classroom culture Archives ⋆ Page 3 of 4 ⋆ Samantha in Secondary

5 Classroom Routines and Procedures for Secondary Students

Classroom routines and procedures are for ALL students. They can be especially effective at the middle school and high school level to help with classroom culture and management. If students know what to expect and they come to anticipate your high-interest lesson, your management issues will definitely decrease. Here are 5 classroom routines and procedures in my arsenal that I believe will help any secondary teacher run their own class more smoothly. #1: Review Email Etiquette Face it– you’re going to get a lot more email this year than you would probably like. Wouldn’t it be nice if those emails were professional and polite? I learned years ago that I have to teach (and re-teach) this process several times throughout

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

5 Hygge Classroom Activities to Create a Cozy Environment

Finding winter reading and writing activities that I think my students might actually enjoy can be difficult, but hygge classroom activities provide just the thing to help with that. I am not a winter baby. Never have been. I can’t exactly pinpoint my disdain for winter, but I’m fairly certain it started rather early in life. Every time winter rolls around, I search for ways to make it more bearable. Enter: Hygge. This Danish term (pronounced “hoo-ga”) is the feeling of cozy contentment. While hygge is deeply embedded into Danish culture all year long, I find myself wanting to implement elements of hygge even moreso in the winter months. Nothing helps me cope with the dark winter months more than

Day Before Thanksgiving Break Activities for Secondary English Language Arts Students

As a middle school and high school student, I remember looking forward to the day before Thanksgiving break. Everyone was always cheerful and there were usually fun activities to do! Even as a teacher, I now love implementing plenty of entertaining classroom activities for my students that aren’t just another movie. Don’t get me wrong, movies are great, but I like to encourage activities that foster connection and strengthen classroom culture. Below are some ideas for your middle school or high school ELA students that accomplish those goals for day before Thanksgiving break perfection! Write Letters of Gratitude I love having my students write letters to people they love to express their gratitude. We usually break out the markers and

10 Halloween Activities for High School English

Halloween is a great time to infuse engaging and fun activities in your high school English class. Even the big kids love to get into the spooky lore of the season. Whether you’re focusing on literature and incorporating the great Edgar Allan Poe or you want to give your students a scare with real haunted folklore, these ideas are sure to add a little haunted flair to your lesson plans. #1: Real Life Ghost Stories I don’t know about you, but I’ve always been fascinated by real life ghost stories. I love to go on haunted tours when I’m in a new place! I find it’s a great way to learn about the history of any location and have a

7 End of the Year ELA Activities for Your Secondary Classroom

End of the year ELA activities can be tricky in middle school and high school ELA. Everyone is tired (students and staff alike) and just wants to hit the reset button and start fresh again next year. Although it can be difficult to win the battle with fatigue, the end of the year provides a unique opportunity to bond with your students and end your year on a high note. Here are a few of my favorite activities to help you engage your students until the very last day. #1: One Pagers Giving students a chance to demonstrate what they know with a high quality assessment is always a good idea. Assigning a high-interest summative can be an incredibly powerful

5 Ways to Enhance Classroom Culture with a Classroom Library

Classroom libraries can be so much more than just a place to store books because a classroom library truly can help you enhance classroom culture. If you leverage your classroom library in the right way, you can use it to build a robust culture of reading. Giving your students unbridled access to the right books at the right level can unlock the reader inside of each of your students. In addition, putting just a few personal touches on your classroom library can help you connect with your students in an authentic way. If you are still working on building your initial classroom library and are trying to figure out how to get the best books, please read this post for

How to Find the Best Books for Your High School Classroom Library

Creating a classroom library is a significant endeavor, particularly when it comes to selecting the best books for a high school classroom. For many educators, the task can seem daunting, especially if they are uncertain about where to begin. Initially, I was skeptical about the necessity of a library for high school students. However, as my collection grew and I observed the positive impact on my students, I came to understand that classroom libraries are essential, regardless of the students’ age or grade level. A well-stocked library can serve as a cornerstone of an enriching educational environment, fostering a love for reading and providing valuable resources for learning. Whether you are starting from scratch or looking to enhance your existing

Valentine’s Day Activities for the Secondary Classroom

Valentine’s Day activities can be especially hard to plan for our secondary students. On one hand, it can feel a bit cliché and gimmicky, but on the other hand, our students often enjoy a little something fun at this time of year! As educators, we want to find that perfect balance between having some Valentine’s Day festivities while ensuring they aren’t too distracting. That is why I have rounded up some of the best and most rewarding Valentine’s Day activities that your classroom will love – designed with both engagement and learning in mind. Get ready—we’re about to dive in and explore some awesome ideas on how you can celebrate Valentine’s Day with a creative twist! Book Speed Dating Ready

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

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Books

Lit Circles

Projects

Reading

Writing

Lesson Plans

5 Classroom Routines and Procedures for Secondary Students

Using Visual Writing Prompts in the Secondary English Language Arts Classroom

5 Hygge Classroom Activities to Create a Cozy Environment

Day Before Thanksgiving Break Activities for Secondary English Language Arts Students

10 Halloween Activities for High School English

7 End of the Year ELA Activities for Your Secondary Classroom

5 Ways to Enhance Classroom Culture with a Classroom Library

How to Find the Best Books for Your High School Classroom Library

Valentine’s Day Activities for the Secondary Classroom

Gratitude Activities for Students

5 Classroom Routines and Procedures for Secondary Students

Using Visual Writing Prompts in the Secondary English Language Arts Classroom

5 Hygge Classroom Activities to Create a Cozy Environment

Day Before Thanksgiving Break Activities for Secondary English Language Arts Students

10 Halloween Activities for High School English

7 End of the Year ELA Activities for Your Secondary Classroom

5 Ways to Enhance Classroom Culture with a Classroom Library

How to Find the Best Books for Your High School Classroom Library

Valentine’s Day Activities for the Secondary Classroom

Gratitude Activities for Students

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