Can you believe we’ve made it halfway through this school year already? It feels like just yesterday we were setting up our classrooms, learning new names, and figuring out our routines. Now, here we are, wrapping up the winter break, and it’s the perfect time to make a few tweaks to give our classrooms a fresh start for second semester!
I’m feeling ecstatic about the spring semester and what’s to come. The theme of this school year seems to be “NEW.” New names, new looks, new products, and a bright new outlook for the spring semester! If you’re like me and ready to try something new, I can help with that! Here are five fun and innovative ideas to make the most of this fresh start for second semester.
1. Start a Word Problem of the Day Routine
Need a new take on your math routine as part of your fresh start for second semester? How about introducing a word problem of the day routine? This daily practice can help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Plus, it’s a great way to start the day with a little math challenge. You can create a simple template and change the problems daily, catering to your students’ levels and the current math topics, or better yet, grab this done-for you version that also includes editable slides so you can still customize for your students’ needs!
Options for Implementing:
- Morning Warm-Up: Start each day with a word problem that relates to the current unit or review past concepts.
- Discussion: Encourage students to share their problem-solving strategies and discuss different ways to approach the problem.
- Interactive Notebooks: Have students keep a notebook where they solve the daily word problems and write reflections on their learning process.
2. Daily Agenda Slides
Need a new way to start your mornings as part of your fresh start for second semester? Check out these daily agenda slides with a little dose of math, ELA, and fun for each day. These slides can help structure your day and keep students organized and engaged from the moment they walk in. Try them out for yourselves by downloading a free week of slides!
Features Include:
- Morning Greetings: Start with a cheerful message or a fun fact to get students excited for the day.
- Schedule & Supplies Overview: Outline the day’s activities and any special events or reminders.
- Math and ELA Warm-Ups: Students complete a quick math problem, vocabulary word, or grammar exercise.
- Just For Fun Community Building Activity: Answer silly questions, draw from a prompt, or complete a challenge
3. BUMP Game for Multiplication Math Facts
Need a new way to practice math facts as part of your fresh start for second semester? This digital BUMP game is a homerun! BUMP is a fast-paced and competitive game that makes learning math facts fun and engaging. Students take turns generating random numbers, solving the multiplication fact, and placing their marker on the corresponding spot. If another player lands on the same spot, they can “bump” the first player’s marker off. The player with the most markers on the board at the end wins.
4. Goal Setting and Reflection
The start of a new semester is a great time for goal setting and reflection. Help your students set academic and personal goals for the spring semester.
Activity Ideas:
- Goal Setting Worksheets: Provide students with worksheets to write down their goals and steps they’ll take to achieve them.
- Reflection Journals: Encourage students to reflect on their achievements and areas for improvement from the first semester.
- Classroom Goals: Set collective goals for the class, such as reading a certain number of books or achieving a class average in math.
5. Fresh Classroom Decor
Give your classroom a fresh look to match your fresh start for second semester vibe. A colorful and organized space can inspire both you and your students.
Decor Ideas:
- Bulletin Boards: Update bulletin boards with new student work, motivational quotes, and seasonal themes.
- Reading Nook: Create a cozy reading area with new books, bean bags, and colorful posters.
- Organization: Introduce new organizational tools like labeled bins, supply caddies, and student mailboxes.
- Word Wall: Start a character building vocabulary wall or a Greek and Latin Roots word wall with one of these sets.
It’s a once a year opportunity… a fresh start for second semester. Go ahead and try out a new routine or activities to re-energize you and your students. Here’s to a successful and fun spring semester!