I have to share with you something that I absolutely love: The WOW board! This beautiful piece of poster board was introduced to me by my friend and colleague. I used it throughout the year but found it especially helpful near the end of the school year.
Check out these gorgeous Romero Britto inspired art activities...
Looking for fun All About Me Activities for kids? Check out these 16 Hands-On All About me Learning Activities and Crafts for Preschool or Kindergarten.
These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back
Intentionally fostering interactions among teachers, parents, and community partners helped one school create a more inviting event.
Last week was finally our first week of school. It was great!! I was thinking about posting some of the cool things we did and realize...
By Presto Plans Understanding and identifying theme is a higher-order skill that often leaves many students scratching their heads. In fact, many teachers are struggling along side their students trying to find ways help them understand this challenging concept. It is no easy task to get students to make text connections and think inferentially, but hopefully these tips, examples, and resources will help you along the way. Don’t Jump In Too Early One mistake that many teachers make is jumping into identifying and analyzing the theme too early after reading a text. Before you ask students, “What is the theme?” they first need to have a solid grasp of the more literal story elements of the text (plot, setting, characters etc.). Not only that, but identifying and analyzing theme is a skill that requires explicit teaching and practice. While it can be tempting to want to dive into discussing the deeper meaning or purpose of a reading, that should be reserved for a later date when students have a solid grasp on the text they are reading as well as on the meaning of theme. Clearly Define Theme Before students can analyze theme, they need to have a deep understanding of the meaning of the term. Ask your students for a definition of theme, and you will probably hear one or more of the following responses: While the main idea, topic, and moral do relate in some ways to theme, they are not correct. Before I define theme for my students, I differentiate between these terms using Little Red Riding Hood as an example: I teach my students that the theme is a significant idea/statement that the story is making about society, human nature, or the human condition. Theme focuses on the deeper meaning or message that the reader is meant to consider, and it is often a statement that people can apply to their own lives or world in some way. Too often I hear people use a one-word topic to label a theme. For example, someone might say the theme of a text is freedom, power, family, love etc. Make sure your students know that a theme can never be just one word. These words are topics that are important to the text, but it does not become a theme until a statement is made about the topic! Start Simple and Scaffold Start with a simple children’s book or film to help your students practice identifying theme (Disney movies or Dr. Seuss books tend to work well). Once students are familiar with the plot, use the following scaffolded approach below to help them develop a thematic statement: 1. Have students develop a list of topics that are examined in the reading/film and choose one. For example, some common topics in literature are family, loyalty, identity, ambition, guilt, fear, power, sacrifice, love, trust, ignorance, freedom etc. 2. Have students write a specific sentence about what the author thinks about the topic you chose. (For example, “The author thinks that… power is a corrupting force”). 3. Remove “The author thinks that” from your sentence and rewrite any necessary parts to form a thematic statement! (For example, “Power is a corrupting force”). Click HERE for a free organizer to help students write a thematic statement using this approach. After students are familiar with the process with a simple text or film, it will more easily translate when they apply it to a poem short story, novel, or play they are reading in class. Prove It To Me Have students put their thematic statement to the test to make sure that it can be supported with direct evidence from the text. If it can’t be supported, ask them to go back and start the process of identifying another theme. Practice Makes Perfect Here are a couple fun activities to help students practice writing thematic statements: Thematic Journals Have 10-15 small booklets with universal theme topics written on the front of each (Courage, Fear, Friendship, Family, Power, Innocence, Justice, Love, Loyalty, Revenge, Pride, Beauty, Fate, Freedom, Prejudice etc.). If students are reading an independent novel that relates to one of the topics in someway, have them respond with a journal about how the theme of their novel relates to this topic. I ask students to complete at least 2 entries per semester. On the inside cover of each booklet, have the following prompting questions to help students get started: 1. What does the author of the novel you are reading think about this topic? 2. What message do you think the author wants you to consider about this topic? 3. How do you relate personally to the theme of the novel? 4. How does the theme of the novel relate to the world or to humanity in general? 5. Does the theme of this novel remind you of the theme of something else you have read/watched? Students can also read what others have written before them and discuss how their reading relates. Hashtag the Theme Have students differentiate between topic and theme by having them write a thematic statement in the form of a social media post (140 characters or less) with a relevant topic hashtag. This looks great on display in your classroom and allows students to see a variety of examples of how a topic can turn into a thematic statement. Download this free activity/display HERE. There Is No Right Answer Take a bit of the pressure off your students by telling them that there is no right answer when it comes to identifying theme. Interpretation is based on the readers’ prior experiences and knowledge. As long as their thematic statement can be supported by evidence, it is correct! Want more ideas for teaching theme? Click below to check out these other ideas from The Secondary English Coffee Shop bloggers. Main Idea vs Theme from Presto Plans Theme Focus Lesson for Any Novel from The SuperHERO Teacher Discovering Theme Learning Stations from Room 213 SaveSaveSaveSave
These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back
Free Printable Back to School Banner Crayons. Crayons for bulletin board decorations, crayon banner classroom decor or classroom door crayon theme.
Too many classroom icebreakers require students to take big social risks with people they barely know. Or they don't really help students get to know each other. Or they are just plain cheesy.
Hi friends!! I’m super excited to be linking up with Doodle Bugs for Five for Friday. I haven’t done one in a long time!! But I’m not feeling too well […]
A perfect BACK TO SCHOOL activity! Encourage your students to share about their summer vacations by having them fill in this free resource!You may choose to have students draw or write in the spaces, providing differentiated opportunities to those who need it. Makes a sweet bulletin board!©Anita Bre...
One of the most time-consuming things teachers deal with is student absences! I no longer worry about this because my students completely take care of it!
Differentiating your instruction can be overwhelming. I get it. When you hear the word "differentiation" do you automatica...
Use these four great classroom time savers to help you stay on track with your schedule, teach more efficiently, and save your sanity.
The best "icebreaker" activity for high school students (who hate icebreaker activities). Get a jump start on creating a bond with your students.
Free printable Bible lesson on the Battle of Jericho. Learn about Rahab and Joshua through Games, Crafts, Activities, songs, lesson, worksheets and more.
These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back
Head back to school with The Kissing Hand book by Audrey Penn. Pair it with activities and crafts to go along with the theme of the book or even buy Chester
As we approach Matariki, there are some wonderful Matariki crafts you can do with your children to celebrate.
Math About Me, Back to School, Freebie
Kids will love this Free Printable Back to School Activity Page filled with puzzles and coloring activities!!
Do you have at least one to two weeks left of school? Do you want your students ENGAGED in school until the end?? If you said YES, then there is a Math Game Board Project for you and your students! CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD This is seriously, hands down the best way to end the school year with your students. Every year I end with the End of Year Math Game Board Project is a happy year for my students and I. I am able to pack up my room, finish grading, and I don't have to stay after school. Kids are engaged, they loved making the board games, and the rubrics make it easy for everyone to get an A (which also helped in grading)!! Creative Original Student Made Teacher Reviews "This is a fantastic resource! Thank you so much! Can't wait to use it again this year!" -Alissa "My students loved this!" -Nicole "This helped keep the kids engaged during that tough time of year!" -Lyndsay "Awesome activity! My students' creativity shined in this assignment." -Jeanna "Thank you for this resource. It is excellent. My students took advantage of it. Perfect end of the year project!" -Teacher "Students loved this. It was the perfect way to end the year on an educational but fun note." -Teacher "Students loved this." -Michelle "This was so much fun. My stents got competitive on their games and now I have some for next year!!!!" -Teacher "This activity saved me with 8th graders the last few weeks of school." -Wendy This project saved and helped many teachers finish strong and kept the students ENGAGED. I have even had past students come back to my room at the end of the year BEGGING me to play one of the board games. How cool is that? Students asking to visit your classroom and play educational games? Yes! Truly the best way to end your school year. CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD I hope this End of Year Project is a HIT in your classroom too! Just remember for the end of the year it's all about keeping those students ENGAGED until the last minute. Happy Teaching!
Upper elementary teachers, are you looking for back to school activities and ideas to make this year the best year yet? These tips and ideas for back to school season will save your time and sanity and help you to kick off the year smoothly!
Name posters are an easy art project for the first day of school and also double as classroom decor!
We want students to be comfortable in our classrooms. We want them to feel welcomed and inspired. Classroom decoration can play a role in creating that environment. Below are some simple ways to …
