“Back to school” has a very different ring to it this year. Many aspects of beginning a new school year are dramatically different from how they’ve ever been. Anxiety, fatigue, restlessness, and stress are our unwelcome companions. All of our lives are different in some ways. We need to acknowledge that, but also remind ourselves […]
A Simple Solution to Demystify Math Standards As an elementary teacher, I attended countless workshops and graduate classes aimed at making math understandable and engaging for my students. But I was aware that not everyone had the same experience with math. When the parents of my students asked how they could help their children, I […]
Proclaim Liberty throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof. That, as you might recognize, is the inscription on our 2,080-pound national treasure, the Liberty Bell. There are many myths and misconceptions in US history, some of which involve this famous symbol. According to the National Park Service, the State House bell, as it […]
When I was in elementary school, my favorite activity was whole-class flashcard races. I already had the longing to become a teacher and couldn’t wait to get my own set of tall, buff-colored flashcards for every math operation. When I had my own classroom, I used flashcards in a less competitive way. My students made […]
The school year is finally winding down—and what a year it has been! Teachers, parents, and students will all be happy to take a break from distance learning. Unfortunately, the summer slide will not be taking a break. In fact, the impact of the COVID slide, as some are calling it, may be substantially worse, […]
In addition to crafts and Active Experiences, expose your campers to some great literature. Answering a few questions after reading a story is an effective way to maintain reading comprehension skills over the summer. Simple Download these children’s classics adapted by Simple Solutions. For very young children, use The Tale of Peter Rabbit and The Steadfast Tin […]
Summer is here, but a lot of the things we look forward to in summer will not be happening. Vacations, baseball games, trips to the pool, and summer camp may have been canceled. But why dwell on what’s lost? Your children can attend a camp hosted by you! In this, and two upcoming blogs, you’ll find […]
Back in February, Susie, Mary Pat, and Regina from the Simple Solutions proofreading team worked very hard to ensure our revised science books were error free. Use the worksheet below to help your students become proofreading pros too! Practice Your Proofreading Skills! Use the Proofreader’s Symbols Chart to complete the worksheet below. Click on the […]
By this time of year, most grade-level math concepts have been addressed, though students may not have reached mastery in every area. That comes with practice! As they move through elementary school, students acquire a range of strategies to tackle multi-step word problems. During problem solving, students use skills—everything from using basic facts and simple […]
There are many ways to help students improve their communication skills by writing for an authentic audience. School may not look the same right now, but gratitude and thank you notes are more important than ever. The end of this non-traditional school year is upon us, and there are many reasons to celebrate and be […]
