Last week, I encouraged you to work energizers—quick breaks that get children moving, breathing, and having fun together—into your classroom day. Energizers are great ways to get children refreshed and refocused on learning anytime during the school year. They can be especially helpful during the winter months, when many children have fewer opportunities for active outdoor play.
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FEB
09
2010
Energizers! Using Quick Movement Breaks in the Classroom
During the long winter months, when children may experience less physical activity and movement, try sprinkling in some energizers—quick breaks that get children moving, breathing, and having fun together—throughout the day. These…
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FEB
01
2010
Recess Before Lunch
It's always affirming when studies corroborate behaviors that we already practice, or at least espouse.For example, on the personal front, I've been thrilled to see nutrition articles lately citing evidence that kale…
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JAN
13
2010
Cooperative Games for Younger Students
When I was a physical education teacher, I was always on the lookout for fun, cooperative games for my youngest students.
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OCT
28
2009
“Magic Box” Activity
Yesterday somebody who'd read Margaret Wilson's post, "Handling Halloween High Spirits" asked "What's the 'Magic Box' activity she refers to?" I wasn't familiar with that one either. Since Margaret is presenting at…
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OCT
14
2009
Here’s an Idea! Songs in Other Languages
Singing a familiar tune or chant in another language can enliven a Morning Meeting, be a fun energizer, and help meet the needs of the growing number of second language learners in…
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SEP
18
2009
Energizers! — Shark Attack
Last spring, an intrepid group of Northeast Foundation for Children staff members, including several Responsive bloggers, volunteered to demonstrate a few of the activities in Energizers! 88 Quick Movement Activities That Refresh…
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SEP
08
2009
Here’s an Idea! Human Treasure Hunt
This video is excerpted from The First Day of School in a Responsive Classroom, which was filmed on the actual first day of school in Caltha Crowe’s third grade classroom in 2007.…
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FEB
01
2009
Quick & Lively Energizers
You know it instinctively, you see it every day in your classroom, and brain research supports it: Children learn better when we give them mental and physical breaks from intensive instruction. Just…
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FEB
01
2008
What do you do when you need to bring students’ energy level up—or down?
A: When my students need a change of pace we'll often play a few rounds of "Spelling Around the World." They love this fast-paced game, which reinforces spelling and vocabulary words and…
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AUG
01
2007
Breathing In and Breathing Out
Despite increasingly packed school schedules, one-size-fits-all curricula, and standardized testing, schools can reshape children's days in ways that help them learn, grow, and enjoy childhood.
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NOV
01
2006
Cooperative Games Children Love
Question: What's one way you've refashioned a competitive game to make it more cooperative and still fun?
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NOV
01
2002
Singing with Children
I remember singing along with friends in my elementary school days. Teachers and students together began each day with singing. We learned about music from our music teacher, but we sang everywhere,…
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FEB
01
2002
Games Kids Love to Play
Do you remember the playground on a bright spring day, flinging off your coat in a mad dash for the monkey bars or choosing up teams for a fast game of dodgeball?…
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FEB
01
2001
The Middle of the Day
It's a cool, crisp, autumn morning as 100 second and third graders burst onto the playground for a much-needed break from the academic demands of the day. Some make a beeline to…
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FEB
01
2001
Ending the Day Right
Question:Many teachers spend a lot of time creating good beginnings to the school day through carefully planned morning meetings. But what about the end of the day? In this newsletter's Teacher to…
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FEB
01
2001
Closing Meeting
It's 3:23 and my class has just finished a science experiment. I look at the clock and realize we have seven minutes to clean up from science and do everything else we…
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MAR
31
2000
Keeping Music Alive
When I was a child, music found its way into the daily life of most elementary classrooms. My sixth grade teacher, Mr. Monahan, started each day with the pledge and the piano.…
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