12 New Semester Activities to Refresh and Restart Your School Year

The start of a new semester is the perfect time to try something different and inject some energy back into your classroom. Whether you’re looking for ways to jump-start student motivation, break out of mundane routines, or just add some fun activities to mix things up; we have compiled plenty of fresh ideas that you can use this semester to get your classrooms moving. From poetry to goal setting and more, this post is sure to have something for everyone. Read on for 12 unique and engaging activities to kick off a new semester. #1: Assess and Reflect on Learning Styles and Activities with a Multiple Intelligences Learning Profile Whether you’re starting with new students or re-establishing norms with the

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10 Holiday Classroom Activities for Secondary ELA

Holiday classroom activities can be hit or miss for a lot of teachers. It’s hard not to acknowledge the excitement of the season, but it’s also important to create activities that are thoughtful, engaging, and inclusive for all students. With winter break just around the corner, the key is finding ways to channel that seasonal energy into meaningful and creative lessons. Whether you’re looking to weave holiday themes into your curriculum or simply want to embrace the festive atmosphere, there are plenty of ways to strike the right balance. From exploring classic short stories like The Gift of the Magi to crafting holiday-inspired writing projects or playing educational games, there’s something here for every secondary ELA classroom. In this post,

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9/11 Activities for Students

September 11, 2001 is an incredibly significant date in American History and many teachers like to stop and honor the day with meaningful 9/11 activities for students. As the date slips further into history, it seems that less and less of our students are familiar with the specifics of the events that took place. (Most weren’t even born!) As ELA teachers, we use text to build character, resilience, and empathy. Using strategic, high-quality activities in your own ELA classroom can be an excellent way to commemorate the tragedy while still promoting literacy and compassion. Here are five ways to honor September 11th in your classroom. #1: Host a Day of Service Many schools are starting to shift towards a “Day

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Using Visual Writing Prompts in the Secondary English Language Arts Classroom

As middle school or high school English Language Arts teachers, we know that visual support is more important than ever for twenty first century learners. Students are inundated with strong images from technology each day. Visual Writing Prompts provide one way teachers can engage students and encourage them to employ upper-level thinking skills with visually appealing prompts. Why Visual Writing Prompts? Writing prompts aren’t a new teaching tool. Every teacher has an arsenal of prompts they use to encourage writing and discussion about any text. As virtual learning took over the world over the past year, I realized that my writing prompts needed a serious upgrade in order to engage my learners from a distance. So, I started taking my

continue reading

Gratitude Activities for Students

November is always such a strange amalgam and while things can get difficult chugging along until Thanksgiving break, it is the perfect time to infuse gratitude activities for students. Everyone is tired in November – very, very tired. You haven’t had a real break since August and you’ve been clinging to the glimmer of Thanksgiving since the end of September. We’ve all been there. Enter November. The air gets crisp, the leaves become beautiful, and you’re reminded that even though your body is aching for rest, there is so much room for gratitude every day. This time of the year reminds us that not only do we need to be grateful for what we have personally, but our classrooms probably

continue reading

12 New Semester Activities to Refresh and Restart Your School Year

The start of a new semester is the perfect time to try something different and inject some energy back into your classroom. Whether you’re looking for ways to jump-start student motivation, break out of mundane routines, or just add some fun activities to mix things up; we have compiled plenty of fresh ideas that you can use this semester to get your classrooms moving. From poetry to goal setting and more, this post is sure to have something for everyone. Read on for 12 unique and engaging activities to kick off a new semester. #1: Assess and Reflect on Learning Styles and Activities with a Multiple Intelligences Learning Profile Whether you’re starting with new students or re-establishing norms with the

continue reading

10 Holiday Classroom Activities for Secondary ELA

Holiday classroom activities can be hit or miss for a lot of teachers. It’s hard not to acknowledge the excitement of the season, but it’s also important to create activities that are thoughtful, engaging, and inclusive for all students. With winter break just around the corner, the key is finding ways to channel that seasonal energy into meaningful and creative lessons. Whether you’re looking to weave holiday themes into your curriculum or simply want to embrace the festive atmosphere, there are plenty of ways to strike the right balance. From exploring classic short stories like The Gift of the Magi to crafting holiday-inspired writing projects or playing educational games, there’s something here for every secondary ELA classroom. In this post,

continue reading

9/11 Activities for Students

September 11, 2001 is an incredibly significant date in American History and many teachers like to stop and honor the day with meaningful 9/11 activities for students. As the date slips further into history, it seems that less and less of our students are familiar with the specifics of the events that took place. (Most weren’t even born!) As ELA teachers, we use text to build character, resilience, and empathy. Using strategic, high-quality activities in your own ELA classroom can be an excellent way to commemorate the tragedy while still promoting literacy and compassion. Here are five ways to honor September 11th in your classroom. #1: Host a Day of Service Many schools are starting to shift towards a “Day

continue reading

Using Visual Writing Prompts in the Secondary English Language Arts Classroom

As middle school or high school English Language Arts teachers, we know that visual support is more important than ever for twenty first century learners. Students are inundated with strong images from technology each day. Visual Writing Prompts provide one way teachers can engage students and encourage them to employ upper-level thinking skills with visually appealing prompts. Why Visual Writing Prompts? Writing prompts aren’t a new teaching tool. Every teacher has an arsenal of prompts they use to encourage writing and discussion about any text. As virtual learning took over the world over the past year, I realized that my writing prompts needed a serious upgrade in order to engage my learners from a distance. So, I started taking my

continue reading

Gratitude Activities for Students

November is always such a strange amalgam and while things can get difficult chugging along until Thanksgiving break, it is the perfect time to infuse gratitude activities for students. Everyone is tired in November – very, very tired. You haven’t had a real break since August and you’ve been clinging to the glimmer of Thanksgiving since the end of September. We’ve all been there. Enter November. The air gets crisp, the leaves become beautiful, and you’re reminded that even though your body is aching for rest, there is so much room for gratitude every day. This time of the year reminds us that not only do we need to be grateful for what we have personally, but our classrooms probably

continue reading

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