Nearly 400 teachers weighed in on their favorite back-to-school activities and ice breakers - and here are their top picks! The most popular, practical, and unique back-to-school activities loved by teachers around the world!

Before the start of each school year, I spend a lot of time reevaluating the routines and procedures that I use in my classroom. Establishing routines and procedures early on, sets the stage for a well-managed classroom and helps ensure "smooth sailing" for rest of the school year!! Below is a list that I refer to each year when establishing routines and procedures for my classroom.... {Click here to download!} Like anything else we teach our students, these routines and procedures need to be taught, modeled, practiced, and reinforced!! The following are the routines and procedures that I focus on the most, and the ones which I believe help foster a high-functioning learning environment.... Entering the Classroom "Ready to Learn" One of the first procedures that I teach my students is how to enter the classroom, and what to do once they come in. I strongly emphasize that they need to enter the classroom "ready to learn". We spend a lot of time talking about what it means to be ready to learn.... coming in quietly, having all materials needed for class, ready to follow directions or routines, and ready to GET TO WORK!!! My students learn quickly to always look to the white board for directions. First thing in the morning, after recess, and after lunch, I always have specific directions written on the board. Students learn to come in, look to the white board, and then begin following directions right away. This gives me time to take care of business, especially in the morning. At the same time, it teaches students independence. I always love the compliments I get from subs about how well my students follow directions, and how quickly and easily they get to work!! Teacher Signal The "teacher signal"-- No teacher should be without one!! For me, I have always use the simple and easy, GIVE ME 5. With this, I simply raise my hand and say, "Give me five," and my students raise their hands and show me that they're ready to.... STOP! LOOK! and LISTEN! Below is the graphic that I have displayed for the first weeks of school. We spend a lot of time discussing the expectations, and PRACTICING during those for first few weeks. {Click here to download!} Most of the teachers at my school and our principal use this strategy, so it's something consistent for the kiddos from year to year. However, I have always been very intrigued by some of the fun and catchy "attention grabbers" out there. I have often thought about giving some of these a try. Here are some great examples.... {SOURCE} {SOURCE} Transitions I will never forget my first year of teaching.... It never occurred to me that I would need to teach students how to transition from one activity to the next. So of course, chaos would ensue each time I gave students a simple direction, such as taking out a text book, or coming down to the rug. Each simple task would turn into full-blow conversations!! I would then have to get their attention all over again to give the next direction. A vicious cycle!! I quickly learned that quick and quiet transitions needed to be taught, practiced, and reinforced, NON-STOP for those first few days of school. The key is to always wait until students are quiet and then set the expectation for WHAT they need to do, and HOW they need to do it. I also teach my students to save their movement for when I am COMPLETELY done giving a direction. Quality of Work I spend A LOT of time at the beginning of the year discussing the quality of student work. It's always amazing to me how upper grade students forget {or do they?!} some of the most basic skills they learn in the primary grades. We're talking things as simple as using a period at the end of a sentence, or misspelling the word "read". In my class, I like to have a list of "must haves" that students refer to as they are working, and before they turn an assignment in. While of course there is always room for error, there are just certain things that are simply nonnegotiable for upper elementary (general ed.) students.... {Click here to download!} If anything on the list is missing, I simply hand assignments back to students, and remind them to refer to our Must Have List. Additionally, we spend a lot of time focused on "presentation" and students taking pride in their work. For example, when I assign projects I ask students to outline their writing with black or colored marker, add details and at least 3 colors to their illustrations, and to make the most of the space they have on their paper. I spend a lot of time modeling this, and I am constantly reinforcing high-quality work. In my classroom, time, effort, and pride go a long way!! Final Thoughts With any and all routines and procedures, it is so important to constantly set expectations during those first days. Right before recess, I always remind students about what is expected when they come back into the classroom after recess. Before an assignment, I ask students to tell me how I expect them to behave while they are working. We are constantly talking about expectations! Plus, we practice ALL THE TIME!! When we line up for lunch, we practice how to walk in a line. When we come in after lunch, we practice how to come in the classroom quietly. It seems like a lot, but it is so important to get them in place so that the rest of the year is smooth sailing!!! If you're looking for some Back to School activities and printables to ease you into the school year, be sure to check out this Back to School resource in my teacher shop. Click on the pic below to learn more!

Classroom community building activities and free ideas and lesson plans to kick off the school year or implement at any time.

Getting to know your students in the first days of school is kind of like an investigation, and you are the detective assigned to the case. Are you ready?

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Looking for creative ways to welcome your upper elementary students to a new school year? Check out my 9 favorite back to school activities!

Back to school lessons and ideas for upper elementary classroom. There are book suggestions, community building ideas, and tons of FREEBIES!

Research Paper Writing for Upper Elementary Students is an important skill to teach. With the right approach and resources, it can be...

Every year I give my students a questionnaire to complete on the first day of school. Later that night, when I have finally recovered from the excitement of the first day, I sit down with my stack of questionnaires to read all about my new students. My students' responses are such an important piece in getting to know each and every one of them. While there is a whole list of get-to-know-you questions for students to respond to, there are five questions that I make sure to pay extra close attention to: What do you like to be called? This question might seem like an obvious one, but I speak from personal experience when I tell you that this question can make such a big difference for certain students. My name is Rebecca, but as a kid I ONLY went by Becky. Every year, when my teachers would call my name during attendance on the first day, I would simply respond with "HERE", instead of letting them know that I preferred to be called Becky. I was painfully shy as a child and too afraid to speak up. Often it was not until Back to School Night, or even conference time, when teachers would meet my parents and learn that I preferred to be called Becky. It may seem like a small thing, but it was a HUGE deal to me as a child! On this same note, it is just as important to students that we know how to PRONOUNCE their names. It is definitely worth the extra effort to make that connection with students, and make them feel valued in our classrooms. What is something that makes you feel proud? This question is the one that allows me to make connections with my students. This is where they share what they're good at in or out of school. It gives them a chance to reflect on what makes them feel good about themselves. For me, it helps me to start conversations with students, recommend books they might like, or encourage other interests or activities that may be related to what makes them proud. What is something that is challenging for you? This next one is an obvious one, but still an important one. Those things that challenge our students are the very things that might lead to anxiety or discomfort in the classroom. The responses to this question are ones that I like to keep in the back of my mind as I am preparing lessons for new and challenging content. It gives me a chance to think of ways to help students overcome those challenges, or to simply shift their mindset when it comes to challenges. What is something you wish I knew? I used to ask the question, "What is the MOST important thing you want me to know about YOU?" While I got some great responses to this question, I would also get things like "I am really good at baseball" or "I like math". Of course these things are important, but we cover interests and favorite subjects with other questions. I want to hear the one thing (or more) that my students need me to know about them, in order for me to be the best teacher I can possibly be for them. A few years ago, a teacher named Kyle Schwartz posed this question for her students. She shared some of the responses on social media, highlighting the need for teachers everywhere to truly get to know their students and what they might need. Needless to say, this question is now asked on my questionnaire. What is something you expect from me as your teacher? We discuss so many expectations that we have for our students during the first week of school. I also think that it's important to see what our students expect from us. I am always surprised by my students responses to this question. They are often honest and specific about what they need. I have had students share that they like to have fun, but that they need structure. I have also had students share that they expect me to listen to them. Leave it to our students to remind us what it takes to make us better teachers! Believe it or not, students' responses to these questions stick out in my mind throughout the year. I always keep their responses in the back of my mind as I am interacting with my students, planning lessons, or even dealing with challenges. A student questionnaire is a great jumping off point for getting to know your students. You can download this questionnaire for FREE by clicking HERE or on the pic below. This questionnaire is just one of the get-to-know-you activities from my Back to School resource. If you're looking for more activities for those first days of school, click HERE or on the pic below to take a closer look. This resource now includes digital pages for distance learning. It's never too early to start thinking about the next school year. I hope that you will keep these questions in mind when getting to know your students this upcoming year.

If you are looking for some fun ways to start the year with your upper elementary students, then consider adding in one of these 5 ideas!

Upper elementary teachers, are you looking for back to school activities and ideas to make this year the best year yet? These tips and ideas for back to school season will save your time and sanity and help you to kick off the year smoothly!

Save your teacher-sanity with these 4 FREE End of the Year Activities that will keep students engaged, having fun, and learning!

Looking for a back to school activity for bigger kids in upper elementary? I've got you covered! This back to school creative thinking activity is the perfect way to get to get your students thinking about the classroom and learn a little more about them in the process! What is 'In Your Teacher's Shoes: A Back To School Activity for Bigger Kids' All About? We have all had those kids who were DYING to be the teacher (and weren’t we all one of them many moons ago?). Here is their chance! So often, kids have no idea all the things we think about at the beginning of the year. Now, your students have the chance to lay down the law for their own classroom. You can have your students select all, some, or one of the activities here. I plan to have my students work in partners and select the one they want to complete together, then share them as a whole class. I can’t wait to see what my kids come up with, and perhaps use some of their ideas! What activities are included in this back to school resource? Corralling The Kids: Classroom Set Up & Design First Day Dilemma: Making a Schedule Classroom Job Conundrum: Creating Jobs Rules, Rules, Rules: Creating Rules both Serious and Silly A Break for your Brain: Creating Brain Breaks for the classroom Bulletin Board Bonanza: Create a catchy bulletin board for your class Writing about your Worth: Writing a letter to new students all about you, the teacher (but really them, the student!) Getting to Know You: Creating a Getting to Know You activity Snacking Schedule: Create a snack schedule with a twist Rewarding Rocking Behavior: Kids come up with a behavior plan **MORE Back To School Resources!** Back To School Math Project: Take a Road Trip Getting To Know You Task Cards Back To School Inference Task Cards September Reading Skills Task Cards School Calendar Task Cards School Supply List Task Cards

Ready to "cook up" a great first day of school? It's easy with this recipe for a successful start to the school year! PREP: ➤ Think about how you will set the tone for your classroom on the first day of school. ➤ Plan to keep students engaged and active. ➤ Prepare to build a positive rapport with students from the first instant that they become a part of the classroom community. INGREDIENTS: ➤ Warm-Up Activity ➤ Get-to-Know-You Activity ➤ Game that gets students out of their seats ➤ Get-to-Know-the-Teacher Activity ➤ Writing Prompt ➤ Extension Activity Once you've gathered your ingredients, you can get "cooking!" (CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FREE RECIPE!) PROCEDURE: STEP 1: Begin with a warm-up activity. Place an activity on students' desks that they can complete independently. You might try a simple survey or poster. An All About Me poster is a quick way to learn about students. You can even gather them together for an awesome classroom display. Or, a survey is a wonderful way to collect information about students. You might include questions about where students like to sit, their favorite way to learn, and activities that they enjoy so that you can start connecting with students. Another awesome warm-up activity is an "All About You" name tag. Students answer questions about themselves while coloring in a name tag based on their responses. Then, students can place the name tag on their desks to help you learn your students' names. This activity is particularly awesome if you have multiple sets of students. You can collect the name tags and re-distribute them each day during each class while you learn names. Oh, and as a bonus, you can gather them together and leave them with substitute teachers throughout the year! If you'd like to check out ready-made Back to School Warm-Ups, just click here for the poster, here for the survey, and here for the name tags. STEP 2: Mix in a get-to-know-you activity. Give students a chance to share about themselves and learn about their classmates with an engaging get-to-know-you activity. One of my favorites is a doodle-inspired mini-book. Students transform a single sheet of paper into a doodley mini-book all about themselves. After students make the mini-book it's fun to hang them on a clothesline. Then, as students finish their work during the first days of school, you can encourage fast-finishers to grab a classmate's mini-book and learn about him or her. Check out the doodle mini-book HERE. Or, you could have students create this 3-D About Me Activity. Students create an infographic-style book about themselves. After answering some simple questions, they do a little cutting and gluing to create a 3-D "About Me" display. These are especially fun because students can set them on their desks and then everyone can tour around the classroom and learn about their peers. (These are awesome for Open House too!) Learn more HERE. STEP 3: Scatter in an activity that gets students moving. Since students crave opportunities to get up and out of their seats, plan to get your class moving on the first day of school. You might have students complete a scavenger hunt or even play a learning game that requires students to move around. I'm a huge fan of this simple get-to-know-you activity that gets students moving (and you can download it for FREE here.) First, students make paper airplanes. They write their name and 3 interview questions on the wings. Then, students line up shoulder-to-shoulder and launch the planes. Next, they pick up a classmate's plane, find him or her, and ask the interview questions. You can repeat the airplane launch as often as you'd like! Find everything you need to do this activity in this FREEBIE. If you'd like to combine movement and learning on the first day of school, then you and your students will love this Back to School Doodle Infographic. First students fill in the infographic with facts about school. There are 21 facts and you can hide them around the room to get students moving. Then, they put together the infographic to make a fun and doodle-y poster! Check it out HERE. STEP 4: Sprinkle in a chance for students to get-to-know-you (their teacher). On the first day of school, students are very curious about you. They want to learn about you, so you'll want to be sure to share about yourself. You can give a simple biography of yourself, or you might try these easy and engaging activities: Create a teacher interview question along with 4 or 5 prize cards for each student in your class. Then, tape the questions and the prize cards under students' seats before class begins. During class, explain to students that they all have something under their chairs. It might be a question and it might be a prize. If they get a prize card, have students keep it quiet. Then, call on students. They can either read a question for you to answer or reveal that they won a prize. If they won, you might give them a pencil, piece of candy, or a homework pass. You can find all my favorite questions HERE. Or, you might have students complete a "Teacher Guess" about you. First, they predict the answers to questions about you. Then, as you reveal the answers, they earn points for every correct prediction. It's a fun activity that students truly enjoy! You can check it out HERE. STEP 5: Add a fun writing prompt to your back to school activities. A writing prompt is a great way to gather a baseline for students' writing on the first day of school. You might give students a simple prompt about their summer or goals for the new school year. However, I love to add a fun creative writing prompt into the mix. For example, with this writing prompt students select a setting, character, problem, and 3 random objects. Then, they need to work them all into a story. It's fun, engaging, and a great way to see where your students are starting the school year. Find this writing prompt HERE or check out this collection of 10 creative writing activities. STEP 6: Top it off with a review of tomorrow's warm-up. Set students up for success during your next day of school by quickly reviewing what they will need to do when they arrive to class. If you're planning to have students work through warm-ups like these This or That ELA warm-ups where students choose to do the "this" or the "that" activity, then you might quickly review what will be waiting on their desks when they arrive. Taking the time to preview tomorrow's warm-up is a great way to set expectations for students! If you're looking for some daily warm-ups, you might want to check out these This or That ELA warm-ups or these This or That Writing warm-ups! STEP 7: Don't forget to have an extension activity just in case your lesson ends early. I love playing games like "Move If You..." which you can find for FREE HERE. While you may never get to the extension activity, it's a lifesaver if you need it! TIPS: When you're following this recipe for a great first day of school, you might want to: ➤ Greet students at the door and answer these questions for students right away: ➨ Where do I sit? ➨ Am I in the right classroom? ➨ What should I be doing right now? ➤ Also, be prepared to manage students' behavior on the first day of school. Ensure that you have a positive classroom management system in place and ready to use if you need it! Well, there you have it, my recipe for a great first day of school. Be sure to download all the ideas with links AND the FREE airplane activity HERE! CHECK THIS OUT! I've put together a 100+ page guide for back to school for teachers. It includes tips, tools, and printables for classroom décor, classroom organization, lesson planning, community building, and planning the first day of school. It's absolutely FREE! Just click here to sign up. When you sign up, you'll get access to 6 mini-courses that cover everything Back to School including classroom design, organization, curriculum planning, and ways to build a positive classroom community. There's also a TON of exclusive freebies, bonuses, and videos! If you'd like to learn more and sign up, just click HERE. Thanks so much for stopping by, Mary Beth P.S. If you'd like MORE free resources for your classroom, be sure to join the Brain Waves Instruction club!

Using AI for back to school isn't as scary as it sounds. With the right prompts, you can use AI tools to save tons of time and effort for back to school!

Looking for some Last Week of School Activities for upper elementary students? Here are some ideas for your end of year celebration.

Use these six back to school activities packet to get to know your students and support them to get to know each other.

Learn how I use two engaging picture books - The Hundred Dresses and Mr. Peabody's Apples - to help create a positive class culture in my upper elementary classroom.

Back to school read alouds are great for the first week of school! Here are the best back to school read alouds and how to use them in your classroom!

Which Back to School Activities Elementary can I use for Building Community in my Classroom? Which All About Me Activities are most engaging for my students?

Learn how to set up your classroom and strategies for classroom management as well as other back to school tips for science teachers.

If you are looking for some fun ways to start the year with your upper elementary students, then consider adding in one of these 5 ideas!

Today, I want to share my lessons and goals for the first few days in reading workshop with you. It is going to be the first day of school real soon {maybe some of you are already back in the swing of things!} and you are going to be busy! You will surely have a list a mile long of the thi

Getting to know your students in the first days of school is kind of like an investigation, and you are the detective assigned to the case. Are you ready?

Fun and engaging ideas to get to know your students at the beginning of the school year. Build a strong classroom community with these free resources.

Every back to school season, I rack my brain of different ideas to get to know my students. In the past, I have done activities like The Best Part of Me and Three Things I Want My Teacher to Know. However, midyear I unexpectedly came up with a truly unique method to easily get to ... Read more

Looking for Wordle classroom ideas? Incorporate Wordle into your classroom with this activities, ideas, and templates.

Sign up for our mailing list to receive a FREE paper and digital "All About Me as a Reader" survey!SubscribeWe respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime..formkit-form[data-uid="64c8efa312"] *{box-sizing:border-box;}.formkit-form[data-uid="64c8efa312"]{-webkit-font-smoothing:antialiased;-moz-osx-font-smoothing:grayscale;}.formkit-form[data-uid="64c8efa312"] legend{border:none;font-size:inherit;margin-bottom:10px;padding:0;position:relative;display:table;}.formkit-form[data-uid="64c8efa312"] fieldset{border:0;padding:0.01em

Need some ideas for your math teacher observation lessons? This post has five ideas for upper elementary and middle school math teachers.

Are you a teacher looking for quality tips and ideas for the upper elementary classroom? You've come to the right spot! These dedicated teachers have ideas busting out of the seams and are ready to share them with you. Meet the teachers below by reading the 16 reasons why you should follow them and click on each blog to find more about their expertise on teaching and managing an upper elementary classroom. Their tips and advice will guide you through a successful school year! You will also find what type of resources are offered in their stores to help teachers around the world! 1. Rockin Resources Check out Rockin Resources. Along with ideas for teaching reading, scaffolding lessons, managing instruction and character education, Pam has a series of 38 posts for Writer's Workshop! Pam skillfully designs effective Step-by-Step Reading, Writing, and Social Studies resources. She is best known for her Interactive Writing Programs (Grades 1-8) that help thousands of teachers in their writing instruction! Click below to see a description of lessons included for the whole year! 2. Clutter-Free Classroom Check out Clutter-Free Classroom. Along with oodles of organization and management tips, Jodi also blogs about the importance of spiral review, essential plans for substitutes, and so much more! Jodi has outstanding resources in her store with some supporting math instruction and classroom management. Her Classroom Organization Bundle is out of this world! She is the queen of organizing! Click below for a complete description of how to get your classroom organized. 3. Mr. Elementary Math Check out Mr. Elementary Math. Greg not only offers amazing tips for teaching math, he goes above and beyond with videos and integration of growth mindset and music into math lessons. Greg creates countless math lessons as well as math-related anchor charts, exit tickets, centers and games for his store. And who wouldn't want this Math Task Card Bundle? No wonder he is Mr. Elementary Math! Click to see the skills and wide array of question types included in this bundle. 4. Crafting Connections Check out Crafting Connections. Deb shares her unique style of teaching language arts on her blog. You will not only find exceptional lessons, but also tips on readers' theater and literature circles! Deb is well-known for offering creative language arts resources through partner plays, powerpoints, craftivities, and more. One popular Craftivity that has an impact on student learning is her unit on different character's perspectives. Click below to "see" what it is all about! 5. Teaching Fourth Check out Teaching Fourth. Kelly's super cute blog provides art projects, adorable bulletin board ideas, and useful language arts tips like Creating a Vocabulary Rich Environment. Kelly's store has many academic resources like her sought-after Reading Graphic Organizers and Parts of Speech Posters. She has a line of borders and frames too. Her Simple Super Skinny Borders are a must-have! Click below to see the variety of borders that make any educational resource POP! 6. The Teacher Next Door Check out The Teacher Next Door. Jenn expertly blogs about everything from favorite books, math games, and teaching reading skills to creating a classroom community and even teacher humor! Jenn presents a collection of resources ideal for upper elementary instruction in her store. She has bundles for character education, reading, math task cards, grammar, and more. Her impressive Reading Games Bundle works well for centers, one-on-one, and test prep. Click below for more information! 7. The Teacher Studio Check out The Teacher Studio. Meg has numerous posts that enhance the regular instruction such as math culture and challenges. Experience her spunky demeanor with professional development! Meg carefully designs math and literacy curriculum that stretches students' minds. Her love for critical thinking is evident in her resources. She has Mind Boggling Math and Improving Deep Fraction Understanding. Click below for a Fish in a Tree Novel Study that digs deeper into reading! 8. The Thinker Builder Check out The Thinker Builder. Michael shares valuable ideas to encourage deep readers and bold writers. Some of his posts include Tower of Books Challenge and Differentiating Instruction. In Michael's store, he has trendy memory books and activities for the beginning and end of the year. He also creates ELA resources with the same mindset as his blog. His Reading Response Pages is well worth checking out. It is differentiated, engaging and versatile! Click below to see what it offers. 9. Teacher Thrive Check out Teacher Thrive. Melissa not only blogs about classroom procedures, but she also generates posts to teach with a deeper meaning. Some include Mulitple Intelligence and Depth and Complexity. Melissa offers rigorous educational resources in her store such as Brain Power Math, Critical Thinking, GATE, and Greek and Latin Interactive Notebooks. She created a Vocabulary Builder Flip-book that is in demand and free when subscribing to her blog! Click below to find out more about this free resource! 10. Wise Guys Check out Wise Guys. Wise Guys have two experienced teachers sharing a wealth of tips on their blog. Some include Celebrating Reading Success, Classroom Economy, and How Wonder Can Impact a Classroom. Wise Guys create detailed and thought-provoking materials for upper elementary. They have Constitution Detectives, Guided Reading Bundle, a Persuasive Writing Bundle, and this sought-after Genius Hour Bundle in their store. Click to read a desciption on where passion comes to life! 11. One Stop Teacher Shop Check out One Stop Teacher Shop. Kristen has remarkable posts to provide tips for teachers. She explains reasons for spiral review, improving student organization, how to keep homework meaningful and more! Kristin focuses her talent to provide teachers with resources to organize, save time, and cover all of the standards. Although her teacher binders are one of her specialties, she also has resources with spiral review and I Can Games. Homework is a favorite. Click to find out about Reading Homework! 12. Math Tech Connections Check out Math Tech Connections. Mariella has amazing blog posts about all aspects of math instruction. You will find information on technology math centers, weekly test folders, guided math, and more. Mariella's love for math shines in all her resources. Her unique way of designing math materials provides educators with a multitude of lessons to instill student retention. Some favored resources include math sorts, digital math resources, tri-folds, and Morning Work. Click to find a complete bundle for the year! 13. Create Teach Share Check out Create Teach Share. Rebecca has noteworthy posts to help teachers in the classroom including character education, daily math reflections, strategies for guided math, and activities for popular books. Rebecca has a creative eye and all her resources have attractive designs. Her store displays items such as Interactive Math Notebooks, Reading Response Journals, and Common Core Math Worksheets. She stays abreast of the latest trends in education with her Digital Resources. Click to learn about a growing bundle! 14. Teaching With Simplicity Check out Teaching With Simplicity. Mandy enjoys sharing her professional knowledge with other teachers. Some of her posts discuss growth mindset, flexible seating, teacher binder tips, and classroom organization. Mandy's store is filled with effective tools for teachers. Her Teacher Binder, Test Prep, ELA Assessment Pack and math resources are all meticulously designed to help teachers in the classroom. If you need Standards Based Progress Monitoring for Math, click below for a brilliant Math RTI Bundle! 15. Performing in Education Check out Performing in Education. April writes cutting-edge blog posts including STEM projects, goal setting, and project-based learning, She also has a PBL Club to assist teachers with project-based learning! April has a collection of resources in her store involving project-based learning activities conducive to guide students towards higher-level thinking. She also has Interactive Math and Reading Notebooks, as well as Writing Units. She offers a Highly-Engaging Writing Prompts bundle. Click to get more information! 16. Digital Divide and Conquer Check out Digital: Divide and Conquer. Matt channels his expert advice for teachers to share monthly ideas, projects, how teachers can recharge over breaks, and countless posts to give tips on project-based learning. Matt offers a variety of resources in his store from foldables, art activities, posters, and even a Friendship Unit. His store is the go-to place to find reputable project-based learning activities that motivate students! Click below to learn more about a Treehouse Construction Project-Based Learning activity. Fun!

Back to school season is one of the most chaotic and busy times of the year. But it's also the best time to build your classroom community! The best way to do this (in my humble opinion) is through a shared read aloud. In this list I've compiled my TOP 10 read alouds for back to school in upper elementary/middle grades. Each title discusses friendship, special teacher-student relationships, acceptance, community, and more. PLUS check out the seasonal historical fiction novel at the end! 1. Restart By: Gordan Korman Each new year is a chance for a “restart” and that is exactly what happens for the main character. Chases loses his memory after a fall and doesn’t remember anything about his past friendships. Now he has the chance to change who he was and make a clean start. This will lead to great discussion as your students “restart” the school year. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 2. Freak the Mighty By: Rodman Philbrick Making friends is hard, especially if students feel like they’ll never fit in. This novel is about looking for friends in unlikely places. It is a tear-jerker and will cover some tough themes. But it is powerful! >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 3. Save Me a Seat By: Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan This novel finds two characters that seem to have nothing in common. But they soon find common ground and overcome obstacles together. This is another great discussion starter for overcoming assumptions and friendship. 4. Because of Mr. Terupt By: Rob Buyea With seven narrators, your students are bound to find someone with whom they can relate. Mr. Terupt, the new fifth grade teacher, has an uncanny way of bringing these students together. They learn life lessons on community, empathy, etc. This novel is PERFECT for building back to school rapport. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 5. Frindle By: Andrew Clements Another novel with excellent student-teacher rapport: Frindle. In this novel, the main character is seemingly at odds with his “old-fashioned” teacher. But readers learn that the teacher was on her students' side the whole time! This novel is bound to bring your class together. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 6. Sideways Stories from Wayside School By: Louis Sachar The funniest novel on this list, the Wayside series is sure to keep your class laughing. This story is about a “quirky” school with hilarious characters. If you’re looking for an easy, clever read to start the year—this is it! >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 7. Fish in a Tree By: Lynda Mullaly Hunt Ally has always had trouble in school, but it’s not until she gets a new teacher that she discovers why. Mr. Daniels sees Ally’s dyslexia immediately. But more importantly, he also sees her creativity and intelligence. Fish in a Tree will be a relatable, community building novel for your class. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 8. Wonder By: R.J. Palacio Wonder is the ultimate empathy building novel. Auggie is born with differences that prevent him from going to “regular” school, but this year is different! The novel perspective changes from Auggie, his sister, and other friends as they navigate the school year. You will have excellent discussions about compassion, acceptance, friendship, bullying, and more! >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 9. Out of My Mind By: Sharon M. Draper This novel is in the same category as Fish in a Tree/Wonder as one that celebrates medical differences. Melody is unable to walk or communicate but she is one of the smartest students in school. With supportive parents and neighbors, Melody shows everyone that she is more than her disability. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< 10. Lyddie By: Katherine Paterson With many schools starting around Labor Day in the US, this book is the perfect historical novel. You will meet Lyddie, a factory worker during the Industrial Revolution. Lyddie is spirited, hard-working, and an excellent role model. This novel leads to fantastic discussions of the labor movement and the history behind the holiday. >>View my read aloud companion for this title on Teachers Pay Teachers!<< Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. The compensation received will never influence the content, topics, or posts made in this blog.

As you begin to plan activities for back to school, you definitely should consider spending time learning and celebrating students’ names. Students come to us from many different places, cultures, and backgrounds, and their names say a lot about who they are. In this post, I share some books and activities that will encourage students…

First week of school activities are the perfect way to build lasting relationships and trust with your students. They can be quick and easy to do!

If you are looking for some fun ways to start the year with your upper elementary students, then consider adding in one of these 5 ideas!

Reading comprehension skills like making inferences, finding the main idea, and recognizing cause and effect are critical curriculum elements in any ELA classroom. As our students build their reading skills, they need to develop their understanding of 12 different reading comprehension skills. One of my favorite ways to teach students about the reading skills is with doodle notes. Don't worry...I've put together a 20+ page set of doodle notes that you can download for FREE! (Sign up at the bottom of this post!) Have you tried doodle notes in your classroom? If so, you know that... ⭐ Doodle notes are a great way to introduce students to important information. These doodle notes include definitions for 12 different reading skills. In addition, there are tips provided for each reading skill to help students use each in their reading. The definitions are simple enough for students to understand, but specific enough to help students recognize the differences in each. ⭐ Doodle notes tap into multiple learning styles. Doodle notes are obviously great for visual learners. They also create a connection between the right and left hemispheres of the brain. This leads to an increase in learning, focus, and retention. The doodles on the note pages also help a variety of learners connect images with information. The free set of reading doodle notes also includes 4 versions for easy differentiation. There are doodle pages for lower grades, upper grades, as well as notes that are filled-in or in a guided notes format. ⭐ Doodle notes expose students to skills they can use in the classroom. Doodle notes are a fun and engaging spin on traditional notes. The free set of doodle notes focus on reading comprehension skills. Therefore, they work perfectly as a review of skills before students show off their learning while reading passages. Of course, I think reading passages should be engaging, too. So, some of my favorites to combine with the doodle notes are these... --- Reading Passages and Text-Based Evidence - R.E.A.D. Strategy --- Social Emotional Learning Passages - Read, Doodle and Do --- Nonfiction Reading Passages - Doodle and Do ⭐ Doodle notes are extremely motivating and therefore work as awesome introductions to units. The free set of reading comprehension skills doodle notes are such an awesome way to introduce students to more in-depth reading units. You could easily have students complete the packet of doodle notes before diving deeper into each reading skill. Or, you could have students complete one section of the doodle notes as they learn about different skills. The good news is that I've already created 12 reading mini-units for each reading skill. Find them here. ⭐ Doodle notes help students review and reinforce information naturally. When students complete doodle notes, first, they do the work of adding the notes to their pages. However, their learning doesn't end there. Students are super motivated to doodle, color, and embellish their note pages. As they get creative, they naturally read over and review their learning. It's the perfect way to mix creativity and learning! If you'd like to add this FREE set of reading comprehension doodle notes to your classroom, just add your email and name below. Then, check you inbox for your exclusive freebie!

A SIMPLE idea to incorporate consistent activities for your elementary students to build vital critical thinking & problem solving skills!

Your students are returning to school! Whether they are online or in-person, the first days of school are all about building relationships and community.

Attention Getters will cut out your classroom chaos and work for all grade levels. Attention getters in the classroom are the perfect solution if you are...