Category: Student Engagement

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Once Upon A Time…

Story time might be the best time! Hear me out: your teacher calls you over to the rug, you sit criss-cross applesauce on your assigned circle, and you cozy in, ready to hear a story. As your teacher reads, she does different voices for each character, and suddenly the story has come alive, and you feel like you’re right there with the characters. It’s magical, and a core part of childhood. 

Happiness isn’t the only benefit that comes from being read to, though it certainly is a great one! Reading out loud to kids can help them in so many ways. These include:

  • Boosted brain development
  • Stronger vocabulary
  • Stronger social and emotional skills
  • Improved listening skills and focus
  • Stronger bonds between the reader and the audience
  • Reduced stress

Boosted Brain Development

When kids are read to, different parts of the brain are activated than are when they are reading independently and silently. Listening and making sense of what is being heard creates unique neural pathways, and causes the brain to really focus on what is being said.

Stronger Vocabulary

Reading in and of itself is a great vocabulary builder, but when students are read to, it gives them a chance to hear a new word, then immediately ask for a definition. They recognize that they don’t know the word, then take initiative to figure out what it means. This new word then gets added to their “words they know” list for them to practice using as they become stronger readers.

Stronger Social and Emotional Skills

When students can relate to characters in the stories that are read to them, their social and emotional skills are strengthened. They begin to gain empathy, and can learn that there are other people who feel the same feelings they feel. Students can see different social skills in action in stories– how to be kind, how to include others, good manners, etc., and can use the stories to recognize similar situations in their own lives. True text-to-self connections are made!

Improved Listening Skills and Focus

Listening and focusing are two separate skills that must both be engaged in order for students to get the most benefit from being read to. The brain will make connections as both skills are activated, thus helping students to make sense of what they are hearing. 

Stronger Bonds Between Reader and Audience

When a reader makes the story come alive by using different voices, inflections, and body language, it changes the whole atmosphere in the room. The audience is drawn into the story and becomes entranced by the magic of it. When the listeners become involved with the story, they start to form a trust and bond with the reader. Think about when you were a small child, and your favorite adult would pull you onto their lap, and you would snuggle in and listen to a story– there is a certain bond that comes through this. While teachers cannot pull all students onto their laps, they can still use literature to connect with their classes.

Reduced Stress

For some students, reading out loud to others can create feelings of stress and anxiety. They worry about messing up and saying words wrong, or if they are reading too slow or too fast. When they are read to, however, those stressors disappear. They can simply sit and listen to the story without fear of misspeaking. Even if a student isn’t bothered by reading out loud themselves, having the chance to be read to is such a calming, relaxing activity. Perhaps this is why so many adults enjoy listening to audio books!

I’m certain that there are other benefits that come from being read to, and I’m sure we could explore the above listed benefits even deeper. But the truth remains the same: reading is powerful and is incredibly beneficial to readers of all ages!

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Summertime Math

For some kids, summer break is in full swing, and for other kids, it’s so close they can taste it! Trying to keep students engaged those last few days of school can be difficult, as they just want to be outside enjoying the sunshine. And, honestly, who can blame them?! The sunshine is so inviting! 

If your school is one that is still in session, and you find yourself grasping for ways to keep your kiddos engaged and focused, I’ve got a fun math worksheet you can use! Geared for kindergarten or first graders, this summer themed addition and subtraction practice sheet is fun and educational! And as an added bonus, if you need to occupy a little more time, you can have your students color in the objects as they work on the problems. 

If you’re a parent or caregiver who is desperate for ways to try to prevent the infamous “summer slide”, print this off and have your kiddos do it at home! 

However you use it, I hope your students and/or kids will have fun as they practice those fundamental math skills that will serve them as they continue to learn!

**This download is free, and is for classroom or personal use only. Do not resell it, re-post it, or claim it as your own.**

Summer MathDownload
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Helping Students Communicate

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been doing a series of posts about the 7 Cs of education. So far I’ve covered Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Collaboration. Each ‘C’ is useful on its own, but can also be very effective when combined with other ‘Cs’. Today’s ‘C’ is, I think, one of the most important of the 7 Cs: Communication. 

The ability to effectively communicate is such an important skill for kids to learn, especially in today’s world where there are so many different ways to communicate. The art of in person communication seems to be dwindling as digital forms of communication are rapidly developing and changing. And yet, it is still such an important skill to have. Students need to learn how to speak with another individual face to face, as it will help them immensely as they go out into the world, interview for jobs, work with coworkers, and so forth. 

Since we do live in such a digital world, it’s also crucial that we teach our students how to communicate through the various digital means available. They ought to know when it’s appropriate to use “lazy”/slang text versus when they ought to be more formal. Students will inevitably have to communicate with bosses, coworkers, or other adults via email, and knowing how to properly format an email will come in handy. 

Another important aspect of communication is teaching kids to be able to effectively communicate their wants and needs, and learning when it would be appropriate and inappropriate to express those various things. For example, students can learn that while the class is taking a test might not be the best time to loudly announce they need to use the restroom. On the other hand, they can learn that watching their classmates play a sport would be an appropriate time and place to use a louder voice to communicate their excitement and encouragement. 

The methods in which we teach our students how to communicate can come in all shapes and sizes. It will vary from one content area to another. It doesn’t matter how we go about teaching it, only that we are finding ways to encourage and promote healthy communication amongst our students. Below are a few ways you might consider bringing and/or modeling communication practice into your curriculum:

  • Write-Pair-Share: After students answer a “question of the day” or class opener of some sort, have them share responses with a neighbor. Encourage them to talk to someone new each time you ask them to do this.
  • Give an assignment where students exchange emails with another student. 
  • Have students practice interviewing others.
  • Assign students to email a business, using proper formatting and word choice.
  • During group discussions, provide a “talking piece”. Only the student who has possession of the talking piece can speak. This encourages students to listen and to exercise self control while waiting for their turn to speak.
  • Teach about and practice using proper body language– many kids don’t realize just how much body language can communicate.
  • Help students in your class learn their classmates’ names. Doing this helps them to be able to clearly communicate when they are speaking with someone.
  • Make your classroom a safe space. Students are more likely to effectively communicate their needs, opinions, and input if they feel like what they say will matter.
  • Establish a communication system early on. Will you use school email to keep students and parents informed? Will you use a communication app like Remind, Bloomz, ParentSquare, or ClassDojo? Whatever you choose to use, be consistent with it so that students and parents will know where they can go to keep up to date with classroom happenings as well as to contact you if they have questions.

Teaching and practicing effective communication within the classroom is essential for a smooth running classroom. It helps students have a clear idea of what to do, what is expected, and helps them feel seen and heard. In addition to these things, it teaches students how to be effective communicators, thus setting them up for success in all areas of their lives.

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End of Year Reflections

The end of the school year is so bittersweet: everyone is ready for summer break, but it’s also the end of something good. Students leave your classroom with so much more than they started with. The growth and change that occurs over the course of a school year is incredible, and is something that should be celebrated. Oftentimes, it’s harder for students to see that growth within themselves, so as teachers, it’s important that we help them realize just how far they’ve come. 

An effective way I’ve found to help students notice how much they’ve learned and changed is by doing an end of year reflection. This gives them a chance to think about what they’ve accomplished over the course of the year, and causes them to reflect back on all the things that have happened since the beginning of school. 

I’ve put together an end of year reflection page you can use with your students as you close out the school year. It’s appropriate for all ages, and is open to written or drawn responses. This worksheet is for personal or classroom use only. It is not to be shared, resold, reposted, or claimed as your own. 

End of Year ReflectionDownload
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Connecting to Literature Through Realistic Fiction

Finding books that teens and preteens will actually read and enjoy can be a little tricky sometimes. By this point in their education, many kids have lost their love for reading, which is unfortunate; reading has so many benefits! As teachers, though, we have the opportunity to help these reluctant or uninterested readers find books that they will enjoy and want to read. But with so many genres available to choose from, it can be difficult to narrow it down to something they will like. In the event that you find yourself in this position, look no further! I’ve created a list of a few book recommendations in each genre. You can see my historical fiction recommendations here, and my dystopian novel recommendations here. 

Up on the docket today: Realistic Fiction! Books in this genre contain fictional characters who are placed into situations that have happened or could potentially happen. These stories could be based on true events. In this genre, we will find books about characters who are working through hard things at home, school, or with friends, characters who embark on an epic family vacation, or even characters who find themselves in the thick of illness or other hardship. Because these stories are based on real life events, students often find it easier to build a connection with the book and the characters– they can see themselves in the characters. Check out the books below and share with your students who need a good book!

Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper

Melody Brooks is an eleven year old fifth grader who happens to have cerebral palsy, which has taken away her ability to walk, write, and talk. Adults and children alike often assume she is mentally challenged because of her inability to speak or write, but that couldn’t be further from the truth! Melody is brilliant and has an incredible photographic memory– she just can’t express that to others. She is finally given a chance to use a computer device that allows her to type what she wants to say. The device then speaks for her by reading what she has written. It’s only once she is able to start communicating like this that people start to realize how smart she really is. 

You May Already be a Winner by Ann Dee Ellis

Olivia and her sister, Berkeley live together with their mom in Sunny Pines Trailer Park. Olivia wants so badly to be able to leave the trailer park and find a better life for her and Berkeley. She devises a plan to enter several sweepstakes with the hope of winning a million dollars. She longs to live a “normal” life where she doesn’t have to miss school to babysit her sister, and a life free of poverty. She wants to escape from the challenges her mother faces that make life more difficult for the family. Through all of this, she makes friends with her quirky neighbor, and learns that sometimes family is who you least expect it to be. This book is a perfect combination of humor, difficult realities, and finding happiness where you are.

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

It’s 1935, and Moose Flanagan is twelve years old when his father takes a job as an electrician and guard at the infamous Alcatraz Prison. Moose and his family move to the island prison to begin their new life. His sister, Natalie, has autism and is admitted into a school for students with special needs. Moose befriends a girl named Piper, who also happens to be the warden’s daughter. Piper is constantly coming up with creative ways to make money with the hope of escaping the island. Her latest scheme involves using the prison inmates to do laundry for the other kids at school, and she convinces Moose to join her efforts. Their underground operation is stopped when the warden finds out, and Moose and Piper then have to find something else to fill their time. When Natalie gets kicked out of school for befriending one of the prisoners, Moose eventually enlists the help of the famous prisoner Al Capone to help get her back into the school. Choldenko continues Moose’s adventures across two more books, each equally as fun as this one.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

This book follows Auggie Pullman, who was born with a facial difference. He wants to be treated like everyone else, and quickly finds that others can be cruel, and don’t want to be his friend. Fortunately, though, he is also able to form friendships with Jack, Will, and Summer. Auggie’s story is told from multiple perspectives, including Auggie’s, his sister Via’s, her boyfriend’s, as well as other friends. This unique story telling format gives the reader a broader picture of Auggie’s life from many points of view. Wonder is a heart warming story about kindness, acceptance, and the desire to fit in.

Counting by Sevens by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Counting by 7s is also told from multiple perspectives, bringing insight and dimension to the story. Willow Chance is a twelve year old girl who finds herself in a really hard situation– both of her adoptive parents are killed in a car crash. Willow must then figure out how to navigate grief, life, and what it means to be a family. She finds comfort in counting by 7s and plants and forms an unlikely friendship with her school counselor and a taxi driver, who both encourage her and help her figure out this new life.

Matt Sprouts and the Curse of the Ten Broken Toes by Matt Eicheldinger

Matt Sprouts is just living his ordinary life when, one day, he accidentally injures his neighbor. Soon after, he breaks one of his toes, which leads him to believe he is now cursed with “the Curse”, a made-up curse started in his hometown. The story follows him as he continues to break more toes all while navigating friendships, sibling relationships, and tough coaches. Filled with humor, this book is a fun read, and, as a bonus, includes two other books to round out the series. 

Each of these books dives into different challenges or situations kids might face today. These stories connect readers to relatable characters, and allow readers to feel seen, understood, and heard.

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Say What?!

Happy as a clam. A picture is worth a thousand words. Every dog has its day. A penny saved is a penny earned. What in the world do these even mean?! Unless you are familiar with these kinds of phrases, they probably sound a bit silly, probably don’t make a whole lot of sense, and might even be confusing. Sayings like these can be idioms, like we talked about last week. Sometimes, though, they are known as proverbs: short sayings meant to convey some kind of moral or life lesson. 

As adults, we are likely pretty familiar with common proverbs and idioms. We hear them and say them without really thinking twice about it; we just know what they mean because we’ve known them for so long. For many of our students, however, these kinds of phrases are unfamiliar, and may sound like gibberish to them. 

Just like everything else, these must be learned. We can’t expect our students to understand them and know what they mean if we don’t expose them to proverbs and other phrases. To help you with this, I’ve created a simple worksheet you can use. On it, you will find a list of the beginning half of several proverbs or idioms, followed by a blank line. After reading the first half of the saying, students can write what they think the rest of the saying is. No doubt you’ll get some funny answers, but that’s the fun of it! 

** This printable is for personal or classroom use only. Do not resell, repost, or claim as your own. **

Say What!Download