Blog - Your Thrifty Co-Teacher

Teaching Context Clues in 4th & 5th Grade

Explicitly teaching context clues is one of the most beneficial lessons you can provide to your 4th & 5th grade students. Teaching them how to figure out the meaning of unknown words directly impacts their reading comprehension. I saw this firsthand with a fifth grade student who would come up to me almost daily asking what words meant. She relied heavily on me to define unfamiliar ... Read More about Teaching Context Clues in 4th & 5th Grade

5 Types of Context Clues

Helping students learn to identify and grasp the meaning of the 5 types of context clues is extremely important. When students gain the ability to use context clues effectively, their reading comprehension improves. They start to become independent readers. This is why explicitly teaching context clues is so important. I teach my students the types of context clues using the acronym I.D.E.A.S. ... Read More about 5 Types of Context Clues

Spelling Activities for Upper Elementary Students

When we think of spelling activities, we usually think of younger school aged children. However, you can implement some engaging spelling activities in your 4th grade and 5th grade classrooms. Incorporating fun games and activities will get your students excited to practice their spelling words. My suggestion when incorporating these activities is to first go over the spelling pattern you are ... Read More about Spelling Activities for Upper Elementary Students

Memorial Day Books for Kids in Upper Elementary

Memorial Day books for kids are a great way to introduce the conversation about the National holiday. It offers the opportunity to discuss how men and women have served our country and how many have sacrificed their lives for our freedoms. You can find these Memorial Day books for kids at your school library, community library, local bookstore, or purchase through the affiliate links provided ... Read More about Memorial Day Books for Kids in Upper Elementary

Make Back to School Preparation Part of Your End of the Year Activities

As the school year comes to an end, there is always so much to do. There are end of the year celebrations to plan, grades to input, awards to write out, and so much more. It can be so tempting to throw everything in a closet and deal with it later. Having taught for over 20 years now, I came to realize that including back to school preparation as part of your end of the year activities was a wise ... Read More about Make Back to School Preparation Part of Your End of the Year Activities

Classroom Morning Routine

Greeting students, taking attendance, and listening to the morning announcements are just some of our morning responsibilities. Having a predictable classroom morning routine can really help the mornings start off smoothly. Having worked in a classroom for over 20 years now, I found a system that has proven to work well for my students and for me. 1. Clear Expectations Displayed The most ... Read More about Classroom Morning Routine