Hello Teachers, This is one of my favorite TED Talks. I love the drawing activities, but even more, I love its message about our abilities—and the beliefs we have about what we can and can’t do. Here’s the video and a response worksheet you can use with your students. Video: Why People Believe They Can’t Draw—and How to Prove They Can Click on the worksheets for the link. Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Email Sponsor Today’s email sponsor is 1440. These sponsorships help me continue creating and sharing...
2 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, I taught an English class at a private institute in Tbilisi, Georgia, around 2009. In one class of 16-year-olds, most of the students were fluent in three languages: Georgian, Russian, and English. We could have academic conversations, in English, about European geopolitics. And we could compare and contrast American and Russian literature. (Although they would tell me that I should learn Russian to be able to truly appreciate the beauty of Russian literature.) Most of these...
3 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, As many of you know, my class is built around three things: 1. Periods of deep focus, or what I call “focus bubbles.” This is where the room is silent and students think, read, and write without distractions. Here is an explanation of Focused Silence: Focus Activities: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GcH-extQwyC3qZHdoTsLmCG5CCuRi_ymK7MfnrN-iqc/edit?usp=sharing 2. Collaborative moments like think-pair-share, discussion, and group problem-solving. Link:...
5 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, It’s day two of being sick. But I’m feeling a little better today, so that’s a win. Anyway, instead of watching Netflix all day, I created two new resources. (I have nothing against Netflix, by the way) First up: Spider-Sense Training: The Ultimate Directions Challenge—now with a video prompt. (And yes, I realize I use the word ultimate in about half the things I create. Just go with it, bruh. It’s a great word.) Click on the video here: Oh, and just in case you missed it,...
6 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, I’m sick. The school year is barely a week old, and here I am on the couch with Kleenex by my side and ibuprofen fighting the body aches. Between naps, however, I created a new Spider-Man Directions Challenge. I started creating Directions Challenges a few years ago because I noticed that many of my students struggled to carefully follow directions on their assignments. These challenges are meant to be fun, but they’re also designed to build an important habit: reading all the...
7 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, Today, I had my 7th graders complete the Mission Impossible Directions Challenge.Link: https://briantolentino.com/mission-impossible-the-ultimate-directions-challenge/But in the middle of the activity, I had an idea:What if I played the Mission: Impossible theme song while they worked?It was epic, bruh.And, of course, that immediately led to another idea:What if I created a Batman-themed Directions Challenge and played Batman theme music in the background?Well... I created it,...
8 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, This post sums up exactly how I felt last Friday evening. Anyone else exhausted? New Resource Here is a fun homework activity for students to practice reading aloud and following directions with a parent or guardian. More Resources What Do You Think About Your Textbook? I like to give students space and time to thumb through their new textbooks. Here is a task that aims to do this. Video: Worksheet: 10-Sentence Writing Challenges I’ve used 10-sentence writing challenges for...
9 days ago • 1 min read
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...
15 days ago • 1 min read
Hello Teachers, At the beginning of each school year, I reteach my middle school students how to restate the question in their response. It’s a simple skill, but it helps ensure they answer questions with complete sentences that are clear and easy to follow. Here are some activities I use. I hope they help! 1) Restate the Question (Introductory Lesson) 2) Restate the Question #2 3) Restate the Question #3 4) Restate the Question Challenge: 20 in 20! Restate the Question: Videos and Worksheets...
16 days ago • 1 min read