Tag: student engagement

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Create A Space for Gratitude

November is here, and that means Thanksgiving is coming! I’ve always loved this month for several reasons— the cooler weather, the yummy Thanksgiving meal, and time with friends and family. While all of those things are awesome in and of themselves, I think my favorite thing about November is the extra focus on gratitude. Sure, I am thankful all year round, but I love the extra emphasis on it during the days leading up to Thanksgiving. 

I know not all families celebrate Thanksgiving, and that’s okay! But regardless of how or if you celebrate Turkey Day, I think we all can agree that it is good to be grateful. As teachers, we can help students understand what it means to be grateful and how to show our gratitude for someone or something. When we teach young children to acknowledge the things they are thankful for, they begin to more easily see the good things in their lives, which leads to better attitudes and more optimistic outlooks. 

So as we begin this month of giving thanks, I encourage you to find ways to work mini gratitude lessons into your curriculum. It’s helpful for students to write down the things they are grateful for and to post them in the room for all to see. This helps create a sense of community as students begin to see that others in the room are grateful for similar things as they are, and also to help others find gratitude in things they may not have previously thought of. One way to do this is to create a “gratitude space” in your classroom. You can do this by devoting a wall or bulletin board to thankful thoughts, creating a large tree trunk that students can add leaves to, or by making a line of gratitude thoughts that follows the perimeter of your room. I’ve included a free resource you can print out and use in your classroom. Print the page on different “fall” colors and cut out the leaves. Each day leading up to Thanksgiving break, have students write something they are thankful for that day and hang it up in the designated spot in your classroom. 

Everyone will love watching the gratitude space fill up with positive things, and students will begin to recognize things in their lives that they are thankful for. Happy November!

**This free printable resource is intended for personal or classroom use only. It is not to be sold, reposted, or claimed as your own.**

Thankful Leaves-2Download
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Going Backward to Move Forward

Let’s say you’re in seventh grade, and your English teacher tells the class that you’ll be reading a book called The Wednesday Wars, which takes place in 1968. Before your teacher says anything more, he passes out books to everyone, and you dive right into chapter 1. As you continue to read further into the book, you start reading about Robert Kennedy, the Vietnam War, and Jesse Owens— none of which you are familiar with. It seems as though your teacher just expects you to know about these people and events. But you’re only a seventh grader, born in 2012, and you’ve never heard any of these names before. You feel lost as your teacher continues to read, unsure of why these people and events even matter in the book. Soon, you’ve tuned out the book entirely, disinterested and confused. 

One simple thing could have changed the outcome here: background knowledge. Had the teacher planned ahead and set aside one day to teach the class about the people and events in the book, there would have been a whole lot less confusion, and likely more interest in the book. 

It’s like trying to teach a unit on genetics without first explaining what cells, chromosomes, and DNA are. Or trying to explain how to properly develop a photo in the dark room without first explaining how to effectively use aperture and shutter speed or how to expose your photo onto your photo paper. Imagine your PE teacher telling you to get into groups and to go play a game of lacrosse without first teaching you what equipment you need, how to use that equipment, and how to play the game. The result in any of these scenarios would be chaos and confusion.

Background knowledge can make a world of a difference for students. Having some kind of foundational knowledge does a few things: it piques student interest in the topic, helps them learn correct terminology and vocabulary about the topic, and gives them a sound foundation to learn from. All of these aspects are important for creating a positive learning experience. When students can connect what they already know to what they are learning, the information is more likely to be retained. These connections can also help students to establish a deeper understanding of the topic. 

Sure, taking time to teach background information can seem “boring”, but making time for it will always be worth the time and effort. You actually end up putting yourself ahead a little bit because you won’t have to pause instruction in the middle of a unit to teach all the vocabulary and other background information. You set yourself and your students up for success when you take the time to set up a topic before diving into it. 

Sometimes as adults, we forget that our students aren’t always equipped with the knowledge necessary for further learning in a topic, or we assume that they should already know more than they do. We need to remember, though, that we have more experience and have had more time learning than our young students. Remember this can help us to slow down and take the time to provide scaffolding for our students as we begin new units and topics of study. 

Teaching background knowledge doesn’t have to be a huge, fancy lesson. Sometimes all it takes is an anticipation guide, KWL chart, or vocabulary review to set up new material and gear students up for new learning. 

However you choose to do it, just make sure you do it. Your future self will thank you, and your students will be much more engaged in their learning if they aren’t spending their time being confused and frustrated that they don’t know what you’re talking about. You’ve got to spend time going backwards so you can make more progress forward!

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Halloween Picture Books

Holiday themed books add such a fun element to holidays! They are usually only pulled out once a year, making them even more special. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite Halloween themed books for you— check them out! 

Pumpkins on Strike by Jennifer Jones

The pumpkins are tired of being mistreated— they are always getting painted on, cut up and carved, and they just won’t take it anymore! They band together and go on strike, refusing to let anyone else mistreat them. Once the humans realize how they’ve been hurting the pumpkins, they try to make things right by throwing a celebration for their pumpkin friends.

This book has cute illustrations and emphasizes the importance of treating others with respect and kindness.

Pig the Monster by Aaron Blabey

Another book in the Pig the Pug series, this book follows Pig on a Halloween rampage. Pig wants all the candy for himself, and will do just about anything to get it. At the end of the night, he spreads out his candy and begins to frantically eat his loot. His friend Trevor warns him not to eat a chocolate bar, but Pig doesn’t listen and ends up in trouble because of it. Trevor saves the day, and Pig learns a lesson about not being greedy and not overeating candy.

The Pig books are always a good time, with great illustrations, stories written in rhyme, and a good lesson at the end of the book. This book was no exception, and is just as delightful as the other books in the series.

Goodnight, Broom by Deb Adamson and Illustrated by Ma Pe

This book is a cute spoof on the children’s classic, Goodnight, Moon. It shows a cute little witch getting ready for bed, saying goodnight to all the spooky things in her room. 

The illustrations are fun and engaging, and the story is a sweet Halloween bed time story.

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago

Gustavo is a lonely, shy ghost. He is always being left out and doesn’t have any friends. The idea of making friends terrifies him, but he wants so badly to have a friend. He tries so hard to fit in, but no one seems to see him. He decides he has to be brave and let people see him for who he is. He decides that he will put on a violin concert and invites the other kids to come listen. The day of the concert comes, and he is very nervous. No one comes to hear him. He begins playing anyway, and gets carried away in the music. Soon, all the other monsters show up and apologize for being late. They are very impressed with his music and can finally see Gustavo for who he is. Gustavo soon has many friends and feels so loved.

The pictures in this book are adorable, and the story teaches a powerful lesson about being true to yourself. 

Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson and Illustrated by Axel Scheffler

This book is probably my all time favorite Halloween book. Written in rhyme and repetition, Room on the Broom follows a witch as she keeps losing things while flying on her broom. Every time she lands to find what she lost, she picks up a new friend… until her broom just can’t handle the weight of all the friends. The broom snaps and they all go tumbling down, only to be met by a big, mean, hungry dragon. Covered in swamp goo, the new friends band together to scare the dragon away and save their witch friend. 

The rhyming and repetition in this book make it very engaging and fun for kids and adults alike. Along with being a fun read, the story teaches a great lesson about including and making room for everyone, as well as working together to help friends. 

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And there you have it! There are so many fun Halloween picture books out there, and I had a hard time narrowing it down to just these five. If you haven’t read these already, head to your local library and check them out! Or, if someone else has already snagged them, you can find read alouds of each of these books on YouTube.

What are your favorite Halloween picture books?

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Physical Activity is Crucial for Growing Minds

There are many factors to consider when thinking about the overall well being of students in a classroom. All areas of health and well being are important— mental, emotional, social, and physical. Some are easier than others to address in a classroom setting, but all are equally crucial to a child’s well being. As teachers, it is important that we are taking time to provide opportunities for our students to grow in all areas. Physical health is an area that can be a little trickier to incorporate into a classroom, especially a secondary classroom. It’s not impossible, though! Below are some fun ideas for integrating physical movement into your classroom, regardless of the age or grade you teach. 

  • Brain breaks: Have students stand next to their desks and stretch, shake their arms and legs, or jog in place for 30 seconds. Put on a Danny Go episode and have students follow along with the actions. These kinds of quick, simple activities can help students get their wiggles out and clear their brain so that they can more easily focus on what they are being taught. 
  • Take your class outside (weather permitting) and play a relay game, such as transporting an object from one side of the field to the other. 
  • Take your class on a short walk around the perimeter of the building. If weather doesn’t allow for that, take a walk around the halls of the building, adding in the extra challenge of seeing who can be the quietest. 
  • Play PE Bingo, where each student must pick five activities to complete off their Bingo board— and the activities chosen must be in a row to create a Bingo (You can use the free resource below if you’d like.)
  • Do a “name workout”, where each letter of the alphabet is a different exercise, and students must complete the exercises for each letter of their name. (Ex: A- 5 jumping jacks, B- 30 second jog in place, C- 5 pushups, etc.)
  • Play “4 Corners”. Think of a series of multiple choice questions. On paper, create posters with A, B, C, and D on them. Place the papers in the four corners of the room. As you read each question and answer options, students must move around the room to the corner that corresponds to their response to the question. This not only creates a good opportunity for physical activity, but also helps students to see what they have in common with others in their class. 
  • For secondary students, have a class period where you play “old school” playground games— kickball, four square, hopscotch, or wall ball. You’d be surprised at how much fun teenagers have with these kinds of games (even if they put up a front that they are too old for such silliness).

Physical movement is so important for growing bodies and minds. It promotes healthy habits now and encourages kids to continue those healthy habits throughout their lives. Students of all ages need to see that all different areas of health and well being are important, and that there are simple, accessible ways to take care of each of those different areas. 

**Feel free to use the free PE Bingo card below. It is intended solely for classroom or personal use and may not be sold, reposted, or claimed as your own.**

PE BingoDownload
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How They Croaked– A Totally Fascinating Read

It’s often tricky to find books that will capture the interest of reluctant readers. It’s a fine balance between providing a challenge, but not too much of a challenge: you want to find a book that isn’t so far below grade level that they get bored quickly, and you definitely don’t want to find a book that is so far off from their current reading level that they get frustrated and end up giving up all together. 

Thankfully, there are authors that just understand this, who write books that are engaging, just challenging enough, and will capture and hold the attention of their readers. One of those authors is Georgia Bragg— she has a knack for writing books that are so much fun! One book of hers in particular, is at the top of my “Books for Reluctant Readers” list: How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous. 

In this book, Bragg details the awful demises of nineteen historically famous people like Cleopatra, George Washington, Marie Curie, and Edgar Allen Poe, among others. Each chapter focuses on one individual, and recounts a little about their life and what they are famous for, then describes their ultimate fate. Sometimes a little gruesome, always historically accurate, and always fascinating, each chapter is educational and engaging. Chapters are short— usually about 2-5 pages, and the book overall is a very quick read (I sat down and read it in its entirety in just a couple of hours). It’s a great option for kids between ages 9-13, but would honestly be a great read for ages 14+ as well. 

While I never had the chance to teach this book to my students, I did recommend it several times. If I had had the chance, I would have taught it to my 8th grade classes. Not only does it provide readers with interesting facts, it lends itself to excellent teaching opportunities. Below are a few ideas for teaching it with a whole class:

  • Split your class up into partnerships and assign a chapter to each group. Have them read their assigned chapter then create a slideshow or other sort of presentation to teach the rest of the class about their famous person and their demise. 
  • Read the entire book as a whole class, focusing on a chapter or two every day.
    • With each chapter, display pictures of the person it’s about. 
    • Some of the chapters discuss different medical technologies, practices, methods, etc. that are different than we have today. Take time to educate students about these different medical practices.
    • After you have finished reading the whole book, assign students to pick a famous person who is NOT in the book and create their own chapter about their person, including illustrations or pictures.
    • Make a timeline showing the birth and death dates of all nineteen people from the book.
  • For sake of time, choose your top ten favorite chapters and only teach those ones to the whole class. Have students choose four more chapters to read independently. 
  • As you read the book, have students fill out the “All You Need to Know” worksheet provided below.

Not only is this book a great non-fiction read, it also provides super cross-curricular instruction, as it contains both historical and scientific elements, and allows for a plethora of learning opportunities. 

Give it a go with your classes; I bet they’ll love it. And if you don’t have junior high aged classes or kids, read it yourself and enjoy!

If you enjoyed Croaked, you might also like How They Choked also by Georgia Bragg. In it, Bragg details how famous people royally messed up. It’s equally as engaging and educational as Croaked.

** Free printable is for classroom or personal use only. It is not intended for resale in any way. **

How They Croaked WSDownload
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Halloween I Spy Printable

It’s time for another fun Halloween print & go activity for you to use in your classroom! These kinds of activities are great for early finishers, quiet table work, or even as an activity for your class party! Today I have a fun Halloween I Spy worksheet that you can print out and use. For those who want options, I’ve included both a black and white version as well as a color version. 

Have students count each Halloween picture, then write how many of that picture they find at the bottom of the page. 

Parents— this is also a great activity to print off and keep in your quiet bag and may give you some peace during a wait at the doctor’s office, on a longer car ride, or if you just need a minute to breathe during the day! Laminate it or throw it into a sheet protector, and you’ve got an activity your kids can do again and again.

** As always, please do not sell, repost, or claim as your own. This printable is intended for classroom or home use only. **

Halloween I Spy-2Download

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Halloween Activities for Language Arts

It’s no secret how much I enjoy holiday-themed activities! They just bring such a fun element to a lesson and spark so much creativity. Even though we typically think of holiday themed activities as being targeted toward elementary aged kids, you can easily bring them into any content area and any grade level simply by modifying the difficulty of the activity.

Thought I can appreciate all content areas, English/Language Arts is my favorite, since that is what I spent many years teaching. And since we are nearing Halloween, I thought it would be appropriate to share some fun Halloween themed Language Arts activities! 

(Most of these will be geared more toward junior high aged kids, but can be modified for other grade levels as well.)

  • Read some “spooky” stories or poems. Edgar Allen Poe is always a good option for this time of year. In particular, “Tell Tale Heart” is a stellar choice for junior high students. Other options include “The Hitchhiker” by Lucille Fletcher, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, or “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by Washington Irving. Did you know Roald Dahl even has some spooky short stories?!
  • Ask students to write a descriptive paragraph or two giving detailed descriptions of a haunted house. Have them trade papers with a classmate and have them create a physical model (drawing, painting, cut and glue, etc.) of the haunted house using what is written.
  • Have students write a personal narrative about their favorite Halloween or a favorite family Halloween tradition.
  • Have students write and illustrate a simple Halloween children’s book.
  • Have students write a persuasive piece defending their right to still trick-or-treat.
  • Using the free “Roll A Story” printable below, have students write a short story using the elements their dice rolls choose for them.

Play some fun Halloween music while your students work on one or more of these delightful Halloween themed activities, and you’ve easily set up a fun work environment for your students to work in! Teenagers might put up a front that they are “too old” for things like this, but deep down, they love it and will eat it right up when given the chance! 

** This printable is free, and is intended for home or classroom use only. Please do not resell, repost, or claim as your own. **

Roll A Story HalloweenDownload