Looking for Upper Elementary Classroom Ideas?

This is just a quick post to help you to find great teacher Bloggers on Pinterest within the Upper Elementary Grades! Debbie Clement from RainbowsWithinReach.com has already done ll of the hard work for you! (Thank you Debbie!)

Here are the links below...

Comparing Attributes of 3D Shapes!

Children love to sort and compare. Why not have them sort solids by their attributes. Some shapes have flat faces, whereas others have curved faces. Some can roll, others cannot. Having your students sort shapes is a great way of reinforcing the properties and laws of each shape. Check out this new sorting math center for 3D shapes. It's great for grades 2, 3 and 4!  It includes eight Venn Diagram rings, each one for a different attribute.

Free Classroom Management Idea...

When you hear the term 'classroom management', what kind of images does it conjure in your mind's eye? Is it an environment of curious initiative, confidence and self discipline? Or is it a quiet and rigid classroom where students and subdued by fear and intimidation? Yikes! Many teachers may think that classroom management is a Utopian endeavor (I used to be one of them) but I can tell you that you just have to find a system that works for you - your personality and your students.

Here's a free classroom management strategy that is 'kid tested and teacher approved'. I cannot stress enough, the importance of classroom management.

Behavior Clip Chart System 

by Callie at Teach-a-roo.blogspot.com

How to Store your Flash Cards

Did you know that you can use old Q-tip containers to store your flash cards? I also use ones from Johnson&Johnson. They both have the same dimensions and happen to fit my cards perfectly. Ziploc bags can be used too but they can become pierced or torn. The hard plastic containers are the most durable options and you can use it to show your students that you are reusing or recycling in the process. 

You probably already have some at your disposal...

   

List of Story Books for Boys and Girls... to keep them laughing and loving to read!

Remember those classic tales you grew up on, written and rewritten by so many by different authors? Well here's a new spin on them... The villains in the stories are now getting to tell their side of the story. Now, having read them, I too, like my students, feel empathy for these characters! It's a great way to start the teaching the author's point of view. I really like that my boys are really enjoying these books. Here are a few others... Did I mention that they are really funny?

  

                

What kinds of books do your students read?

Free Color Labels

I made these color coded labels for my five year old son. He already knows his colors but I wanted to expose him to some sight words so I thought - Why not use colors? We turn it into a matching game, I lay out different objects on the table and he uses the label to tag each item with the name if its color. He is able to do it not because he can read the words but because each label comes in the color that it represents. But I think it's a good idea to expose children to words in context, even if they can't read them as yet. 

If you would like to try them out with your students, it's available as a free download pdf file from my TeacherspayTeachers Store. Click right here to download it for twelve colors!