Attacking those Winter Doldrums
For schools who follow a traditional semester calendar, many of you are completing first semester which means grading and planning for the final ½ of the year. Some of you may be experiencing stress, gray winter days, and students who need support with engagement and motivation.
Try to keep everything in perspective. Stay organized so that you do not become overwhelmed. Plan instruction to meet the needs of your students and remember to take care of your needs. Find a quiet time to relax and reflect or spend time with family and friends. Surround yourself with positivity. Remember the power of a smile. Teachers like students have lives outside the classroom.
Below are some resources to support both you and your students to spice up the remaining semester.
Make it a good day.
Linda C.
Classroom Resources/Ideas
- Monster Exchange Project http://www.monsterexchange.org/
- “Monster Exchange is designed to encourage the development of reading and writing skills while integrating Internet technology into the K- 8 classroom curriculum.”
- Flat Stanley http://www.flatstanley.com/
- The Flat Stanley Project is a uniquely multi-generational, global literacy activity that engages hundreds of thousands of children on a daily basis. Connect your classroom with other classrooms participating in the Project by sending out “flat” visitors, created by the children, through the mail (or digitally, with The Flat Stanley app). Based on the Flat Stanley books by Jeff Brown.
- Try Wordle with your students http://www.wordle.net/ a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. Explore ways to connect to content: writing prompts, posters for social studies and science projects, review, what else?
- Using Wordle Edutopia Blog post (classroom ideas and examples)
- The Top Ten Ways to Use Wordle at School by Bright Hub Education
- Tagxedo – Word Cloud with Styles
Teacher Resources
Professional Articles
- ASCD Education Update – Stress Test: Are You Burnt Out?
- ASCD Education Update – How to Manage Your Stress
- NEA tips for dealing with Stress
Just for Fun – Whimsical
Don’t forget to smile.
- Somebody that I used to Know by Walk off the Earth music video
Updated March 7, 2013
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