Digging Up History

This is Michele from A Lesson Plan for Teachers, and I wanted to give you a creative idea for those dreaded testing reviews!  Instead of having students complete the traditional worksheets or reviewing the course content through the projector, get students up and digging for the information they need!

Creating an archaeology dig in your classroom is easy!

1. Start by asking your Guidance Office to save the shredded paper for you for about a week.  This should give you ample supply of dig material.
2. Create a frame for the dig site.  This can be as simple as a wooden frame or one made of taped cardboard.
3. Fill the frame with the shredded paper and divide into quadrants with twine.
4. Place topic cards into the dig materials.
5. Let the fun begin!

Since my subject area is Social Studies, I created a topic card for each unit I taught in the year.  I assigned students into pairs or small groups, and as they dig the cards, they complete a SPRITE Graphic Organizer to review the topic.  If they can't remember the facts, they can refer to their notebook or other sources.

As the class finishes up all of the topic cards, share as a whole group with each team summarizing their SPRITE review.  For a more comprehensive written review, have all students complete SPRITEs on all topics.  Place the SPRITEs in chronological order in notebooks for further study, added research, or other tasks for review.

SPRITE SOCIAL STUDIES GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

What other ideas can you contribute for making review more engaging?

Destress About the Test

The month of March has become synonymous with testing, at least here in Illinois, and it's always a super stressful time as a teacher. Why? Because in addition to the extra meetings, the accomodations for testing, the trainings for testing, and the setup, we still need to fit in teaching at a time when students are increasingly more burned out by school.

Testing season can cause a ton of stress for us as teachers, but I want to share five quick tips on how to destress a bit.

1. Plan activities that allow students to breathe. 

Testing all day is hard for students (and you!), and if your school is on a modified schedule, they may go to every class on the same day as testing. This can be tiring, and leave your students pretty cranky by the afternoon. Give students a little bit more time to talk to each other, plan interactive activities that will allow them to get up and move around, or even some silent reading time to allow them to zone out a bit.

2. Practice What You Preach

We tell students to get a good nights sleep and eat breakfast every night, and we need to follow this advice. I know I don't always do this, but it's really tiring to walk around a room and do absolutely nothing other than administer and monitor the testing environment. Get up early, pick an outfit that is professional but comfortable, and have some breakfast!

3. Make the Testing Time Beneficial

As you administer the test, consider wearing a fitbit or other device that tracks your steps. This can be a great way to get in your steps for the day! Just make sure you're wearing comfortable shoes! Bring

4. Self-Reflect

When you're testing, self-reflect on how the school year has gone so far. Think about what has worked in your teaching, your management, and even your classroom layout. Think about what you'd like to change or improve on going forward. Sometimes the silence and repetitive movement can be inspiring!

5. Acceptance

This is the most important piece of advice I have. Unfortunately, standardized testing probably isn't going away. Complaining about it with co-workers, or bemoaning the existence of said tests will not help anything to be better. Once we accept that this too shall pass, you may feel a bit better. Know that you have done everything you can to prepare your students to take the tests, and be there to support them and encourage them to show off their smarts!

Happy Testing!

Five Tips for Promoting Good Manners in Middle School

What was the reaction you received the last time you told someone that you taught middle school?

Most people will look at you with a mixture of awe and horror…then shake their heads and say, “I could never do that.”

There is no doubt about it.  Middle school is a tough place.  Middle schoolers are known for their acerbic tongues, rolling eyes, and zero tolerance for anything different.  So is it impossible to teach them manners?

Knowing that a middle school teacher will never shy away from a challenge…here are five tips for infusing manners into your middle school environment.

Cotillion

We call it Cotillion…perhaps you call it something else at your school – but it’s a series of dance classes that teach basic dance steps.  The lovely thing about Cotillion is that it also teaches niceties such as how to ask someone to dance, how to walk someone to her car, and how to accept a dance.

You can also have a formal etiquette class.  Middle school students, although they may act tough, can certainly see why it’s important to know how to introduce people and use proper table manners.

Role Playing

Never underestimate the impact of role playing.  Middle school students love it!

As a warm up activity to monthly book talks, we practiced how a respectful audience looks.  What do YOU want to see when you look out at your classmates?  What do you NOT want to see?  Students practiced both behaviors (with much laughing and hamming it up).  This made it easier to establish what I expected from the class when they were listening to their peers.

Absolutes

I love RonClark.  (You have read his books, haven’t you?)  He establishes “essentials” in his classroom.  While you don’t need to adopt all of his essentials, you can adopt one.  By creating an essential manner, your students will know what is and isn’t acceptable behavior.

One of my fellow teachers would say, “Respect the speaker.”  That was all it took to settle her class and remind them that someone was addressing the class.  Of course, she had spent time discussing and practicing what that looked like, but having a key phrase can call back prior lessons on manners.

Netiquette

As our students are more and more involved in online communities and communication, we have to address this. 

A way to foray into the world of “netiquette” is to host a class blog.  Student writing is open to a global audience.  Students can see the advantages of proper online behavior (as well as spelling and grammar).

Set the Tone for Your Class

Be sure you are modeling your own manners...

• What is your school or classroom policy on cell phones?  Do you follow it as well?

• Do you want your students to look you in the eye when they talk to you?  Do you focus on them when they have a question or want to tell you something?

• Do you greet your students at the door each morning and expect a response in return.  Do you greet your incoming students at the door and stand by the door as they leave?

• Do you show respect to your fellow teachers and not refer to them by their first name in front of students?

Choose some important manners that you can model for your students.  They will learn more from your example than any list or rule book.

And...don't be afraid of insisting on "please" and "thank you."  

Everyone can practice good manners...even those who excel at eye rolling!

Happiness always,

Shout Out Wall!

Hi everyone!  Julia here from History from the Middle!  Are you looking for a quick and easy way to add a little more "positive energy" into your classroom?  Try adding a Shout Out Wall!  Very quick and easy way to get your students sharing positive messages with and about each other in your class!

I've seen many variations of positive message walls in classrooms at my school.  I wanted to get my kiddos doing this too because I think when they cheerlead each other, it further adds to the positive classroom climate you are trying to create and perpetuate in your own class!

To set it up, I got a basket of Post-Its, a table and set it right by the door for easy access.  I then did a basic overview of what the Shout-Out Wall was to each class by emphasizing that it was an opportunity for them to celebrate their classmates!  I honestly didn't need to say much more because they were SO excited to get started!

Students can just grab a Post-It on their way out  or if they have some free time during class!

The next challenge was finding a place to have students post their Shout Outs. Unfortunately, my walls are pure concrete, and it's close to impossible to put up anything without a super strong staple gun!  So, I just "re-purposed" my Histagram wall that I have right by the front door of my class!  It works perfect!

                         

It was the only place where the Post-Its would stick!

If you're looking to share a little positivity in your class, start with a Shout Out Wall!  EASY to set up, and SUPER fun for the kiddos to get involved!

How d you create positive environment in your class?

                                  

Promoting a Culture of Kindness

There is something inspirational and fulfilling about engaging in a selfless act for the benefit of others. Innate kindness it a trait we all possess and desire to foster in others. As a long time middle school teacher, I have often found that simple kindness is the trait that my students struggle with the most. Kindness seems to be overshadowed by selfishness and self-consciousness. Middle school students are overwhelming concerned with fitting in, yet they desperately want to stand out from the crowd. They spend so much time wrapped up in their own heads, that they often neglect to acknowledge simple signs of appreciation, or they adamantly don't want to be the first one to be kind because it would make them conspicuous in a way that is not often glamorized on Twitter, Snapchat, or Instagram.

One of the easiest ways to promote selfless acts of kindness in middle school students is to simply REMIND and ASSIGN them opportunities to be kind. As the old saying goes, "INSPECT what you EXPECT." If we expect and desire our students to be kind, we have to take the time to create opportunities for them to engage in acts of kindness. We must also check back with students and have them reflect upon and share their experiences with being kind.

Introducing assignments such as Random Acts of Kindness or Pay It Forward cards is a wonderful way to promote kindness in your classroom, on your campus, and in your community. Every year I show my students the video clip from Pay It Forward where Mr. Simonet (the Social Studies teacher) challenges his students to change the world and Trevor explains to the class his idea of repaying each act of kindness he receives with three new acts of kindness. The policy of paying kindness forward results in the world becoming an ever widening circle of acknowledgment, appreciation, and acceptance. Here is the you tube clip:

After showing the video, I have my students get into small groups and reflect upon the message behind the video clip and the power of Pay It Forward. Next, students brainstorm at least three kind acts they could do for someone else. After brainstorming, I have students share out portions of their lists. The sharing of lists is powerful because it allows students the opportunity to pull on their own experiences with being kind (or having others be kind to them), and develop a substantial number of ways to be kind. Lastly, I challenge/assign my students to create their own circle of kindness by doing three random acts of kindness for others. I pass out this handout (which I print on card stock and have the students cut out and glue together).

Pay It Forward Cards

The students have one week within which to pass out the three cards. At the end of the week, I have students write a one-page reflection explaining each kind act they engaged in, who the act was for, the recipient's response, and how completing the act made them feel. I have students get into small groups of four to five and share out their kind acts from the week. Each groups then picks what they feel were their three favorite acts of kindness, or their three favorite responses to the acts of kindness, to share with the class. The sweetness and sincerity with which students share their acts and the responses always serves to remind me just why I LOVE teaching middle school students so much.

So, challenge your students to take a week and promote a policy of "Pay It Forward." I promise the effects of this one week will be long-lasting and far reaching.

Happy teaching!

Tori

Using Novels to Teach Tolerance

February, ah the month of love. The month reserved for gushy cards, caring attitudes with increased empathy and affection. Yeah, right!! So obviously this is not a true representation of February in a middle school! By the time February rolls around, we are all suffering from cabin fever, the winter dull, and preparing, even more than usual, for state testing. Stress is high and tolerance is low. Luckily, there is a great way for us to deal with this in the ELA classroom. Some fantastic authors have written some pretty fantastic novels that will not only encourage empathy and tolerance of others, but will also leave a mark in your students’ hearts. The characters, themes, and plots of these novels will help your students grow as readers and grow as individuals. Let’s face it, we’re not just teaching academic skills. As middle school teachers it is our responsibility to teach our students skills for life.

The novels above are used in my classroom as part of an independent novel study. My students choose from 4-6 different novels and have a “homebase” group that they work with throughout the novel. Students are responsible for reading the book independently (mostly in class), but discuss certain parts with their groups. If you do not want to do an independent novel study or literature circle with the following books, I STRONGLY encourage you to choose one to use as a read aloud. You will not regret reading these books!

The four novels I always include in my tolerance novel study:

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

  If you want to fall in love with a character, this is the book for you! The main character, Auggie, was born with a facial deformity causing him to be homeschooled through fourth grade. In fifth grade he decides he wants to go to public school. The book continues with trials and tribulations of a student who stands out from the crowd. Each chapter of the book is from a different character’s perspective, so you really get to feel all points of view. You will feel mad, happy, sad, and fulfilled wen reading this book. (Warning: the family pet dies. I don’t deal well with animals dying in books, hence the warning!)

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

            Ok, so if you want to fall in love with ANOTHER character, this is the book for you! In this novel, you will meet an extraordinary girl named Melody. Melody has cerebral palsy and is unable to speak. Though she is an extremely bright student, people think she’s intellectually impaired because she is unable to verbally express herself. Eventually, Melody finds a way to ‘speak’ and people get to see more of who Melody truly is. This book will send you on an emotional rollercoaster and you’ll love every second of it!

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

            Ok, so if you want to fall in love with a couple more characters, this is the book for you! (Can you tell I seriously love these books and find them of great value?! I promise, my next synopsis will not start off with the same first line!) In this novel the reader meets two boys, Max and Kevin. Max is a large kid with a learning disability and Kevin is a genius with a physical disability. Once lonely boys with no friends to be had, they both find friendship in the most unusual circumstance. They forge together to make Freak the Mighty. Freak refers to Kevin and Mighty refers to Max. Both boys come from fatherless homes and bond when Kevin is asked to tutor Max. You will enjoy reading about how these two ‘rescue’ each other, but be prepared to have some Kleenex! You can also address the CC standards requiring students to compare literature across various mediums because this novel was made into a movie. It is fun to compare and contrast the novel and the movie!

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

            This novel is pretty cool because it takes place at Alcatraz. The main character, Moose is charged with a huge responsibility of taking care of his sister, Natalie. Natalie has autism and her family tries to get her into a special school to help her. After going to the special school, Natalie is sent home because of her inability to adjust to the school. This leaves Moose in charge. Although he knows it’s the number one rule to not speak to, or of, the prisoners, Moose turns to the one and only Al Capone to help his situation out. Can Mr. Capone help? Read to find out more! This is a great series.

More Suggestions For Tolerance Novels:

 -When Zachary Beaver Came to Town (I believe this is a movie as well.)

 -The Schwa was Here

 - Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

 -Tangerine

 -Stranded

 - Fault In Our Stars

 -  Peeling the Onion

 - Thirteen Reasons Why

 - Inside Out & Back Again

 - Eleanor and Park

 - The Absolute True Story of a Part-time Indian (I heard this book is controversial. I haven’t read it yet, but can’t wait!)

 - Island of Blue Dolphins

 - Counting By 7s (I actually haven’t read this yet! I can’t keep it on my shelf long enough to borrow my own book!)

Enjoy these books with your students. Prepare yourself for some amazingly deep conversations with your students. They will not even realize they are building reading skills! 

Thanks for stopping by!

How to Start A Fitness Club

When I was a high school English teacher, I started and monitored the first ever Student Fitness Club at my school. It was awesome, and something you can do, too (if your school doesn't already have one)!

Step One: Find interested students.
Get as much hype and excitement around the new club as possible. Make posters, a sign-up sheet, make announcements in classes, and send home a flyer in the monthly/weekly parent folders. Leave the sign-up sheet outside your classroom. You can even use the template below that I created for you!

Step Two: Write a proposal to your administration about the new club. 
Keep it short, simple and to the point! What to include in your proposal:
- Mission Statement
- Proposed Meeting Schedule
- Club Positions for Students

Step Three: Assign or elect positions for your club. 
You'll definitely need students to cover the following positions:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Public Relations

Step Four: Have students run the club, so you are able to act as a monitor and not a director. 
Instead of having to come up with the exercises each week for the club myself, I had my students do it. The President would assign students to be in charge of the exercises for a particular day that we would meet. On the day of, that student would be in charge of directing the exercises for the group! (Of course, I did have to direct the first two classes, so students could get an idea of what the routine should resemble.)

Step Five: Get Teachers Involved!
Every Tuesday and Thursday after school, the Fitness Club and I would host a Teacher Walk / Run for the teachers in our school. We would all meet 20 minutes after the bell rang, dressed and ready to go. The students would lead stretches and then we would all run or walk 3 miles before heading home! It was a great way to promote fitness in our school!

Staying fit and active is SO important - especially as teachers! Help bring exercise to your school by starting a Fitness Club! Let us know how it goes!