Life with 5 Boys

Do you need some fun Halloween activities to get through those hectic days leading up to Halloween? I’ve got you covered with activities for math, grammar, and writing! These are perfect for students in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grades. They’d also work well with older students who struggle with certain concepts and need an extra review. These can be used for whole group activities, centers, early finishers, and for your sub folder! 🎃 Halloween Math Skills Review Worksheets 👻 Halloween & Fall-Themed Grammar Skills Review Color by Code Activities Keep students engaged with these fun color by code activities that…

How do you address character education in your classroom? Do you put up a few posters and point out the traits a couple times a year? Are you looking for meaningful activities to teach students what it means to have good character? When I first started teaching in 2001, it seemed like character education was part of our weekly routine. Our district focused on Character Counts! Somewhere along the way, though, it seemed to slowly go away. I have a feeling it was when everything became driven around standardized testing. In more recent years, it seems it’s made a comeback.…

Do you find it hard to teach students writing? ✔️ Do you expect students to know how to write a paragraph when they enter your classroom? ✔️ Have you been told to differentiate for students, but you’re not sure how to do it? ✔️ LOOK NO FURTHER! 😊 For years I taught 3rd grade. Each year the students came to us knowing less and less about how to write proper sentences. When I started my first year in 3rd grade, we were able to work with the students on writing multiple paragraphs. After several years, we had to work on…

Our grade level won a prize from our PTA one time. It was an escape room. A mom got it all set up, and while she had the best of intentions, it was way too hard for the third graders. Add in the fact that the first class that got to experience it ruined it for the other two classes at recess, and it just wasn’t successful. I do think escape rooms and scavenger hunts can be successful activities to add to any classroom. You just have to make sure the puzzles are age appropriate. I’ve taken a few courses…

Third grade isn’t just about memorizing multiplication and division facts, although those are VERY important. Teaching 3rd grade math means you’re introducing and expanding on rounding, fractions, telling time, elapsed time, perimeter, area, quadrilaterals, mass, two-step word problems, subtracting across zeros, and more. Add in the fact you have to DIFFERENTIATE because students are all at different levels, and it can become very overwhelming… for both the teacher and the students! What helps? SPIRAL REVIEW Spiral review doesn’t have to look the same for every activity. It doesn’t have to be something done at a certain time of day. A…

📚 Are you ready for BACK TO SCHOOL? As much as we love our summer break, it’s really hard not to think about the new year that’s creeping up on us. I’m here to make your life easier! Plan ahead, and get ready for an amazing first day, week, and month of school. First off, if you’re new to teaching, this free CHECKLIST might help! It’s just some tips to help you get through your first day. 📋 As you think about the new school year, is your classroom prepared for a substitute? If your answer is no, or you’re…

📏 Get a FREE SAMPLE of my 3rd Grade Math Bundle HERE! A couple of years ago, I decided to bundle together most of my math resources. They are perfect for review, assessments, early finishers, and holiday & seasonal fun. I started with 32 great products already available that are perfect for 3rd grade, and they would work great for older students as review or for those who struggle in math. But I had several more resources I wanted to create. I’d been putting off making my bundle because I knew there would be more resources to come. That’s when…

How do you feel about research reports in your classroom? Does the thought of teaching students how to research and complete a project seem daunting? It doesn’t have to be! Get students excited about researching a topic and completing FUN activities. Below you’ll see two projects that are perfect for helping students understand how to research. The activities included are great for DIFFERENTIATION, where students who struggle will still be able to feel successful in the process. Your students who need a challenge will also benefit! Animal Research Project – Outline, Written Report, & Google Slides™ Teach your students how…

Morning work/spiral review activities for students can really help set a routine for your classroom and make the day run smoothly. When students know what is expected of them as they walk through your classroom door, they’ll be ready to learn and set up for a successful day. Having daily or weekly spiral review of key math, language, grammar, and writing skills will help students retain important information needed for your classroom and the next grade level. Spiral review activities that are repetitive allow students to understand the directions. They’ll get right to work and know what’s expected of them.…