Tag: engaging with students

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Non Fiction Doesn’t Have to Mean Boring

Finding engaging, interesting non fiction books for teenagers can be a bit tricky sometimes. They don’t want to be bored by a book that reads like an encyclopedia or text book, and they need a book that is written on their level. Imagine handing an eighth grader a book about the discovery of bacteria and other germs that is written with a bunch of medical terms and jargon— you’d probably end up with a room full of frustrated kids who can’t understand what they are reading. It just wouldn’t go over well. 

Thankfully non fiction books written for and geared toward teens are becoming more prevalent. I was always on the hunt for good informational texts to teach to my junior high classes. One of my favorite books to teach to my eighth graders was a book called Phineas Gage: A Gruesome but True Story About Brain Science by John Fleischman. 

The book recounts a fascinating true story of a man named Phineas Gage, who, by an unlucky turn of events, was the unfortunate recipient of a tamping iron being blasted through his head while working on a railroad construction site in 1848. The rod, measuring 1 1/4” in diameter and 3’7” long, weighing just over 13 pounds, entered through his open mouth, passed behind his left eye, and exited through the top of his head. The tamping iron continued airborne and was found around 80 feet away from where Phineas was struck. How the accident happened is riveting in its own right, but what’s even more amazing is that somehow, Phineas survived the ordeal, and lived another 12 years after the accident!

The book follows Phineas after his accident, describing the personality and mental changes he experienced as a result of his injury. It also describes the amazing amount of brain research that Phineas was part of, and how this research led to the discovery of new information about how the brain works and what certain parts of it control.

It really is a fascinating story. Gruesome, as the title warns, but fascinating. Eighth graders would eat it up. It had just the right amount of gross, cool, interesting, and relatable to keep them engaged as we read through the text. It lent itself to a great opportunity for cross-curricular instruction and gave students a chance to learn some really cool things about the brain. 

We always started the unit with a little background knowledge on the brain. I would show some real MRI scans and we’d map out and learn the different parts of the brain and what their functions are. We would learn about early beliefs about how the brain works and talk about how far our knowledge of the brain has come. 

During the unit, we would discuss personality, sleep, brain development, and decision making. I would show short videos talking about how crucial sleep is for proper brain development, and videos about the teenage brain. I had students complete their own personal “mind map” where they filled a head-shaped outline with words and drawings of things that made them who they are. We would dive into how surgical protocol and procedures have changed for the better over time; they were always amazed that medical procedures were performed under such non-sterile conditions (as was I!). 

We always ended our book study and unit with a research paper. Their topic was fairly open, as long as it was written about anything that had to do with the brain, its function, its science, etc. I would have papers turned in about dreams, the effects of music or art on the brain, learning deficits, speech disorders, cognitive and other disabilities, and so on. 

It truly was an engaging unit, filled with so many opportunities to learn new information as well as make connections to what they already knew. I loved that it was a unit that combined English and Science, and that students were given the chance to use many different methods of learning: reading, research, video/technology, art, and critical thinking. 

Even if you’re not in the market for a good non fiction book to teach to your class, keep it in mind for when you are or for when a student wants a recommendation for a good book to read. You can also add it to your own personal To-Be-Read list and watch as your mind becomes engrossed with this fascinating and true story! 

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Valentine Bookmark Printable

If you’re looking for a fun last minute, super simple activity to do with your students, I’ve got you covered! All you need is a printer, paper, scissors, and something to color with! Click on the link below to download and print off four Valentine bookmarks. Leave them black and white, or color them in!

*Please do not sell or distribute this file. It is intended for only personal or classroom use.*

Valentine’s Day BookmarksDownload
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Challenging the Gifted Learner

When I was growing up and in school, I was under the assumption that kids who were in the gifted or accelerated programs were always the ideal student with no behavior issues, super organized, and very on top of everything. Boy was I wrong! Sure, there are gifted students who are well behaved, and on top of things, but they aren’t all like that. Just as in any other classroom, students in a gifted program are diverse in their skills and abilities. Gifted doesn’t mean perfect student.

When I was taking courses to get my gifted endorsement, and especially when I was eventually teaching gifted classes, I learned that gifted kids are just like any other kids, and that their brains usually just process information in a unique way. Just as I would make accommodations for my students who had 504 plans or IEPs, I often found myself making accommodations for my students who learned at an accelerated rate. While making changes to assignments and instruction for one or two students can be challenging, it’s always worth it. Students who want to be challenged and who excel when pushed should have the opportunity to do so. 

So how, then, do you challenge a gifted student? It’s really pretty easy when you have a class full of gifted learners; your entire curriculum is designed to teach accelerated students. However, when you’re changing things to accommodate one or two students, it requires a little more effort. It’s important to remember that accommodating accelerated learners doesn’t mean more work for the student; it means different work and higher level thinking skills. Below are a few ways you can challenge your gifted students while still teaching the same concepts to the entire class. 

  • When teaching new vocabulary to students, have faster learners re-write definitions in their own words.
  • Offer tiered assignments with varying levels of difficulty. This allows students to choose what level of complexity they want to tackle while still having all students show their knowledge on a particular subject.
  • When doing a group project, have accelerated learners work together. They will often challenge each other to think further.
  • Eliminate “entry level” questions or assignments— kids who are gifted often see these kinds of tasks as a waste of time and see no challenge in them.
  • Offer project based learning, allowing students to showcase their talents, skills, knowledge, and interests. 
  • Offer opportunities for gifted students to teach students who are struggling.
  • If assigning essay type questions, assign gifted students questions that require a higher level of thinking.
  • Instead of having students only answer the “how” of something, have them answer the “why” of it as well. 
  • Offer after school clubs or programs that target unique interests.
  • Ask them how they want to be challenged! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with getting the student’s input and feedback on how they learn best and how they want to be challenged. The answers might surprise you!

Accelerated students are such a fun group of kids. They offer unique insight and views on life, and bring so much to a classroom. How do you challenge your gifted students?

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Valentine’s I Spy Printables

In continuing with some fun Valentine’s Day themed ideas for the classroom (or home!), I’ve created two different I Spy printables, one in color, and the other in black and white, so you can print whichever version works for you!

Put kids in to teams to find the pictures, have them work independently, or make it a whole class activity. Count each different picture, then add up the numbers to see how many total pictures are on the page. The options are plentiful, and the fun is endless!

Happy Spying!

*Please only use these printables for classroom or home use. Do not sell these files.*

Valentine’s Day I Spy ColorDownload

Valentine I Spy BWDownload
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Valentine’s Day Freebies

Valentine’s Day is just a couple of weeks away! If you’re looking for a fun, easy Valentine’s Day themed activity for your class to do, I’ve got you covered! Click the boxes below to download a Valentine’s Day Word Scramble and/or a Valentine’s Day Word Search. Check back next week for some more Valentine’s Day fun!

*Please only use for home or classroom use. Do not sell or redistribute these files.*

Valentine’s Day Word ScrambleDownload
Valentine’s Day Word SearchDownload
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Student Engagement: Crucial for a Functioning Classroom

“Open your books to page 24. Today we are covering chapter 3, and will learn about land formations. We will read pages 24-30 out loud as a class, with each student taking a paragraph. Let’s start with Kevin and go up and down the rows.”

OR…

“I’m going to split you into groups of 4. Each group will be given a different land formation and an information sheet on that specific formation. Review your sheet together. Then, as a group, you will use the scrap bin and other art materials to create a 3-D model of your land formation. Your group will present to the class and will share what you have learned. You have 40 minutes. Ready? Go!” 

Two scenes, two different approaches, two very different responses from students. Which classroom would you rather be in?

I imagine the first scenario would produce groans, eye rolls, and heavy sighs from the students, not to mention massive amounts of anxiety for the students who absolutely loathe reading out loud in front of the class. I imagine the second scenario would be received with more enthusiasm, excitement, and willingness to participate.

Of the two scenarios, it’s pretty obvious that the level of student engagement increases exponentially with the second option. When students are engaged, they are much more likely to participate in the lesson or activity, and there is also a greater likelihood that they will retain the information that is being taught. Another positive benefit of keeping students engaged is that they are less likely to cause boredom induced behavior problems because they will be actively engaged in the lesson. I realize that not every lesson can be taught with art, models, videos, or games. Even still, teachers ought to be making every effort possible to keep students engaged and interested in the material being taught; not every engagement technique requires fancy bells and whistles. 

Student engagement is vital to a thriving classroom, so here are a few ideas you may or may not have tried with your own students. Keep in mind that not every idea will work for every student or every lesson, and that’s ok! That’s why we have a variety of options in our teacher toolboxes!

Use your students’ interests– When students are interested in what they are learning or can see a direct connection to something they are interested in, they are more willing to learn and retain what is taught. If you can connect football play strategies to your study of World War II battle strategies, you’ve gained the attention of all of your football loving kids. Having your students listen to Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” as you study Romeo and Juliet will quickly engage your Swiftie students. 

Gamification– Use game elements in your teaching. Create a BINGO game as a review before a test, use Kahoot to reinforce information, or create a fun online scavenger hunt for students to complete to collect information.

Anticipatory Activities– When introducing a new unit or topic, provide students with a fun and engaging activity to get them thinking about what they are going to study. Studying a book about Ernest Shackleton’s crew of men who get stranded in Antarctica for a couple of years when their ship wrecks in 1912? Play a true/false game with crazy or cool facts about Antarctica and show pictures of what it is like there.

Collaborative Learning– Use group work when possible. Students can work together to solve problems, gather information, and learn together. They can learn from each other, and can gain valuable people skills through group work.

Provide Choices– Allow students a say in how they show what they’ve learned. Provide them with options that target different learning styles so everyone has a chance to use their strengths to showcase their knowledge.

Use Media– Show video clips or listen to music to reinforce content. YouTube is loaded with tons of short educational videos that can bring so much to a lesson. Music has also been proven to aid with memory and retainment. 

Laugh Together– It really is true what they say- laughter is the best medicine. Laughter has a way of connecting people. Laughing together as a class can lighten the mood, ease stress, and help students feel more comfortable in their learning environment. Besides, no one likes a teacher who is grumpy and stuffy all the time! 

Take a Break– Provide your students with opportunities to take a break from their learning. A simple brain break video works great. Have them stand up, stretch, and get wiggles out. Let them chat with a neighbor for a few minutes. Play a quick round of Silent Ball or Heads Up, Seven Up. Taking a short break from working can give the brain a rest and a chance to reset and refresh, which, in turn, increases productivity and alertness. 

These ideas are only a few of the many techniques to engage students. Find what works for you as a teacher and for your students. Don’t be afraid to shake it up a bit and try something you maybe haven’t tried before. You may be surprised at how well it’s received by your students!

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100 Days of School Celebrations

My second and third graders hit the 100th day of school mark today, and my kindergartner and preschoolers will hit it next week. It’s weird to think we are over halfway done with the school year already.

The second grade celebrated by inviting kids to dress up as 100 year olds and did a bunch of activities throughout the day. Amazon saved my behind with overnight delivery and kindly had a cute little “old man” costume at my door by 6 am. I dropped my son off at school and smiled as I watched other students walking into the school in costume. Sure, dress up days can be stressful, but they are so much fun!

Do you celebrate the 100th day of school at your school? If so, how do you celebrate? Since our school year started in the middle of August, we are hitting our 100th day sooner than a lot of other schools across the country. If you haven’t hit the 100 day mark yet, and are planning on celebrating with students, here are a few ideas you could use!

  • Have students dress up as 100 year old people— there’s nothing cuter than little kids dressed up as old people!
  • Ask each student to bring a small bag filled with 100 of something— noodles, buttons, small candies, beads, legos, Cheerios, pennies, crayons, erasers, etc. Have them compare how big or small each collection of things is— even though each bag contains 100 items, the fullness of the bags will differ according to the size of the items in them.
  • Give students 100 small items— math counters, buttons, pennies, etc. Have them sort them several different ways to show how many ways you can make 100.
  • Color and make 100 day hats or glasses.
  • As a class, in small groups, or individually, have students come up with a list of 100 words they know.
  • Make 100 day necklaces with 100 pieces of cereal. Have students count out their cereal before they make their necklaces.
  • Make a list of 100 things they can do (or want to learn to do).
  • Make a mosaic using 100 small pieces of paper.
  • Count out 100 ice cubes into a bowl. Have students guess how long they think it will take them to all melt.
  • Make a paper cup pyramid with 100 cups.
  • Have students create a “Before I am 100” bucket list with things they’d like to do in their lifetime. You can choose the number of things you want them to write on their list.
  • Go on a candy scavenger hunt. Write numbers 1-100 on dot stickers, then stick them on small wrapped pieces of candy (Hershey kisses work great). Hide them around the room and have students go on a hunt. Have them put the numbers in order as they find them. 
  • Have each student walk 100 steps. Measure whose steps went the furthest. You could try different ways to walk— little tiny steps, big monster steps, normal steps, alternating one small step with one big step, and so on. 
  • If you have snack time during school, give each student 100 of whatever snack you have that day. If you don’t normally have snack time, this is a great day to have one!
  • Choose a few exercise moves (sit ups, jumping jacks, push ups, etc.) you know your students can easily do and have them do 100 seconds of each exercise.
  • Give each student 100 interlocking math blocks. Have them build something with them. This is a fun small group or partner activity.
  • Using 100 objects, create 100 written out.

Well there you have it— fun ways to celebrate the 100th day of school! Happy celebrating!