At this point in the semester, you know your students fairly well, as well as the level of their English Language Arts skills. Whether you're looking for ways to jump-start student motivation in your class or looking to add some fresh ideas to your classroom, this post will give you some new topics to keep things moving in a positive direction until the end of the semester. This time of the semester is also a great opportunity for teachers to review their curriculum planning maps. What skills have you assessed so far and what skills do you plan on assessing next? Students can also have a say in this, so check out the post and find out how!
1. Goal Setting
At this point in the year, students can begin to reflect on their progress so far. They can evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, as well as review the academic skills they have learned so far and what they would like to build on. Setting goals is an easy and meaningful life skill for all students. In addition to students creating their own learning goals, you will also now have the perfect addition to your parent-teacher conferences. Click HERE to grab a FREE printer-ready reflection that you can give your students!
2. Team-Building Activities
One of my favorite activities to complete in the second half of the semester is a group novel study. From start to finish, it takes about 4-5 weeks (this includes the reading of the actual novel). What I like about this team-building activity at this point in the semester is the fact that students are fairly comfortable with each other (compared to the first half of the semester). This project allows students to work in groups and re-create the novel that they read, while showcasing their understanding. Click HERE to read more about the project in its entirety.
See below for student examples:
3. Writing Skills
This is a great time in the semester to build on writing skills. Reviewing and practicing writing skills can influence the quality of writing in general. The following are some skills that I tend to focus on more so after the second part of a semester: grammar, vocabulary, spelling, sentence structure, and sentence construction. I can already hear my students complaining, but I encourage them to build on these skills because they are important in everyday life. Writing, in general, is an effective form of communication and eventually, what employers will seek in their employees (our students).
To assist with building engagement on these topics, I created some interactive resources that can help build writing skills for students: grammar, essay writing, and paragraph writing.
Like many skills, the best way to improve on writing is to practice. Here are a few easy ways to get started:
- Write letters to friends or family
- Join a journalism club
- Practice free writing
- Hold a class writing workshop
- Write an article for a local newspaper
4. Bring in a Guest Speaker
Bringing in a guest speaker to a class immediately sparks engagement. Whether it is an opportunity to learn about someone in the school, community, a particular career, or learning some life lessons, guest speakers are a great way to create a shared experience for all members of a classroom.
How do guest speakers motivate and encourage students?
- They spark ongoing conversations
- They turn passive learning into active learning
- They offer new perspectives
- They may trigger positive, emotional responses
- They boost confidence and morale
5. Reading Skills
At this point in the semester, I like to give my students the opportunity to select readings of their choice - whether it be short stories or novels. Personally, what I like about an independent novel study, is that it gives students an opportunity to delve into a topic, genre, character or theme a bit more that would be of genuine interest to them. By offering students the opportunity to select a book of choice, it will not only encourage daily reading in the classroom (and possibly outside of the classroom), but it will also pique their interest!
If you're looking for a quick and easy printer-ready independent novel study, click HERE!
Looking for more great ideas? Check these out from the ladies at the Coffee Shop:
BookTok Activity from Tracee Orman
3Ways to Boost Student Engagement from The Daring English Teacher
