In a previous blog, I suggested that teachers give students the autonomy to decide when they need a break and to allow them to take one, as long as they are engaging within parameters set. When you believe you have established appropriate levels of behavior management with your students, use these 4 pointers for giving [...]
Hopefully you’re in the groove of the school year and have experienced success implementing physical activity breaks for your students. If not, now’s a great time to begin! It’s also a good time to focus on the mental health of our students. One way to address this is through different movement or activity breaks that incorporate aspects [...]
When planning for the school year, classroom set up is key for student movement. The way we arrange our space can either create room or decrease it, so below are three suggestions to make your class user-friendly for activity breaks. Arrange Desks to Create an Activity Area Consider arranging the desks/tables in your space to maximize the amount [...]
For most of us, the school year will be in full swing within the next month. Let’s start off strong by pushing our students to move if they can and when they can, as long as it doesn’t interfere with their learning or our teaching. Remember that physical activity (even little spurts) helps students with [...]
As schools reconvened or are reconvening students back in a face-to-face environment, many schools have placed students in “bubbles” during class. These may consist of 10’x10’ spaces that are marked off by floor tape, in which students are supposed to remain in their spots throughout the class period, if possible. It is probable that this [...]
Don’t let the social and physical distancing protocols stop you from allowing your students to engage in classroom physical activity! If there’s anything we’ve learned from the pandemic, it’s that youth and adults alike need to move and get fresh air. I’m sharing some simple ABCs for integrating physical activity in your classroom with appropriate [...]
If someone asked you to describe what a college classroom looked like, what would you say? My mind pictures an older classroom with tile flooring and desks with one armrest lined up in rows. There’s probably a large table at the front of the room with a computer, and a screen that can be pulled down [...]
Social emotional learning. SEL. What is it? Seems like a buzzword these days. The concept of SEL is not new, as it has been around for decades. The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL, n.d.) defines it as: “The process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills [...]
Most of you are pretty adept at teaching virtually by now. In fact, many are rocking this and have the organization and delivery of teaching online down to a science. What are some of the things you are noticing about your students as you teach in this way? Are they attending regularly? Are they focused? [...]
What a different world we are living in! Who would have guessed the 2019-2020 school year would basically be “over” in March? Learning new teaching strategies on the fly. Trying to figure out how to communicate with students and their parents. Tracking emails and phone calls and homework submitted (and not submitted). No closure, no [...]
