Start using Close Reads with Mystery Pictures to improve reading comprehension in upper elementary. Working on reading comprehension with students is an ongoing battle. As students age and the emphasis turns from being able to read to understand what they read, teachers must find creative ways to keep reading comprehension

What do subs really want to see in their sub-plans? Today, we are digging into the mind of an elementary sub to get some suggestions on how we can create the BEST sub-plan. One of the greatest complaints I hear from new and veteran teachers is about having to create

Fully teach, review, and assess rounding with these 10 steps for teaching rounding in upper elementary. I don’t know about you, but I round numbers all the time. In fact, as far as math goes, it may be one of the skills that I use the most.  When I’m guessing

Assessing reading during back-to-school with close reads is a great way to both set expectations for students and see how they are doing in reading comprehension. At the beginning of the year, we have to get to know students, set up our classroom procedures, practice our classroom procedures, learn students’

Procedures and processes are super important to organizing upper elementary students, and in this post, we’re providing 10 tips for organizing your upper elementary reading block. In upper elementary, organization, systems, processes, and procedures are king. Students need as much organization as you can possibly set up for them, but

Rapport doesn’t grow on trees. It is worked on and honed in, and with these 12 top tips for working with upper elementary students, you’ll be ahead of the game with your new students! If you are new to working with upper elementary students, then you may need to know

Build up your teacher toolbox with these must-have resources for new upper elementary teachers! It’s those weeks, months, or days leading up to that first day when you’ll take over your first classroom that are the hardest. The list of to-dos seems so long, and you haven’t yet learned how

When you interview in upper elementary, it is not uncommon for administrators to want to see you teach a class. In this post, we’re talking about 4 great activity ideas to work through with a group of unknown students. Each activity idea also includes variations of the activity or interesting

In this post, we will review classroom procedures for new teachers. We want to prepare them for success as they navigate the teaching environment for the first time. When you are new to teaching and starting to prepare for the new school year, it can be hard to know where

From one teacher to another, figuring out what to put on teacher wish lists at the beginning of the new school year is tricky, especially when you are a brand new teacher in a new school and have no idea what to expect. Teaching is all about being creative, and