Cooking Competitions and Classroom Observations

Alex T. ValencicBlog, Leadership, Student Engagement

TL;DR: You don’t have to be an expert to provide feedback. We can take feedback from a variety of people. Good instruction is good instruction. Cooking Competitions and Classroom Observations I love watching cooking competition shows! Cutthroat Kitchen, MasterChef Junior, MasterChef, Kitchen Nightmares, Hell’s Kitchen, Next Level Chef, 24 Hours to Hell and Back, Chopped, Is It Cake?, Beat Bobby … Read More

Genius Hour: Your Solution to Student Engagement

Janel SebenyBlog, Differentiation, Innovation, Lesson Planning, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Genius Hour is a powerful way to keep students engaged and excited. By allowing students to explore their passions, conduct research, and create something meaningful, Genius Hour unleashes their potential and fosters a love for learning. Reflecting on the experience and sharing their projects with others enhances students’ self-awareness, growth, and presentation skills. Genius Hour provides a high-engagement unit … Read More

Making the Most of the First 5 Minutes

Katie MiglinBlog, Classroom Management, Innovation, Lesson Planning, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Educators want their students excited about their content but it can be challenging when you struggle with low energy and engagement. Focus on the first five minutes of each class, incorporating fun games and activities to create enthusiasm. Other ideas to maintain the focus on those initial minutes include upbeat music, greetings, and engaging questions, which results in increased … Read More

Taking School Spirit to the Next Level!

Teach Better TeamBlog, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Building school spirit is essential for fostering positive school culture and values. High academic achievements are linked to students’ pride in their school and engagement in school activities. Creating strong relationships and empowering student leadership can lead to a positive school climate and impactful events. Consider inclusive and affordable strategies for student-centered tasks and events. This blog was written … Read More

10 Ways to Wrap Up Your Lesson

Michele HaikenBlog, Differentiation, Lesson Planning, Reflect Better, Student Engagement

TL;DR: Teachers should gather students for reflection and check understanding in the last few minutes of class to ensure everyone met the objective and address any confusion. Ten favorite ways to wrap up a lesson include exit tickets, 3-2-1 summaries, sentence-phrase-word reflections, stop and jot activities, captioning visuals, AEIOU reflections, rock-paper-scissors reflections, What’s In the Cards reflection protocol, quiz games, … Read More