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What is Morphology and How Can I Use It to Build Reading Fluency in Older Students?
By teaching morphology, we’re essentially giving our students tools to unlock new words on their own. How cool is that?

Laura Swallow
Oct 20, 20244 min read


Fun, Easy, & Free Fall Activities to Bring the Season into Your Classroom! 🍁🍎
If you’re looking for ways to bring a little autumn magic to your classroom without spending hours prepping, I’ve got you covered.

Laura Swallow
Oct 13, 20244 min read


How to Build Reading Fluency with Poetry (And Why It Works!) 📖🌟
When it comes to building reading fluency, poetry is an absolute game-changer ! Not only does poetry engage students with its rhythm,...

Laura Swallow
Oct 11, 20244 min read


Maximizing Independent Learning with Ready-to-Go Research Units
So, why should you incorporate research projects in your classroom, and how can you make it easier on yourself? Let’s dive into the magic of

Laura Swallow
Oct 10, 20244 min read


Why Short Reading Passages Are a Classroom Game-Changer! 📚✨
Hey teachers! 👋 Let’s talk about something I absolutely love using in the classroom— short reading passages with comprehension questions...

Laura Swallow
Oct 7, 20243 min read


Mastering Note-Taking in 5th Grade: Strategies to Keep Your Students Organized & Engaged! 📝🎉
From two-column notes to mind mapping, visual notes, making a quiz, and outlining, there are many creative ways to help your students learn!

Laura Swallow
Oct 6, 20244 min read


My Favorite Read-Alouds for 5th Grade! 📚✨
I’m sharing my favorite read-alouds for 5th grade—books that have captured imaginations and opened the door to many rich conversations.

Laura Swallow
Oct 3, 20244 min read


How to Spark Creativity & Real-World Skills with Career-Starting PBL Projects! 🚀👗🌯
Older students love PBL because it feels real. They get to create something meaningful, and they’re treated like decision-makers.

Laura Swallow
Oct 1, 20243 min read


How to Effectively Run Small Group Rotations with Older Students 📚🎯
Running small group rotations with the right approach can be a total game-changer!

Laura Swallow
Sep 28, 20244 min read


Unlocking Vocabulary Success: The Power of Teaching Morphology in Upper Elementary & Middle School! ✏️🌟
Teaching morphology—breaking down the structure of words—has been shown by tons of research to improve more than just reading fluency.

Laura Swallow
Sep 25, 20244 min read


Bringing Project-Based Learning to Life in Your Classroom
If you've ever wanted to shake things up in the classroom and make learning more real and exciting for your students, then project-based...

Laura Swallow
Dec 7, 20234 min read


10 Fun & Engaging Back-to-School ELA Ideas for 5th Graders! ✏️🎒
It’s that time of year again—back-to-school season! If you’re looking for some fresh ideas to get your 5th graders back into learning...

Laura Swallow
Jul 22, 20233 min read


Boosting Reading Fluency in Older Kids: Fun & Engaging Solutions! 📖✨
If you’ve ever tried finding resources that actually help older kids improve their reading fluency without making them feel like they’re...

Laura Swallow
Jun 23, 20233 min read


The Magic of Math Through Gaming: How & Why 🎮✨
Let’s face it—math can feel a little meh for some students. The moment they hear words like numbers, formulas, and equations, the eye...

Laura Swallow
Jun 16, 20233 min read


Why Science Research Projects Make the Perfect Sub Plans 🧑🔬📚
Ever find yourself scrambling for a last-minute plan when life happens? Or maybe you’re a homeschooling parent looking for a go-to...

Laura Swallow
Jun 16, 20233 min read


Using Reader's Theaters in the Classroom
If you’re looking for a fun and super effective way to boost your students’ reading skills while keeping them engaged, let me introduce...

Laura Swallow
May 26, 20233 min read


How & Why to Implement Project-Based Learning in Summer School ☀️🎒
It’s summer—yay! 🌞 But wait, it’s also summer school … now what? 😅 With no strict curriculum guides to follow, summer gives us the...

Laura Swallow
May 18, 20233 min read


How to Use Online Games in Your Classroom When You’re Already Short on Time 🕒🎮
As teachers, we all know the struggle—there’s just never enough time! Trust me, I get it. You know how often I’ve heard people say...

Laura Swallow
May 1, 20233 min read
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