Teaching the Stars

14 of the Best Picture Books to Build a Classroom Community

Are you looking for children’s books that start great classroom discussions about character education? I start every morning with a family meeting. Our family meetings are a huge part of building our classroom community. I love reading picture books to my students! And yes, I teach 5th grade. 5th graders even look forward to our book a day! These books bring… Read More

How to Set Up a Creative Space in Your Classroom

How do you start off working in your classroom? Do you cannonball in or do you slowly emerge yourself into your work? Well, I barely get my feet wet and slowly edge in. I started this year by thinking about the colors I wanted to use and how I could incorporate things I already have! Designing my bulletin boards and my… Read More

Testing Week!

Testing is here! Like it or not! So why not make the best of it. Now is the time to motivate your students to do their best! Here are some fun ideas!! All these things are cheap and easy, but definitely makes our students feel special! Taking the time to write a little special note!! These things bring a smile… Read More

February STEM Challenges

February STEM February is one of my favorite months! It is full of excitement and fun learning opportunities. Candy hearts and making Love Boats are fun ways to get my students learning important skills while they are thinking critically and problem solving! Teaching students measurement skills can be fun, whenever you throw in some candy hearts. Check out my STEM… Read More

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! The first thing is November STEM! I have several STEM products in my store that will engage your students during the Thanksgiving season. Check out these fun products! My students loved making Totem Poles and floating their tinfoil canoes. Keep your students excited about learning and thinking… 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