by OakleyOriginals www.flickr.com
You and your students (or children if you are home schooling) probably have spring fever. Most parts of the country have been experiencing warmer weather, and you probably see some flowers and trees starting to bloom. This might also be the time when you are preparing to take state standardized tests, and spring fever and testing do not go hand-in-hand. So what can you do to buckle down and prepare for tests or finish those last few important units in math and science before it’s time for summer break AND still enjoy the nice weather? If you are at home, how can you keep your children focused when their swing set is calling to them in the backyard? Here are a few ideas:
*Read one of the many books you can find on Amazon (or any online book seller) by just typing in Spring Fever. You will be amazed–and they have books for any age group. Here are a few I found:
*Make a schedule with your child or your students that includes outside time on good-weather days. Show them that if they work hard in the classroom, they will have plenty of time to play outside at recess. Children thrive on schedules.
*Reward good behavior with reading or seat work time outside. This can be challenging if you are a classroom teacher and have a large class, but you know your class and what they can handle. If you have silent reading time every day, talk to your class about having it outside and what type of behavior you expect for this special treat. If you are at home with your children, you can even take your books to the park.
*Plan science units about plant cycles, habitats, the four seasons, and so on during spring. This way, some of your lessons and/or experiments can be conducted outside, and you are still meeting your objectives.
*Open the windows and let in the fresh air!
Talk to your P.E. teachers about physical activities that can be done outside and are still working on some of their objectives for the school year. On days you do not have P.E., take the kids outside at the end of the day and work on these skills. Physical health and development is also an important part of education!
Do you have any ideas to share for spring fever for classroom teachers or homeschoolers?
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