 Are your students bored or lacking the motivation to practice adding numbers? Make addition fun in the classroom, or even at home, with these engaging, fun, and easy to prep activities. I've tried to include a variety of ideas. Some work well for the early years, while others suit older students. From preschool to fifth grade, there's something in this post to teach, challenge, and motivate.
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 Dr. Dweck developed the idea of fixed mindset and growth mindset to describe the underlying beliefs people have about learning and intelligence. Her theory is that when students believe they can get smarter, paired with effort, their brains become stronger. With this mindset, high levels of achievement can be reached.
Researchers have also discovered that teacher practice has a big impact on student mindset. The feedback that teachers give their students can either encourage a child to choose a challenge and increase achievement or look for an easy way out. For example, studies on different kinds of praise have shown that telling children they are smart encourages a fixed mindset, whereas praising hard work and effort cultivates a growth mindset. What’s the best way to get started with your growth mindset revolution? Check out these five must watch Growth Mindset videos. 
A wise teacher once told me that you need to have a 'bag of tricks' to deal with certain classes. So, in this post, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite tricks that you might want to add to your management bag if you wish. Free download included. This 'Secret Agents' strategy worked well for me when subbing in different classes.
It's no mystery that a healthy teacher is a happy teacher. Happy teachers are calmer, more effective, and are an integral part of maintaining a positive classroom environment. I've found that when I eat healthy and nutritious food, it helps me go into a positive frame of mind, and the kids seem calmer around me too. It took me a while to notice it, but now I truly believe that kids feed off your energy! So if you are tired and need a healthy energy boost, these yummy brownie bliss balls are the perfect guilt-free teacher treat!
The recipe for these healthy brownie bliss balls is easy to make, can be made in advance, and can be kept in your bag! Everyone might enjoy them in the teacher lounge too if you dare to share. 
The previous post aimed at providing some insight to introversion. If you suspect that you have one or more introverted students in your classroom (there's a high chance that you will at least have one), below are some strategies that you can implement in your classroom to help them thrive in school.
A few of the mysteries in my Math Mystery range are structured differently by following a 5 W's Case File Format. These are particularly useful for younger students or special needs. In this post:
NEW 5 W's LOGO LABEL ON COVERS To enable you to quickly identify if a math mystery follows this 5 W's structure, I've added a new little logo somewhere on the covers. If this is the type of math mystery structure you would prefer to use with your kids, keep an eye out for this little image below: 
GRADE LEVEL GUIDES
The grade levels are marked for recommended age ranges because of the math involved within the mystery packet. Unlike the regular math mystery range, because these tend to focus on early learning skills, they can be used across K-2 depending where your students are at. For example, in the Case of the Great Zoo Escape, the packet focuses on addition and subtraction within 20. This is a skill that would be useful for both first and second graders to practice and build fluency. The packets marked for Kindergarten, contain basic numeracy skills, and would be great for the early part of first grade too. Even with the grade guides, I still recommend checking the math skills required in the product description to determine suitability for your students since no class is the same.
For some younger students, the elimination process in my regular math mystery range is a little bit too much. This is where these packets come in handy; if you still want the fun element of a mystery, but in a less stressful format for your little detectives. Instead of the usual list of suspects/locations/scenarios, in the 5 W's series, that page is replaced with a case file with five questions to be answered - Who, Where, When, What, and Why? (see image below). 
Each clue requires some math work and some ELA work to solve which of the options at the bottom need to be cut/pasted to the Case File.
​Below is an example from the Case of The Super Bad Superhero: 
As you can see in the clue example page above, there are five options at the bottom of the page. Students must complete the math activity to figure out what is the super power of the super bad superhero. Once solved, the student must cut out the super power and paste it onto their Case file page in the 'What - Clue 2' box.
Reading and explaining the instructions at the top is recommended for the early years, especially if using with Kindergarten. ​ Tip: Guide them through each clue to keep the whole class at the same pace.
CHECK OUT A FULL MATH MYSTERY IN THIS 5 W's FORMAT FREE!
I like to offer samples of my work to help you know whether it is something that you are interested in, or if it works for your class.
CLICK HERE to find where to download the 'Case of the Super Bad Superhero' for Kindergarten, using this 5 W's format. If you've found the other math mystery structures too difficult for your students, then you may prefer this alternative. ​ 
Your feedback on this structure would be most appreciated. I will be making more using this 5 W structure for the early years too. If you prefer this format, keep an eye out for the little logo on the cover to know that it follows that format.
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AuthorA 21st century School Teacher, Mother, and Wife. 
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