Every year it seems as if working on Order of Operations is a brand new concept for my students, as if it has all of a sudden become a foreign language. I will admit that if you are just looking at a mnemonic device it might as well be a foreign language.. PEMDAS, BEDMAS, GEMS, yep, none of that makes sense to a student and when you throw it in with other mnemonics they have been exposed to it is ... View Post
10 MUST HAVE Items for Setting Up a Homework Station
Creating a great homework station that has everything that your students need without them having to hunt for supplies is important to ensuring that homework gets done thoroughly and without any drama. Whether you’re setting something up for your own children or putting together some suggestions for your students’ families, here are 10 must-have items for your homework station that will ensure tha ... View Post
Setting Up Interactive Notebooks from the Beginning
Time and time again I am asked numerous questions about Interactive Notebooks because people know that I not only LOVE INBs but I have been using them, creating them and training other teachers on them for the better part of the past decade. Recently one of my Facebook Group members asked, "How do you go about setting up Interactive Notebooks from the beginning?" and when she asked this I knew ... View Post
23 Math Websites for Middle School Students
Finding the right tools to engage your students, assess their progress, and close learning gaps is one of the most important jobs of a teacher. Websites and online applications can be a great resource to help reinforce concepts and help students gain mastery of skills and standards especially during Math Workshop. After asking in my Surviving Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grade Math (for Teachers) ... View Post
Teaching Students About the Importance of Goal Setting
As an educator, you are well aware of the importance of goal setting. You are never without a specific set of goals for your students, your classroom, and yourself. But have you taken the time to work with your students on setting their own personal goals or talked about the importance of goal setting? Teaching our students about the importance of goal setting is giving them a powerful tool for ... View Post
15 Items Every Teacher Needs for Back to School
Though we all wish summer would stick around forever, it’s time to start thinking about back to school again. As much as we’d rather spend our days on the beach or hanging out with our own kids, we’ve got to get those supply lists ready and stock up on all of our classroom needs before the students wipe out all of the good stuff! Whether you’re a first-time teacher or a seasoned veteran of the clas ... View Post