Teaching the Stars

Happy New Year!

Wow, starting another year! I always reflect on my teaching practices and how my students are learning. Questions I ask myself: Are my students learning? Are they engaged? Are they enjoying learning? Are they loving school? Are they becoming lifelong learners? This year while reading, these words stuck out to me: Learning by doing! I feel that STEM totally encompasses… Read More

5 Fun and Easy Christmas STEM Activities

I love integrating STEM into my classroom, especially during the Christmas holiday season. Students get excited and stay engaged whenever learning is made fun! Measurement and collecting data are important state tested math skills that can be reinforced using STEM Christmas Challenges. Here are a few of my favorite STEM Challenges! Santa’s Sleigh STEM Challenge will engage all your students… Read More

Thanksgiving STEM Challenges

Happy November!! I just want to share a couple exciting things with you! One is an AMAZING Thankful Educators Giveaway! I have teamed up with some talented TpTauthors to bring you 2 Teachers Pay Teachers gift cards! We want to THANK YOU for your dedication!We will raffle off:⭐2 $250 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Cards Enter the raffle here: http://gvwy.io/53gb0j2 Raffle Ends… Read More

5th Grade Matter Unit & Fun Activities

Fun ways to teach matter! Wow! What an exciting day. We finished up our Unit on Matter with a “Cookin’ Up Chemistry” Breakfast. It was a fun and yummy way to end our study of matter. Over the… Read More

5 Tips For Using Robots in Your Classroom

I love using Robots in my classroom! I teach fifth grade and my students get so excited about learning with robots. Here are a few tips I have found useful!! Tip #1 How to Get Robots for Your Classroom I received most of my robots through grants from Donorschoose. If you are not familiar with this nonprofit grant organization, click this… Read More

20 Things I’ve Learned in My 20 Years of Teaching!

20 Things I’ve learned in my 20 years of teaching!! Wow! The saying is so true, “Time flies when you’re having fun!” I’m not saying teaching is easy or there hasn’t been days that I wanted to become a Wal-Mart store greeter, but when your passions meet your love you don’t feel like it’s work!! Whenever you love what you… Read More

STEM Famous Landmarks Bundle~ Supply List

Hey if you are considering purchasing my STEM Famous Landmarks Bundle, you may want to check out the supply list before you buy! Remember these are only suggestions! My students usually blow my mind with the creative ideas they come up with. Have fun! Click here STEM Famous Landmarks Supply List Suggestions!

STEM Challenges for the Entire Year Bundle Supply List

STEM Challenges are a great way to engage your students. The Next Generation Science Standards has a great engineering component. Adding STEM to your classroom will get your students thinking critically, problem solving, and collaborating with their peers! Students will begin thinking more creativity when given STEM opportunities. My STEM Challenge Bundle is a great packet for beginning… Read More

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