Classroom Resources Archives - Diversity in Mind

How to Set Up Socratic Seminars: The Paired Inside-Outside Circle Approach

So, you’ve heard of Socratic Seminars and are considering introducing them into your classroom? Fantastic choice! Like introducing task cards, embracing the Socratic method can be transformative. But just as with any new teaching technique, there are both delightful discoveries and potential pitfalls to watch out for. Why Socratic Seminars? Socratic Seminars encourage critical thinking […]

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Fun Halloween Activities for Middle Schoolers

Classroom Resources, Lesson Resources / By Abena

Looking for fun Halloween activities for middle schoolers? You’re in the right place! Here, we’ll explore some hands-on activities for Halloween with lots of opportunities to learn about other cultures. Whether it’s Samhain in Ireland, El Dia De Los Muertos in the Americas, or Kawasaki in Japan, you can use these activities to dive into

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Engaging Ways to Use Task Cards in the Classroom

Classroom Resources, Lesson Resources / By Abena

I’ve been using task cards in the classroom for a long time now, and I’ve come to love them. Here are a few reasons why: They are engaging because of the variety of activities and topics you can cover – students never seem to tire of them Anything – like task cards – that gets

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Back to School Letter Activity for Teens

Classroom Resources, Lesson Resources / By Abena

Thinking of the first days of school? Here I share a ‘letter to my teacher’ activity for teens in middle school and high school (11-18). It can be used with younger or older students and the template I provide is fully editable for customising to your needs. Why Ask Students To Write A Letter? For

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how-to-decorate-a-culturally-diverse-classroom

How do you decorate a culturally diverse classroom?

Classroom Resources, Diversifying / By Abena

How we decorate our classroom can often communicate who we are as teachers. If we want the message to be intentional, we can consider who spend most time there, apart from ourselves – our students. In this post, we consider how to decorate a culturally-diverse classroom and I share some pictures from my own classroom

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Blackout Poetry (Found Poems)

Classroom Resources, CSP, ELLs, Lesson Resources / By Abena

Many students find poetry daunting, so – for me – it’s important to find low-pressure, fun activities to use with poems. Blackout or found poetry is one approach students love. Here, I’ll share how I use this activity with students online or in person. For me, poetry is ultimately about playing with and manipulating language

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Voice and Choice in World Mythology

Classroom Resources, CSP, Lesson Resources, Mythology / By Abena

Offering students more choice and voice in the classroom can contribute to a culturally-sustaining classroom. As you design with students, you are naturally more likely to create a space where they feel valued as contributors. One way I do this in our World Mythology course is by asking students what topics they want to learn

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Cooperative Board Games In The Classroom

Classroom Resources, Games, Inclusion, Lesson Resources / By Abena

A while back, I came across the concept of cooperative games through the popular board game Pandemic. Since then, my family and I have purchased several more including Forbidden Island and Outfoxed. Watching my kids play without sibling rivalry, and seeing how they really wanted each other to succeed, I wondered how I could harness

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What Is Critical Literacy?

Classroom Resources, Critical Literacy, CSP / By Abena

Mandela told us that nothing is more powerful than education to change the world. I believe it. The first step to changing the world is seeing it how it is. Read on to explore how a critical literacy lens helps achieve that goal in the classroom, and download a free printable to get started with

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Culturally-Responsive Classrooms: An Interview with Ashley Bible

Classroom Resources, CSP, Lesson Resources / By Abena

Culturally-Responsive Classrooms: An Interview with Ashley Bible Last week, I had the chance to catch up with Ashley Bible of Building Book Love for a discussion around culturally-responsive classrooms. Ashley is a teacher, blogger, and resource writer for English literature and language in US secondary (11-18) education, but her ideas can be adapted for different

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