Tag: resources

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Effective Lesson Planning

Lesson plans: the bane of many teachers’ careers. They can be tedious, time consuming, and honestly, a bit of a pain to prepare. A seasoned teacher may be able to go without a structured, written lesson plan, but for many not-so-seasoned teachers, this isn’t the case, and a written plan is very helpful. So, with that being said, what makes an effective lesson plan? There isn’t one right or wrong way to plan a lesson, but there are certain components that should remain fairly consistent from one lesson plan to the next: objective/goal, lesson materials, timeline, assessment, differentiation, and closure.

Objective or Goal

Every lesson should have some sort of end goal in mind. When we begin with the end in mind, it allows us to plan our activities, lessons, and assessments accordingly. When we know what goal we want to reach, we can more effectively plan how we are going to reach that goal. Most states have a set of core standards that teachers are to cover over the course of the school year. The objective or goal for the lesson is a great place to list the core concept(s) that will be covered in any given lesson, and to prepare lessons that will effectively meet the concept(s) being taught. 

Lesson Materials

It’s a great idea to list the materials you will need for a particular lesson. Some days, you will only need a textbook and copies of a worksheet. Others, you may need art supplies for students to use to complete their assignment. Whatever it is that you need, it’s very helpful to write down the things you need to gather. It serves as a great reminder, and even the act of writing it down can give your mind the reminder it needs. In the event that you have to unexpectedly leave your classroom, it will also help the substitute know what supplies they will need. 

TImeline

Creating a basic timeline of activities and information to be covered can help the lesson move smoothly. It’s a good idea to avoid jumping around from topic to topic; having an outline of events can greatly aid the continuity and overall smoothness of the lesson itself. Creating a timeline can also help you prioritize what you’d like to cover during the lesson. If it’s important to get a particular topic covered during the day, planning for that to be the first thing you teach can help ensure that happens. 

Assessment

Another very important part of lesson planning is to plan for assessments: how are you going to know that students “got it?” That may look like a formal assessment in the form of a test, quiz, or worksheet. It could also look like a question and answer time the end of the lesson, where you obtain verbal confirmation of knowledge from your students. It could be a quick walk through the room as they take notes or work on a project. The assessment portion of the lesson will vary from day to day, from lesson to lesson. It doesn’t need to be a big, grand assignment, but there should be some kind of way to make sure you know that your students got something out of the lesson. 

Differentiation

Not every student learns in the same way. What resonates with one student may not resonate with their classmate. It is also crucial to consider students who have IEPs, 504 plans, or other needs. Building this into the lesson plan will help remind teachers to take those students into consideration and to plan ahead for those needs that will arise. Everyone deserves a chance to learn, and some just need a little extra help and guidance… and that’s okay!

Closure

Every lesson has to come to an end, so there should be some form of closure. Having smooth transitions from one lesson to the next can help students better follow your instruction. Many times, the assessment is a good time to provide closure for the lesson. Having students fill out an “exit ticket” as they end the class is a great way to close the lesson and also get a quick idea of what they learned for the day. Doing a quick verbal review and a quick reminder of things to come is also a great way to close out a lesson. Smooth transitions and nice closure help students to move on to the next activity, assignment, lesson, or class.

While there really is not one set way to lesson plan, these few things are great elements that every plan ought to include. Planning out a lesson sets you up for a more successful lesson and helps to avoid potential chaos. Preparation is key, and can set a great example to your students!

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Student Food Pantries and Wellness Rooms: A Beacon of Light

It’s no secret that it’s downright hard to be a kid or teen in today’s world. There are so many things pulling for their attention and time, and basic needs shouldn’t be something they need to worry about. But for many kids, obtaining basic necessities are a cause of worry. Families experiencing financial hardship, homelessness, or domestic abuse, among other things, often have a difficult time providing the most basic human needs— food, clothing, hygiene items, and laundry facilities. 

No one should have to go without these things. Thankfully, many schools across the nation have implemented in-school food pantries and wellness rooms— a place students can go, free of charge, no questions asked, to get the things they need. 

These pantries provide snacks and other foods that students can take home with them so they don’t have to go hungry. Many schools offer both non-perishable and perishable foods and ingredients to prepare basic meals. 

One high school in Utah went a step further than just providing food and set up a teen room, which they call The Hub. Students can make an appointment to visit The Hub and can get food, hygiene items (soap, shampoo, toothbrush/paste, feminine hygiene products, and deodorant), clothing (socks, underwear/bras, shirts, and pants), and household items (toilet paper, paper towels, washcloths, towels, and blankets). They even have a washer and dryer on site for students to do their laundry during school hours. 

In addition to providing for the physical needs of their students, this high school also has a wellness room where students can go if they need a break and need to calm down. It’s a quiet place for students to regroup, do homework, or relax. What an amazing resource for these students! In a time of life when there are so many uncertainties and stressors, this school has seen a need and has sought to alleviate some stress for its students in need. 

This school is not the only school that hosts a program like this; they are just one example of the good that is out there and the love and concern for today’s youth. Thankfully, rooms like this seem to be on the rise as more and more schools become increasingly aware of the number of students whose physical needs are not being met. We know that when physical needs are met, other needs thrive too.

These programs and rooms are largely operated via donations and generosity from the public. Some schools work in connection with local food pantries and coalitions. Whatever the source of the necessities, it is heartwarming to see individuals and businesses share their resources to care for the youth in their communities. 

To find out if there are schools in your area that have programs or resources to combat food insecurity, contact your local food bank or local schools. 

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I Spy: Thanksgiving

Can you believe that Thanksgiving Day is less than two weeks away?! It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is already upon us. I’ve created a free printable activity for you to use in your classrooms or homes. Simply have your children or students write on the lines at the bottom of the page the amount of each item they find. Click on the “download” button below to save and print a copy (or two!) for the kids in your life. You can print one off and laminate it, then have your kids use dry erase markers to write the number of items they find. You can also print off several copies and use them as a counting activity in your classrooms. Whatever way you choose to use it, have fun! Please only use for personal or classroom use, and do not sell the file. Happy I-Spying!

Thanksgiving I SpyDownload
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Get Your Wiggles Out

“Shake, Shake, Shake Your Sillies Out” is more than a silly song; it’s a brilliant classroom management tool. Students of all ages get restless if sitting for too long. Think of the last time you were sitting in a training meeting, staff meeting, or conference where you were asked to just sit and listen and/or look at a powerpoint. I’d bet it’s safe to guess that you got bored fairly quickly and wanted to get up and move around for a minute… and I’d bet you weren’t the only one feeling that way!

Imagine sitting in a classroom for hours on end, listening to teachers instruct, and never getting the chance to move around. I think if this were the case, we’d have a lot of students enjoying a little nap during the school day. Our minds tend to slow down unless they are engaged in some way. A visual presentation can be engaging, but some students just need a little bit of movement every now and then to keep their brains focused. Beyond recess, students need time in the classroom to take a break from learning for a few minutes.

There are many resources on YouTube that provide excellent brain breaks. GoNoodle is a favorite with many kids. It has catchy songs and easy movements to get kids up, moving, and refocused. DannyGo is another great one! He gets kids moving and jumping, which keeps them awake and engaged. 

Another great idea is to do any kind of breathing and grounding exercise with your students. Sometimes all it takes is a few minutes of mindful breathing to get students refocused and ready to learn again. Cosmic Yoga on YouTube is a great place to go to watch engaging, movement inducing, calm exercises for the classroom or home. 

And of course there’s always the oldies but goodies from “back then”… “The Hokey Pokey”, “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes”, “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, or playing freeze dance. Even simple stretches or silly dance moves can be effective. It doesn’t need to be fancy for it to work!

Movement is a great way to keep students alert and engaged with the lesson. It gets their blood pumping and their brains active, which leads to better focus and more energy to learn. And let’s be honest; students and teachers will benefit from a little bit of a break every now and then! 

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Using Spooky Season in Your Instruction

Kids and holidays are such a fun combination. There is a certain magic that comes when you incorporate holidays into your lessons and activities in your classroom. Holiday activities take ordinary math into holiday math, and suddenly math is more fun! They take regular art time into holiday art time. Holidays can add such a fun element to classroom learning. 

With Halloween approaching, it seems fitting to share a few ideas of how to incorporate spooky season into your lessons. Holiday lessons can be used with any subject, and with any grade level. Secondary students might act like they are too cool and too old for holiday themed activities, but I would bet that most of them would still have fun with them. 

There are countless ways to add Halloween fun to your math lessons. For elementary grades, using worksheets that are color by number (with or without math equations) can be a great way to bring in the holiday. Rather than using math blocks or circle counters, using small Halloween themed figures like miniature pumpkins or ghosts, can be a fun way to make math more engaging during Halloween time. For secondary students, you might create story problems that are based on Halloween themes, or create an assignment where students must plan out a Halloween party and need to figure out all the costs.

In Language Arts classes, there are an abundance of halloween books and stories that can be used. Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson is a favorite picture book that students of all ages would enjoy. Another halloween favorite is The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams. And of course we can’t forget There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed A Bat by Lucille Colandro! For secondary grades, there are a plethora of stories and books that are excellent to use for Halloween. One of my all time favorites to read with my eighth grade classes was “Tell Tale Heart” by Edgar Allen Poe. The suspense and mystery are the perfect level of “spooky” for junior high aged kids. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie is a fun mystery book to use for younger secondary students. For older secondary students, other works by Poe, Christie, and Bradbury, among others, can be used to add some holiday fun to learning. 

In art classes, students can create a haunted house from various mediums. In history classes, students can study the history behind Halloween and how traditions and celebrations have changed over time. In sewing classes, students can sew a pillow that is a Halloween shape. In cooking classes, students can bake pumpkin or bat shaped cookies. 

In preschool classes, students would enjoy playing with a Halloween themed sensory bin or listening to silly Halloween songs and rhymes. They might also enjoy using Halloween shaped cookie cutters to make fun shapes out of play-doh. 

The options are endless, but one thing is certain: mixing in some Halloween themed activities is a sure fire way to add some fun and excitement to your instruction!

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Support Staff are the Backbone of the School

High School Students Wearing Uniform Being Served Food In Canteen

Schools are a working machine, with many parts. Each part is crucial to the overall functionality of the school. I don’t know of a single school that could run efficiently without its support staff. A school needs many hands to make things work. Those who work in the background generally don’t get the recognition and praise they deserve. But they do deserve to be acknowledged, because what they do is so important!

Custodians are vital to the overall physical appearance and functioning of the school building. They work so hard to make sure everything in the building is safe and in working order for employees and students. They respond to requests, big and small, to keep the school running as it should. 

Secretaries keep the logistics of the school running smoothly. They are often the first people to greet and talk to visitors as they enter the school. They keep things organized and keep track of so many things. 

Para Educators and other aides are incredibly helpful to classroom teachers. They are an extension of the teacher and allow teachers to accomplish so much more during the day. Aides help manage student behavior, help students with academic tasks, monitor playground and recess time, and encourage and uplift students. Para educators are essential for the support of special education classrooms. Oftentimes, they accompany students with special needs to mainstream classrooms. Sometimes they are assigned to work with one student individually. Whatever their assignment, they are vital to the school.

Where would we be without the dedicated cafeteria workers? They work tirelessly to provide nutritious meals for students. Their job is essential to the physical well being of the students. 

If you’ve ever worked in a school that has the privilege of having its own copy center and aide, you know just how valuable that resource is. Copy center aides help teachers by copying, assembling work packets or booklets, laminating, cutting papers, etc. Their work saves teachers so much time. While valuable at any grade level, upper grades would likely benefit most from the help of a copy aide due to the amount of students each teacher has in a secondary school.

Since the use of technology is so abundant in today’s classrooms, the role of IT techs is extremely important. Not all teachers are as computer savvy as they would like to be, so having access to someone who is can be very helpful. There are many times when I was incredibly thankful for the IT person at my school, but one instance stands out. It was time for end of the year testing, and I had just settled my class of 35 students into the computer lab, had them log in, only to have the network start glitching. I could troubleshoot most computer problems, but that was one I did not have the skill set to solve. Thankfully, the IT tech came to my rescue and we were up and going quickly. In today’s world of widespread technology use, the role of IT techs is priceless.

Last, but not least, let’s not forget speech therapists, behavioral therapists, occupational therapists, school psychologists, and school nurses. These workers do such important work in helping students make progress in specific areas. As a parent with three children currently receiving speech therapy services, I am indebted to their dedication and hard work. Their quiet, often behind the scenes work is immeasurable.

The next time you’re at your child’s school or at the school where you work, take a minute and express your gratitude to the support staff. I know they will appreciate the acknowledgement, and it will make their day to know the work they do is not ignored.

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Brain Breaks for Students That Actually Rest the Brain

Brain breaks are so important in school! It’s hard to sit down and cram your brain with so much information for several hours a day. So teachers, listen up! Here’s a list of (actual) brain breaks for you to use in your classrooms. This list applies to all ages of students, too.

Let me start off with this tidbit first. When choosing brain breaks, remember that the goal is to rest the brain, not make it work differently. What I’m trying to say is, Kahoot! is a great resource, but its time and place aren’t during brain breaks. 

Take a walk. Walk around the hallways of the school together or if it’s nice enough outside, take a walk around the school outside. A change of scenery can do wonders for the mind! 

Color a picture. There are a lot of free and paid printables online or ask parents to donate coloring books. Coloring and drawing can be so therapeutic! 

GoNoodle. I *think* that most teachers are aware of this resource, but just in case you’re not, GoNoodle on YouTube is great for movement brain breaks! They are videos designed to get students up and moving. 

Dance party or freeze dance. Turn the music up and play freeze dance or just have a dance party! I don’t think they’ve done any official studies on it yet, but I’m pretty certain the more dance parties that happen in a classroom, the happier the teacher and students are! 

Read a picture book. Kids are zoning out during a math lesson? Why not switch it up a bit and grab a fun picture book for them to enjoy before you get back to dividing fractions? 

Turn on relaxing music and play Sleeping Lions. The goal of sleeping lions is to be the lion that sleeps the longest. Everyone chooses a safe spot to lie down on the floor and rest while relaxing music plays. Go until the students start getting restless. 

Yoga. Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube is a great resource, or there are other yoga videos for kids you can look up as well. 

What brain breaks do you use in your classroom?