Each day in the classroom is a chance to make a difference in a child's life. Yet this time of year things can become so routine that you are the one tired at the end of the day and you feel bored with your teaching. Students aren't the only ones that live off routines, teachers do too. I challenge you to try and change things up a bit these last few months so you will enjoy teaching all the way up to June.
4 Simple Ways to Spice Up the Classroom
- Movement- If there is a way for students to move around the room for any reason as simple as finding a partner you have got them engaged. They will be hooked on to whatever the task is for them. Add movement to reading with a partner or group. They can stand up instead of sit or change who they are working with every 15 minutes.
- Music- Is there some independent or group work you want them to do with minimal discussion? Then add some background music and make the expectations be that no voice should be above the level of the music. If you already add music to your routines change the type of music. You might find that another type of music does wonders in your class.
- Games- Are you needing to review for a test? Then make it into a game. You can have groups answer questions and play tic-tac-toe for every question they answer right. Then have them switch groups for one more review. It is amazing how the word "game" changes everything for students. Their engagement will be at a new level.
- Projects- Do you want to check for understanding without doing a test? Check their understanding by doing an art project, create a book, write a rap song,write a story. When I would say that a writing assignment was a "project" students would always put an extra effort because they knew projects would be displayed in the hallway or shared with other classes or teachers.
Make that extra effort to spice up your classroom and you will get more out of your students.