Strategies and Tips for Grouping Students

When I was in the classroom, I grouped students for activities multiple times a day. The way I grouped them always depended on the learning goal. Sometimes it made sense to pair them with a partner. Other times, I wanted them working in small groups or with classmates they didn’t typically choose on their own. That’s the beauty of intentionally grouping students. It provides the flexibility to tailor the group structure to the lesson's purpose. It also helps your students develop important collaboration skills, learn to work with a diverse range of peers, and stay engaged.

Fun and Effective Measurement Activities for the Elementary Classroom

Starting a unit on measurement was always a moment I looked forward to, even though it often felt like there wasn’t enough time in the schedule. Measurement can be such an abstract concept for students, especially when they’re faced with unfamiliar terms like “mass” or “capacity.” The truth is, measurement is all around them. They just needed help connecting the math to the real world they were already experiencing.

3 Fun Summer Activities for Kids

As a teacher, I was always looking for ways to support families as summer rolled in. I knew how important it was to keep kids’ minds active while still giving them space to enjoy the season. These summer activities for kids were perfect to send home during the last week of school or even use during summer programs, camps, or enrichment sessions. Let's take a look at 3 fun summer activities for kids that I know you'll love!

Productive Struggle in Math

When differentiation was part of my classroom instruction, creating a learning environment with clear expectations was very helpful. One expectation I held for myself was creating opportunities for students to practice "productive struggle" in math. While the level of scaffolding varied based on readiness, I made sure not to take away the challenge or integrity of a math task. Productive struggle wasn’t about not helping or leaving students to figure it out on their own. It was about helping them develop the ability to persevere, even when the math became difficult.