Teaching Guides
Step-by-step how-to guides written for busy K-12 teachers.
How to Write a Lesson Plan
A complete step-by-step guide to writing effective lesson plans — from setting objectives to planning assessment. Whether you're a new teacher or a veteran looking to refresh your approach.
How to Write IEP Goals
Writing effective IEP goals is one of the most important — and most challenging — parts of special education. This guide walks you through writing SMART goals that are measurable, meaningful, and achievable.
How to Write Report Card Comments
Report card comments are one of the most time-consuming tasks teachers face. This guide shows you how to write comments that are specific, helpful, and efficient — without spending your entire weekend on them.
How to Write a Rubric
A good rubric makes grading faster, more consistent, and more transparent. This guide walks you through creating rubrics that actually improve student work.
How to Write Parent Emails
Parent communication is one of the most important — and most stressful — parts of teaching. This guide covers how to write clear, professional emails that build trust and solve problems.
How to Write a Sub Plan
A good sub plan means the difference between a productive day and chaos. This guide covers everything your substitute needs to keep your classroom running smoothly.
How to Write a Unit Plan
A unit plan is the roadmap for multi-week instruction. This guide walks you through designing units that are coherent, standards-aligned, and paced for real classrooms.
How to Differentiate Instruction
Differentiation doesn't mean creating 30 individual lesson plans. This guide shows you practical, sustainable strategies for reaching every learner in your classroom.
How to Write Student Progress Reports
Progress reports communicate student growth to families and teams. This guide shows you how to write reports that are clear, specific, and useful — without spending hours on each one.
How to Create Quizzes and Worksheets
Quizzes and worksheets are only as good as their design. This guide shows you how to create assessments that measure what students actually learned — not just what they memorized.
How to Write a Parent Newsletter
A good classroom newsletter keeps parents informed and builds community. This guide shows you how to write newsletters that are useful, readable, and don't eat your entire weekend.
How to Plan a Tutoring Session
Tutoring is most effective when it's planned and purposeful. This guide covers how to structure sessions that maximize learning in limited time.
How to Teach Number Sense
A practical guide to building number sense — the flexible, intuitive understanding of numbers that underpins all of math. Includes daily routines, activities, and how to spot students who are missing it.
How to Teach Fractions
A step-by-step guide to teaching fractions for understanding, not just procedures. Covers the concrete-to-abstract progression, the misconceptions that trip students up, and how to fix them.
How to Write Lesson Objectives
A clear guide to writing measurable lesson objectives that actually drive your instruction. Includes the SWBAT format, Bloom's Taxonomy verbs, examples, and the mistakes to avoid.
How to Use Word Walls in the Classroom
A practical guide to building word walls that drive vocabulary growth instead of becoming wallpaper. Covers what to post, how to make them interactive, and how to use them across subjects.
How to Teach Reading Comprehension
A practical guide to teaching reading comprehension — the strategies that actually move the needle, how to model them, and how to build students who think while they read.
How to Teach Place Value
A step-by-step guide to teaching place value — the foundation of the entire number system. Covers the concrete-to-abstract path, the misconceptions to confront, and activities that build real understanding.
How to Teach Writing
A practical guide to teaching writing that builds real writers — covering the writing process, modeled writing, mentor texts, and the feedback that actually improves student work.
How to Teach Elementary Music Lessons
A practical guide to teaching elementary music — including for classroom teachers without a music background. Covers what to teach, how to structure a lesson, and activities that work for grades K-5.
How to Teach Vocabulary
A practical guide to teaching vocabulary that actually sticks — how to choose the right words, teach them deeply, and build students who learn words independently.
How to Write Montessori Lesson Plans
Montessori planning looks different from traditional lesson plans: it's built around individual presentations, prepared materials, and following the child. Here's how to plan lessons that fit the Montessori method.