Leprechaun Trap Challenge (STEM): St. Patrick's Day

-
Image
Leprechaun Trap Challenge (STEM) Instructions: Build a trap to catch a leprechaun using everyday materials. Follow the design process below! Objective: Encourage creativity, engineering skills, and problem-solving by designing a functional trap that could catch a mischievous leprechaun. Planning Sheet: Materials List: What will you use? (e.g., paper, string, tape, cardboard, LEGOs, pipe cleaners, cups, paper towel rolls, craft sticks, aluminum foil, etc.) Sketch Your Design: Draw how your trap will work, labeling key parts and mechanisms. Trap Mechanism: How will your trap trigger when the leprechaun enters? Will it use a pulley, lever, or hidden entrance? Will you include bait like gold coins, glitter, or candy? Building Phase: Work on assembling your trap using the selected materials. Testing & Improvements: Try triggering the trap multiple times. Identify any weaknesses and refine the design. Reflection Questions: What was the most challenging part of building the trap? What ...
Post a Comment

Batching Tasks: A Time-Saving Hack for Busy Teachers

-



Batching tasks is an effective time management strategy where you group similar activities together and complete them in dedicated time blocks. This minimizes task-switching and increases efficiency. Here’s how you can apply batching to your daily teaching routine:


Lesson Planning


Plan multiple lessons at once instead of preparing daily.

Use a structured weekly or unit-based template.

Pre-select resources, worksheets, and activities in advance.

Use planning periods efficiently by avoiding distractions.


Grading Assignments


Grade the same type of assignment in one session for consistency.

Use rubrics or digital grading tools (e.g., Google Forms, auto-graded quizzes).

Set a dedicated time each day or week for grading.


Email Management


Check and respond to emails at set times (e.g., before school, lunch break, and after school) rather than constantly.

Use email templates for common responses.

Unsubscribe from non-essential mailing lists.


Classroom Preparation

Organize and prepare materials for multiple days at a time.

Set up stations, print handouts, and update displays in one session.

Use digital folders for quick access to resources.


Meetings & Parent Communication


Schedule back-to-back meetings instead of spreading them out.

Use a scheduling tool (e.g., Calendly, Google Calendar) for parent-teacher conferences.

Batch phone calls and messages for efficiency.


By batching tasks, you can work more efficiently, reduce stress, and maintain a better work-life balance. Try implementing this strategy and see how it transforms your teaching routine!



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Engaging New Year's Activities for Classrooms

-
Image
  Here are some engaging and versatile New Year activities suitable for all grade levels that can be adapted to fit your classroom needs.  Goal Setting and Vision Boards - Activity: Have students reflect on the past year and set goals for the new year.   - Younger students: Draw or cut out pictures from magazines to represent their goals.   - Older students: Write SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals. - Materials: Paper, magazines, glue, markers, or digital tools for creating online vision boards. - Variation: Create a class goal together to encourage teamwork.  "Year in Review" Time Capsule - Activity: Students reflect on their favorite memories, achievements, and lessons learned from the past year.   - Younger students: Fill out a simple worksheet with prompts like “My favorite thing I learned this year” or “I loved when we…”   - Older students: Write reflective journal entries or letters to their future selves. - Foll...
Read more

Top things teachers should never do.

-
Image
Remember, teaching is a profession. You are a professional. Many times, we tend to forget that. Here are some some of the worse things teachers can do. Scream and yell. If you want to look bad in front of your students and staff, then you will raise your voice. Sure way to shorten your teaching career. This is related to losing your temper in class. Don't do it. No matter what, keep your emotions under control. You are the teacher, boss, and leader. You can get respect without yelling. Also on this note, classroom teachers should not single out a student and belittle them. This includes chewing them out for doing something, or not doing something. You will never brow beat a student into behaving or learning. You will only look like a foolish teacher. And quite an ineffective one at that. This includes getting upset for every little thing. Little things happen in class. They do not all require punishment, referrals, calls to the principal, etc. Let it go. Acknowledge it, then...
Read more

Top Women in Math History

-
Image
  Girls in STEM: Throughout history, women have played a major role in the science of mathematics. Sadly, not many are remembered in this way. These woman can be an inspiration to girls and young women to go into the sciences. Woman have been involved with math and science for thousands of years. But it still is basically a man's world. These woman of the past can be used to encourage more girls to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering, and math. Perhaps by knowing some of the accomplishents of women in the past, they too can strive to make history. Of course they can inspire boys too! Here are our picks for The Top 10 Women in Mathematics History #10 Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia  (1646-1684). First woman in the world to receive a PhD. #9 Hypatia  (lived around 400 ad) The first woman to have an impact on the science of math. She was ruthlessly murdered in her hometown of Alexandria. #8 Winifred Edgerton  (1862-1951) First American woman to recieve a...
Read more