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Teaching Strategies

How to Make Patterns and Algebra Stick With Interactive Notebooks

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Using this patterns and algebra interactive notebooks unit changed how I teach math as much as how students learned and understood it.

You’ve taught patterns before. You know the routine. You explain repeating patterns, growing patterns, equations with variables, and your students nod along. But then you ask them to work independently, and something’s missing. They don’t remember what you just showed them. They can’t visualize the concept when it’s on paper. And when you ask them to explain their thinking, they’re stuck.

Here’s the thing about patterns and algebra in elementary: it’s abstract. Variables are abstract. Pattern rules are abstract. Equations are abstract. Our students struggle with abstract. What they need is something concrete, something visual, something they can hold onto and reference whenever they’re confused.

But we figured out the game-changer.

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How Projects Can Transform Your Social Studies Lessons

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Using projects in your social studies classroom is a great way to boost engagement. Check out cumulative project-based learning and how it can work for you.

If you’re like most teachers we chat with, you’ve probably noticed something: students retain information better when they actually create something with it.

The new Alberta social studies curriculum is…dry. It’s mostly just facts that are expected to memeorized, But this gives us an incredible opportunity. The curriculum is built on big ideas (geography, economy, government, culture) that are meant to connect to how students see the real world. But traditional worksheets and fill-in-the-blank activities? They flatten all that richness into busywork.

Project-based learning in social studies doesn’t just look better on Instagram (though your students’ work will look amazing). It genuinely changes how students understand concepts. When a student has to design an entire civilization (deciding where it settles based on geography, how it feeds its people, what systems govern it) they’re not just learning about civilizations. They’re thinking like a historian, geographer, and economist all at once.

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Silly Classroom Games to Break Up the Day

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If you are looking for some simple classroom games for elementary classrooms to calm the mood or boost the energy, try these out. Learn how we use silly classroom games to help with transitions, teach regulation, teach teamwork and encourage patience in our classroom.

Teaching is stressful. It can be exhausting for everyone in the classroom. Sometimes you just need to break the tension with a silly game.

We use silly games strategically. They are not just randomly thrown into the day. The games we’ve included are very simple and can be modified for any of your needs. Read about the different silly classroom games we use in our classroom and how we use them to help strengthen our students mentally and physically.

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How to Learn French With French Canadian Celebrations

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You can excite your elementary students to learn French by teaching them all about French Canadian celebrations. We put together lessons and activities that can help inspire your students about French culture while you teach the basics of the French language. These lessons are designed for teachers who are not native speakers so come learn more.

Every year, Francophone communities across Canada celebrate their traditions and culture. People from around the world celebrate these events, too. There’s no better way to teach French as a Second Language than to connect to French Canadian celebrations and cultural events.

A large part of teaching French as a Second Language (FSL) is connecting students to the culture. Maybe even the most important part! This is an opportunity to learn about the culture of just over 20% of Canadians. That’s one in five Canadians who identify as French Canadians!

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Give Your Reading Instruction an Easy Twist

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Do your students need a fun way to share what they are reading in class? This is a great twist on literature circles and book clubs that your students will enjoy. Come read the whole post and get some ideas for your upper elementary or middle school language arts lessons.

For years we’ve done Literature Circles and tried lots of variations, but this one worked really well with our students. The problem with Literature Circles is that some students just don’t like the different activities. This version allows students to have some independence while still having accountability (and something to show for the time). If you are looking for an activity to spice up your reading instruction, look no further than Twisted Literature Circles in our TpT Store (USD) or BN Shop ($CAN).

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How to Teach Poetry Using Drama

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Instead of teaching poetry by simply reading or writing it, how about encouraging students to act it out. Teach poetry using drama to add a new dynamic to your language arts lessons.

Poetry is a beautiful and expressive form of literature that often expresses emotions, paints vivid imagery, and can be fun to read and write. Learning about poetic elements and figurative language can be engaging and memorable by teaching poetry using drama.

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