Homework is one of my least favorite parts of teaching. I am either getting calls that I've given too much or I am getting calls that I've given too little. Sometimes it is the same child's parents calling on opposite sides of the fence. At my campus, homework is not optional, and even if it ... Read More about Differentiate to Simplify Homework The post Differentiate to Simplify Homework appeared first on Differentiated Teaching ..read more

Have you ever taken your students on a virtual field trip? Field trips are a wonderful way to give your students real-world exposure to the content you're teaching. There are so many experiences that just cannot be replicated in the classroom, and a field trip allows your students to have the interaction needed to get ... Read More about The coolest digital field trips that boost student learning The post The coolest digital field trips that boost student learning appeared first on Differentiated Teaching ..read more

Many districts require spiral review for math or language arts. In fact, I worked in one of these districts for over a decade. For twenty minutes of our math block, we were expected to engage students in spiral review based on topics outlined in our district scope & sequence. I'm sure you're not surprised to ... Read More about Why you’re wasting time doing spiral review & how to fix it The post Why you’re wasting time doing spiral review & how to fix it appeared first on Differentiated Teaching ..read more

Finding great chapter books for 2nd graders can be a challenge. You want to make sure your students have books at their reading level, but you also want to make sure they've got a good selection of books that will hold their interest. That's why I created this book list for 2nd graders. 20 Awesome ... Read More about The 20 Best Books for 2nd Graders The post The 20 Best Books for 2nd Graders appeared first on Differentiated Teaching ..read more

Mentor texts are a great way to help students understand complex reading comprehension skills. Picture books are often used to teach mini-lessons that deepen student understanding. While this is a great starting place, many upper elementary students are ready to dig into more complex examples. Teaching character change, for example, can be taken to a ... Read More about How to help your students dig deeper into character change with mentor texts The post How to help your students dig deeper into character change with mentor texts appeared first on Differentiated Teaching ..read more

Thanksgiving is a great time to build in so many academic skills. Whether you're looking for social studies activities that teach students about the first Thanksgiving or you need a fun writing activity to keep students engaged as your break approaches, you'll find lots of great ideas of ways to keep your upper elementary students ... Read More about Engaging Ideas for Teaching about Thanksgiving The post Engaging Ideas for Teaching about Thanksgiving appeared first on Differentiated Teaching ..read more

October brings a lot of craziness to the classroom. Between parent-teacher conferences and the sugar rush of Halloween, things can get a little overwhelming. It can be easy to overlook Red Ribbon Week as just another thing to put on the to-do list, but there are a number of easy ways you can include drug ... Read More about Engaging Red Ribbon Week Activities for the classroom The post Engaging Red Ribbon Week Activities for the classroom appeared first on Differentiated Teaching ..read more

An effective classroom classroom largely depends on how well a teacher can manage their students. One great way to keep your classroom running smoothly is as simple as walking around. Actively Engaged When a teacher mostly stays at the front of the classroom and does most of the talking, students tend to become disinterested and ... Read More about How Taking a Walk Around Your Classroom Can Help You & Your Students The post How Taking a Walk Around Your Classroom Can Help You & Your Students appeared first on Differentiated Teaching ..read more

For many teachers, the word fidget brings flashbacks to those rough months in 2017 when fidget spinners were all the rage. This can make you reluctant to integrate this resource into your classroom…because let's face it, none of us want to relive those days. However, when correctly introduced and utilized appropriately fidget tools can be ... Read More about Why you should use fidget tools to support classroom learning (& how to get started) The post Why you should use fidget tools to support classroom learning (& how to get started) appeared first on Differentiated Teaching ..read more

I've received so many great comments regarding my post from last year, 10 Must-See Website for Reading Intervention, and one of the most common ones has been whether I know of any sites to build math skills and support math intervention. Math Websites for Intervention Support As you know, I firmly believe it is important to ... Read More about 10 Must-See Websites to Support Math Intervention The post 10 Must-See Websites to Support Math Intervention appeared first on Differentiated Teaching ..read more