Tips for teaching summarizing nonfiction Summarizing nonfiction can be tough for students to learn and for teachers to teach. From the start, students are encouraged to give “as many details as they can” from the text. They become experts at retelling. Then, summarizing is introduced and they are thrown a curveball, because no longer are …
Double Digit Addition With Regrouping
Double Digit Addition With Regrouping Do you find that students are struggling to understand the concept of double digit addition with regrouping? This important 2nd grade math skill can sometimes be difficult for students to master.The great thing about addition with regrouping is that there are multiple ways of teaching it. It’s no secret that …
Teaching Text Features of Nonfiction
Teaching Text Features of Nonfiction Why Teach Nonfiction Text Features? Having a solid understanding of nonfiction text features is crucial to our students comprehension of all nonfiction text. When they are familiar with the text features such as maps and captions, they’re truly able to understand an informational text at it’s fullest. What are Nonfiction …
Asking and Answering Questions
Asking and Answering Questions At the start of each school year, I love to cover the “Ask and Answer Questions Standard” (CCSSR.L.2.1). This standard works perfectly for the beginning of the school year, because it’s relatively easy for students to get the hang of and essential when understanding the texts throughout the rest of the …
9 Fun and Engaging Fall Activities for 2nd Grade
9 Fun and Engaging Fall Activities for 2nd Grade Fall is one of my favorite times of the year to teach. Heck, it’s one of my favorite times of the year period. Today I’ll share 9 fun and engaging fall activities for 2nd grade. 1. Fall Writing Journal With Writing Prompts One really great way …
Books for Back to School
BOOKS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL The start of a new school year can be so exciting, but it can also be stressful with all you’re trying to pack in to those first days back at school. I’ve found that back to school read alouds are the perfect way to bring your new students together and …
Graphic organizers for Reading Comprehension
Using Graphic Organizers For Reading Comprehension Are you using graphic organizers in your classroom? Let me tell you, they can be a game changer for directing students thinking and helping them comprehend what they’ve read. In this post I’ll share how using graphic organizers for reading comprehension can truly benefit your reading instruction. What Are …
Attention Getters or Classroom Callbacks
Attention Getters or Classroom Callbacks If you have ever stood in front of a room full of students, desperately trying to get their attention- then attention getters or classroom callbacks are for you! These clever attention getting strategies are the perfect way to get students back on task and ready to listen. You may be …
Classroom Management: Secret Student
Classroom Management Strategies: Secret Student Have you tried the Secret Student classroom management strategy with your students yet? Today I’ll explain why it’s one of the easiest and effective classroom management systems I’ve found! If you’ve been in the classroom for more than an hour, you realize how important classroom management is. When I was …
Use Task Cards to Increase Reading Comprehension
HOW to Use Task Cards to Increase Reading Comprehension Do you use task cards during your reading instruction? From my very first weeks as an elementary school teacher, I could tell how beneficial task cards were to my reading instruction. Task cards are loaded with benefits, but possibly my favorite is the fact that …