4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom

Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in Grade 1-6 classrooms. When made a priority, these easy-to-use tools will help you grow your students' skills while you differentiate with ease. Read on for 4 reasons to use personal student dictionaries in your classroom.

How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject

Rubrics are an essential part of the assessment and evaluation process. The achievement charts in the Ontario curriculum documents guide how all of our evaluations of student work should be compared. However, teacher-created rubrics are useful and valid. Here are my tips and suggestions for how to make a rubric for any subject.

How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading

A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Since many state and provincial assessments expect these types of responses, it is essential that we explicitly teach students how to answer them! This post shares why I've chosen the RACES strategy and how to introduce and implement it in your classroom.

How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction

Small-group instruction is a valuable teaching strategy, but the thought of getting started can be overwhelming. How exactly do you get small-group instruction organized? I've got the tips and tricks you need!

How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom

Is running a calendar time in your primary classroom a practice of the past? I don't think so. Having a calendar math program is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills, setting your students up for future success.

How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year

Giving students a little boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year is the perfect way to set the tone and make them feel welcome in a new classroom! When students feel happy, respected, and part of a community, I've found them more likely to take pride in the space and engage during lessons.