Fostering Relationships in the Classroom Students and teacher need to develop positive and trusting relationships in an effective classroom. It is also critical that all students, especially English-language learners, develop trusting and enriching relationships with each other. There are many activities which can be used for both introductory purposes and throughout the year to build and maintain positive relationships in the classroom. Some activities which work well to introduce students to each other and to the teacher can be used again at later points in the year as students' interests change and as they gain new life experiences. 1) Sharing Weekly Reflections Each week, we have students write about two positive events that occurred in their lives and one not-so-positive event (along with what they could have done to make it better or what they learned from it). 2) Introducing Me/3 Objects This activity is sometimes called a "Me Bag" or an "All About Me Bag." 3) "I Am" Project 5) Two Truths and a Lie 6) Four Squares
Tom Grennan- a raspy, pleasant voice | szalaykata I was preparing for my English language competition (called FUNtastic; organised for students aged between 10-15 in Veszprém county) – searching for a cool song for the listening part- when I tumbled on a great British talent, Tom Grennan. I was absolutely amazed by his special voice and his melodies. All the competitors definitely loved his song and the lyrics. I have created a reading comprehension (gap-filling) task and many more based on the songs of Tom Grennan. You can find the teachers’s notes HERE and the materials for students HERE. Enjoy the tasks and the songs as well! Like this: Like Loading...
Icebreakers Volume 3: Activities for the First Days of School | Getting to Know You Activities | Ice Breakers Education World's readers responded to last year's back-to-school story with more than two dozen great ideas. So here, in a follow-up to 14 Great Ideas for the First Days of School, is the second batch of reader ideas -- 14 more activities for the first days of school! Hello, Amigos! Chrysanthemum's Graph! We Are All Unique! Invite students to list some traits that make them unique. Sticker Partners! Me Bag Place a white paper bag on each desk on the morning of the first day. Candy Gets Kids Talking! Note: Before preparing or distributing any food in the classroom, make sure you are aware of children's allergies or dietary restrictions and caution children about choking hazards. Bring in Skittles, one of your students' favorite candies for sure! Take As Much As You Want! Paper Dolls! Where Do I Sit? The Me Shield For this activity, we use a copy of a banner from a Red Cross education program, drawn like a shield and divided into four sections. What are three things you are good at?
First Days of School Now for the lesson... I prepare a list of facts about myself, ranging from where I was born to I manage my own fantasy baseball team, and other similarly "interesting" facts.. I fold each one and put them all in my fact jar. The next day - I leave all the classes maps of me up, and pass out a 20 question "quiz" in multiple choice format, and tell them to feel free to use the "visual resources" on the wall. We then go back to the KWL list and I have each class contribute 3 new things they know about me... Detective Game by Peter Pappas I did not waste the opening week of school introducing the course – my students solved mysteries. I took simplified mysteries and split them into 25-30 clues, each on a single strip of paper. Read my blog post on how I used this lesson. I used a random count off to get the kids away from their buddies and into groups of 5-6 students. This activity demonstrates to students the need for considering the contributions of every group member and gives them practice in organizing cooperatively to accomplish a task. You will need a set of clues for the case for each group. Link to Murder Mystery Clues Link to Bank Robbery Clues Note - These clues were adapted from: Learning Discussion Skills Through Games Gene and Barbara Dodds Stanford Citation Press / Scholastic Books 1969 Students are seated in a circle with the teacher standing outside the group. "Today we are going to play another game that will help improve your discussion skills.
How To Handle Misbehavior The First Two Weeks Of School Your new students will likely be on their best behavior for the first few days of school. But by the second week, you and your classroom management plan will be tested. After all, your students don’t really know you. Maybe you’ll be like the pushover teacher they had last year. Maybe some of your students have never had firm boundaries. And because you haven’t spent enough time with your students to earn their confidence, you’re going to be tested. But when it happens, when Anthony says something crude to try to shock you, when Karla talks back and disrespects you, when your students interrupt you, ignore you, and misbehave three feet in front of you… You’ll be ready. Here’s what to do: Pause. Your first reaction to misbehavior should be no reaction. Hide your disappointment. Never show hurt over misbehavior or disrespect. Lose the battle. If a student is directing his (or her) misbehavior toward you, disrespects you, or talks back to you, be willing to take it. Follow through. Build rapport.
School of Fisher: Important Piece of the Puzzle August is quickly approaching and that means school is right around the corner! Eek, where did July go? Starting to think about school and lesson planning. For the past few years, I have my students participate in a Classroom Scavenger Hunt. (You know the sheet with a bunch of questions that start off "Find someone who ....". Each student will receive a puzzle piece. You can download this activity and a blank puzzle piece for FREE here or visit my TPT store here. 7 Great Activities for the First Day of School | Scholastic New Year Resolutions Involve students in the creation of a set of classroom new year resolutions to guide you through the coming months. Work together to brainstorm resolutions, and write them on a sheet of chart paper. If necessary, reword them in a positive manner (such as "walk" rather than "don't run"). Guess Who Students become detectives in this get-acquainted game, in which they uncover the real identity of a fellow classmate. Switch! Here's a great indoor or outdoor game to get students actively learning about each other! Welcome Bags Use these party favors to send positive messages to students on the first day of school. The Penny Jar Here's a getting-to-know-you activity that really makes "cents"! Hats Off to a New Year! Greet students at the door with party hats and a quick craft activity that will get everyone warmed up and ready for learning. Create a Time Capsule Help your students set personal goals by creating individual time capsules for the year!
Classroom Icebreakers - Icebreakers, Icebreaker Ideas, Games, Activities! These classroom icebreakers are enjoyable teacher-approved activities and games that address all your school and classroom needs! We recommend the following icebreakers for students of all ages. We have teachers on our staff of writers and they have recommended these for class teaching purposes. Give them a try and we think you’ll agree that your students will love them. Classroom Icebreakers for Students Breaking the Ice / Introduction Games Breaking the ice is useful for the beginning of a class period or toward the beginning of a semester when students don’t know each other well! Art Effects (Drawing) – A fun drawing oriented game! Sharing/Opinion Games Some games help students to start expressing their opinions on various issues, to share personal stories, or to have a voice in the classroom. Connecting Stories (Get-to-know-you, Teambuilding)Extremes: Where Do You Stand? Spelling/Word Games These games are all about spelling or using words. Assignments / Outside-of-Class Activities
writing prompts — the 180 prompts I actually use Handling Difficult Students The First Week Of School Hoping to head misbehavior off before it starts, most teachers try to be proactive with difficult students. Even before the bell rings on the first day of school, they peruse their new roster looking for those few whose reputation precedes them. They chat up previous teachers. And so when Anthony or Karla or whoever shows up for the first day of school, they can feel the bull’s-eye on their back. They can feel labeled right out of the gate. And when students feel labeled, they’re pulled inexorably in its direction—fulfilling the prophecy it foretells. To ensure this doesn’t happen on your watch, and to get your reputed difficult students headed in the right direction, it’s best to make them feel like just another member of your classroom. Here’s how: 1. When a student with a difficult reputation walks in on the first day and is asked to sit closest to the teacher, she knows the score. 2. Kids are smarter than most adults give them credit for. 3. 4. 5. One Standard That we believe in them.