Hello Teachers,

Some of you have already seen my back-to-school activities, but many of you haven’t. So I wanted to put together an assortment of activities you can use with your students during the first few weeks of school.

But before I share those resources, I want to quickly tell you about a Facebook group I recently created: Teacher Fitness.

Last year, I had a health scare that made me realize I needed to take my health more seriously. One of my goals this school year is to improve my nutrition, stay active, and make my health a priority.

If you’re a teacher looking to do the same, or you simply want to be part of a community of educators encouraging one another to live healthier lives, click the link below and join us.

Back-to-School Activities

First Day of School Student Survey

Creative Writing Challenge: About Me

Creative Writing Challenge: About Me #2

Dear School Year: A 10-Sentence Letter Challenge

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"Show Off" Your Knowledge

The purpose of this task is twofold: learn more about students and their interests – and to collect my first writing sample.

When introducing this activity, be sure to explain that it is not a formal essay. The goal is simple: “show off” your knowledge on a passion or interest of yours. Don’t worry about structure–just have students write. Tell students there is one objective: demonstrate a “mind at work.”

When students write 250 words or more, I get a feel of who they are as writers and thinkers. I see how well they use writing conventions (spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization), what kinds of vocabulary words they naturally use, how they transition ideas, and the overall depth of their thinking.