Happy New Year! I am still on break and relaxing one more day before we head back tomorrow. We have a teacher work day and then the tiny humans are back on Tuesday. Like most of the human race I always have great intentions for the New Year. I am a person who likes to implement too many new things, so I am here to tell you choose 1-2 new things to implement in your classroom for the New Year. 

I am always thinking ahead and NOW is the time for you to be thinking about February and Black History Month. Why?! February is such a short month that if you start thinking about it now, I promise it will seem less stressful later. So this post is all about prep for February and making your life easier. 

Ok here's some ideas for you and what I will be doing, but I am going to start NOW so that I am ready. 

So if you are overwhelmed, stick to my advice and choose ONE of these activities!

1. Biography Puzzles: These are printable and you have FOUR people to research and learn about. There are 4 weeks in February... coincidence?! Study one person per week by reading aloud a picture book (yes older kids still like these) and working through the reading, writing, and puzzles as a class, partner, or individual. This is a super LOW prep option. This can also be an independent study. Have students choose maybe 2 people and then they have 2 weeks to work on them. 

2. Biography Lapbook: The great thing about this is that it can be used for ANY  person to research, so if you don't get around to this for February, you can have in your back pocket for any person! 

Tip: If you have younger kids and any parent help, have a parent cut out the shapes and help you assemble OR send this home for a project that will be ongoing. Parents can pick-up and do the prep at home for you! 

First I have students choose from a list 3-4 people they are interested in. I did NOT have them choose MLK. We do so much with him that he wasn't a choice. Once they narrow down their person, we start with the timeline. 

I use Pebble Go for my students because it is super easy to navigate. It's a research site that our school subscribes to. Most schools or libraries have a kid friendly database which is easy to use for Biography research. I would check with your Media Specialist or look online for an option that is user friendly. Your media specialist may even have some books he/she can pull for you OR ask your local library to pull them now for you! 

After students chose their person; they took notes about the character traits (I did a separate lesson on this) and chose a few vocabulary words. I used this dictionary and some picture books. Check out my other blog on Character Traits. 

Here's a picture of one of the finished products. 

I also gave my students scrapbook paper that I had laying around to use to glam this up! Don't be afraid to send home some portions of this as homework! There are a lot of parts so maybe you don't have time to do them all. You could easily pair this down to make it more manageable for you!

Check out this also for Biography Projects for Research. You have templates to assist your students in their Biography Project to present. This would be a great alternative if you don't have time for the lapbook and you are able to give students CHOICE!

3. Last is a NO PREP Digital Escape Room on Civil Rights. It has some of the same people as the above #1, so you could do both or just stick to this one. 

This has video, reading passages, and puzzles to solve. So if you are short on time- I would highly recommend using this as your resource. 

Remember this is YOUR year. I will be making a plan and trying my best to stick to it. 

Cheers for the New Year!

It's Winter Break for us officially! It's time to relax, BUT before I check out mentally for this holiday season, I am thinking ahead to the New Year. I like to have some things planned out or in my back pocket for when I change my mind, which is OFTEN when I go back to school. 

Here are some popular and NO PREP Digital Resources to use for the New Year, as well as some EASY printable resources to prep.  Don't worry, if it's printable it is an EASY activity that you can print and go. I am not into using a lot of brain power after a break so I need something that is easy. 

Have a great holiday and I'll be back in the New Year!

Only 1 WEEK left?! Well, you may be going past the 17th, but we get out on Winter Break in just five shorts days! I wanted to highlight a lot of resources in this post for right now and in the New Year!

Here are some great resources if you find yourself wanting to do some FUN things this week! I am going to highlight FIVE of the top holiday resources for this week since I have FIVE days left. If you are moving onto the New Year, scroll down for Inferences and New Year!

These are BRAND NEW and your kids will love these winter ones. They are both digital AND printable for this week ahead!

This super fun activity can be used MANY ways. It can be a fun writing for a winter poem, a first person narrative, letter writing pretending the recipient is real/imagined, or a made-up story! Your students will love to create their character and then write about it!

Deck the Halls! Only 2 weeks until we are on winter break! Not sure if you have more days than that to go, but either way the countdown is ON! This week I am sharing some reading response ideas and books for the holidays! Why?! It is SO versatile for independent, partner, or whole group. Reading Response is so fun! You can do holiday themed books, let students choose, or lead with your own theme or genre. 

It's almost time for the holidays! The last few weeks until winter break! What types of things do you look for to teach your students or to supplement your lessons?!

I am always looking for things that are FUN! Students don't often get a break and this time of year it's very hard for students to focus, hence the introduction of engaging holiday content. Let's look at some things I have found that will be sure to have success in your classroom. Whether you are supplementing a lesson, looking for station materials, partner work, or whole class activity, I will address ALL of those needs!

I love activities that are centered around independent or partner work. I can ALWAYS change it to a whole group lesson if needed, but I would rather students be able to work on their own, in pairs, or small groups while I am conferencing and meeting with students one-on-one during work time. 

Math Mysteries are ALWAYS easy and fun! 

Check out all of the Holiday Math Mysteries HERE! 

These are Digital Narrated versions. What I love about these is that they use reading comprehension at the same time that students are using their problem-solving skills. There are paper/pencil versions available as well. 

(P.S. AND they are full of  holiday FUN!)

Escape Rooms are the next must-have for FUN and independent learning OR you choose how you use them! I have a NEW Escape Room below that is Stan the Snowman: Lost in the Snowstorm! This is a great 'Just for Fun' activity for that last day right before winter break. I am going to use it as part of the party!

Students also love the Holidays Around the World Escape Room. Students love to learn about the different counties and their traditions, while also solving the clues. Another great comprehension piece to enhance a unit study on traditions or a stand-alone lesson of learning. 

Check out this preview of the Holidays Around the World Escape Room Below!

During that last week before break, I am always looking for activities to keep students engaged. I like to do stations that students rotate through. Here are some station ideas for you!

Station #3: Creative Writing Station (Write a persuasive letter for a gift to receive, a persuasive piece getting an extra day off of school, descriptive writing of a gift they received, a thank-you letter to someone, winter haikus, or other poetry)

Halloween is over.... so that means Thanksgiving is right around the corner! There is so much to be thankful for this year! I am thankful that students are still able to learn and have fun and for all the wonderful educators who inspire me daily. 

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                                  Grade 3 Math Mystery                   Grade 4 Math Mystery

Have you started reading novels yet this year? Independent Reading? I am sure you have at this point in the year so I am putting up a list of books to help teach character traits, as well as my FREE writing Character Trait Prompts! I am also SUPER excited to debut my new Bubbleheads to get students engaged and excited about characters in their books! I would love to hear what books you would like to use these with, so leave a comment below or email me at hilary35t@gmail.com. 

(Can also go with Escape Room HERE or watch a preview below)

Here is a Character Trait Dictionary to explore!

Check out this FREE  Character Traits Organizer to use with ANY Book! 

Let me know your favorite book for teaching character traits! Want to see more Bubbleheads?! Leave a comment below and tell me what character or book you want to see more of!