Classroom seating charts are an art form. Balancing IEP inclusions, student personalities, and the unique group dynamics from one class to the next can present some tricky puzzles. Let's chat about some fresh ideas for middle school seating arrangements in today's episode. Topics Discussed Survey results about what's working in other middle school classrooms right nowHow to measure if a seating arrangement is workingWhat to consider when creating a new seating arrangementHow often to change...

We can learn so much about people and time periods by studying photographs. What a powerful tool to incorporate into social studies units. If you're craving a way to shake things up in your classroom, this episode is for you. Topics Discussed Using primary sourcesHow to use artwork from a historical time periodActivities that feature old photographs Resources Take a look at the French Revolution activity discussed in today's...

Whether you love or hate geography, we all have to know how to get from point A to point B, how to read a map, how to understand others' perceptions, and to value each other's cultures. Geography is important so let's make learning FUN. Topics Discussed The benefits of making geography funWhy you'll want to incorporate unusual, weird factsOur tried and true fun activities for learning geography Related Episodes Episode 16 about beach ballsEpisode 27 about integrating social studies and...

If you want students to remember your classroom for many years, hands-on learning is the way to go. Today we're sharing social studies activities that will help make learning memorable and long lasting. Topics Discussed Why bother teaching with a hands-on approach?Our tried and true hands-on activities for social studies Resources Interactive Notebooks: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Colorado-Classroom/Category/12821300-WORLD-HISTORY128508-409115 Interactive notebook...

If you'd like to make the most of your instructional minutes while also helping students understand how different subjects connect in real life, then you'll love this episode about blending history and literature in the middle school classroom. Topics Discussed Why you might want to integrate subjectsHow to pair language arts and social studies topicsSome of our favorite books that lined up with the history curriculum Resources Take a closer look at Brittany's History Minutes here: ...

The home stretch is here! Whether you're seeing a lack of engagement or behavior challenges are on the rise, this episode is packed full of quick tips to make the end of your year a little bit smoother. Check out Ellie's class expectation wheels here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Expectations-and-Class-Rules-Wheel-and-Template-for-Back-to-School-3886499 Check out Brittany's class expectations and rules resource...

The research about math manipulatives really makes us reflect on HOW we are using these tools in the classroom. Pull a chair up to our teacher table and let's chat about this topic together! Topics Discussed What are math manipulatives?Why are they effective in the middle school math classroom?How to use them effectively (and not use them effectively)Math teacher preparation programsThe role of exploration and demonstration Please subscribe on your favorite platform so you don’t miss an...

The sky is the limit when it comes to number lines. They can be effective hands on tools, useful classroom decor options, or even a reference sheet for the student's workspace. This episode will help you think about number lines in a new way. Topics Discussed Open number linesFraction, decimal, percent number linesPositive and negative integer number linesDouble number linesRatiosVertical number lines Resources Grab your own copy of the FREE number line resource Ellie mentioned in this...

Just because we see a new strategy on social media, doesn't mean it's the best teaching method for our students. Let's deep dive about the controversial butterfly method today and perhaps take this approach OUT of our teaching toolboxes. Resources Check out Ellie’s free fraction training, Three Fraction Shortcuts to Avoid: https://cognitivecardiomath.com/3-common-mistakes-teachers-make-when-teaching-fractions-and-how-to-fix-them/ Please subscribe on your favorite platform so you don’t miss an...

How will you be celebrating Pi Day with your mathematicians? Today we're sharing our tried and true favorite activities for this important celebration. Topics Discussed What is Pi and Pi Day?Ideas for Celebrating Pi Day in the Math Classroom Resources Circle and Pi Category https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Cognitive-Cardio-Math/Search:circle Pi Day Math Activity Bundle https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pi-Day-Math-Activity-Bundle-1708456 Pi Day Color by Number...

It's time for your observation. How do you feel? Is your stomach quesy or are you calm as a cucumber? Are your palms sweating or are you happy to see your administrator enter your room? Today we're going to chat about teacher evaluation time, share some of our experiences, and give actionable tips to help you survive this stressful season. Topics Discussed Types of evaluationsTips for navigating your next observation Resources Take a look through our past episodes to find tons of tips about...

When you hear the words ‘multiplication facts,’ what is your first thought? If it’s similar to many of the comments I’ve read in math teacher FB groups, it might be something like,  ‘oh my gosh, kids don’t know their facts, ‘ or ‘my students can’t find least common multiple because they don’t know their multiplication facts’ or something along those lines. Today we'll be talking to Danna Rodebush all about strategies to improve math fact fluency. Topics Discussed What is math fact fluency?Why...

How many times have you walked into your classroom with the thought “I just can’t do this today?” You’re feeling sad, burned out, or just generally REALLY blah. Have you ever felt that way? Today we’re talking about burnout and depression, and how we can deal with those feelings. Topics Discussed You certainly aren't aloneWhere to turn for helpCoping strategies you can try today Resources Here is the research study mentioned in today's episode You can learn more about teaching with...

Is that extra time spent leading clubs even worth it? Should we fight to keep clubs in the picture at our school? Tune in for our take on this topic! Topics Discussed How the offerings have evolved over timeWhat the research saysIdeas for clubs that you might consider adding at your school Resources Check out this blog post about clubs in schools to dive deeper on this topic Please subscribe on your favorite platform so you don’t miss an episode. Whether it’s Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google...

So your students come in to class and don't have pencils. Is this a big deal? Are we concerned about why they don't have a pencil? Let's talk about some easy-to-implement strategies for dealing with the pencil dilemma. Resources Mentioned 'Cause I Ain't Got a Pencil poem by Joshua Dickerson Please subscribe on your favorite platform so you don’t miss an episode. Whether it’s Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or some other listening app, we encourage you to take a moment to subscribe...

Today, we're going to talk about how beach balls and cardboard wheels can be fun and effective learning tools for the middle school classroom. Resources Beach ball blog post Word wheel blog post Please subscribe on your favorite platform so you don’t miss an episode. Whether it’s Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or some other listening app, we encourage you to take a moment to subscribe to The Teaching Toolbox. And if you feel so inclined, we would love a review at Apple or Spotify...

Did you have indoor recess today? This time of year it’s getting colder in many states and indoor recess will be more frequent. Indoor recess can be one of those challenging parts of the day, but we've got a few quick ideas for you to help make this time as enjoyable as possible! Topics Discussed Indoor recess observationsIdeas for indoor recess Related Episodes Classroom Games - Episode 3 Please subscribe on your favorite platform so you don’t miss an episode. Whether it’s Spotify, Apple...

Today we'll be talking all about classroom greetings and effective classroom routines for beginning the day with middle school students. These routines can help set the tone for the rest of the day and ensure that students are focused and ready to learn. We'll also chat about routines to begin your classes. Topics Discussed Classroom greetingsHomeroom routinesClass routines Related Resources Power of Greetings Blog Post “How to Be an Effective Teacher the First Days of School” by Harry and...

Today we've got some rapid fire ideas for making the most of behavior plans in your classroom. For more ideas, remember to check out Episode 4, Behavior and Discipline Please subscribe on your favorite platform so you don’t miss an episode. Whether it’s Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or some other listening app, we encourage you to take a moment to subscribe to The Teaching Toolbox. And if you feel so inclined, we would love a review at Apple or Spotify to help other listeners...

In this episode we'll dive into the concept of a classroom economy and provide practical tips on how to get started. We'll also discuss how it can be used to teach students about responsibility, financial literacy, and teamwork. Topics Discussed What a classroom economy system isHow using a classroom economy is beneficialSpecific examples of classroom economy systems in actionTips for getting started with a classroom economy system Resources Class Money for Classroom Economy System Related...

Listen on Apple Listen on Spotify Color is very important to humans in how we process information. It is the first thing we see and recognize and is imprinted on the brain, helping us to recognize and recall facts later on. In this episode, we'll be chatting with Brigid Danziger of Math Giraffe to discuss color and its use and impacts in the classroom. Brigid is the creator of DoodleNotes and is an expert on dual coding and visual and linguistic connections and how they lead to better...

This week we're tackling classroom transitions! Transition times can be some of the most difficult parts of the day, but we've got tips and strategies to help you and your students transition smoothly into and out of class. We also have great classroom transition ideas for how to move from one activity to another during class. From timers to juggling to routines and rewards, you can find numerous strategies to choose from in this episode! Topics Discussed Beginning of class transition...

Study Skills are an integral part of creating lifelong learners. Students who quiz or test or will, sometime in their future, need to learn study skills. As far as we know, that pretty much includes everyone. Learning study skills builds resiliency, a growth mindset, better note-takers, students who take on more responsibility for their learning - ownership, critical thinking skills, and so much more. In this episode, we'll discuss study skills and their benefits, techniques and strategies...

Are you a middle school teacher with parent-teacher conferences coming soon? If so, you're in luck! In this episode, we are sharing tips and strategies to make the most out of your meeting time with parents. Delve into how middle school teachers can make these meetings productive and positive. We discuss the different conference formats that are typically used, including traditional one-on-one meetings and student-led conferences. We also explore the benefits of using an agenda to ensure that...