Fun, silly, and light-hearted activities (when integrated into a rigorous curriculum) not only foster a positive classroom environment, but help to recharge student energy. They also humanize a classroom by balancing work and play. These are the times I use “light-hearted” activities. *After a timed essay or exam. *To break the monotony of school (it …
When it comes to being a teacher, I like having a long-term vision. Many of my students don’t like reading. And many don’t like writing. My goal, however, is to plant seeds. In five years from now, my students might be ready to focus and pursue a passion of theirs. And when that day comes, …
The goal of this worksheet is simple: Get students “condensing” their ideas so they are precise with language (20-word summary). Get students “expanding” on their ideas so they can extract their deepest thoughts (golden line). Get students “playing” with new vocabulary so they can build conceptual knowledge (Frayer Model graphic organizer). Get students “inquiring” and …
Verbs can jolt readers and intensify a story. They can also sharpen an argument, punctuate a point, or clarify an idea. The following activities are designed to get students experimenting with a variety of verbs in their writing. Google Docs of Activities: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w1H6tYIfM9OARro81xwYOy5hEfuSwhkepFmPeFhQsbc/edit?usp=sharing
The following readings and activities are designed to teach students how to declutter their writing. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nx8FH6hIJglbecaljF_uKO0vSc9DziT21eivDTkUmtk/edit?usp=sharing Google Docs of Activities
Here are some resources I created in the past few months. Most resources are free. However, if you see something you like and don’t have the funds for it (or you are unsure if you really need it), just email me and I’ll send it for free. If you have any questions, feel free to …