Category: Middle School

This is a great way to get students expressing how they feel.

Brainstorm together on the board, ways to express how you like or don’t like something. Put in some idioms (It sucks! / Sweet! ).  Or the teacher can … Read More ....

Here’s something one of my mentor teachers did back when I was a student teacher. I don’t have any experience using it in my own classroom, but it seemed like a good idea…

Many classrooms are grouped into desks, with … Read More ....

This is an idea for improving the co-operative spirit in the classroom (or as some may refer to it, “classroom management”). I learned it from a teacher trainer in Canada, as part of a seminar on “Assertive Discipline.”

Basically, you … Read More ....

Show a picture and have learners take turns saying one descriptive thing about it. Beginners can make simple observations like “three cats” while advanced students can make up a story to go with the picture. They aren’t allowed to repeat … Read More ....

It isn’t easy to learn so many names so fast! Here are some tips for remembering student names ( a must because when you use a student’s name, studies show they learn better/quicker! just by hearing their name!)

1.  For … Read More ....

Pictures speak a 1,000 words and are the engine of language teaching because they provide much needed contextualization for the lesson.

Every teacher staying in EFL / ESL should have a picture library, a folder of photos (laminated if you … Read More ....

I’m a big fan of SCC – student created content. Instead of just handing out a photocopy or a worksheet – get the students to make the activity or worksheet!

They learn while making the content and since they have … Read More ....

Put a box on your desk and tell the students if they have any thoughts, to write them down on a piece of paper WITHOUT A NAME and put it in the box. Once a week, look in the box … Read More ....

Every week put up a large piece of chart paper on the classroom wall. Get a marker on string and tie it nearby.

Students can go there and write new vocabulary they have learned or just put up graffiti and … Read More ....

BAAM is a game I made after a lot of thought. Many teachers told me that they were frustrated when playing games – only the high level students answered and were involved!

So I came up with BAAM and without … Read More ....