Back to School Ice breakers
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated July 11, 2024 Building Classroom Community with Ice Breakers As the school year kicks off, creating a warm and welcoming classroom environment is essential. Back to school ice…
Middle School
Blog · Elementary · English · Middle School · Short Stories
Short Story Planning Guide
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated June 24, 2024 Short Story Planning Guide for Upper Elementary and Middle School Teaching short stories can be an incredibly effective way to engage upper elementary and middle…
Blog · Elementary · English · History · Middle School · Social Studies
What is a Text Feature?
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated June 11, 2024 Teaching students to navigate and understand text features is a crucial component of literacy instruction, especially in grades 4-7. These features are the building blocks…
What is Historical Inquiry?
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated June 11, 2024 Using Historical Inquiry in the Classroom Engaging students in historical inquiry transforms the classroom into a dynamic environment where history comes alive. Rather than merely…
Blog · Elementary · English · Middle School
What is the Main Idea?
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated April 29, 2024 Understanding Main Idea Vs. Themes Understanding main idea vs. theme is very important for developing reading comprehension skills in upper elementary and middle school students….
An Introduction to Hexagonal Thinking
By MARISSA DESPINS Updated April 21, 2024 In a world that’s constantly evolving, innovative thinking isn’t just a bonus—it’s essential. Enter hexagonal thinking, a visual tool that’s reshaping how we approach learning,…