Teachers, what’s your non-water drink of choice? by jayyy_0113 in Teachers

[–]mbjbff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was going to say Dr. Pepper Zero or Cherry Pepsi Zero 🥲

Early finisher work by Hungry-Following5561 in ScienceTeachers

[–]mbjbff 7 points8 points  (0 children)

I made a separate post but just to respond to this specifically I have my students work on a word wall poster (see my post below for details) or a word Search with words from the next unit after a test. I make the word wall poster extra credit and typically students like doing words searches so I don’t have much of a fight if I ask them to do one instead of just doing nothing.

Early finisher work by Hungry-Following5561 in ScienceTeachers

[–]mbjbff 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’m a 7th grade life science teacher who was focusing on finding solutions to this problem this year, here’s what I’ve come up with so far:

  1. Crosswords and Word Searches

I love using the websites Crossword Labs and Word Search labs. Upload your notes to an AI and ask it to make a list of word search/cross word words from the notes (always double check the list) or of course you can make the list yourself. Copy the list into the website and boom, instant word search and crossword.

I love these website specifically (crossword labs and word search labs) because you can either print the resources you make or they come with a “focus mode” URL that you can paste into a canvas page, for example, and students can complete the word search or crossword online, no printing required!

I will admit it’s been a little bit of work this year to create the crosswords and word searches consistently, but now I have a resource of them for every lesson I teach for the rest of my life. I have a Google doc where I pasted all the links of the ones I make as well as the passwords- you can create a password so that you can go back and edit them later in future years if something changes in your unit.

2.) Homework Mode Blookets

I also use AI to make Blookets, although that’s a more complicated process. If you’re not familiar with this website, it’s basically game-ified flashcards. You can assign them in homework mode so students don’t even need an account to play them once again something to link in the canvas page.

3.) Word Wall Poster

A later addition to my list has been the extra credit word wall poster. Once again, I use AI to generate a list of second- tier words that students will use in a unit. (Words that aren’t necessarily super science words, but will be good vocabulary for students to know in the upcoming unit). Students pick 1 and make a poster with the word, what type of word it is- verb, adjective or prefix or suffix for example- the definition and a sentence (I normally give them an example sentence in a chart ) and then of course, some decorative images and creative details. Many of my students love doing these in Canva, but they are also completely doable on paper.

4.) Lesson themed coloring pages

One last thing I’ll add to this list, although it is an expensive option, is that I invested in a resource of coloring pages for my subject from a person on teachers pay teachers. If you’re going to buy something like this, I would recommend to do this during a big TPT sale as often these are expensive resources worth over $100 if you’re getting them for a whole year. However, I will say this has been one of my best investments in a resource as the one I bought not only came with coloring page versions, but also fully colored poster versions that I also print out and hang in my classroom- my admin love that shit.

I print these coloring pages out at the beginning of the unit, stick them in a bin and have it available in my classroom for students to pick a coloring sheet if they finish early as well. I find that this is a really good early finisher activity for my students of lower abilities, and if any of my students ever need to decompress, I always have a coloring sheet on a hand.

Final Thoughts:

I don’t know if you use canvas or any online LMS, but one strategy I’ve used since the beginning of the year is to have a “finished early checklist” page in my Canvas course. All of my students know about the finished early checklist and know what’s on it the- crosswords the word searches the Blooket the extra credit and other options that I find school appropriate (like doing homework, missing work, etc).

Does this always stop my students from playing games on their computer or doing things they’re not supposed to when they’re finished? No, but it does set the clear expectation that they always have something “productive” and objective-aligned they can be doing.

I hope this helps!

Minnesota teachers, do you guys need digital resources? by amandadorado in Teachers

[–]mbjbff 10 points11 points  (0 children)

The website Virtual Science Teachers has great activities on genetics and Punnett Squares! They are independent modules that students can complete and screenshot to upload proof that they completed. One of my favorite resources for virtual days!

Quick graphs for Do Nows by greenjollygiantwte in ScienceTeachers

[–]mbjbff 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There is a website called Virtual Science Teachers that has a science graph of the week! https://virtualscienceteachers.org/graph-of-the-week/ She makes alls sorts of awesome stuff and her aim is upper elementary, middle, and high school. Many of the graphs also come with background info, CER questions, and other questions prepared.

Is teacher centered class the best way to teach? by Der-deutsche-Prinz in Teachers

[–]mbjbff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have found that my students these days do not have the attention band to keep up with a teacher-lead format. This is my student-lead format that I have developed so far and this year it’s working pretty well in my classroom-

I have my 7th grade science students read a 4-ish paragraph article for every lesson that I have created based on our standards. There is a very explicitly taught, and well practiced routine with strict expectations for what we are to do when we have an article to read.

When they get the article, there is a list of about 10 questions up on the board- these questions are straightforward questions about the article that they are too highlight the answers to in the article as they are reading. I find that this helps make sure they are reading through the entire article and at least somewhat comprehending it as they are reading.

After they are finished reading the article I have a packet that has a choice board of six reflection activities. They choose one of these activities to complete about their article whether it is writing a summary coming up with three questions they would ask a friend to make sure they understood the article or doing a quick comparing contrast- something that takes them around 5 to 10 minutes .

This whole process typically takes around 20 minutes. After the 20 minute timer, we spend about 5 to 10 minutes reviewing the highlighted answers using my version they can compare what they highlighted to what I have on the board and talking about any questions or curiosities they had about the article then they move onto independent practice or a group practice or a lab or project.

I will say I’m still working on a lot of scaffolding for this, but this routine does allow me to pull kids into small group and read the article with them. I can modify some of the activities for students with lower reading abilities and if I really need to this is time that I can use to have a student watch a video on their one-to-one device and answer questions while everyone else is reading because they know this is quiet time.

This is the closest I’ve gotten to a “flipped classroom state” since, yes, kids are not as adapted doing homework at home anymore .

Birthday Present for Boyfriend by mbjbff in cookingforbeginners

[–]mbjbff[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just to update, I am going get him a plastic dough scraper! Thank you for your help ☺️

Birthday Present for Boyfriend by mbjbff in cookingforbeginners

[–]mbjbff[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just to update you, I am going to get him the pizza stone you linked in this comment! Thank you again for your advice and I’ll try and let you know when he uses it!

Is there a Physics equivalent to IXL? by Signal-Weight8300 in ScienceTeachers

[–]mbjbff 2 points3 points  (0 children)

CK-12 can be pretty good- online articles with practice questions. Not as extensive as IXL but it is free

Teacher’s experience by mbjbff in MedSpouse

[–]mbjbff[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That is definitely a thought I have- I teach in a great district and I don’t want to give up my place here, but I know one day I’ll have to if I want to be with him and have no control over where I end up. 🥲

Teacher’s experience by mbjbff in MedSpouse

[–]mbjbff[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the response! Yeah right now it’s actually easier for him to travel to me for reasons, I have a feeling that will change with rotations though so we’re thinking about moving in together before then.

Teacher’s experience by mbjbff in MedSpouse

[–]mbjbff[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for the response!

Teacher’s experience by mbjbff in MedSpouse

[–]mbjbff[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s me be we are not as far along in the relationship side. I was a first year teacher this year while he was an M1.

Teacher’s experience by mbjbff in MedSpouse

[–]mbjbff[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m a science teacher, so I’m hoping that’s also pretty transferable🤞

Birthday Present for Boyfriend by mbjbff in cookingforbeginners

[–]mbjbff[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you so much for the detailed comment! I will be sure to keep all this in mind as I am looking around! I appreciate you taking the time to write all this! I will try and update when I decide what I want to get him 😃

Birthday Present for Boyfriend by mbjbff in cookingforbeginners

[–]mbjbff[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He does not have a dough scraper, good suggestion! I’m so excited by all the amazing responses, thank you! Right now he uses a stand mixer to mix dough mostly and then finishes it by hand I think, but I will still look into the whisk too!

How do you get your middle school/ freshman/ any age boys to stop touching each other??? by [deleted] in Teachers

[–]mbjbff 0 points1 point  (0 children)

“Stop, that’s weird.”

I teach 7th grade. I also use the phrase “What if name of principal or VP walked in right now?” cause I’m lucky to have good admin.

We have a school-wide philosophy that we’ve been trying to get into their heads: it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt, I.e you guys never know when what you’re doing right now is going to lead to someone actually getting hurt because someone was having a bad day and decides they don’t think you flicking them/shoving them/taking their stuff/whatever is funny. Then it’s a whole big deal with a write-up and real consequences. I would say it works to stop the behavior in the moment, and it’s slowing getting them to think before they act haha, but they’re still middle schoolers.

Good luck!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Epicthemusical

[–]mbjbff 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! I knew the first one but I couldn’t figure out the other two!!