Today was the first Monday-feeling-Monday of the school year. Last Monday as the first Monday, so it was all shiny and new and not quite Monday-ish. Today was very Monday-ish. I feel like Mondays have moments that take me by surprise. I’m so much more aware and alert on other days. Today the reality of […]
Archives for August 2012


Rounding Numbers and a Freebie
One thing I’m enjoying about teaching 5th grade math is seeing how the math I taught in 2nd grade is still being used. I’ll be busting out the rounding poem Monday morning, but I thought I’d go the more ‘sophisticated’ route and use one of my chevron frames rather than a cute picture poem. While […]


Back to School Set Up: Homework Procedures
Homework procedures teach responsibility and save you time and energy. Are you a homeroom teacher, departmentalizing or both? Over the years I’ve said yes to all three of these. Each change has made me reexamine my procedures, including homework procedures, at the beginning of the school year. There are some parts of the procedures that […]


Transition Times
This is sitting in my room right now mocking me: Any guesses? I’d say the name would give it away but I hadn’t heard of an “Eno Board” until my school ordered them. I’m told it is like a SMART board. I’m told SMART is a brand like Promethean. Is there a generic term that […]


A Week In
Well, I’ve been a fifth grade teacher for a week now and I still love it. I do think part of why I’m loving it is unique to this particular situation, though. I love that I teach math to 3 groups of kids. I feel like I have so much less to plan and prep. […]

