Going paperless can seem like a daunting task in the classroom! Here are some tips and tricks to make the transition from handouts to an environmentally-friendly classroom easy using Canvas. For those who are unfamiliar, Canvas is a learning management software that allows for each student to access material and submit assignments, and it makes communication easier for teachers. 1. ...
Digital Activities in the Math Classroom
Update 5/13/2020: Since remote learning has taken effect, our digital activities have been wildly popular to support teachers as well as students. Here are a few things teachers have said about using our digital activities: "This resource was wonderful for distance learning! The students found it easy to use and I had a great turn-in rate! Thank you!" -- Cynthia M. "Total lifesaver ...
5 More Teacher Organization Hacks
When I hear the word “organization,” I think of beautiful containers filled with immaculate supplies organized in rainbow color order. While that might be very pinnable, it is not often the reality in a classroom or in the life of a teacher. Function and time saved trump beauty in my classroom. I need organization to save time or to save my sanity. I asked some of my teacher friends to ...
Making the Most of Your Schoology Account
One of your biggest classroom tools is a Learning Management System. Schoology, Google Classroom, and Canvas are all Learning Management Systems (LMS) and are so helpful in the organization of your class and for going paperless. Here are five tips that can turn your Schoology page into a useful tool in your classroom! 1. Organize our home page I like to organize my Schoology ...
How to Teach Integer Operations
Are you eager for students in your classroom to conceptually understand integers and master the skills required for integer operations?Keep reading and get individual sized and classroom sized vertical number line.STUDENT Background WITH INTEGERSIf you are in a state that teaches Common Core, 6th grade is when the conceptual understanding of integers begins. Students are expected to be ...
Classroom Ideas from an Experienced Teacher
Can it already be time for another middle school classroom tour? Welcome to Ms. Henry's 5th grade math classroom! She has basically been my other half when it comes to math talk at school, and I am so glad that we are featuring her room today. Many of her classroom ideas are not only brilliant but also practical! A few things to note: Ms. Henry has been teaching math for 15 ...
Returning from Maternity Leave as a Teacher
Returning from maternity leave as a teacher can feel daunting. Add a classroom and it can feel impossible. When I returned from my maternity leave, I was only the second teaching staff member to have a baby and return in the 4 years I had been at the school, so I felt especially anxious about the transition. I learned so much from both my experience and my mistakes. Since my daughter ...
Teaching Kindness to Middle Schoolers
This last school year, I had my first grade level of students who had been together since kindergarten with no merging of kids from different elementary schools to shake things up. You might think that these students would all be friends since they had many years together, but the exact opposite was true. This group had a very complex history that would not be characterized as kind. ...
4 Ideas for Going Paperless
We spent last week at the Conference for the Advancement of Mathematical Teaching, or C.A.M.T. We met so many fabulous educators, we heard about the wonderful work happening in classrooms all over Texas, and Noelle and Kim led a professional development on Small Group Instruction. All in all, it was an amazing few days! There were two things that continued to surprise me as I ...
4 Components of Digital Citizenship
As educators, it is crucial that we teach our students how about positive digital citizenship. But what does that mean exactly? Just like learning how to be a good citizen, students need to be taught how to be good digital leaders! This summer, I had some great takeaways after attending the Region 10 Digital Conference. I heard from some wonderful speakers, including Jennifer ...