Student-driven strategies can be a
saving grace for busy teachers. The space
between Thanksgiving and Christmas is an especially challenging time for every
teacher where the to-do list at home and school seems never-ending. The
constant juggling can be overwhelming, bringing us to the brink of exhaustion. We’ve
all been there where you cannot go anymore! You cannot even think about
creating one more thing for school, or maybe you just need a break to get some
things graded so that you don’t have to bring them home over the holiday (and
side note: you should NOT bring anything home over the holiday!!).
This is precisely when
student-driven activities become your saving grace, allowing you to take a step
back without sacrificing the quality of instruction. Depending on the timing of your class
periods and the level of your students, some of these activities could take
more than one class period. These are
engaging and meaningful activities that add rigor and relevance to your lessons
while easing the load on you! While
these strategies are great for this busy holiday time, they are also fantastic
for ANY time of the year.
1. Student-Led Socratic Sessions:
- Have
students take charge of their learning by generating 5 questions or
discussion topics based on the day's readings. Implement 3 or 4 rounds of mini-Socratic
sessions, where students engage in thoughtful conversations. Cap it off
with a journal or reflection prompt, asking them to articulate something
new they learned or something they hadn’t considered before the
discussions.
2. Picture Prompts with Padlet:
- Introduce
a visual twist to literary analysis. Create a Padlet where students pair a
quote from the literary work with an image they choose that would match
the image. Require students to
explain how it connects to literary elements or devices, tying back to
larger thematic elements. You could have them do an image for
characterization, one for setting, one for literary devices, etc. Then, you could require that they make
at least 3 comments on their peers’ work.
- Note 1:
If you haven’t ever used Padlet, here is just one video that
demonstrates several ways to use it in your classroom.
- Note
2: This is also a great strategy to use when you have time to curate the
images yourself.
3. Real World Connections – 3 Ideas
- · Require students to find a current event story that relates to the themes, characters, or plot of the story you are reading. You could even use my FREE Current Event graphic organizer for this activity.
- · You could have students find a related TED Talk with my free TED Talk Organizer.
- · Have students create a playlist for a character or a TikTok Profile or Instagram Story, etc. Find these and many other done-for-you templates FREE by Clicking Here. Please note – these are NOT created by me and I’m not affiliated with Ditch that Textbook. I just love sharing phenomenal resources, and these are fantastic!
Navigating the pre-holiday hustle doesn't mean sacrificing
meaningful, engaging activities. These student-driven strategies not only
provide a break for you but also empower students to take an active role in
their learning. As you approach the end of the year, let the students carry
some of the weight, making the season more manageable for everyone involved.
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