Like Brain Breaks? Try a Poem Pause

Teachers know ALL brains need a brain break, often defined as a short mental break or planned learning activity that is taken during classroom instruction.  

Backed up by science, when students’ brains become anxious, confused, or overwhelmed, new learning can no longer occur.  Brain breaks restore the emotional state needed to return the amygdala from overdrive into an optimal state for successful learning to occur once again.    

Brain breaks can…

• Increase creativity
• Improve mood and motivation 
• Restore energy and support learning
• Reduce boredom, stress, anxiety 
• Help kids focus and be more productive

Clearly brain breaks are not a waste of ALT (academic learning time).  However, why not leverage a mini-lesson into your next brain break and have a Poem Pause?  

By projecting a short poem, such as "Dreams" by Langston Hughes, students can have a silent reflection period where they read and ponder the poem.  After five minutes, students can share their noticings and wonderings - if they choose.  

Poem Pauses are "Power Brain Breaks."  They build community, reenergize the room, and allow the students to share moments of the soul through verse. 

Next time your students need a Brain Break, do a Poem Pause instead.  Along with April being Poetry Month, you may just inspire a poet or two!    

For more Poem Pause Inspo, click HERE 

#WordCatcherWednesday: Prosopopoeia

 

April Literacy Loot

April showers bring May flowers and testing season! Here are a few instructional goodies to leverage literacy in your classroom this busy time of year....  

Don't stress about the test! Check out my Grammar Bundle and Ultimate ELA Test Prep Bundle for instructional PowerPoints, strategies, task cards, and easy-to-score assessments just in time for Testing Season.  

April is also Poetry Month! Celebrate verse and balanced literacy (reading, writing, speaking, listening) with the glorious Poetry Jumbo Bundle and Sonnet Writing Bundle for super fun and engaging reading/writing activities. (Students will love the Shakespeare Sonnet Insult Activity!). 

If you want to combine poetry and test prep, check out the TPCASTT Poetry Jumbo Bundle for thirty engaging, high leverage strategy, no-prep lessons! 

Are your students showing Spring Fever and everything that entails? Reestablish your class management routines with the Class Management Jumbo Bundle and Morning Meeting Year Long Jumbo Bundle.  

I've created a Writing Activity Jumbo Bundle for narrative, descriptive, informational/explanatory, argumentative, and response to literature no-prep writing packets - perfect for Distance Learning!    

Finally, is one of your professional goals to become a teacher-leader in your building?  Impress your adminstrators and colleagues with the Teacher Leader Meeting PowerPoint Bundle that will showcase your leadership skills in no time!  

Building literacy love, 

Kimberly =)

For more instructional goodies and inspo, click HERE!