You’ve taught all class period and it’s time for the end of day routine (for that class period)! Some days feel so hectic and rushed when packing up and cleaning up. Yet there are some that run a lot smoother. How do we make sure our end of day routine is a smooth and effective…
How do we make sure we are using science projects best practice when our students are working? How do we plan and prepare for science projects? And how do we manage those days when science projects are all over the classroom? In the first two blog posts in this series, I shared an overview of…
Let’s take a closer look at different independent work ideas and the routines that students need to know and follow. This will help us as teachers be more intentional with the independent work we give our students. This is the fourth blog post in the Routines for Classroom Management in the Science Class Series. In…
There are many ways to take notes in class so our note-taking days do not have to be sit-and-get. This is the third blog post in the Routines for Classroom Management in the Science Class Series. In the first two blog posts in this series, I shared an overview of routines and the beginning of…
One way to get class started on the right foot is by giving your students science warm up activities. Not only does it free you to answer questions, collect papers, or take attendance, but more importantly, it gives students the review or curiosity their brains need. So let’s talk more about science warm up…
The bell is about to ring and it’s almost the beginning of class. Your students are walking to your classroom. Do they know what to do when they get there? This is the first step in our routines for classroom management in the Science class series. How do we set up the beginning of class…
On any given day in Science class, you know that there are important routines for classroom management. But what are they, and how do we teach and use them when we are doing different activities? In this series, we will go over the different parts of our Science class (beginning, middle, and end) and…
Movement in the classroom benefits students and teachers! As Science teachers, we need to make sure our students move throughout our class period. Let’s explore how it benefits the brain and learning. You’ll also see how simple it is to incorporate movement into your day! In this post I will talk about why most classrooms…
During school, it is important to incorporate team building activities in a classroom. That goes for Science too, especially because most of what we do requires collaboration. Team building is one of the biggest parts of community building. Let’s explore why it’s important and what team building activities in a classroom are useful. In this…
As a middle school Science teacher (or any teacher), we need to be able to get students attention pretty quickly. But how do we do that without yelling or getting frustrated? I don’t know about your classes, but some of mine (especially the huge ones) are loud and can’t always hear me when I need…
When and how do you review science classroom procedures? You’ve taught them at the beginning of the year, so that’s good enough right? No! Procedures, routines, expectations- they all need to be reviewed throughout the year. Reteach them when students need correction. Review them after each long break from school. And be sure to review…
It’s rare that we get to see our fellow teachers in their classrooms, so do you ever ask yourself, “How do teachers manage student behavior in their classroom?” There are several different management styles, and teachers have their own personalities. But the thing to remember is no matter how you manage your classroom, it’s important…
Managing a talkative classroom can feel exhausting, but there are some things you can do to make your life easier…and make sure your students are engaged and learning. We all have those classes- they seem to talk nonstop. They might talk during instruction, they talk when you pause to breathe, it’s the last class period…
Teaching middle school science is a lot of fun, and kids get excited when most of them finally get the answer to their question, “What is a science lab?” As teachers we need to make sure we are managing it so students are safe, engaged, and learning. Oh, and so we are not stressed too. In…
What do you think about lesson plan hook ideas? Let’s try this activity. Look at this image of two separate classrooms. What do you observe? One classroom is full of students who are bored, not engaged. The other classroom has students participating and asking questions. Why is this? Quite possibly, the teacher in the…
I remember my excitement when I got my position as a middle school Science teacher, walked into my new classroom, and started dreaming of my science classroom setup. My new classroom was an oddly shaped room. It wasn’t a square or a rectangle, more like a weird pentagon. There were large tables for the students…
