Strategies For K-2

Pom-Pom Jar

• Explicitly teaching and celebrating kindness is a simple yet powerful way to build a positive classroom culture. [SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)]

Math Partners

• When kids explain their mathematical thinking to their peers, they learn there’s more to math than just the right answer. [COLLABORATIVE LEARNING]

Shout Outs

• Nurture a positive, supportive atmosphere in your classroom with fun and fast peer shout-outs. [SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)]

Ask 3 Before Me

• When students help each other in the classroom, they gain confidence and independence—and you get to keep on teaching. [CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT]

Respectful Touch

• A simple activity can help preschoolers better understand boundaries and learn to be gentle when it comes to physical contact. [SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)]

TAG Feedback

• This quick exercise scaffolds peer critique for elementary students. [FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT]

Equity Sticks

• Looking for an easy way to ensure all voices are heard in your classroom? Try equity sticks.  [CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT]

Guided Meditation

• A short contemplative exercise can help students calm themselves and get ready to learn. [SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)]

Strategies For 3-5

Traverse Talk

• This fun classroom activity helps students find their voice by teaching the basics of debate in an accessible way. [COMMUNICATION SKILLS]

Daily Intentions

• By making small goal setting part of the everyday routine, teachers help students build the skills they need to achieve larger and longer-term objectives. [TEACHING STRATEGIES]

Community Circles

• An opening and closing exercise where every student contributes is a way to ensure that they all feel seen and heard in the classroom. [SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)]

Respond, Reflect, and Review

• This simple activity helps students practice giving and receiving peer feedback—and gets them out of their desks. [ASSESSMENT]

Jitter Sticks

• When students need to get their wiggles out so they can settle down to learn, this fun movement-based brain break does the trick. [TEACHING STRATEGIES]

Participation Cards

• A quick formative assessment tool also encourages all students—even shy ones—to participate in discussions. [STUDENT VOICE]

Ask 3 Before Me

• When students help each other in the classroom, they gain confidence and independence—and you get to keep on teaching. [CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT]

3-Read Protocol

• Demystify math word problems with this easy technique that helps kids see the story beyond the numbers. [MATH]

Talk Detectives

• Improve the quality of class discussions by giving young kids a checklist of key things to look for when their peers talk. [COMMUNICATION SKILLS]

Peer Review

• When students take charge of their own feedback, they learn to work with others in the room—and not just their friends. [TEACHING STRATEGIES]