Here’s the last in the series by Marjan Glavac…

How To Stay Motivated In Teaching (Part V): Winning Strategies
by Marjan Glavac

It’s often been said that students (and teachers) really remember only two days of the school year–the first day and the last day. Here’s a Back To School idea that you can implement the very first week that will also cap off your school year on the very last day. It also has the effect of motivating students all year long by recording moments of the school year on video tape/DVD.

Time Capsule

Purpose: A lot of changes will occur between your first day of school in September (or August) and your last day of school in June. To see some of those changes, we will be making individualized “time capsules.”

Please supply a “time capsule” container (shoe box, plastic container, manila envelope etc.) to hold the following items:

· A headline from this week’s newspaper, radio or TV news.
· An article from the newspaper or from your favorite magazine.
· A list of your favorite things such as: TV shows, movies, recording artists, songs, books, subjects, colors, friends, foods, hobbies, etc.
· A flower or leaf wrapped in plastic wrap.
· An example of your handwriting.
· Your handprint on a piece of paper.
· Your footprint on a piece of paper.
· Your weight.
· A piece of string measuring your height.
· A paragraph (100-150) words describing your class and your teacher.
· A recent photograph.
· A list of 3 goals you want to accomplish by the end of the school year.

Be prepared to present your “Time Capsule” in front of the class for a videotaped presentation! (In addition to the videotaped Time Capsule presentation, I capture special moments on videotape all year long resulting in a video (now it has become a DVD) of about an hour long.)

Just before I “bury” the Time Capsules by putting them away until the last day of school, I write a positive personal note about each student and deposit it into the Time Capsule. I usually start each note with:

“Dear__________,

As I write this note, it is now September 15, 2008. By the time you read this, it will be June 24, 2009…”

The last days of school are sometimes very hectic and unfortunately, students are very excited and not on their best behaviour. When students see the video of themselves and their peers presenting their Time Capsules and when they open their Time Capsules and see the positive personal notes that you wrote about them, it ends the school year on a positive and uplifting note.
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I hope you enjoyed the 5-part How to Stay Motivated in Teaching series put togther by veteran teacher Marjan Glavac.

If you did find the information useful then I know you’re going to love his…

How to Thrive and Survive in Your Classroom

“Do You Want To Know How To Create Your Ideal Classroom, Motivate Your Students, Maintain Their Attention And Keep Them On Task Without Screaming, Pleading Or Burning Yourself Out?”

“In one word, this course was practical!” B. Carriere, Grade 4/5 Teacher, Ontario

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