Let’s be real—whole group instruction can be tough. Teaching a room full of 4th or 5th graders with different skills, attention spans, and motivation levels is no small feat. But whole group time is also incredibly important, so we’ve got to make it work. Over the years, I found that focusing on four key actions […] The post 4 Actions to Make Whole Group Reading Instruction Engaging and Effective appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

Have you ever heard the saying, “You should never assume?” Well, that advice doesn’t just apply to everyday life—it was something I found incredibly valuable in teaching, too. As a teacher, I lived by several mottos, but one that had a profound impact on my students’ success was this: never assume students know anything. This […] The post You Don’t Have to Guess What Your Students Know: Proven Strategies to Build Strong Foundations in Every Subject appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

Math centers can be a game-changer in your classroom, but let’s be honest—they can also feel overwhelming if you’re not sure where to start. I’ve been there, making every mistake in the book, from overcomplicating the rotation system to stressing over fancy materials. But after years of trial and error, I’ve figured out how to […] The post Let’s Be For Real: You Don’t Need 8 Steps—Just These 3 to Nail Math Centers appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

My students always seemed to struggle with all.the.steps involved in fraction operations. To help, I made sure to practice (and assess and practice some more) all the embedded fraction skills that tripped my students up. If your students are anything like mine were, grab the free fraction practice shared on this post. The best part? […] The post Free Fraction Practice (Self-Grading Google Forms for Embedded Skills) appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

When learning new math skills and concepts, it is important for students to develop a strong understanding of the math vocabulary. This blog post will share free 4th grade math vocabulary posters to help your math instruction include the necessary academic vocabulary. These math posters will help your students learn and remember key terms related […] The post Free 4th Grade Math Vocabulary Posters appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

This time of year quickly gets very busy quickly and stressful with testing on the horizon and end of year activities. Holidays and candy are always a fun way to relieve the stress and engage my students. It’s also great for a behavior incentive (think Fun Friday activiites). This post shares a free Easter math […] The post Free Easter Math Graphing Activity – Grades 3-5 appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

As a teacher, you know how important it is for your students to have a strong grasp of math vocabulary. Without a solid understanding of the language and terms used in math, students can struggle with problem-solving, understanding instructions, and communicating and explaining their math ideas and answers. To help you (and your students), this […] The post Free Math Test Prep Task Cards for Vocabulary – Grades 4-5 appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

There are few things that catch my students’ attention more than food or a celebration, so when I had the chance to add both to a math practice, I definitely took it. This post will share a free St. Patrick’s Day math activity that uses cereal marshmallows while providing students with the opportunity to celebrate […] The post St. Patrick’s Day Math Graphing Activity appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

When Valentine’s Day rolls around my students (and I) only have one thing on our minds… candy. I enjoy occasionally adding a sweet treat to my lessons to engage my students. This post shares a free Valentine’s Day pictograph activity that combines math and conversation candy hearts. Can’t use real candy in your lessons? Click […] The post Valentine’s Day Math Graphing Activity appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more

Division can be one of the trickiest skills to teach. Part of the reason is that by the time students get to 4th & 5th grade, they’re dealing with much larger numbers that are more difficult to visualize. 5th graders are working with 4-5-digit numbers 2-digit divisors (not to mention decimal division but that’s for […] The post Teaching Division Word Problems: Tips and Free Activities appeared first on Teaching with Jennifer Findley ..read more