Teaching the Stars

1:1 Technology in Elementary Classrooms

How I use 1:1 Technology in My Upper Elementary Classroom I’ve had the benefit of having 1:1 technology in my classroom for the last three years. In my classroom, we have a Smart Board, my students have Chromebooks, eleven iPads, 3 Dashes, 8 Ozobots, and 2 Spheros. So, learning how to use technology effectively, while still implementing “best teaching practices” has… Read More

Easter STEM Challenges

Wow! Spring Break is over and there are only 43 more days of school left before SUMMER!!! This year has been a blur! I always start wondering, “What will my students remember about being in my class?” “Will they remember worksheets or test prep?” I really hope not! Yes, I use worksheets (sometimes) and I prepare my students with… Read More

March Madness in the Classroom

March is an important learning month! It also seems to pass by so fast, parent-teacher conferences, third quarter ends and the fourth quarter begins, Spring Break, and it’s about a month before standardized testing!! SO, IT’S CRUNCH TIME!! It’s important to make learning fun, but also purposeful. One activity I love using is my Basketball STEM Challenge, it’s perfect since college basketball is starting their… Read More

February STEM Challenges and Winter Games STEM Challenges

Valentine’s Day Fun: Some of my favorite STEM activities are Valentine’s Day related. Students get excited during holiday seasons, and there is nothing like keeping them engaged using a STEM activity. 7 Valentine’s Day STEM Challenges are a fun way to engage students in learning. I love using Conversation Hearts! They are cheap! It’s way too easy to spend too much money… Read More

Christmas STEM: Ways to Engage Your Students Before the Holidays!

It’s important to keep your students engaged during the holiday season. Some of the best ways to keep your students learning and to prevent behavior problems is to engage them in STEM Christmas activities. Students love STEM Christmas Challenges. Here are a few of my favorites, they are easy to implement and my students loved them. 1. Christmas Tree Challenge: … Read More

Halloween STEM and Student-Led Conferences

I love the fall season from the Pumpkin Spice to pumpkins and mums by my door. Friday night football games and the cool breeze in the air, make this one of my favorite seasons. STEM is a huge element of my classroom. My Halloween STEM Challenges are a great way to hit the Next Generation Science Standards… Read More

Slime & STEM

A fun way to introduce the Phases of Matter was with SLIME! Yes, I said slime. I know all the kids are into it, so why fight it!! Glue is cheap at the beginning of school and your kids will think you are the coolest. The secret to making it not stick to you is the eye contact solution. It is… Read More

First Week of School

What a Great 1st Week of School What a great week of learning. One of our favorite STEM projects was building Pencil Towers. Students learned the importance of working together to complete a task. Students design, engineered, and constructed pencil towers. Only at the beginning of the year would we have enough pencils for everyone to do this activity at… Read More

Classroom Update with a Free Printout for Open House

STEM Station Organization is the key in making STEM activities easier! · Students can get their materials and clean up when materials are clearly labeled and easy to access. · Key items to have in your STEM cart: cardboard paper rolls, marbles, paperclips, cups, tape, craft sticks, string, cotton balls, straws, rubber bands, toothpicks, ping pong balls, cards, index cards,… Read More

Back to School: Classroom Decorations Work in Progress

Classroom Decorations Getting my classroom, student ready!! This is my favorite part of the year, looking for items that will fit perfectly into my classroom. It’s like a hunt to find the right things that will help with organization but also create the best learning environment for my students. Since we spend a huge chunk of our time there, I… Read More

5 End of the Year Activities

5 End of the Year Activities Wow! Another year is about to end. I’m so tired, but I want to leave my students with activities they will remember. It’s also important to keep students actively engaged until the end. So here is a few of my favorite “End of the Year Activities!” 5. STEM Paper Airplane Challenge is a… Read More

Fidget Spinners in the Classroom

Fidget Spinning in the Classroom Making Mayhem Meaningful Wow! Another new trend! Students spinning different kinds of spinners, and retailors marketing them for something that will help students focus. I’m a teacher who has ADD so I fidgeted with everything as a student, and as an adult. The key with fidgeting is to figure out how to do it without… Read More