As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, fall is the perfect time to bring seasonal creativity into your upper elementary classroom. Autumn offers so many opportunities for writing inspiration—and when you combine it with art or creative prompts, students will be BEGGING to do more of them! Here are two of my favorite fall writing and art activities that help students practice narrative, informative, and opinion writing while keeping things fun, colorful, and lo

It’s all about the questions. At the heart of every Socratic Seminar is one thing: the questions. Socratic Seminars, based on the methods of the ancient philosopher Socrates, are structured discussions where students explore open-ended questions through dialogue rather than lectures. Most of the time, these are run with a piece of fiction or non-fiction text, but they can also be a very effective tool in math! By starting with a math word problem instead of a text, students

The idea of Enrichment Binders came from a need to provide meaningful, low-prep academic enrichment to upper elementary students. I was...

Ever hear this five minutes into your lesson? "I'm done! Now what?" If you're teaching upper elementary, chances are you’ve got a few...

If you’ve ever felt like your high-ability students need more challenge—or that your entire class could benefit from deeper...

I will never forget the first time I introduced Emoji Writing  to my third-grade class. I passed out the directions, writing checklist,...

Looking for a creative and exciting way to extend writing standards this spring season? Combining the fun of emojis with a Springtime...

Mathematics isn’t just about numbers—it’s about thinking critically , solving problems , and making connections . Encouraging kids to...

A Rube Goldberg STEM Challenge is a fantastic way to help students grasp the principles of energy transfer, force, and motion through...

Market Day is one of the most memorable projects for students. It is more than just a fun classroom event — it’s a powerful opportunity...

Reading is a fundamental skill, and what if you could take it to the next level? Depth & Complexity icons are a powerful tool to ignite...

The One Word Project is an inspiring way to encourage students to focus on personal growth and set meaningful intentions for the year. By selecting a single word that represents their goals, values, or aspirations, students gain clarity and motivation to make the school year impactful. I recommend starting any of these activities with a read aloud of the book One Word for Kids by Jon Gordon. You can find the book HERE , and the One Word Project HERE ! But what happens after

Looking for a quick, thoughtful, and budget-friendly gift that works for just about anyone? An M&M Sweet Sentiments gift jar is the...

We all know how hard teachers work every day to inspire and teach our students, and it’s always nice to have a few things that bring us...

Looking for a creative and exciting way to extend writing standards this fall season? Combining the fun of emojis with a spooky Halloween theme, this Emoji Writing activity is perfect for getting 3rd-6th grade students engaged in writing while thinking critically about how to express their ideas.  Students LOVE these! Even my most reluctant writers start writing..and were EXCITED to write! By using simple Halloween-themed emojis, students can tap into their creativity and ex

We all have that one student… you know, the one that struggles to even pick up the pencil to write. The reasons might vary: writer’s...

As the new year approaches, it’s important to find ways to motivate and inspire your students from the very beginning. This New Years 2026 One Word writing and art project is the perfect way to kick off the year with enthusiasm and purpose. Ideal for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders and beyond, this activity encourages students to stay motivated and set positive goals. One Word Project Why This Project Is Special This beginning-of-year writing activity is more than just a classroom

First and foremost, every teacher deserves to enjoy the downtime and relaxation that summer break brings. It's a crucial time to recharge...

Running a Socratic Seminar in a classroom involves several key steps to ensure that the discussion is structured, engaging, and leads to...

Here is a compilation of free K-6 Math websites and apps to help students with math fluency, practice, and enrichment. This list will be...