I'm a 48-year-old teacher training student, barely in my first year of college (pedagogy), and I can only say that this article has been the most comprehensive lecture I've ever received. What a formidable method you've implemented. Congratulations! All children should have a teacher like you, and I'll definitely take your teachings with me into what will one day become my practice (I'm printing this out).
Wow! 🤩 I can’t believe how beautifully full this post is. I can only imagine how rich that first week is for you and your students. I’m interested in trying. The Creative Types survey. What I’m really interested in is how students (in my case, College students) learn what’s meaningful and important to them in transforming the future. So this piqued my curiosity!
I taught in middle school urban education for 25 years and spent another 8 as an instructional coach. This post is packed with so many GREAT resources!
I’m still deeply involved in education, with the goal of improving learning experiences for students. Honestly, if I had the following to make this go viral, I would. Every middle school principal should email it to their staff—it’s a mandatory read that deserves to be unpacked by grade level.
🏆 This is gold. I’ll be sharing (with credit) some of your strategies.
I’m just getting started on Substack myself, where neuroeducation and classroom strategies are my focus.
And on a personal note—I have a grandson in 5th grade, and I’d love to see him in your classroom, those kids are lucky to have you.✨
Really interesting, thanks. I teach Adults with varying educational backgrounds and study skills so some of this wouldn't work, but some could. I like and have used the shape/ personality quiz before. Really good to see how much goes into week 1! (and keep being subversive)
Well I reread this post - I didn't actually use the colour/ shapes thing this year, and anything about reminders is a bit of a trigger for trauma- influenced students. But I noticed your card trick game is something I already do, or similar, based on the Reciprical Reading technique I learnt about with primary learners: predict, question, clarify, summarise. And I'm currently doing this with reading skills, and will move on to similar with speaking cards: question, agree or disagree, propose solutions, summarise, record. This really enhances skills if learners take the activity seriously. If they don't, and don't see the purpose as educational, then they fail to dig deep. So that'll be interesting.
What a brilliant resource this is. Thanks so much for sharing this, Adrian. I’ve saved it and will be coming back to it again. I also love Headspace, Smiling Minds and the Calm app! Nice to have some options.
Could you say more about how you do the card trick? Is there someone who performs the trick with each group? Or are they watching the video?
I show the video a number of times, and then perform it live for each small group. It’s so much fun watching them try to figure it out!
I'm a 48-year-old teacher training student, barely in my first year of college (pedagogy), and I can only say that this article has been the most comprehensive lecture I've ever received. What a formidable method you've implemented. Congratulations! All children should have a teacher like you, and I'll definitely take your teachings with me into what will one day become my practice (I'm printing this out).
Wow! That is a huge compliment. Thank you! I hope my newsletter continues to be a resource for you during your college program.
Wow! 🤩 I can’t believe how beautifully full this post is. I can only imagine how rich that first week is for you and your students. I’m interested in trying. The Creative Types survey. What I’m really interested in is how students (in my case, College students) learn what’s meaningful and important to them in transforming the future. So this piqued my curiosity!
Great! Let me know how it worked with your college-aged students.
Hi Adrian,
I taught in middle school urban education for 25 years and spent another 8 as an instructional coach. This post is packed with so many GREAT resources!
I’m still deeply involved in education, with the goal of improving learning experiences for students. Honestly, if I had the following to make this go viral, I would. Every middle school principal should email it to their staff—it’s a mandatory read that deserves to be unpacked by grade level.
🏆 This is gold. I’ll be sharing (with credit) some of your strategies.
I’m just getting started on Substack myself, where neuroeducation and classroom strategies are my focus.
And on a personal note—I have a grandson in 5th grade, and I’d love to see him in your classroom, those kids are lucky to have you.✨
Thank you! I’m happy to share any resources I can. I love the posts you are sharing with resources around SEL and neuroeducation!
Really interesting, thanks. I teach Adults with varying educational backgrounds and study skills so some of this wouldn't work, but some could. I like and have used the shape/ personality quiz before. Really good to see how much goes into week 1! (and keep being subversive)
Thanks! I’d love to hear how any of these resources worked with your adult students.
Well I reread this post - I didn't actually use the colour/ shapes thing this year, and anything about reminders is a bit of a trigger for trauma- influenced students. But I noticed your card trick game is something I already do, or similar, based on the Reciprical Reading technique I learnt about with primary learners: predict, question, clarify, summarise. And I'm currently doing this with reading skills, and will move on to similar with speaking cards: question, agree or disagree, propose solutions, summarise, record. This really enhances skills if learners take the activity seriously. If they don't, and don't see the purpose as educational, then they fail to dig deep. So that'll be interesting.
Love the student identity wheel, Adrian. Can't wait to see what goes on that billboard!
I think the bulletin board turned out pretty well!
https://bsky.app/profile/mrneibauer.bsky.social/post/3lwpeeep4cs2k
it did!
What a brilliant resource this is. Thanks so much for sharing this, Adrian. I’ve saved it and will be coming back to it again. I also love Headspace, Smiling Minds and the Calm app! Nice to have some options.