enter at a zero voice level, and stand behind their desk with their arms folded. This just helps them remember that it's time to focus on learning. They sit down when I give the code word (see above). MYSTERY WALKER Anytime my class walks together from point A to point B, I choose two mystery walkers. I do this by pulling two name sticks from the container on my desk (sorry, no pic). I keep a careful eye on these two students as we walk to wherever we are going. If they follow hallway expectations, they earn the status of Mystery Walker and earn a ticket (in my classroom, tickets are used to earn special privileges). If a student earns the status of Mystery Walker twice in once day, he/she earns a special reward tag! I made these using my Editable Reward Tags. Read all about reward tags HERE. If you have a classroom economy, you could pay your walkers a small amount of classroom money. Or, give them a sticker. Or, they just get bragging rights to being named Mystery Walker. Basically, you can reward your walkers however you'd like. :) JOB CHART FOR TWO My friend Deirdre (A Burst of First) shared this genius classroom job idea a few years ago. I took her idea and made it work for me. Because, isn't that what teaching is all about? Hehe. Seriously though, this system is a life saver (for me)! Every week, I assign two students the role of classroom helpers. These students basically do anything from running errands to collecting papers to passing out papers to carrying the lunch bin outside. This system works for me because I cannot keep up with assigning 23+ jobs a week. It's just too much. If you prefer assigning specific jobs to all your students, that's awesome, but this is a great alternative for those of us who can't keep up with that. After school on Friday, I take down the two names from that week and replace them with two new names for the following week. I keep the name cards in a small basket and just rotate through the pile of names two at a time. I keep it as simple as possible. You can download the chart here for FREE! What you'll need to do: Print out the chart. Use an exacto knife to cut small slits toward the top and lower middle portions of the white section of the chart. Place paperclips through the slits. Slide your name strips under the paperclips. (You'll need to make your own slips of paper with student names printed on them....or, just cut up index cards and write the names on that). STUDENT NUMBERS For some reason, the idea of using student numbers seems to really irritate some people. If that's you, please don't read the rest of this section. Student numbers, however, can make things easier when it comes to labeling. My students are not called by number, nor are they just a number to me. It's simply a way to streamline classroom organization for the students, and me. I use student numbers because I don't have to spend time relabeling everything in my classroom at the beginning of the year. This is especially helpful as class sizes continue to increase. I label our mailboxes with numbers. These numbers have been in place for a few years now. Such a time saver when I'm trying to unpack and set up my classroom at the end of summer. Students write their name on their paper, followed by their number. This way, papers can be quickly and easily placed in the correct mailbox. Our brag tag display is also labeled with numbers. These numbers have been up for about 3 years because I haven't had to customize the labels with names. That's all, folks! I hope you found an idea or two that you can use in your own classroom. Do you have another tip or idea to share? If so, comment below! DON'T FORGET IT, PIN IT! Share It:

I'm super excited to be linking up with Cara from the First Grade Parade for the first time. My blog is so new that I can't participate in Throwback Thursdays, so Favorite Pins Friday is just perfect for my new blog. For the classroom... I love the idea of having a "Top 5" for the class. I even think it might be helpful to have them change through out the year or depending on the classes needs. The caption says it is from Betsy Aronson, 7th grade ELA, but it doesn't have a link. It just links back to a photo album. For my boys... This is from Angie's Laughing Place. My two year old has gotten super fussy lately and when he gets angry he gets into a little bit of trouble :(. I ALWAYS tell him that I love him after his time out and this saying is perfect. I need to make this super cute time out chair. This is from Lil' Mop Top. Mason loves cars and trucks. I was searching for ideas of things to do with him and I found these super easy to make road strips made from old jeans. You just put Velcro on the back and they will stick to the carpet. I know he will LOVE these. Step by step instructions from Beauty Through Imperfection. My 8 month old loves to eat, so my husband and I have started to make our own baby food. We have just been using our blender but we've only been making simple things. I can't wait to use some of these baby food recipes. Some funnies... I've started printing out some of my back to school stations and decor and I need to pull out my little laminator. I pinned this because who doesn't love Ryan Gosling! Confession time, I've been in love with him since the MMC :) and I'm addicted to laminating. Doesn't everything just look better when it's laminated! Another confession...I've been playing Candy Crush WAY to much! So here is another funny that I pinned. Ok those are my favorite pins of the week. I would love to share more but Candy Crush is calling my name ;). Just kidding but I should be starting dinner. If you want to see what else I've been pinning, you can follow me on Pinterest HERE.

Use science demonstrations in your middle school classroom to engage students. Ask students to participate and watch how captivated they are by science!

I received a handout at a workshop I recently attended on different factors coaches can look for in classroom observations. Collecting quality evidence during observations and presenting it in a clear manner to teachers is such an important piece of improving teacher practice and student achievement…so this handout really got me thinking about what I look […]

This technique puts five students in the hot seat to debate a question while the rest of the class watches and takes notes.

By Presto Plans With the pressure for secondary teachers to meet curriculum expectations in such a limited time, building a classroom community can sometimes be put on the back burner. What many teachers don’t realize is that by intentionally taking time to build a positive community in your classroom, you can ease the challenges of classroom management, improve student attitude toward learning, and create an environment where students feel welcomed and supported. Below are my 5 favorite ways to build classroom community in middle and high school. Establish a positive classroom community by having students complete short activities that encourage kindness, collaboration, teamwork, expression, and the sharing of ideas and opinions. These challenges don’t need to take up a lot of time. Have them last 5-10 minutes. They can be used daily as a bell-ringer, weekly as a fun Friday activity, or even randomly when you finish class a few minutes early! How it works: The teacher sets up a "Classroom Challenge" bulletin board display that includes 20 hidden activity prompts. Once a challenge is revealed, the teacher finds the corresponding activity, passes it out to the class, and they are ready to go! Here are a few of the prompts I include in my challenge to give you an idea of the types of activities can help build community: • Write a thank you card for someone you appreciate. • Talk for one minute to a partner about the topic you receive from your teacher. • Write a top 10 list on the topic of your choice. • Imagine you are stuck on a deserted island. Pick one book, one movie, and one other item to bring. • Play a game of 20 questions with a partner. You know that nostalgic feeling you get when you are reminiscing with your friends about times past? Bring that into your room with “Classroom Throwbacks.” Students use small cards to write down funny, interesting, and memorable moments that happen within the classroom and put it in the “Classroom Thowbacks” jar/box. You can have students fill out the cards randomly, or you can pass them out from time to time, put students in small groups, and have them fill the cards out with a couple memories. Once the throwback jar starts to accumulate some cards, you can begin sharing them in class. You might consider sharing one a week for a “Throwback Thursday” activity. Grab this free resource by clicking here. I once had a principal who left notes of appreciation (and a small treat) in teachers’ mailboxes for little things she had noticed them doing (staying late at school working, helping out at an after-school event, giving extra help at lunch etc.). It was such a small gesture, but it had a dramatic impact on the morale of the staff. Build this same kind of morale in your classroom by finding ways to celebrate your students for the things you see them doing that deserve some praise and appreciation. There are lots of ways you can do this. You can post student work in your classroom, call or email parents to brag up those students who don’t often get a pat on the back, or even have a student of the month/week display for those who deserve special recognition! I also like to keep funny cards tucked away in my desk for those occasions where a student surprises or impresses me. Ask for volunteers for “student paparazzi”. Their job is to take pictures of students in the classroom and send them to you via email to print and post. Of course, students should only take pictures when you deem it appropriate. They could take some before and after the bell rings or during a class activity (when appropriate and with permission) or at the end of the period if class finishes up a couple minutes early. When you post the pictures in your classroom, consider framing them! I pick up low-cost frames at the dollar store and put them in different locations in my classroom (on the wall, on my desk, on the desk at the front of my room, on a bookshelf). No need to go use expensive photo paper. Simply print the pictures on regular letter paper to fit the frame's size (pictures below from the classrooms of @CamilaCdipietro and @Tarafarah7) Framed photos create a home-like, family atmosphere where students feel welcomed and accepted. If you have a classroom website or social media account, you could also post the pictures there as long as you have parent media release permission forms. Providing students with an opportunity to reflect on the positive moments of the week and look forward to the next week is another way to help foster classroom community. One way you can do this is by starting a weekly tradition called “Friday 5-4-3-2-1”. Students fill out the sheet by jotting down 5 things that made them smile, 4 words to describe the week, 3 things they have planned for the weekend, 2 things they learned, and 1 goal they have. Give students a few minutes to fill it out and have them share with a partner, a small group, or have a whole class discussion. If you’d like to try this out with your students, you can download it for free here. You can also choose to make up your own 5 prompts, as a blank version is included! Just write the prompts on the board and students can fill it out. Looking for more ways to promote class community? Find more ideas below! Student-Teacher Conferences from The SuperHERO Teacher Classroom Community Bell-Ringers from The Daring English Teacher The Kindness Project from Room 213 Do you have any other ideas for fostering a positive classroom community? Click the comments button at the top of the post and share your ideas! SaveSave SaveSave

Looking for a science activity that will mesmerize kids (and grownups!) of all ages? This M&M science rainbow is just the activity you need!

Updated to Include a Distance Learning Option: Along with a set of 10 printable BINGO cards, I have also included 10 Google Slides BINGO cards that are perfect for distance learning or a paperless classroom. ✿ Click on the PREVIEW for a closer look at this product. This genetics activity is a sure-fire way to get students hooked on genetics! I love using this at the beginning of my genetics unit because it gets students interested and invested in learning about genetic traits and what causes them. Students first examine their own genetic traits before diving into the unit. ************************************************************************** REPRESENTATION AND INCLUSION Each trait is represented by a photo. I have updated all the images used in this resource to represent different ethnicities in an attempt to increase representation in my teaching resources. ************************************************************************** YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE ► Gregor Mendel - Article with Questions (Science Literacy / Sub Plan) ************************************************************************** TEACHERS WHO HAVE USED THIS PRODUCT HAVE SAID: ♥ "This was the most popular activity in my Genetics Unit!" (Thanks Amy Y.) ♥ "I used this activity as an opener to my genetics unit. The students loved it!!! They had so much fun, they didn't want to stop playing!!" (Thanks Christina V.) ♥ "It was a great start to my unit, intelligent and fun." (Thanks Laura S..) ************************************************************************** A Fun Way to Play Genetics Bingo: As you call out each trait, the students have to identify if they have it or not. If they have the trait and they have it on their bingo card, then they get to cross it off. Students really enjoy this activity as they get to stick out their tongues (and roll them or not), pull on their ears (and figure out if they are attached or detached) and sweep up those bangs (to see if they have a widow's peak or not). This activity will make it a fun day for both students and teacher. If this is used for distance learning, then the Google Slide Cards can be used with Google Meets or Zoom. *************************************************************************** THIS PRODUCT INCLUDES: (1) 10 Different BINGO Cards (2) Teacher's Instructions (3) Call Out Card (This helps you keep track of which traits under which letters you've already called out). (4) Student Card Assignment Chart GENETIC TRAITS EXAMINED: (1) tongue-rolling vs. non-tongue rolling (2) regular thumb vs. hitchhiker's thumb (3) clasped hands with right thumb on top vs. left (4) freckles vs. no freckles (5) dimples vs. no dimples (6) cleft chin vs. no cleft chin (7) widow's peak vs. straight hair line (8) brown eyes vs. light-colored eyes (9) straight vs. curly hair (10) Vulcan fingers vs. Earthling fingers (11) likes broccoli vs. dislikes broccoli (12) attached earlobes vs. detached earlobes *************************************************************************** OTHER RELATED GENETICS PRODUCTS: MEIOSIS ► Meiosis - LESSON BUNDLE - 40% OFF ► Meiosis - Big Foldable for INB or Binders (Printable PDFs with 12 Options for Differentiation) ► Meiosis - Critical Thinking Activity (Printable & Google Slides Options) ► Meiosis - Homework Review Worksheet (Editable, Printable PDF & Google Slides Options) ► Meiosis - Guided Tutorial Worksheet (Printable and Google Slides Options) ► Meiosis - Guided Tutorial Drag & Drop Google Slides Activity (Google Slides & 4 Options for Differentiation) ► Meiosis - 8 Interactive Google Slides Activities (Google Slides & 8 Options for Differentiation) ► Meiosis - 80 Task Cards with Game Board (Printable PDFs with Editable Template & Google Slides Options) ► Meiosis - Tarsia Puzzle Group Review Game (Printable PDFs with Options for Differentiation) ► Meiosis - Word Scramble Review Activity (Editable, Printable PDF & Google Slides Options) ► Meiosis - Crossword with Two Versions (Editable, Printable PDF & Google Slides Options) ► Meiosis - Quiz with Two Versions (Editable, Printable PDF & Self-Grading Google Forms Option) ► Meiosis - Test with Two Versions (Printable PDF & Editable Options) MITOSIS ► Mitosis and the Cell Cycle - LESSON BUNDLE - 50% OFF ► Mitosis and the Cell Cycle - Interactive PowerPoint with Notes (Editable) ► Mitosis and the Cell Cycle - Word Scramble Review Activity (Editable, Printable PDF & Google Slides Options) ► Mitosis and the Cell Cycle - Jeopardy Review PowerPoint Game (Editable) ► Mitosis and the Cell Cycle - Test with Two Versions (Printable PDF & Editable Options) ► Mitosis - Big Foldable for INB or Binders (Printable PDFs with 12 Options for Differentiation) ► Mitosis - Guided Tutorial Worksheet and Drag & Drop Google Slide Activity (Printable and Google Slides Options) ► Mitosis - 16 Interactive Google Slides Activities (Google Slides & 16 Options for Differentiation) ► Mitosis - Homework Review Worksheet (Editable, Printable PDF & Google Slides Options) ► Mitosis - 56 Task Cards with Game Board (Printable PDFs with Editable Template & Google Slides Options) ► Mitosis - 3 Hands on Activities for Interactive Notebooks (Printable PDFs) ► Mitosis - Taboo Group/Pair Review Game with 32 Cards (Printable PDF with Editable Template) ► Mitosis - Diagram Crossword (Editable, Printable PDF & Google Slides Options) ► Mitosis - Crossword (Editable, Printable PDF & Google Slides Options) ► Mitosis - Quiz with Two Versions (Editable, Printable PDF & Self-Grading Google Forms Option) ► Mitosis - Clip Art of Animal and Plant Cells (112 PNG Image Files) ► The Cell Cycle - Crossword (Editable, Printable PDF & Google Slides Options) DNA ► DNA Structure & Replication - LESSON BUNDLE (13 Resources) - 40% ► DNA Structure - LESSON BUNDLE (7 Resources) - 30% OFF ► DNA Replication - LESSON BUNDLE (6 Resources) - 25% OFF ► The History of DNA - LESSON BUNDLE (4 Resources) - 20% OFF ► DNA Structure - Big Foldable for INBs and Binders (Printable PDFS with 5 Options for Differentiation) ► DNA Structure - 8 Interactive Google Slides Activities (Google Slides with 8 Options for Differentiation) ► DNA Structure - Homework Review Worksheet (Editable, Printable PDFs & Google Slides Options) ► DNA Structure - Tarsia Review Game (Printable PDFs with 2 Difficulty Levels) ► DNA Structure - Crossword (Editable, Printable PDFs & Google Slides Options) ► DNA Structure - Quiz with Two Versions (Editable, Printable PDFs & Self-Grading Google Forms Options) ► DNA Replication - Big Foldable for INBs and Binders (Printable PDFS with 6 Options for Differentiation) ► DNA Replication - 8 Interactive Google Slides Activities (Google Slides with 8 Options for Differentiation) ► DNA Replication - Homework Review Worksheet (Editable, Printable PDFs & Google Slides Options) ► DNA Replication - Crossword (Editable, Printable PDFs & Google Slides Options) ► DNA Replication - Tarsia Review Game (Printable PDFs with 2 Difficulty Levels) ► DNA Replication - Quiz with Two Versions (Editable, Printable PDFs & Self-Grading Google Forms Options) ► Rosalind Franklin - Great Minds in Science Article #7 (Printable PDFs & Google Forms Options) *************************************************************************** Copyright © Anh-Thi Tang (Tangstar Science) All rights reserved by author. Terms of Use: This document is for personal use only and may only be used by the original purchaser. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school district is prohibited. Additional licenses can be purchased at a discount for others to use in your department. This entire document, or any parts within, may not be reproduced or displayed for public viewing. You may NOT electronically post this product online including to teacher blogs, classroom websites or school networks unless they are private or password protected. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Teaching cells for elementary school kids? Check out this simple introduction and cool plant and animal cell organelles project!

Teaching with project-based learning can be challenging. VideoAmy offers a playlist of videos to help plan and carry out great projects in any subject.

Student-Centered classroom design is costly and time consuming, right? Wrong! We can show you how to develop a space that differentiates for all.

The Internet is loaded with great videos. But holding students accountable for watching is a challenge. Without standing right over students, how do you know if they're really watching?

What is inertia? Investigate Newton's First Law Of Motion in this amusing egg drop experiment.

*The list keeps growing - there are six now! Ted Talks are increasingly popular with educators for use with the faculty as well as the students. However, it can be tricky to find just the right talk for the occasion since there are so many available. There's also the problem of occasional profanity or inappropriate ...

Save your sanity and start implementing these 10 amazing classroom management tricks.

Using environmental print in your classroom design is well worth your time! Read for practical tips to make this an easy change.

This simple project with help teach kids geography and increase their global awareness as they begin to grasp their city, state, country, and continent.

Experiment #1 What will happen when I put raisins in a cup of sprite? After you do the experiment, you will find out that the raisins DANCE! My students L.O.V.E this experiment and think that it is hilarious that the raisins dance up and down in the Sprite! Click {here} for the raisin experiment Experiment #2 What does our heart do for us? We talked about the heart and it's purpose! Then, we observed our own pulse using a marshmallow and toothpick. What a great time to learn about the heart (Valentine's Day)! Click {here} for the heart experiment Experiment #3 Which object lets the most light through from our flashlight? Using a flashlight, we determined which objects (dollar, black paper, net, plastic wrap, and tin foil) let through the most light. Click {here} for the light experiment clipart and/or fonts by DJ Inkers. www.djinkers.com Is your school heading to the land of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) or STEAM (Same, but add art)? Last year, our school committed to becoming a STEM+A (plus Art) school. So far- I'm loving it!!! It has really got me thinking outside of the box for sure. I'm excited to share with you some ideas that I have with STEM in the future. For now, I've got some posters that I made for our 1st grade STEM+A Intro Day! For our STEM+A Intro Day, we rotated all of the first graders (split into 5 groups) through our classrooms. Each teacher took on one of the letters and taught the students about the meaning of that letter and how we use it in every day life. We want our students to know that STEM is everywhere! Then, we did an activity based on the letter we had. I had Math and we played Pokemon Go Addition (totally made the game up...haha). These posters are great for my students to refer back to. Click {here} to check these posters out!

Hello! My name is Nicole Chavanne and I blog over at Learning Lab . I am a special education teacher that floats between grades 4-6 each y...