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Are you ready for the big game?

If you're like me, you're taking advantage of the enthusiasm for the big game coming up!


It's Super Bowl time! Take advantage of the children's enthusiasm and let them enjoy some football themed learning experiences!

When children are excited about something, I always try to bring it into the classroom when I can. Books are a great place to start. (Click each image for a link to Amazon.)

There's a ton of kid-related Super Bowl videos on YouTube. Just google "Super Bowl for Kids!"

Here's one I found. The commercials are often the best part of the Super Bowl. I'm thinking I might have the children vote on their favorite. then make a graph of the voting. 
 

12 Funniest Super Bowl Commercials of all time



I'm sure you can find more YouTube videos that you can relate to classwork!

Here's a Super Bowl freebie with mapping and writing! Just explore the image.

Explore this image for a link to this 2024 Freebie!



Here's a football-themed gameboard, with 4 different games that could be played on it.

Explore this image for a link to this fun set of 4 football-themed games!

Here's a dollar version of the above game, which practices Counting to 1,000. Just explore the image for the dollar deal!

Explore this image for a link to this fun counting game!

This game can be played a few different ways, and always has the children giggling! All the verbs are football-related, too! Football Past and Present Verbs.

Explore this image for a link to this football themed verb game.

I also have a couple of "twin" football BINGO games. This math game practices adding and subtracting tens.

Explore this image for a link to this football themed Bingo game

Here's the literacy "twin," Touchdown R-Controlled Vowels

Explore this image for a link to this popular football-themed bingo game

Looking for a little more math practice? Check this one out: 

Explore this image for a link to this popular math story resource!


Now here's the fun: all these football-themed resources are now bundled at a great discount!

Explore this image for a link to this money-saving football bundle!



With the excitement of the Super Bowl, having football-related games will keep them engaged, and they might not realize that they are practicing important skills!


It's Super Bowl time! Take advantage of the children's enthusiasm and let them enjoy some football themed learning experiences!


How do we keep them engaged?

"They" can be a whole lot of learners. They are the "fast finishers", or maybe the "gifted". They can be children who are "high achievers", or just a child who already knows the concept you're working on because his older brother taught it to him.
How do we keep them engaged? Some children finish their daily work much faster than others. How can we keep them engaged without assigning "busy work?"

There are a million reasons a child might need an extra challenge to stay engaged. 

I know most schools have many ways to address the struggling students with Tier 2 and Tier 3, RTI, Title I, Special Education, and so on. But there's not all that much for those who learn easily or quickly. Yet, they are just as important! (Personally, I think they are ALL important, not just the ones who need to "up their test scores!")

Here are some things to NOT do: 
-give more practice on the same skill
-give "busy work" (work that won't advance the student's skills.)
-another grade level's work (This is a sticky subject, especially with some parents, but I truly believe that a child can be "enriched" without acceleration.)

Try to avoid most of the time:
-helping other students (again, it really doesn't advance the child's skills, but done occasionally can help reinforce the concepts.)

Better choices:
It's easier to challenge and engage early finishers in literacy. They can:
-read more challenging books
-read different genres
-write summaries or book reports
-write a story from another character's point of view
-write poetry
-write a play
-research a favorite subject and create a report

I could go on, but there are plenty of ideas all over the internet. (Check "early finishers" on Pinterest!)

Math can be a bit more of a challenge, because some kids struggle to grasp the daily lesson, while others breeze through the practice. We need to challenge the "fast finisher" brains by having them think of using strategies and procedures that will let them practice their skills with a little extra thinking.

Math choices:
-Yahtzee or other games that involve math strategies and planning
-Make their own math stories
-Complete or make their own math puzzles
-Practice facts with a friend
-Task cards, "I'm done" jars, or "What's next bulletin boards" (again, search Pinterest, there are tons of ideas out there!)
-computer games and tasks (such as BOOM computer task cards)

Here's a little video I made about one of my resources that fits this idea:



What other ideas do you have to keep them engaged?

How do we keep them engaged? Some children finish their daily work much faster than others. How can we keep them engaged without assigning "busy work?"


Five Finger Gratitude

Do you want to be happy? 
Do you want your students to be happy?

Did you know that being grateful helps a person be happy? It works for children, too! This post shares a couple of ways to show gratitude!

I've read from several sources, the key to happiness is showing gratitude. (See THIS ARTICLE for example.)
We as teachers know that happy children are in a better state for learning, aren't they?

Here's a trick that the kiddos love: Five-Finger Gratitude!

It's a great activity to do during morning meeting, in between subjects, right after recess, or at the end of the day. 

The children (and teachers) just need to count their blessings on their hand! It shouldn't be tough to come up with 5 things, and the more they think of their five, they can come up with more and different thoughts of gratitude daily!

It's a good idea to let the children share their thoughts as often as possible. They can share whole group, small groups, or with partners, but sharing is important.

Another option: give the children Gratitude Journals! Any notebook will do, and the children can put these labels on the covers! 

Did you know that being grateful helps a person be happy? It works for children, too! This post shares a couple of ways to show gratitude!

Of course, teachers can keep a gratitude journal, too! The children LOVE to hear the teacher's thoughts!

Be grateful!
Be happy!


Did you know that being grateful helps a person be happy? It works for children, too! This post shares a couple of ways to show gratitude!
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