ROO WAAG #30

Good afternoon Roo’s,

We have officially entered the last week of school. This time of year always brings excitement, exhaustion, and plenty of moving parts, but I want to sincerely thank each of you for continuing to show up for our students and for one another.

Our students are excited for summer, which means this week requires all of us to remain consistent with expectations, supervision, and classroom management. Please continue to keep students engaged during instructional time and help ensure students are where they are supposed to be throughout the day.

The finish line is in sight, and I know many of you are tired. Your hard work, patience, flexibility, and commitment throughout this school year have not gone unnoticed. Because of your efforts, our students have had opportunities to grow academically, socially, and personally.

Let’s finish strong together and make this final week a positive one for everyone. Thank you again for everything you do each and every day.

Go Kangaroos!

Hey Roos!

Check out the link for High School Activities over this month’s theme of Integrity for Capturing Kids’ Hearts. With less than two weeks left in school, it’s the perfect time to finish strong with quick, meaningful activities that still make an impact!

😂

Math: https://app.smore.com/n/uey2g

RLA: Secondary RLA Scoop.

Science: https://app.smore.com/n/j42pn5

Social Studies: https://app.smore.com/n/7kqjr

CTE:: https://app.smore.com/n/dk0abn

Counseling:https://app.smore.com/n/2estr

Flip your classroom

In a flipped classroom, students do the prep work (reading, watching videos, etc.) at home. Then they spend their time in the classroom actively engaged with their teacher. For instance, kids might spend some time the night before reading about the Roman Empire. Then in class, they work together to create a big, illustrated timeline of the era. You don’t have to use the flipped classroom strategy every day, but mixing it in once in a while can really bring your learning to life.

Learn more: What Is a Flipped Classroom?

End-of-Year Teaching Strategy: Use Humor

Humor in the classroom comes naturally to some teachers, while others don’t feel as comfortable using teaching strategies like this one. But with a little practice, you’ll find ways to bring laughter and levity into your teaching, and your students will thank you for it!

Use humor to bring materials to life

Humor doesn’t need to be intentionally planned, although it can be. Sharing a laugh with your students is often best (and most authentic) when it happens in the moment. This video from Solution Tree offers tips for easy ideas to add some humor into your classroom interactions.

Learn more: Demonstrating Intensity and Enthusiasm by Using Humor at Solution Tree.

Read funny stories or poems

Students can often learn just as much from funny stories or poems as they can from more serious literature. When you have the option, choose something a bit lighthearted and playful. Laughing students are more engaged in the material, priming them to learn whatever literature objectives you’ve got on tap for the day.

Learn more: 21 Best Funny Short Stories To Teach in Middle and High School and 40 Hilariously Funny Poems To Read and Share

Try a joke-of-the-day

This is so easy, and it’s something students will really look forward to! Each day, post a joke or riddle on the board for kids to read when they first come in. If it’s a riddle, you can provide the answer as you start the lesson, or even wait until the very end of the class period or day to reveal it. Check out some of our favorite jokes for this time of year below, then visit the We Are Teachers Humor hub for more joke roundups and other funny posts.

Learn more: 75 Funny Summer Jokes for Kids and 140 Funny Jokes for Teens

Connect with students through humor

Think about the people you laugh with the most in your personal life—chances are good they’re the people you know the best. You can do the same with your students. You’ve had most of a school year to get to know them now. You know what will make them giggle, individually or as a group, and shared humor always makes a group feel closer. Create some “you had to be there” moments for your class, and they’ll remember them for years. This video from Solution Tree shows you how.

Learn more: Showing Affection for Students by Using Humor at Solution Tree

End-of-Year Teaching Strategy: Reengage Their Interest

In the last few weeks of school, you’re bound to find students gazing out the windows at the beautiful weather, or chatting with friends as they plan for summer fun. But there’s still learning to be done, and it’s up to you as the teacher to bring their attention back to the classroom using strategies like these.

Grab their attention with a hook

You know those little teaser scenes they often have at the beginning of a TV show, a minute or two of action before the opening credits? That’s a great example of a hook—something that grabs your attention and makes you want to know more. Teachers who use hooks will find it easier to carry that enthusiasm through to the rest of the lesson. You might start with a short video, an unbelievable fact, a captivating image, or even a song. Find more ideas in this video from Solution Tree.

Learn more: Maintaining a Lively Pace With Motivational Hooks at Solution Tree

Pivot your media selections

Teachers have more ways to use media in the classroom than ever before. If you’re not already integrating short videos, audio clips, image slideshows, or other types of media into your lessons, now’s the time. If you do use media regularly, try to find something new your students haven’t been exposed to all year long. One terrific option? Podcasts! There’s bound to be one on the topic you teach, or something fun your class can enjoy together for a few brief minutes each day. Teach kids to be active listeners, then cue up the latest episode to enjoy and discuss.

Hey ROOS,

As we are nearing the end of another school year, continue to implement those Lead4ward strategies in your classroom. Your consistency makes a difference in student learning and engagement!

1. Say it with me…

Purpose: Build confidence and reinforce academic language

*** “Say it with me… photosynthesis is the process plants use to make food.”

2. Turn and Talk…

Purpose: Get every student thinking and speaking

*** “Turn and talk—what evidence supports your answer?”

3. What do you notice? What do you wonder?

Purpose: Encourage observation and curiosity

*** “Look at this graph—what do you notice? What do you wonder?”

4. Prove it.

Purpose: Push for evidence-based answers

*** “That’s a good answer—now prove it using the text.”

5. Which one doesn’t belong?

Purpose: Promote reasoning and justification

*** “Which one doesn’t belong—and why?”

6. Convince me.

Purpose: Deepen critical thinking

*** “Convince me your answer is correct.”

7. Add on or disagree…

Purpose: Build academic conversations

*** “Do you want to add on or disagree with what was said?”

8. What’s your strategy?

Purpose: Focus on process, not just answer

*** “What strategy did you use to solve that?”

9. You have 30 seconds…

Purpose: Create urgency and focus

*** “You have 30 seconds—write your best thinking.”

10. Make a prediction.

Purpose: Activate thinking before learning

*** “Based on the title, make a prediction about the text.”

Remember the keys to this week:

1. Daily rolling grades – be sure to refer to Matt’s email of what all has to be turned in to him.
2. Be sure to check the yearly average if you had them all year. If no grade but a transfer from another school Karla Braxton may have the grade you need.
3. NO ONE leaves your classroom unless going to the restroom and they do that on a pass with date, name, time, where going. Remind them without an ID we will not let them go pass us (I turned about 10 away in the science wing without all the proper things on Friday, and will continue to do so at my post!)
4. If they want to go to the clinic you MUST call the clinic and make sure they made it.
5. If they need to go to the counselor, please call 7224 and make sure their counselor is available – on Friday alone 8 students “said” counselor and did not go.
6. If you have PM career center 4th period – we will call them to come to lunch at 11:00 on Tuesday so they can eat and get on their bus that leaves at 11:35.
7. If you have AM career center – they will leave at 8:25 on Wednesday and then 9:25 on Thursday.
8. Failure reports are due to me by 5:00 Thursday. – I will be here late on Thursday. All of you have signed your documents in strive, and I will check your rooms next week.
9. We have been suspending students – please make sure you have a test with a key turned in for those who need to come in June and take their tests.
10. Be looking for my email of building clear on Thursday – it will come Wednesday.

Please pay attention to emails this week – we will be moving and shaking to get everything done and in. Remember that summer school and summer testing is for ALL high schools at KHS. Please take your personal things home!

Continue to KNOW WE GOT THIS!

WE GOT THIS – keep motivating each other to make it happen………..

As Mr. Timarky said in his Friday email – we will finish strong TOGETHER!

Hey ROOS!

Please be on the LOOKOUT for IMPORTANT EMAILS THOUGHOUT this week. Also, take home all Personal Items!!

KHS will host all five high schools for summer school!