Author: TCR Staff

Lesson Plans

Activities That Inspire Learning: Vocabulary Activities

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If vocabulary learning is viewed as boring to some of your students, try some of these activities to spice up and make learning vocabulary fun and memorable.

Vocabulary Bingo
Play Vocabulary Bingo. Students randomly write down all the vocabulary words for that unit, one per square. (Note: The words can be written on the board so everyone has the same words.)

Read the definition of each word. Students then cover the matching word on the Bingo sheet with a small square of paper, dried beans, or other marker. Once they get a consecutive row, they yell “Bingo” or another word you chose. Pick a word that relates to the unit the class is studying.

Action Vocabulary
Give a set of partners one word from the unit or novel being read. They are to learn the definition and then come up with a simple charade-type action associated with the word. The action should be a clue to the meaning of the word. Once practiced, students share their word, definition, and the action with the class. Encourage students to keep the actions simple, only one or two movements. Too detailed or too lengthy actions will be forgotten. The class then repeats the action. After every two words, go back and review actions and definitions of the previously learned words. The action will help secure the meaning in their minds. If desired, students can also choose their own words to perform from the unit.

Password
This game is similar to the TV show “Million Dollar Password.” It is a terrific way to review vocabulary in the classroom.

Split the class into two teams. The first person from each team comes to the front and sits in one of the two chairs facing the game show host (the teacher). The game show host begins by giving one-word clues to both players at the same time. The first person to say out loud the answer gets two points for the team. For example, the word may be carnivore. Possible clues to give are as follows: “animal,” “meat,” and “teeth.” Keep repeating the clues thus far if they are stumped. If still stumped, start giving obvious clues such as “not an herbivore.”

As the class sees how this work and gains experience with the clue-giving technique, eventually allow teammates to give clues, one at a time to their guesser.

For more vocabulary activities or resources, you can browse a wide selection of vocabulary books here.

Classroom Management

Time Management Tips for Teachers: Part IV of IV

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Part IV: Meeting Deadlines and Keeping Appointments

It is obviously essential that you meet deadlines, be they deadlines set by your principal, by a parent, or of your own accord. You must respect deadlines and make no excuses to yourself for missing them. The following procedures will eliminate the missed deadlines and allow you to meet deadlines, as well as people’s expectations.

  • Write down a date or deadline immediately upon notification. Don’t delay! Write it down in your calendar the day it is due.
  • Write down the same deadline in your task list, far enough in advance so that you can prepare. For example, on Tuesday, write “Prepare for conference with Johnny’s mom on Thursday.”
  • In your daily task list, write down the day of an event and the actual appointment, stating “Johnny’s mom’s conference prepared?”
  • Set an alarm (perhaps on your cell phone?) to notify yourself of an appointment a few minutes in advance so that you have time to gather your materials and travel to the appointment spot. Many teachers might choose not to have the alarm because they refer often enough to their task list and can keep a mental alarm in their heads. But for those who look down at the end of the day at their task list and find themselves missing an appointment or task, an alarm will prove to be a welcome reminder.

Remember, keeping deadlines and appointments is one of the most crucial points to being organized. This is true not only because of the actual importance of the appointment or deadline, but also because it shows respect, gains respect, and builds others’ confidence in you as a professional.

Teaching Tips

Time Management Tips for Teachers: Part III of IV

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Part II: Keeping Your Classroom Organized

Part two of our “Time Management Tips for Teachers” series is all about staying organized. (For tips on how to organize your classroom, see previous post, “Tips for Classroom Organization“). Once you have your classroom organizational system in place, it is important that you maintain it as if it were the health of your classroom. You must exercise the system, feed it, tend to it, show it proper care, and believe in it for it to work.

Always remember to make sure you have a chance at the beginning of the day, during the day, or at the end of the day for simple maintenance. A few simple tasks for classroom maintenance include:

  • Moving classroom furniture back in its place.
  • Keeping classroom information up to date.
  • Making sure calendars are up to date.
  • Making sure you are caught up with correcting.
  • Making sure you are caught up with record keeping. Try using record books to help you with this.
  • Making certain you are prepared with lesson plan materials gathered. Use file folders to keep everything together and secure.
  • Making certain you are completing all daily tasks. Try making a check list (and checking it twice 😉 ).
  • Checking to make sure you have a minimum in your immediate business file.
  • Making sure you have no mail in your mail pile at the end of your day.
  • Making sure you are updated on parent communication.
  • Making certain your files are organized and you haven’t stuffed unwanted papers into your files.

Keeping the above tasks up-to-date and maintained will keep you organized, proficient, and stress free. If you notice that you have overlooked any of the above, such as falling behind in reading your mail, plan a time during the day to complete it. Try writing it down as a task to help you remember to follow through on it.

You may also find it helpful and worthwhile to maintain a stocked supply cabinet with necessary supplies such as file folders, notepads, lesson planners, and other useful teacher supplies to keep you organized. Everything goes smoother with the right supplies, so it is always useful to have them ready in your classroom. If you are running low and need to restock your supply cabinet for the new year, the holiday gift-giving season may be a perfect time to do so. Let friends and family know if you would like any teaching materials or supplies as gifts if they ask. You can also ask parents or your school for donations.