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This board features pins from our blog and other great blog posts we have read from all over the globe. Our blog can be found at brainninjas.ca

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Brain Ninjas/Engaging Lesson Plans + Teaching Tips

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Do your students struggle with mastering long division? We've put together a list of strategies to help your students build basic skills that will prepare them for long division while getting the division steps down pat. This post includes videos, personal strategies, explicit teaching strategies, and tools to teach division (and related multiplication). Best of all, you can grab a free set of long division task cards to use for review, practise or assessment. Come take a read! Long Division Strategies, Teaching Strategies, Teaching Reading, Teaching Math, Multiplication And Division, Math Journals, Math Numbers, Guided Math

Long Division Strategies

Teaching Strategies

Teaching Reading

Multiplication And Division

Do your students struggle with mastering long division? We've put together a list of strategies to help your students build basic skills that will prepare them for long division while getting the division steps down pat. This post includes videos, personal strategies, explicit teaching strategies, and tools to teach division (and related multiplication). Best of all, you can grab a free set of long division task cards to use for review, practise or assessment. Come take a read!

Are your students struggling with working in groups? Students do not innately know how to work in group situations, so we have to model, teach and practice group work. Come read our list of ways we teach students to work cooperatively and get some tools that can help make group work easier for everyone. Teaching Skills, Student Teacher, Student Work, Communities Unit, Feedback For Students, Future School, Classroom Management Strategies, Cooperative Learning

Teaching Skills

Student Teacher

Communities Unit

Feedback For Students

Classroom Management Strategies

Cooperative Learning

Are your students struggling with working in groups? Students do not innately know how to work in group situations, so we have to model, teach and practice group work. Come read our list of ways we teach students to work cooperatively and get some tools that can help make group work easier for everyone.

Are you becoming a mentor teacher for preservice or student teachers? Come read about some of the amazing things our mentor teachers did and how you can use as you begin to work with new teachers. New Teachers, Best Teacher, Classroom Organization, Classroom Management, Teaching Profession, Meeting Someone New

Classroom Organization

Classroom Management

Teaching Profession

Meeting Someone New

Are you becoming a mentor teacher for preservice or student teachers? Come read about some of the amazing things our mentor teachers did and how you can use as you begin to work with new teachers.

Asian Canadians have contributed to every facet of Canadian culture and society. Help your students explore some of these contributions as well as some of the racial discrimination they have faced in Canada by reading through this post. It comes with suggestions of books and resources that you can use any time of year, but highlight during Asian Heritage Month. Come take a read! Canadian Culture, Heritage Month, Remembrance Day, Canada Day, Lesson Plans, Highlight, Students, Classroom

Canadian Culture

Remembrance Day

Asian Canadians have contributed to every facet of Canadian culture and society. Help your students explore some of these contributions as well as some of the racial discrimination they have faced in Canada by reading through this post. It comes with suggestions of books and resources that you can use any time of year, but highlight during Asian Heritage Month. Come take a read!

If you're like us, many of our students spend Ramadan fasting. Do you teach the rest of the class about some of the traditions during this important time? We created a set of reading and writing activities to help teach elementary students about this observance in the Islam faith along with resources like books you can use in your upper elementary classroom. Come learn more! Help Teaching, Learning To Be, Upper Elementary, Student Gifts, Writing Activities, Teacher Pay Teachers, Ramadan, Ninjas

Upper Elementary

Writing Activities

Teacher Pay Teachers

If you're like us, many of our students spend Ramadan fasting. Do you teach the rest of the class about some of the traditions during this important time? We created a set of reading and writing activities to help teach elementary students about this observance in the Islam faith along with resources like books you can use in your upper elementary classroom. Come learn more!

Is the noise level in your classroom driving you up the wall? When noise gets out of hand, it's time for a reset. Get that noise level under control before its a problem. Come learn what we discovered and how you can make it work for you. Caught Being Good, Would You Rather Game, How Many Years, Tone Of Voice, Out Of Hand, Hands In The Air, Feeling Frustrated, Gym Classes

Caught Being Good

Would You Rather Game

Hands In The Air

Feeling Frustrated

Is the noise level in your classroom driving you up the wall? When noise gets out of hand, it's time for a reset. Get that noise level under control before its a problem. Come learn what we discovered and how you can make it work for you.

Do you find it challenging to communicate with the parents and guardians of your students? This is not a post about different apps, but is about ways to establish communication channels that work for you while saving your time and energy to do it. Come read through these ideas today. Parent Teacher Communication, Parent Communication, Effective Communication, Parent Contact, Teaching Philosophy, Sign Up Page, Meet The Teacher, Parents As Teachers, Ways To Communicate

Parent Teacher Communication

Parent Communication

Effective Communication

Teaching Philosophy

Meet The Teacher

Parents As Teachers

Ways To Communicate

Do you find it challenging to communicate with the parents and guardians of your students? This is not a post about different apps, but is about ways to establish communication channels that work for you while saving your time and energy to do it. Come read through these ideas today.

If you're looking for simple art projects for elementary art classes, this is the post for you. This is our collection of art lesson plans designed for generalist teachers who don't have a background in art. Come take a read and crab the lesson plans for some free art lessons for your upper elementary classroom. Elementary Art, Science Lessons, Art Lessons, Remembrance Day Art, Easy Art Projects, Art Lesson Plans, Canadian Artists, Art Classroom

Science Lessons

Remembrance Day Art

Easy Art Projects

Art Lesson Plans

Canadian Artists

If you're looking for simple art projects for elementary art classes, this is the post for you. This is our collection of art lesson plans designed for generalist teachers who don't have a background in art. Come take a read and crab the lesson plans for some free art lessons for your upper elementary classroom.

Back to school doesn't have to be chaos. Come read through our list of things you can do in your personal life to help make your professional life run smoother during back to school season. These are our tried and true methods that we use every single summer. Come read and take care yourself this school year. Getting To Know You, What You Can Do, Back To School Checklist, Emergency Sub Plans, Life Run, Theme Days, It Gets Better, Going Back To School, Make It Through

Getting To Know You

What You Can Do

Back To School Checklist

Emergency Sub Plans

Going Back To School

Make It Through

Back to school doesn't have to be chaos. Come read through our list of things you can do in your personal life to help make your professional life run smoother during back to school season. These are our tried and true methods that we use every single summer. Come read and take care yourself this school year.

You don't have to spend your summer getting ready for back to school, but there are a few little things you can do to make your back to school season a little more organized. Come read this list of things you can get done before the school year starts so you can spend a little more of your time doing the things you love. New School Year, First Day Of School, Back To School, A Simple Plan, Math Skills, Getting Organized

New School Year

First Day Of School

Getting Organized

You don't have to spend your summer getting ready for back to school, but there are a few little things you can do to make your back to school season a little more organized. Come read this list of things you can get done before the school year starts so you can spend a little more of your time doing the things you love.

Are you looking for some simple (but great looking) art projects for back to school? We found some of our favourite and put them together with instructions in a blog post. They make great bulletin boards for meet the teacher and can help you get know your students while they work on them. Come read the post and get some great art ideas for your elementary classroom! Alphabet Magnets, New Students, Block Lettering, Simple Art

Alphabet Magnets

Block Lettering

Are you looking for some simple (but great looking) art projects for back to school? We found some of our favourite and put them together with instructions in a blog post. They make great bulletin boards for meet the teacher and can help you get know your students while they work on them. Come read the post and get some great art ideas for your elementary classroom!

Instead of assigning homework for your upper elementary students, have you ever considered assigning quality time? Our school board doesn't allow homework in elementary but they do encourage other activities like reading, cooking and spending time outdoors. Come take a look at this list of alternative homework ideas and get a little inspiration. Homework Ideas, Reading Logs, What Activities, Teaching Tips, Student Learning, Quality Time, Life Skills, Brain

What Activities

Student Learning

Instead of assigning homework for your upper elementary students, have you ever considered assigning quality time? Our school board doesn't allow homework in elementary but they do encourage other activities like reading, cooking and spending time outdoors. Come take a look at this list of alternative homework ideas and get a little inspiration.

Are you looking for some perfect books for winter in your upper elementary classroom? We've collected a list of our favourites including several Canadian authors. Come read and leave us your favourite winter books too! Great Books, New Books, Social Emotional Learning, Winter Theme, Classroom Activities, Nonfiction Books, Love Book, Book Recommendations

Social Emotional Learning

Classroom Activities

Nonfiction Books

Book Recommendations

Are you looking for some perfect books for winter in your upper elementary classroom? We've collected a list of our favourites including several Canadian authors. Come read and leave us your favourite winter books too!

Do you avoid giving your upper elementary students projects because they don't seem to get them done? It's time to rethink how you keep students accountable during project based learning by reading some of the ways we keep on top of the projects. Pick up some tools that can help you and your students avoid unfinished projects or learn when it's time to move on from a project. Project based learning requires so many different skills, but it is so worth the time. Come read! Reading Help, Project Based Learning, Make A Presentation, Student Engagement

Project Based Learning

Make A Presentation

Student Engagement

Do you avoid giving your upper elementary students projects because they don't seem to get them done? It's time to rethink how you keep students accountable during project based learning by reading some of the ways we keep on top of the projects. Pick up some tools that can help you and your students avoid unfinished projects or learn when it's time to move on from a project. Project based learning requires so many different skills, but it is so worth the time. Come read!

Are you looking for books to bring into your upper elementary classroom to learn about and celebrate Ramadan and Eid? We've collected a big list from our students and have put them in a list to share with you. Come take a look and get ideas for how you can diversify the books in your school library collection. Muslim Book, Cultural Beliefs, Find A Book, Christian Kids, English Language Learners, Being Good, Student Reading, Children In Need

Cultural Beliefs

English Language Learners

Student Reading

Children In Need

Are you looking for books to bring into your upper elementary classroom to learn about and celebrate Ramadan and Eid? We've collected a big list from our students and have put them in a list to share with you. Come take a look and get ideas for how you can diversify the books in your school library collection.

Some differences might be obvious to Canadians, but our American teacher friends might not know that Canadian schools are quite different. Come read this post to see some of the differences and even some of the similarities. You might think you already know the differences, but maybe there's more? And if you have more ideas, be sure to leave a comment so we can write another post. Elementary Teacher, School Teacher, Elementary Schools, Us School, Public School, Teacher Salary, English Spelling, Staff Room, Pre Kindergarten

Elementary Teacher

Elementary Schools

English Spelling

Pre Kindergarten

Some differences might be obvious to Canadians, but our American teacher friends might not know that Canadian schools are quite different. Come read this post to see some of the differences and even some of the similarities. You might think you already know the differences, but maybe there's more? And if you have more ideas, be sure to leave a comment so we can write another post.

Are you pulling out your hair because your students interrupt, move around while you're teaching or argue with each other? Instead of getting frustrated, try teaching some of these courtesies and general social behaviours. It will save you time, restore the calm and make you enjoy your students. Come take a read! School Custodian, Social Behavior, Classroom Community, Learning Spaces, Ask For Help

School Custodian

Social Behavior

Classroom Community

Learning Spaces

Are you pulling out your hair because your students interrupt, move around while you're teaching or argue with each other? Instead of getting frustrated, try teaching some of these courtesies and general social behaviours. It will save you time, restore the calm and make you enjoy your students. Come take a read!

Do you share your students with another teacher? Are you sharing a room with another teacher and it's not going smoothly? Come learn some of the pitfalls and how to overcome them when you are team teaching from two teachers that have shared a classroom for years. You don't have to suffer through it. Instead, become a team teaching hero! Team Teaching, A Classroom, School Calendar

School Calendar

Do you share your students with another teacher? Are you sharing a room with another teacher and it's not going smoothly? Come learn some of the pitfalls and how to overcome them when you are team teaching from two teachers that have shared a classroom for years. You don't have to suffer through it. Instead, become a team teaching hero!

Classrooms are filled with hilarious stories from teachers and we've collected some of our favourite. Put your feet up, get into something comfy and come read some of the best reasons that teaching is fun. You might even have your own teacher funny story to share with us! Teacher Humor, Classroom Quotes, To My Parents, Teacher Inspiration, Keeping A Journal, Having A Crush

Classroom Quotes

Teacher Inspiration

Keeping A Journal

Classrooms are filled with hilarious stories from teachers and we've collected some of our favourite. Put your feet up, get into something comfy and come read some of the best reasons that teaching is fun. You might even have your own teacher funny story to share with us!

Valentine's Day in upper elementary isn't quite the same as the little kids or the older ones. It's this weird time in a kid's life where they are too old to care about paper cards but also want to be included in getting paper cards. They are just starting to have crushes but the maturity level is all over the place. We've spent a lot of time watching our Valentine's Day ideas flop. Come read some of our students' approved Valentine's Day ideas. Kindness Activities, Bonding Activities, Holiday Activities, Reading Skills, Map Skills, Learn Art

Kindness Activities

Bonding Activities

Holiday Activities

Valentine's Day in upper elementary isn't quite the same as the little kids or the older ones. It's this weird time in a kid's life where they are too old to care about paper cards but also want to be included in getting paper cards. They are just starting to have crushes but the maturity level is all over the place. We've spent a lot of time watching our Valentine's Day ideas flop. Come read some of our students' approved Valentine's Day ideas.

Pink Shirt Day started in Canada and has spread it's anti-bullying message around the world. Come learn about the origins of Pink Shirt Day and find resources you can use in your upper elementary classroom. We've put together this blog post for teachers like you who are trying to teach bullying prevention. Come read! Student Teaching, World Kindness Day, Kindness Matters, Reading Activities, Books About Kindness, Bullying Prevention

Student Teaching

World Kindness Day

Kindness Matters

Reading Activities

Books About Kindness

Bullying Prevention

Pink Shirt Day started in Canada and has spread it's anti-bullying message around the world. Come learn about the origins of Pink Shirt Day and find resources you can use in your upper elementary classroom. We've put together this blog post for teachers like you who are trying to teach bullying prevention. Come read!

Are you looking for some ways to remind your students about what it means to be kind? We collected all the ideas we've used to help students learn how to be kind to each other. It includes a kindness challenge that you can grab for free and use any time of year. Come read the blog post and get some ideas for your upper elementary classroom. Kindness Challenge, Fancy Pens, Classroom Jobs

Kindness Challenge

Are you looking for some ways to remind your students about what it means to be kind? We collected all the ideas we've used to help students learn how to be kind to each other. It includes a kindness challenge that you can grab for free and use any time of year. Come read the blog post and get some ideas for your upper elementary classroom.

Are you looking for a simple but beautiful Valentine's Day art project? Make these Love Trees. All the instructions can be found in our blog post, so come take a read. We make these in our grade four and grade five art classes and nobody needs to know much about art to make them beautiful. Happy Valentine's Day! Holiday Themes, Glue Painting, Large Artwork, Valentine Day Love, Teaching Art

Valentine Day Love

Are you looking for a simple but beautiful Valentine's Day art project? Make these Love Trees. All the instructions can be found in our blog post, so come take a read. We make these in our grade four and grade five art classes and nobody needs to know much about art to make them beautiful. Happy Valentine's Day!

How do you handle communicating with the parents or guardians of the students in your classroom? Come read our whole list of ways to connect with families between home and school. Grab a free communication log in the process so you can be organized and ready to go.

How do you handle communicating with the parents or guardians of the students in your classroom? Come read our whole list of ways to connect with families between home and school. Grab a free communication log in the process so you can be organized and ready to go.

Guided Reading Questions

Learner Profile

Relationship Building

Teachers are always told that the key to classroom management is to build relationships with the students in your classroom, but quite often we're not told how. This blog post is full of ideas that will help you foster healthy relationships with your students, making the time you spend with student productive. Come read!