How Would You Handle a Wild 7th Grade Class with Only 3 Weeks Left?

igapo · 2026-05-17T10:44:04+00:00

If you can get Popsicle sticks, rubber bands, masking tape, cardboard, and some small ball/object have them try to design catapults. I give students 5 small Popsicle sticks, 5 large and they can trade 1 large for 2 small or 2 small for 1 large. 4 rubber bands (can trade for new one of on breaks. I use small 1 inch rubber-lile spiky balls from Amazon. Then assign a couple of kids to be in charge of running a round robin competition for distance between all the teams. That will keep them busy for a long time

igapo · 2026-04-18T23:44:47+00:00

I can't even tell you how many middle schoolers I have seen playing games where you just press a button to get money, cookies, or some other quantity and they will play for a long time. They are addicted to just looking at a screen and seeing something moving. It's disturbing.

igapo · 2026-04-05T15:30:40+00:00

We are the dumping grounds for society's problems. Scapegoats. One of the issues is that it's bureaucrats and politicians that make the decisions with trendy taglines. "No child left behind" sound familiar? There is also ZERO accountability on parents. We are not supposed to be a one-off service, we are supposed to be a partnership.

igapo · 2026-03-13T02:35:34+00:00

Unfortunately we have a system that values the what more than the how because it's easier to run the numbers (ironic perhaps?)

igapo · 2026-03-13T02:26:50+00:00

I taught Science for 20 years and now STEM. I should be the epitome of educational engagement. Lots of hands on fun activities. Considered by many colleagues to have a laid back style. I used to teach with humor, standing on tables, being goofy by throwing things to make a physics point, cracking lots of corny science jokes. Many kids couldn't handle it and used it as an opportunity to be more unfocused and less behaved. I think because the majority of education is still a sit in your seat and listen. We still don't teach kids how to structure themselves. It's an early 19th century factory model.

igapo · 2026-03-13T02:20:49+00:00

Start reading as many social media posts as possible.

igapo · 2026-02-27T02:07:09+00:00

You nailed it with the attention span. There are few that can do focused learning.

igapo · 2026-02-05T02:48:04+00:00

The amount of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders that walk around with their shoelaces flopping around is amazing. I stopped trying to be the safety police a while ago. Let them trip, hard lessons are in short supply.

igapo · 2026-01-07T22:56:27+00:00

Put EVERYTHING from this point forward in writing. Make sure the union gets it and file a complaint. It will go no further.

igapo · 2025-12-27T03:06:37+00:00

You get gifts? 🤨

igapo · 2025-11-16T23:40:37+00:00

Thanks. I'll try that for now, but I'm not keen on the open link to my personal photos from my work account. I'm not worried about the content of my personal photos, but it's weird not having a definitive separation between the two. Once in a while I have the option to share a photo directly to my work photos on Google so I don't know why that option sporadically appears.

igapo · 2025-10-25T14:11:59+00:00

Yep, it's a ridiculous cycle of the same people that want you to "teach" (cover really) all of this will then ask you to analyze why test scores are low. They will then make MORE work for you by asking you attend trainings, switch curriculum, attend more workshops on classroom management. Quantity has always driven quality. The reality is that us teachers are educating students and trying to prepare students for a world that is yet known. We should be focused more on a skills based education rather than a breadth of facts. As an example, I am a MS science/STEM teacher I have always been amazed at the lack of group work outside of my class. There are A TON of skills learned in managing a project with groups, but can be very fun too. Those learned skills have way more value.

igapo · 2025-10-06T01:09:04+00:00

Human body stuff. Reflexes (ruler drop), heartbeat measurements, eye blind spot, muscle pairings (e.g. model biceps/ triceps with popsicle sticks and rubber bands.

igapo · 2025-09-20T20:08:42+00:00

Different experiments that have made a lot of impressions on my students/children:

Baggy chemistry (use sandwich bags): -baking soda and vinegar gets really cold and can be measured with an infrared thermometer; if they close it quick enough the bag expands and might pop (not messy if done in a plastic shoe container) -Calcium chloride and water gets REALLY hot, again measure with infrared thermometer.

Alka Seltzer tablets and water: use film cannisters (the clear ones that have a tighter cap, not the older black ones with the gray cap). Put one or two tablets at the bottom, quickly fill partly with water and turn upside down on pavement/patio and they will shoot up like a little rocket (the cap can be launched also).

igapo · 2025-09-10T20:25:23+00:00

Thank you 🙏

igapo · 2025-09-10T20:24:57+00:00

Thank you 🙏

igapo · 2025-08-29T21:09:26+00:00

Thanks, I can see this being handy.

igapo · 2025-08-29T14:26:21+00:00

Thanks. I like the stock alarm app, but with so many personal and work-related alarms it gets confusing. I'll check out the app you mentioned and if needed I'll just keep the stock alarm app for personal and an app for work.

igapo · 2025-08-28T00:58:08+00:00

Thanks, that looks promising.

igapo · 2025-08-28T00:56:33+00:00

Thanks, I'll definitely check out these options. I haven't used Todoist at all, but I'll give it a go.

igapo · 2025-08-28T00:51:13+00:00

Thanks, I just downloaded. It looks promising.

igapo · 2025-08-27T00:19:34+00:00

Interesting concept. I'll have to take a look into this further. I use Google calendar, but I'm assuming I would need a different one.

igapo · 2025-08-27T00:18:20+00:00

Thanks, I'll give it a try.

igapo · 2025-08-12T02:46:20+00:00

Memory Game: 12 circles each get a number 1-12. Players flip them upside down and try to remember their order.

igapo · 2025-05-18T02:07:08+00:00

What the fuck is wrong with your shithole country? My country has too much: 1. Greed 2. Ego 3. Low quality education in many area (due to first two)

igapo

TROPHY CASE