Have you ever wondered about how to make real world connections in the classroom? It’s one of my favourite strategies to get instant engagement with my learners.
I’m sharing the engagement strategies every teacher needs to never hear ” When am I ever going to need this?” Keeping students motivated and focused is a challenge for sure! But, there is a way to do this without spending a whole load of time.
I’ve tested these real-world connection strategies so I know they work. You will walk away knowing Why it’s important to incorporate them, the research backing this approach, and examples of easy ways to align them to content.
The best part…
They will keep your students engaged and wanting to give their best effort throughout the year.
3 Reasons Why Real World Connections in the Classroom Matter
Are your learners getting bored and have your usual activities become stale? Then this is the perfect time to try some new strategies. Here are three reasons why changing things up is a great way to end the year.
1) Meaningful Learning
Learning should be meaningful to students. However often the format in which you teach doesn’t make it obvious. Worksheets and using examples from textbooks make content uninspiring. Moreover, there’s a disconnect between learning in the classroom and how it applies to students in everyday life. This includes the world of work and their role in the community.
So why not change things up and incorporate REAL problems where students can use their maths, science, or other curricular skills to make learning meaningful to THEM.
Here’s how to get started today.
Open up a discussion about where a particular content can be seen or used outside the classroom.
Help your students consider questions like:
Where have I seen this in my life?
I wonder how I might use this?
How does this work or how is this created?
Making more real world connections with content will make learning more meaningful for your students.
TBH trying out something new at the end of the year is a PERFECT time. You know your students and have a rapport with them. Most likely you have an idea about their interests too. Asking them what they would like to learn about will help you narrow down the context you set any learning. You will also be able to get some valuable feedback on what works and what you might want to tweak for the start of the next year.
2) Improved focus
I’m sure you will agree, that students are great at staying focused when they are creating the latest Tik Tok. But it sort of falls flat when you resort to using ‘word problems’ as real world connection examples. How long it took for Bob and Jane to catch the bus to school is uninspiring, to say the least!
If you’re wondering how to get THAT super focus on learning content then, incorporating real world examples in your classroom is a must!
I’ll share how you can incorporate social media trends to get this focus later in this post.
3) Independent Exploration
Making real world connection in the classroom can be a great precursor to using Project Based Learning. PBL is a student-led learning approach based on solving real world problems. Incorporating real world connections examples will automatically encourage your students to look for answers to the problems you set them. No more purchasing 27 melons! ( when has that ever made sense?)
You can find practical ways to incorporate PBL by grabbing my free guide and planner for upper elementary teachers HERE.
Let’s dig into why and how you can easily make real world connections with any subject in your upper elementary classroom.
What are Real World Connections
Real world connections are making associations between student experiences and the content and skills you teach them.
There are a few ways to do this practically:
Get to know your students’ interests
Use Project Based Learning (PBL)
Explore how to and where to use content relevant to students’ lives
What is a Real World Connection Example
If you’re wondering what is a real world connection here’s an example of putting these tips into practice. Here’s what it can look like…
When I brought in a cactus for my fourth-grade students to explore, we discovered that students were most interested in being horticulturists.
Surprisingly they didn’t know this was a job that would require them to use their literacy skills. The succulents were the perfect context to explore plants, science, and math standards.
They practiced a whole array of skills including annotating plant parts, researching unusual plants, and writing care schedules. They also experimented with how light and water affected healthy growth. Recording, graphing, and presenting their observations was a great culminating event.
Making real world connections- Succulents project
This approach supported unprompted learning without setting any homework! It was a great context for students to practice their literacy skills. If you want to know more about this project and how “JEFF” the cactus plays a role in my passion for PBL, you can read about it HERE.
Using Authentic Materials in the Classroom
Yippee! Students of varying abilities remembered the skills months later.
Intentionally planning a learning experience means this can be a strategy you use in all areas of the curriculum.
Project Based Learning units can be a great 21st-century approach for students to connect discipline content. In my real world connection example above, we made real world connections in maths and reinforced real world connections in science too.
Not convinced…? Here’s why it’s important to make real world connections in the classroom.
The Importance of Real World Connections in the Classroom
Benefits of adding real world connections in the classroom
1) Student Engagement
a) Benefits
Short of jumping through hoops, it can be a challenge to keep kids actively learning with material that can seem boring and repetitive. Boosting student engagement through using real world connections not only keeps students on track but also exposes them to real-life problems. Behaviour management, attainment, and progression are all linked to keeping students moving forward with their learning. Self-motivation plays a role in this. Resumes for teachers has a great article about how to use student engagement strategies to connect with your students.
Within a class of often diverse and varying abilities and backgrounds, effective student engagement strategies can help free up valuable time for supporting those kids that need the extra help.
If you are using real world examples just as extension work and fast finishers, you might want to reconsider this approach.
b) Learning Style
In fact, using real world examples for whole-class instruction can be a great interactive and collaborative exercise. Moreover, students with additional learning needs respond really well to activities that are interesting and in a style that comes more naturally to them.
Here are Some formats you can try:
hands-on activities – making models
audiovisual formats – podcasts or social media videos
Presentations and powerpoints
All of these formats are commonly used in the real world. If students can see the PURPOSE of an activity they are more likely to be focused and engaged.
An Example of Making Real World Connections
We used empty yogurt cartons from the school canteen as a practical approach to doing a project on recycling and reducing waste. Supporting the environment by creating a garden using just recycled material and waste was just what was needed to support my learners. They were struggling to see the link between maths and science and in particular measurement.
Firstly we collected empty yogurt cartons, washed and laid them out to dry. You can also use egg shells, toilet rolls and cut out plastic bottles. We then planted seeds in them for a mother’s day gift. The plastic bottles were used to create the school garden. we hung them as hanging as mini hanging baskets and placed them as window boxes.
To tie this in with our measurement topic pupil’s estimated the dimensions of the containers, the length of the window sills and how many containers would be needed to fill all the sills. Outside they mapped out the area to create the recycling garden and created scaled map of what plants would be grown and where they would be located.
Giving a choice of activities for students who don’t have a strong grasp of certain content meant that learning progression can happen for ALL students. They worked in groups to solve problems and create solutions. It’s so rewarding to see simple changes making such a big difference in engagement and understanding.
2) Relevancy
Adding relevant content works really well with motivating students. When it’s close to home and on students’ radar, they are likely to have a viewpoint and interest in the outcome. You might want to consider finding out what is going on in your students’ lives and the local community to make learning relevant for them.
Devious Licks Social Media Trend
Stealing school property has become such a talking point at the moment both for teachers and schools affected AND students. What seems on the face of it harmless fun has escalated in some cases to become criminal. Tackling this head-on might need some creativity but it’s certainly a topic that can be addressed appropriately in classroom lessons.
Taking a proactive role in educating your students on the danger, immorality, and practicalities of the “devious licks” trend, while teaching maths standards at the same time is a creative way to add real world connection and pique their interest. Introducing kids to statistics and crime rates can be a great relevant context to teach standards across the upper elementary curriculum and address the mathematical and social aspects of the devious licks trend.
Making real world connection with what is relevant to kids’ interests and environment is a sure way to put learning into context. Try it out! Catching students unaware by removing their chairs could be a parallel example of the issues surrounding this sensationalisation in social media. It would prompt discussion and empathy and ‘earning’ them back would let them experience the cost of replacing essential items for THEM! This scenario would be a great motivator to learn relevant subject content.
3) Student Motivation
I’m all for developing intrinsic motivation to learn. External motivators work to a certain extent but are limited in what they can achieve in terms of motivating students. If you’ve not watched a foreign movie called “ The 3 Idiots” ~Then you should! It’s the moral of the movie that is the most interesting.
Educational Reform
This movie is based on the real-life story of Sonam Wangchuk who inspired the plot.
He was awarded the “International Terra Award” for his innovation. Today, Ladakh’s literacy rate has increased from 5% to 80% due to Sonam Wangchuk.In his school, the focus was more on practical knowledge than theoretical knowledge. The school built by Sonam Wangchuk is the only school where the school is open 24 hours a day.
www.indiansbiography.in
This movie highlights that learning is everywhere and that motivation for learning doesn’t come from acquiring certificates and grades, it’s the enjoyment of the journey that is the greatest motivator to learn more. By adding student voice and choice you can give ownership of learning to your students. This is a great motivator to push through when they find some skills challenging.
Student learning journey
In my projects, I always aim to give a choice of how students can present or share what they have learned and this can be in their preferred learning format, auditory, visual, kinesthetic.
Here are a few of the choices you can try out in your classroom.
Powerpoint presentation
Comic strip
Video
Flipbook
Podcast
Diagram
By using real world examples in the classroom we can help build this motivation to learn as your students enjoy the learning journey. If you are a little apprehensive about trying to use full project based learning then this is a great place to start incorporating elements of it. Incorporating real-world examples can be a great precursor to introducing project based learning in your upper elementary classroom. You can find out more about this in my Free walkthrough of creating a project based learning unit for upper elementary teachers HERE
4) Research skills
Teaching research skills has been a life changer in my classroom and it can be in yours too! Using real world connection examples, naturally sets up the environment for practicing authentic research skills. As students explore different sources they acquire research skills that are transferable to other areas of their life, especially in the world of work. The bonus is YOU get to impart less of the reading content while students work independently.
When starting any project based learning unit, the first thing I do is teach my students how to find accurate and relevant information. That’s why I created a lesson surrounding the Titanic where I teach them about fake news. They love this! and it opens up avenues for them to make their own real world connections to the skills they are learning. It’s a must for transitioning to a more student-led learning environment. The skill is so important in helping students navigate the online space safely and collate relevant information.
5) Retention
Hands up if you want to stop repeating yourself and free up a bit more time around test prep time! Incorporating real world connection in the classroom is hands down the best way to ensure what goes in doesn’t leave within a minute. Forgetting skills is the number one challenge we face every time test prep time comes around after holidays or after the long summer break.
Research shows that when students actively engage in learning (whether it’s hands-on, in a group setting, or individually) by exploring content that matters to them, they are more likely to remember the experience and the content.
Have you experienced this?
Long after a project is finished where student voice and choice were included, students are still talking about it with the next year’s group and anyone else that cares to listen!
If that’s you, you’ve tapped into the magic formula!
If you have a signature project that you always do with your year group, and it’s been a hit, you are sure to have heard the excitement that is shared by the next class you get.
So go ahead and create some memorable learning experiences that you can use and reuse again and again! For me, it was the Titanic and any class coming up to fourth grade knew that they would get to learn in a fun way!
6) Fun!
Sometimes all that is required to get kids excited about learning is changing up the format to be fun and engaging. That’s when the importance of using real word connection in the classroom is actualised. Making learning fun doesn’t need to be difficult. It can be easy to get bogged down in trying to cover all the content in a timely manner. Simply using easy strategies like telling stories to make connections is all you need to do to grab kids’ attention.
Throughout history, knowledge has been passed down through generations in the form of stories. True stories hold the most interest as it helps to create that connection between what is possible.
Re-light motivation for teaching
Changing things up can help if you are a bit bored with teaching. I’ve found a change of activities helps me feel more energised and ready to tackle the week.
Kids want to try things out! The adult world is a mystery that piques the curiosity of young minds. Seeing them enjoy themselves can help you feel motivated too! Try giving your students an insight into what goes on outside the classroom. It makes learning all the more fun.
Learning for a purpose
Literacy is no longer just learning vocabulary, spelling, and comprehension. It’s more than learning skills, it’s about applying them. A task with a specific purpose will always be more fun for kids. If they see that their work is going to be viewed on a “real” platform, by a real person or an organisation, it gives them a small taste of the adult world.
If you remember looking up to your older siblings and wanting to do activities like them. Well, it’s a bit like that, challenging work can be fun for kids! Doing what the adults do is even more fun for them. Seeing your students thrive and have fun is usre to re-ignight
So that’s the main reason for the importance of real world connections in the classroom. I’ve shared some of the benefits I’ve experienced by incorporating them regularly in my upper elementary classroom. However, the benefits are not just anecdotal. Research backs this approach to teaching. Below are a couple of strategies that I’ve used that you will find easy to implement in your classroom too.
Research Backed Real World Connections in Education
There are a number of research based strategies you can use to make real world connections in your upper elementary classroom.
1) Sharing YOUR Life Experiences
You can make real world connections in education by sharing your experiences with your students. It builds relationships, and help students see how what they are being taught is applied outside the classroom.
In Real World and the Classroom-Second Career Teachers (Diane Chambers), she highlights the positive impact teacher experiences can bring to authentic learning in the classroom.
In fact, as a second career teacher, planning my daughter’s wedding gave context to the properties of 2D shapes for my fourth-grade class. They absolutely loved creating prayer mats inspired by Islamic art. So if you find that your interests coincide with your students, tell them more about it!
You can also use day to day events with your students. A snapshot of your local grocery store can be used highlight opening times when teaching lapsed time problems or to connect prices when teaching money and budgeting.
Making real world connections with standards
2) Using Authentic Materials
Using authentic materials is one of my best ways to incorporate real world connections in the classroom. Authentic learning materials I use are text, objects, pictures, and audio that is not specifically created for the classroom. It’s important to rather use media that is age-appropriate for children, but is available and created for genuine communication.
Using gardening tools bring authenticity to a project
For instance, some of the ways I’ve made real world connections in the classroom are using :
newspaper articles rather than text created specifically for children, for teaching comprehension skills.
stock exchange or property price numbers to conceptualize learning about large numbers
Listening to podcasts about gardening to connect with science strands
Utilising props such as restaurant menus, cookbooks, to practice writing and maths standards
picture books to teach captioning, create comic strips and practice descriptive writing
wedding invitations to connect with literacy and social studies standards.
Using authentic text to make real world connections for comprehension passages
With a little bit of creativity, you can easily use the materials in your school, from friends, and at home to create a collection of authentic materials to support students to make connections with the world around them.
3) Incorporating Digital Literacy and Gamification
Supporting digital citizenship has become a mainstay of a 21st-century curriculum. It can also be a tool to find exciting ways to incorporate real world connections in the classroom.
It can be a source of highlighting problems associated with internet use as well as the benefits. As students develop better internet usage skills and use it to present their work in innovative formats through hands-on experience of the modes of communication that will be useful in the world of work.
When you expose kids to critical information literacy at a young age, you give a realistic experience of using digital material. By Incorporating social media platforms, pop culture, and project management tools, research shows that the gap between standard and digital literacy is narrowed.
Incorporating both mediums became a necessity during the pandemic as students and teachers adapted to learning online, the need to teach how to effectively use this approach in the current environment meant skills that were irrelevant or not a priority were brought to the forefront. Being proactive in making real world connection using digital literacy will help students be proficient in using these tools in the future.
If you’ve found that most of your students are proficient in using social media, the internet, and communication software for interacting with their peers but not so great when it comes to using them for learning, you are not alone!
Authentic Application
When it comes to using these tools for learning there is a disconnect and there is a need to teach the use of saying PowerPoint, social media platforms, and spreadsheets explicitly. It’s surprising how many students do not know how to use the internet to carry out accurate research. Create a report or share information on a blog. Students need to be taught how to use the internet effectively as this is the form of real world examples that will give them the skills for learning further.
As we navigate the current educational environment, making real world connection in the classroom can play a key role for students to understand why they need to learn something. I hope you try and incorporate some of these ideas and make teaching easier. If you want to learn more about how this strategy can be expanded to exploring Project Based Learning , then be sure to grab my free Project Based Learning guide and planner. You will get a full PBL walkthrough from start to finish. Remember there is no perfect way to adopt PBL, just pick and choose from where you are!
Ideas for How to Make Real World Connection in the Classroom
Making real world connection is not that difficult and I use a few strategies to help kids see the benefit of what they are learning. Here are a few of my favourite approaches.
Incorporate Teacher’s Interests
Observation and wonder are natural aspects of being a kid however as an adult it can be easy to put our own wonderings to the side. Despite what you may hear, teachers are not supposed to know EVERYTHING! When a child asks a question you don’t know the answer to, be part of the exploration. Try saying “ let’s find out” Modeling curiosity and wonder is the best way to incorporate the active learning associated with making real world connections.
Using Objects and Pictures
Using objects and pictures in your instruction can make a unit or concept come to life! This is the natural way kids learn. It’s the perfect hands-on way to involve all abilities of students. After all, learning doesn’t get more REAL than using all the senses! Real world connection can be: contacting local museums to having experts come in to demonstrate the use of various objects, down to using holiday tickets and souvenirs to explore key math skills. It can be as simple or as elaborate as you want. Hands-on learning is accessible to all students.
Analysing World events
Often kids pick up and hear adults talking about major world events which inspire them to take a stance or share their opinions. This can be a perfect catalyst for deeper learning. Recent climate change events like COP 26 and Dubai EXPO give teachers an opportunity to make connections with statistics, science, and social and moral dilemmas associated with these global environmental issues. Talking about it in the classroom can help develop communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills on issues that matter to students.
Connecting with Community News
Using news from your community can be a catalyst for change as well as making connections with learning in the classroom. When the headteacher in our school moved home to a busier area, she presented a problem-solving opportunity for kids in third grade. To help with her insomnia, students were given the task to come up with solutions. It required them to use their shape and measurement skills to design eye masks, earmuffs, and a prototype for a sleep app.
In Practice
Look for simple real life connections. There are opportunities to illustrate the skills kids need to learn everywhere in our day-to-day life. I like to keep the Notebook app on my phone. When I notice a problem-solving opportunity in my own life, I think about what academic skill this connects to for my students, jot it down and I’m good to go when I’m teaching that topic. It can be as simple as telling a story about a situation to illustrate the teaching objective. Or it can be something that is a little more extensive. You can start from where you are at!
As we navigate the current educational environment, making real world connection in the classroom can play a key role for students to understand why they need to learn something. I hope you try and incorporate some of these ideas and make teaching fun!. If you want to learn more about how this strategy can be expanded to exploring Project Based Learning, then be sure to grab my free Project Based Learning guide and planner. You will get a full PBL walkthrough from start to finish. Remember there is no perfect way to adopt PBL, just pick and choose from where you are!
My Best Real World Connections Examples
Real World Connections in Math
Maths anxiety is a real thing. Often it stems from gaps in knowledge and then embarrassment to show that they don’t understand. The progressive nature of maths concepts means that this can continue far into the upper elementary years. A lack of confidence in the basic maths facts and fluency in them can be overcome with minimal embarrassment by incorporating real world projects that allow for differentiation in basic maths skills.
Natural Differentiation
By working collaboratively on a project, natural differentiation and peer support can take place if you group students with students fluent in maths skills. Learning from peers, and working on complex real world problems can help struggling students show what they do know. By assigning tasks that help them practice their basic maths skills they can build confidence and also learn more complex applications from their peers as they are invested in the real world problem.
Ideas for making real world connections in math
A few of my absolute best ways to make real world connections in maths are below. I find starting the school year off with place value real world connections sets up my class to work in a student-led learning environment.
In my fourth grade class, I’ve made real world connections in maths by looking at how large numbers are used in jobs and current events. Here are a few ideas to make connections with maths standards.
Making real world connections with maths
Place value- exploring data around Olympic sports events – How can we use data to create a more equitable sporting event?
Space value mission – travel and distance – Is space travel possible for the public with the technology we have?
Real World Connections in Science
Most Project based learning projects start from exploring issues connected with science and social studies strands. This is a great starting point to make real world connections. Science supports hands-on learning and this is a perfect backdrop for experimentation and exploration. For example, cooking lends itself well to putting fractions and measurements into context. Tackling a global push to cut down on meat consumption could be the context to create a recipe book that supports sustainability principles.
Real World Connections in Social Studies
The social studies curriculum has a wealth of content that lends itself well to incorporating real world connection. In fact most PBL units are born from a standard from this discipline. Exploring events in the past or the current environment means you can incorporate artifacts, primary and secondary sources, and let students voice their opinion about current and past events.
Some ways to make real world connections in social studies is to:
Use museum artifacts for object-based learning
Use museum pictures to explore different mediums to draw meaning
Personal possessions can help make connections with social studies strands
Field trips also add an experiential aspect to learning
Geocaching is one of my favourite activities to help conceptualise mapping skills and learn about local landmarks, the environment, and the community. Another great connection that’s a hit is the social studies connection with the Titanic. Researching the background of the Titanic and combining it with fake news identification is a great way to introduce independent research skills. You can grab this lesson HERE
Ideas to Incorporate Real World Connections Everyday
Incorporating real world connections into your classroom routines is a great precursor for introducing project based learning.
Easy ways to make real world connections every day
I like to use these bell ringers to save time and give students word problem practice in an authentic context. They help to consolidate skills being taught that month in maths, social studies, SEL reading, and writing. You can use them for extension work. or for homework. To use them for extension activities just print out a few of each worksheet pop them in an envelope or poly pocket and attach them to your fast finisher board. They are such timesavers! You can differentiate the same activity by making it more challenging by letting students solve the best way to complete the task.
Here are a few other ideas to try out too
Shopping lists – adding and subtracting
Email – formal communication
Notes to friends – birthday messages – writing
Sales calculations – saving money
Nutrient content – percentages
I hope incorporating more real world connection in your classroom adds more fun, relevancy, and excitement to learning in your classroom. Leave me a comment if you have tried any of these ideas, I love to see how other educators are making this work in their classrooms.
You might be interested in these resources:
Make real world connections with the events of the Titanic while teaching internet research skills
Save time by using these 4th grade morning work monthly packets to make real world connections an every day practice.
Support independent learning using these Project based learning focus wall posters.
So many teachers have asked me about the absolute essential project based learning resources. Focus walls are top of my list. They are such a useful tool to get engagement with a project that, I’m going to share the best ways to utilise them.
A classroom focus wall displaying student work has always been something I love. I can’t resist browsing the names on the art, writing, and artifacts like a proud mama. Each student has put in so much effort and we know each personality. It’s so exciting to see the learning journey for each of them. Using a focus wall is my go-to project-based learning resources to foster 21st-century skills.
If you are thinking of back to school then thinking about how to create an environment for independent learning will be key. That’s where a PBL focus wall comes in.
Why a Focus Wall Works for Project Based Learning Activities
Firstly there are a ton of reasons why a focus wall works well with a project based learning activity. From a teacher’s perspective it:
Perfectly aligns with planning a project
It helps structure the process
is a visual for the skills and trajectory of the project.
The reason why I’m really passionate about using this tool is the benefits.
Benefits of a Focus Wall for a Project Based Learning Activity
Supports Critical Thinking
Using a PBL focus wall makes incorporating 21st-century skills easier. As students investigate a problem, teachers can direct them to record their questions and findings on the focus wall. This allows collaboration between individual students and groups.
I like to use a poster paper roll to get all the fabulous ideas and questions down as we brainstorm.
Pupils love rolling the paper out and adding more questions. It’s one of my most simple interactive project based learning resources. We’ve had so much fun seeing how many questions we can gather and watching the paper stretch across the floor!!
Fosters Creativity
Moreover, when creativity is flowing it can be captured on sticky notes and collected under structured headings. We all know that when students are working productively it’s not always useful to stunt that flow with extensive written work. Using brain showers and jotting ideas down in an informal setting, often produces the best ideas!
Encourages Independent Work
In a project based learning context a focus wall is key to supporting individual work.When students are asked about what they find useful about a focus wall, they often say it helps them keep track of the questions they had at the beginning and know what they are trying to find out.
Easy Scaffolding
It’s also a great tool for scaffolding. Peer to peer scaffolding is something that I’m a big advocate of. There is something just magical for both students. Those that need more extension work really benefit from teaching their friends. I’ve noticed that often pupils are reluctant to ask for help if they have fallen behind in any of the tasks. Getting a helping hand either from visual information on the focus wall or asking a friend to explain their findings can be a useful collaborative process.
Using project based learning resources like poster headings on a focus wall is a useful way to introduce the terminology of a project based learing unit. This can help guide pupils through the trajectory of a PBL unit.
Enables Formative Assessment
I use a focus wall to track formative assessment. A visual of the rubrics and a tracking chart is encouraging for students and they know what is required of them. I keep a reminder of the 21st century competencies on the focus wall so that students can refer back to them as they work.
A PBL Task tracker forms the basis for formative assessment for each student
How A Project based learning focus wall can help you plan a rigourous unit
Bridges the gap between Student Questions and Learning Goals
Firstly, both teachers and students need to know the purpose of student questions in relation to specific learning goals. One distinguishing part of PBL is that the project looks to answer a driving question. A focus wall is an instructional tool that helps students link that question to their learning goals. You can use a focus wall with posters and headings to highlight standards to be covered, 21st-century competencies and tasks. I love that it brings all elements of an interdisciplinary project together in one place!
In fact, project-based learning in primary schools can be as colourful and interactive as you want them to be. However, there are a few components that make it really useful.
Visual display of a project
Focus Walls are Like the Project Stage
Secondly, I find posters and headings in a designated area of the classroom work a bit like a stage. Everyone involved gets to go backstage and see the behind the scenes messy parts. You pick up the vibe of the process of creating the final product. it can be contagious! Don’t be surprised if other colleagues want to recreate your project or try out PBL for themselves.
All the different elements that groups and individual students are working on, come together. Don’t worry about it being perfectly neat and curated. It’s ok for it to reflect the review and adjustments too! It doesn’t JUST have to show the things that go right in a project. Rather I regard it as a working wall.
Use Project based learningwalls to capture work in progress and review
Focus Walls as Communication and collabortion Tools
Thirdly, as part of a project-based learning unit, your students will be exploring vocabulary and sharing their research. They need a place to communicate that with both you and their peers, parents, and in fact with other teaching staff that comes into their classroom. Its’ use doesn’t end there. If you are new to using project-based learning and you haven’t got everyone on board just yet. A project-based learning focus wall can help with reassuring, colleagues, principles, and parents that work is actually happening.
Introducing Project based learning for elementary school
Fifthly, It can be difficult at times to get all these parties on board with what you are trying to achieve, especially in elementary school. I’ve found it’s hard for those that haven’t experienced PBL, to understand how project-based learning could work for all curricular areas or even for Kindergarten Project-based learning.
However, I’ve found when there is a display of the work in progress, it instills confidence in others. it shows there is a method to the apparent madness of student-led learning!!
Making it easily accessible for substitute teachers
On parent evening/ open days
For teaching support staff
Principles and colleagues
Community partners for the project
Getting Parents On Board with PBL Activities
Lastly, good Project-based learning resources make all the difference in getting all parties on board. Moreover, now that parents and teachers have had to adapt to homeschooling they are likely more supportive of Project-based learning activities. The current Covid-19 lockdown means parents have had to experience more authentic learning. They will have noticed and appreciated that the way children learn best is by doing. This is the perfect time to start using PBl in your classroom. if you haven’t tried it before you can grab my FREE guide to getting started today
How I use Project Based learning focus wall posters to engage students
Tracking each individual student’s learning and giving support through workshops and direct instruction is really important if project based learning is going to work for each child.
This is is why using posters , headings, displays and having easy access to resources is important to ensure a smoother flow of learning and independent work.
I like to start by putting up the key terminology associated with a Project based learning unit.
Visual for Key PBL Terminology
This can be extremely useful for students as it helps show the trajectory of what is expected of them. I find it especially helpful for students that have additional learning needs. Whether like me you prefer to have themed posters or not. Research shows that it helps with pacing and student engagement. I also like to use these posters stapled to clear document files that house any instructions, graphic organizes, or worksheets to record findings and research.
Project Management Tool
Focus walls are like management tools, they help organize thoughts, questions, mistakes and turnarounds, standards, and even details about community partners. As students work through the project to answer the question, they are always aware of who they are “working for” and who will see their end solution.
This has been very powerful in my classroom as we ask “what were the client specifications?’ I like to also add in a project calendar so that students can pace themselves and know that there is a definite timeline that they need to work towards. It teaches students the importance of good timekeeping within an authentic real-world context. Sticky note reminders and notes always play a big part too!!
Posters for a PBL focus wall display
Displaying themed posters is also a great way to introduce a new topic as the kids will be so excited to figure out what the next project will be. You can use the display as an entry event!! If you want to know more suggestions about entry event ideas you can grab my free Guide to Project based learning.
Example of using a focus wall
Some examples of project based learning ideas that I’ve taught have included designing a road trip around the world. That’s why I used driving themed PBL posters. I used the focus wall display as a prompt for our essential questions and tracked individual learning using car stickers and cut-outs to record formative assessment throughout the project. You can grab these Project based learning posters HERE and get started right away. Just attach them to your display wall and or clear document files to hold rubrics or other resources.
Driving themed Project based learning focus wall posters
Driving is always a hit especially if the kids envision getting their pen license at the end of it. I incorporate this theme with writing goals. As each student works towards personal targets, it gets recorded on the focus wall. It all adds to an engaging and interactive display too!!
So that’s my top tips of all the things i find useful about using a focus wall for a PBL unit. it really is very versatile. Once you start using it in this way you will find that it really engages your students and makes your job easier too! I would love to see your displays and hear about how you are using it. leave me a message below and share your tips too. Happy creating!
After lots of experimentation I’ve found 4 creative ways to teach multi-step word problems that are sure to engage your learners too. Practicing multi-step word problems in 4th grade is a tricky business and many students struggle with understanding them, which then affects their motivation to practice. Although it’s a hard skill to master, practice and more practice is the way to go.
If you have fun and engaging ways to make word problems relevant and real, students will WANT to practice more. So I’m coming with 4 creative ways to teach multi-step word problems so that your learners will be asking for more practice activities!
No more ignoring the fact that NOBODY buys 26 melons for a birthday party!
There are tons of ways to make practicing word problems more enjoyable and easier to grasp.
So let’s jump into my go-to strategies.
1. Make Grade 4 Multi-Step Word Problems Real and Relevant
There are so many strategies to choose from but the best way to choose is to put yourself in your learners’ shoes. 👟 Are you ready to be a 4th grader for a minute?
Real Ancient Egyptian Word Problems to Solve
Solve this Ancient Egyptian word problem and tap into how you feel about the format and strategy you would use.
Here you go…
There are seven houses; in each house, there are seven cats; each cat kills seven mice; each mouse has eaten seven grains of barley; each grain would have produced seven hekat. What is the sum of all the enumerated things?
– FYI, it’s from the Rhind Mathematical Papyrus ( in case you’re wondering!)
Do you turn to visualisation strategies to make sense of this? Or are you using word identification?
Did you automatically draw the little stick houses, mice, cats, barley and
Then realise: What on Earth 🌍 is a hekat!!! Is it even relevant?
Imagine you had a page of these to solve, would you get tired? Need a brain break?
Was it interesting and fun because of the historical context?
My Conclusion: drawing is great but if you don’t have a scooby what a word means you feel like giving up. If the context is interesting you’re more likely to be interested enough to persevere.
Pheww!
Doubts Kick in for Your 4th Graders Too When Solving Multi-Step Word Problems!
Is that word even important?
Do cats really eat mice? ( I thought they ate cheese and drank cream (non-cat owner)
7 is being repeated so maybe I need to multiply it all together.
Pick all the numbers I can find and just add them up (that should work)
That’s when I teach and reteach the formal strategy. Going back to reinforce a step-by-step approach can solidify the basics. However, I’ve found students get bored with this and need that extra motivation to truly grasp the skill. That’s why I bring out all the stops with direct instruction, mini workshops, hands-on activities, colouring math mats, and stories. The whole shebang! Because I aim to keep them engaged enough to practice and practice some more. Teaching multi-step word problems creatively will save your sanity!
Because let’s face it if you’re like me trying to get kids ready for the real world. You’ll agree in the real world no two problems are the same! The more variety of strategies you use, the more confidence you will help them build in this skill.
I’ve found that using real and relevant context for word problems helps with understanding. Also adding in some brain breaks builds that muscle to persevere with challenging multi-step problems.
Students need to learn several skills to master multi-step word problems
No matter what, it’s an essential skill that’s part of every curriculum and one that’s relevant to real life.
Visuals work best for my students so I use my seasonal maths mats to connect relevant seasonal topics and a variety of levels of maths word problems to the topic. From single-step addition to easy multi-step problems. Moving on to multi-step problems for decimals and multi-step volume word problems.
Depending on the type of review you want to do, you can print these on large paper and use them as a collaborative poster activity and create a display with these maths mats. Get your class used to the activity and use it at centers or stations every week. They are such lifesavers when I’m in a pinch for a print-and-go activity!
My next strategy ties in with projects and incorporates literacy with maths
2. Math Storytelling with a Purpose
Research shows that combining literacy with maths has a direct correlation to understanding and sense-making. I love to use mathematical stories in my maths block. It brings maths to life and my 4th graders are never too old for a good story!
Using picture books to illustrate mathematical thinking is an amazing tool to encourage maths talk, and collaboration and boost mathematical vocabulary.
Here are a few books I like to use to introduce some maths topics.
How Many Jelly Beans?
Is a great book for illustrating large numbers in real life and is great for the Autumn season to review place value word problems. It’s the perfect companion for my Candy Crunch word problems worksheet! Incorporate it into station/center activities with this worksheet and you have a ready-to-go activity for subs, homeschool, or regular seasonal centers.
Sir Cumference and the Knights of the First Round Table (A Math Adventure): And the First Round Table
This is an absolute favourite, combining geometry and problem-solving this picture book brings a lighthearted illustration of how to think about maths word problems. It’s a great series of books and I’ve found it helps alleviate maths anxiety because maths vocabulary is woven throughout the story. This makes vocabulary more accessible and is great for making it familiar.
Grapes of Math
I love this book as an introduction to number sense. Fun rhymes and riddles introduce problem-solving strategies that can be incorporated into morning work. They are so much fun!
These storybooks are a great introduction to new maths topics but my next strategy is going to get your students thinking.
3. Visual Representations and Manipulatives
Telling your own real-life stories is going to make maths even more meaningful for your students. I like to share my gardening stories and shopping trolley pictures with my students to get them thinking about how to problem-solve in real life. Just pop a picture of your weekly shop on your whiteboard and you have an instant maths problem-solving activity that is relevant. Let’s face it, I bet your students are always nosy about your life outside of the classroom!
Here Are Some Ideas to Incorporate more Multi-step Math Problem-Solving Activities
Math Journal:
Let your students create their own math journals! They can doodle and share their day-to-day experiences, turning everyday activities into math stories. It’s like their personal math diary. Encouraging awareness about the math around them will help them be less anxious about tackling math problems during testing too. I like to get them familiar with problem-solving strategies on a regular basis.
Classroom Grocery Shop:
A shopping setup isn’t t just for lower grades! Set students the task of designing a real-life grocery shop or online shop in your classroom!
Creating price tags to put on items, writing and understanding shopping lists. fulfilling orders and refunds and putting on sales will help them practice multi-step math problems with all 4 operations.
It ticks all the boxes with hands-on elements, visuals, and manipulatives.
Whiteboard Story Snapshots:
Ever thought of turning your whiteboard into a visual story album? Snap pics of your hobbies and out-of-school activities like
holiday pics
tickets
cinema trips,
gift lists
shopping
Throw them up on the board, and voila – instant math problems that are visual and meaningful. I like to crowdsource from my family, stage partners, and that messy drawer everyone has in their home! It’s a great morning work activity that can last for a week.
Authentic Objects
If you are at all able to bring in relevant artifacts and objects for students to use as manipulatives. Like pumpkins during Autumn or jars of jelly beans. Pictures and cubes are always great alternatives. Hands-on learning activities make maths concepts memorable and it’s more likely that it sticks until the end of the year, fingers crossed!
Lastly
4. Collaborative Problem-Solving
I’m always trying to incorporate this strategy. It can be hard to achieve but grouping mixed-ability students is encouraging and stretches all students. Assign each group with one of these themed sheets and encourage them to try a variety of problem-solving strategies together.
It’s great seeing students sharing their thoughts although it can be tricky to make sure everyone plays their part and contributes. I minimize this by assigning group roles. Research shows collaborative activities improve problem-solving skills and it’s a great strategy to deal with maths anxiety too! Plus it’s more likely you’ll hear a chatter of real maths talk going on.
More Ways to Teach 4th Grade Multi Step Word Problems Creatively.
Mastering multi-step word problems in fourth grade is crucial for honing problem-solving skills, boosting mathematical understanding, and fostering critical skills essential for growing math thinking.
By incorporating hands-on activities, engaging games, and visual aids, you’re not just teaching maths – you’re turning it into a memorable experience.
Hopefully, your students are not just tackling problems but enjoying the process, feeling confident, staying on task, and persevering with challenges because they are engaged and it’s meaningful.
I hope you found some strategies you can implement today because teaching word problems is not going away! Let’s do this together and build resilience in our students to persevere with challenging concepts.
Now, which of the four strategies in this post resonates most with you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Until then, keep building that love for learning,
The first week back to school can feel like a whirlwind—new faces, fresh supplies, a jam-packed schedule, and (if we’re honest) a little bit of chaos. But it’s also a golden opportunity: a chance to make math activities fun, build trust, establish routines, and start learning in a way that’s joyful and low-stress.
That’s why I’ve teamed up with some of my favourite upper elementary teacher-bloggers to share 5 simple, creative back-to-school activity ideas that will help you start strong. These are classroom-tested, easy to prep, and perfect for Grades 3–5.
If your bellwork routine is starting to feel stale, this post is your sign to mix things up. My Real-World Morning Work transforms bell ringers into mini, cross-curricular thinking tasks that are rooted in real life—and packed with depth. Each day of the week has its focus.
It’s a simple but powerful way to start the day with purpose and help students make meaningful connections across subjects—all before the first lesson begins. Read this if you want your bellwork to do more than review skills—it sets the tone for thoughtful, real-world learning that sticks.
Exit tickets aren’t just for checking understanding—they can also be powerful little tools for building classroom culture. In this post, Melissa shares how she uses simple, exit tickets during the first week to help students feel heard, safe, and part of a community.
Check this out if you’re looking to build classroom connections without extra prep.
“need to” summer activities column per week. Yes, week. Your oil change isn’t going anywhere.
Want to break the ice and build math confidence all at once? Beth’s post is packed with eight high-energy team challenges that turn the first week of math into a fun and collaborative experience. Read this if you want to replace those first-day jitters with laughter and collaboration.
If your students return in “summer brain mode,” don’t worry—Kaylee’s got you covered. In this post, she shares three approachable, confidence-building math activities that help students ease back into routines without feeling overwhelmed. A great pick for the first few days when you want math time to feel both fun and productive.
Sometimes the best way to settle students in is with a calm, creative task—and Patricia’s symmetry activity is exactly that. In this post, she walks you through a simple yet engaging math-meets-art project that helps students explore symmetry and express themselves. Try this if you want a peaceful, standards-aligned activity that doubles as classroom decor.
Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean chaos and countdowns to the weekend. With a few intentional, student-centred activities, you can create a classroom culture of curiosity, connection, and confidence—starting on day one.
Let me guess. You’re a teacher in summer mode but the universe doesn’t get it. People are either:
Asking what you’re doing with “all that time off,” or
Posting aesthetically perfect “teacher transformation” goals with sunrise runs, closet makeovers, and classroom organisation by July.
Meanwhile, you’re sitting on the sofa in mismatched pajamas eating toast over the sink and wondering if you should feel bad for not alphabetising your classroom library.
Let me stop you right there.
As a fellow teacher who has finished the year held together by caffeine and classroom duct tape, let me tell you what you actually need this summer: permission to rest, permission to not plan, and a little structure to recharge your way.
Here is the no-glitter, no-guilt guide for reclaiming your summer energy. It’s not fancy, but it will stop you from burning out next year.
1. First, Do Nothing. Like, Actually Nothing.
The first week of break? That’s your decompression zone. ( no, looking for teacher summer work) Think emotional jetlag. Don’t rush to be productive—you’ve just been everyone’s therapist, IT support, and unpaid lunch monitor for 10 months. (Sorry if it’s longer in your neck of the woods.)
Try this: Schedule a full week of “meh.” No goals. No alarms. Pyjamas until noon. You’re not lazy—you’re recalibrating.
Teacher self-care
2. Write the Summer List (But Make It Chill)
Forget the “Hot Girl Summer” energy. We’re aiming for “Content Teacher Energy.” We’re going to make the most of your teacher summer break.
Make a summer activities list with three columns:
Things I want to do
Things I need to do
Things I’ll never do but like pretending I might
Try this: Choose one item from the “need to” summer activities column per week. Yes, week. Your oil change isn’t going anywhere.
3. Move in Ways That Don’t Feel Like P.E.
This isn’t about “beach bodies” or “bouncing back.” It’s about un-kinking your teacher spine and feeling like a human again.
Try this: Dance in your kitchen ( we do a lot of that in our family) Walk to the bakery/fishmonger’s in my case!)Take a yoga class and try and hold off the nap until the end. Just move in a way that makes you happy.
4. Revive the Hobby You Ghosted in September
Remember when you used to read books that weren’t about classroom management? Or paint, bake, or rewatch every season of your favourite show while sipping iced tea? I always revert to gardening, even if I’ve missed planting season, there’s always the garden center to fill in the gap.
Try this: Block off hobby time like a dentist appointment—non-negotiable and good for your health.
5. Plan Small Joyful Adventures (Emphasis on Small)
You don’t need a 10-day trip to Bali to “make the most of summer.” But a solo cinema trip? Visiting a weird museum? Wandering a bookstore with iced coffee in hand? That’s the good stuff.
Try this: Pick three local places you’ve always said you’d check out. Then actually go.
6. Guard Your Boundaries Like They’re Exam Papers
You don’t owe your school, your admin, or your Google Drive a single thing until you decide you’re ready.
Try this: Delete the school email app off your phone. No really. Delete it. Reinstall in August. Maybe.
7. Nap. Like a Boss.
This isn’t laziness. This is elite-level repair mode. You didn’t run on adrenaline all year to then power through summer on productivity guilt.
Try this: Build a nap into your daily rhythm. Think of it as professional development in horizontal form.
If we’re being totally honest…You’re not a failure if your house isn’t immaculate by July.
You’re not “wasting” summer if you didn’t launch a TpT empire.
You’re not falling behind—because rest is not a luxury, it’s a requirement.
This summer isn’t just about recovery. It’s about quietly stitching yourself back together without the pressure to turn it into a Pinterest board.
And if all you do is breathe, heal, and reorganise one junk drawer. That’s enough.
Now go. Grab that iced tea. Cancel any unnecessary admin. And live your best-unbothered teacher life.
Because I’m rooting for you. Always.
— A Fellow Teacher Who’s Also Been In Her Pyjamas at 3 pm
If your bellwork routine is more “barely surviving” than “brain-boosting,” you’re not alone. Between chasing down pencils, attendance, and that one student who always has a breakfast drama, mornings can feel more chaotic than calm. Let’s talk about how to give your bellringers a glow-up this school year.
This post is your go-to guide for transforming morning work from dull to dynamic, with no extra prep and lots of real learning. Whether you call them bellringers, warm-ups, do-nows, or openers, we’re giving them a much-needed makeover like this free pack you can grab to try.
What Are Bellringers, Really?
Bellringers are quick, purposeful activities students complete at the very start of class. Ideally, they should:
Set the tone for learning
Review or spiral key concepts
Engage students’ brains
Give you a few minutes to get settled
But let’s be honest: when we’re swamped, bellringers often turn into uninspired worksheets, ” What did you do at the weekend,” or random busy work in journals And that does not serve you or your students.
The Problem with Traditional Morning Work
It’s not that morning work is bad. It’s that it often becomes a time filler instead of a brain igniter. I like to set up my day so that learning is engaging, real and saves me re-teaching time later on in the year. You’ve probably found that when it’s not working, it’s one of these problems:
Too repetitive: Same worksheet, different day
Too random: Unconnected questions with no learning goal
Too low-level: Copy this sentence. Color that box.
Too stressful: Students need help, but you’re handling a dozen other things
I just didn’t want any of that. So I experimented with a bunch of ideas and was rewarded with calm mornings.
Whether you teach 4th grade, 5th, or even middle school, a glow-up is possible. Let’s dive into the good stuff I found worked. You can grab a sample week for free here .
Easy morning work routine
5 Ways to Give Your Bellringers a Real Glow-Up
1. Make It Meaningful
Choose bellringers that connect to real-world situations or current events. When students can see the “why” behind what they’re doing, they’re more engaged. Try questions like:
“You’re planning a birthday party for 20 people. The cake recipe serves 8. How many cakes do you need?”
Want math to matter? Start here.
2. Switch Up the Format
Not all morning work needs to be pencil-and-paper. I tried using bellringer journals, whiteboard stations, or even mini-discussion prompts with partners. I planned themed warm-ups by day of the week — like Math Monday or Writing Wednesday — to keep things fresh and predictable.
3. Add Student Voice
Incorporate prompts that let students reflect, predict, or share an opinion. A simple question like:
“What strategy did you use yesterday that helped you in math? Would you use it again?”
…can turn a warm-up into a powerful moment for metacognition and growth mindset.
4. Make It Standards-Aligned Without Killing the Vibe
Use bellwork to gently spiral skills you’ve already taught — or preview what’s coming. If you’re working on place value, a quick estimation warm-up fits perfectly.
I especially enjoyed using short word problems with a twist to sneak in both math and literacy. Turning test review into a disguised game format, so students don’t even realise they’re studying, also works beautifully
5. Keep It Low-Prep but High-Impact
You’re tired. Your bellwork shouldn’t require a Google Slides deck with 23 animations. Choose warm-ups that are:
Copy-and-go
Easy to differentiate
Quick to check
I keep it to five minutes max, just enough to settle students and set the tone. The glow-up doesn’t need to be fancy — just intentional.
P.S. These bellringers aren’t just for the first week of school. They’ll work all year long — and you won’t need to prep a thing. Win-win.
That’s my tips for glowing up your bellringer routine for this school year. Good luck, I’m cheering you all the way.
Once you’ve got your bellwork sorted, you might want to check out Melissa’s (That One Cheerful Classroom) Ideas for the perfect back-to-school exit ticket routine. And that’s another thing ticked off your list.
These fun and flexible online jobs for teachers will help you build up a tidy sum without stressing about getting out of the house. Are you looking to supplement your teaching salary online? I have four tried and tested ideas to help you make that decision easier.
Finding a partime job that brings in much needed extra cash is something unfortunately more teachers are doing. I’ve tried a few things myself before settling on my favourite. This post covers my recommendations from easy to those that can be supplementary or even replace your current teaching salary.
1. Grading and Marking From Home
I know this is not everyones cup of tea but this might just be a good fit for you. Firstly having the flexibility to work when you can, is a life saver. Putting the kids to bed and then sitting down to do a couple of hours of work is the easiest way to enjoy family time and earn some extra cash.
Cambridge International education is a great place to start. With this examiners program you get to choose how much work you take on. In addition to this it’s a great reputable organisation to put on your CV!
The best thing about this program is that you can choose the discipline you’re most passionate about.They have programs that are just up my street with global innovation assessments where students describe initiatives and projects that deal with real world problems.
I was fascinated to hear about these creative pupils sharing their ideas.
You know that teacher feeling you get when you read good ideas and proficient writing, well it was all there.
With just a little bit of training on how to follow the marking criteria and you’re good to go to, earn a decent amount all while fitting it around your existing home and work life commitments. You do need to meet deadlines but once you get a hang of the marking criteria then it’s enjoyable and you get through them fairly quickly. With the type of assessments I prefer, more reading is required so choose the papers you feel more dedicated to complete.
If you want to have a longer term side hustle then using your existing skills might be better suited to creating an online shop to sell your own teaching resources and lesson plans.
2. Become a Teacherpreneur
Becoming a Teacherpreneur is not a quick fix but it’s a route that is really rewarding in the long run. There are many routes you can take to turn your teaching passion into a fully fledged business. It’s hard being a teacher. However your teaching experiences are invaluable for setting up a Teacher business.
There are a few routes you can take and the one I have the most experience in is selling my resources on a teacher resource platform called Teachers Pay Teachers. It’s a dedicated platform where teacher authors create lesson plans, activities and more to sell to other teachers. If you want to see what it’s like you can check out my shop here. This is a great option if you want to repupose some of your classroom resources and make some money from them too! In the beginning i would work on my shop in the Summer holidays.
working on your side hustle over summer
There are other platforms you can list your teaching resources on depending on the niche/ teaching area you choose to focus on. (believe me choosing to focus on a specific topic eg reading or classroom decor or projects will help you stand out)
You can list on Etsy (get some inspiration from my shop here), Classful ( US only) Made by Teachers, Tes (UK) and Teach Simple. They all have their benefits in helping you diversify your income.
It brings me so much joy to share my resources with other teachers, making their lives easier and reaching students across the world! It’s allowed me to be creative and come up with unique and fun ideas like these math colouring placemats. If I can’t find something that I need for my class, then I usually end up creating it!
You can too.
Ok next up is doing Virtual Assistant work
3. Being a Virtual Assistant
You know all your planning and organisational skills? Well helping others run their businesses tis the perfect side hustle job for teachers. If you’re not up for setting up your own teacherpreneur business then this could be right up your street.
If you have a good eye for design you can help create visuals for teachers products, create marketing materials or help organise documents in Google drive. The opportunities are limitless. Offer services like writing blogs and creating lesson plans.
All you need to do is join a teacherpreneur Facebook group and offer your services. Reach out to other teacher business owners to take on some of their workload.
One note of caution though, if you are not detail oriented or lack experience then offer to do some jobs at a discounted rate in exchange for some training. After a few jobs like this you can give a more tailored service to others that need help.
4. Online Tutoring
Could you set up a tutoring service? It’s an easy way to get paid well for your teaching expertise. You get to avoid all the behaviour management issues and work with kids one on one to build subject confidence.
There are a few ways you can do this, join an established tutoring company like First Tutors. Here’s a few details you will need to have in place before you can take on students.
Verify your identity
2 professional references
A sample of your original lesson plans
This is an example of a tutoring company that I’ve worked for but there are many more. It’s easy enough to schedule in sessions around your daily commitments and you can set your own rates for your services.
Secondly you can do in person tutoring too.
Often local students may want an in person session. Parent often want help fill gaps in learning and summer time is the best time to advertise your service.
That’s my tips for finding fun and flexible jobs that you will enjoy and help you utilise your existing skills as a teacher. Good luck, I’m cheering you all the way.
Hey Friend! I’m Sabah
I’m a former Scottish teacher and I have a passion for incorporating real world connections with learning. Project based learning for grades 3- 5 is my jam! You’re in the right place if you’re looking to find simple, effective strategies to transition to a more student led classroom, boost student engagement, retention and have fun doing it! Curious to know how my 4th grade class transitioned to PBL focused learning? Click HERE to find out.
