Do you remember LOVING to play Oregon Trail on the old black and green-screened computers? We strategically planned out how much meat to pack, how many people to bring, and what to name our family members, only to die in the end. The endings ranged from contracting either diphtheria or cholera, to drowning in the river, or dying from a snake bite, all of which were exciting ways to die when traveling west in the 1800s. I honestly do not remember ever making it west. I remember that the only way I could survive was to stop the journey and build along the river. But, despite the eventual death sentence, I loved playing this game — and for my students, this same kind of love is happening with "You Choose You Adventure" Books.
Start with Goals and the Big Picture by Quarter, Trimester, or Semester: For each grading period, include required literature, major projects, and other must-do items. Tip: Add district and state assessments also!
Inspiring students to actually read can be a challenge. Many students choose to take the shortcut and read only the Spark Notes version or watch a YouTube video about the book. But as teachers and lovers of literature, we know this is not the same as reading the original text. Here are some of our favorite practices for getting students to actually do their assigned reading.
Compiled by a bunch of seasoned, veteran teachers, here’s a list of items you should not start school without! Here’s our Practical Teacher School Survival Kit…the 45 things teachers shouldn't be without.
End of the Year Reflections are valuable tool every teacher should use. These reflections will allow teachers to get a more well-rounded idea of how the school year went by asking the students a set of questions to solicit answers and guidance on how to proceed with upcoming year.
