How do you keep kids learning while they are enjoying the holidays on break? We have some suggestions for you to keep students active so they're ready to go when they come back to your classroom!
The holidays are upon us--can you believe it’s already November? Just as you’re finally getting into a groove with analyzing data, observations, student discipline and parent engagement, the extended breaks begin. While it gives us much time to rejuvenate, it’s time students are away from learning. Never fear! There are many ways to keep staff and students engaged while they are away from the school building. Helping families keep students engaged over breaks can be tricky, but with some planning, you can make these breaks at home an extension of the great work you are doing at school.
One helpful hint to keep students engaged over breaks is to send home a holiday newsletter with information about content that each grade is learning and ask families to explore those together. This could be through a virtual project, a news article or a presentation to family members after turkey dinner--the possibilities are endless! If there are enrichment opportunities available near you, send that information home in the same holiday newsletter. It will serve as your students’ unofficial guide to holiday break with addresses, hours and special events at museums, zoos, libraries and community centers.
And if you really want to keep students engaged, think about creating a competition between classrooms or grade levels! Have the students participate in a photo competition that documents some form of community service. Set a challenge to see who completes the most book reports. Create a grade-level commercial on how to stay engaged in learning over break using various student experiences. Breaks are a valuable time to reinforce learning and to keep students excited about school.
If you’re also thinking about a way to keep your teachers working towards their professional goals, please contact us! We’d love to help you design some “do at home” PD, complete with article links, videos or readings about current innovations in education or any other type of support you feel could help your teachers continue to grow while rejuvenating. As always, we’d love to support you with on-site PD as well when you return in January. Schedule PD now by visiting opsrc.net and clicking the “Book PD” button on the homepage.
We will see all of you soon, as we are on the road visiting schools during winter months. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for anything you need.
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What does the comparison of State Aid allocations from last year to this say about our finances?
Funding for public schools in Oklahoma is a hot topic and for good reason. The State Department of Education (SDE) has issued a record number of emergency teacher certifications this year, and it seems each day brings a new story of teachers leaving Oklahoma for better pay in neighboring states.
Fact: Your classroom is full of barriers Every teacher faces a few “elephants” in the classroom. You might refer to them as barriers, distractions or interruptions--things that get in the way of students being fully engaged in their learning. No matter the term you use, though, they require you to reconsider how you relate to and instruct your students and how you manage your classroom.
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