3-5 Upper Elementary
Explore and share tips, strategies, and resources for helping students develop in elementary school grades 3-5.
Is it Time to Drop ‘Finding the Main Idea’ and Teach Reading in a New Way?
Some schools are changing the way they teach reading—based on research that shows background knowledge is more critical to comprehension than general skills like ‘finding the main idea.’The Sensory Room: Helping Students With Autism Focus and Learn
Imagine a safe space where students with autism can go to calm their bodies and then get back to the business of learning.Why Learning at Home Should Be More Self-Directed—and Less Structured
On March 18, 2020, Simone Kern tweeted that simply “recreating schools at home” passes up a golden opportunity to engage kids in authentic, self-directed learning.Making Students Feel Safe
A trauma-informed approach ensures that students feel safe, supported, and nurtured—to improve their chances of academic success.Learning to Measure the Size of a Problem
When elementary students compare the relative importance of a range of problems, they learn to take charge of their reactions.A Daily Support System for Students
Students who need extra social and emotional support have a quick check-in with an adult at the start and end of each day.Time to Play: More State Laws Require Recess
Unstructured playtime is making a comeback in schools as frustrated teachers, parents, and advocacy groups demand legislative action.What Doesn’t Work: Literacy Practices We Should Abandon
The number one concern that I hear from educators is lack of time, particularly lack of instructional time with students. Although we can't entirely solve the time problem, we can mitigate it by carefully analyzing our use of class time.