Creative Student Engagement Ideas for the Holiday Stretch

We often face challenges between Halloween and Thanksgiving, marked by decreasing student engagement and increasing fatigue. This discussion highlights the heightened energy and focus issues observed in students across various grades and the impact on teaching. The conversation explores creative methods to maintain a positive and energetic classroom atmosphere, including thematic activities and non-content-related interactions. Key themes include the importance of creativity to navigate this challenging period in the academic year effectively.

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Karen Randazzo is an enthusiastic chemistry teacher in New Jersey. She believes that every student has the power to learn anything, even chemistry. Chemistry teacher by day, teacher-author by night, she’s dedicated to making teachers’ lives more manageable by offering professional development, sharing her engaging resources on her website, and collaborating with educators on various social media platforms. A former ‘chalk and talk’ teacher, she shares her journey navigating the Next Generation Science Standards and student-centered learning on her YouTube channel.

Breanna Taylor is licensed to teach K-12 Special Education. She graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello with a Bachelor of Arts P-4 Early Childhood Education, and a Master of Education Degree.

Shawn Thomas is in her 20th year of teaching in the largest county in Georgia. She has taught Kindergarten, Second and Third Grade, and ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) K-5.