Middle School The New Year Lesson

Introducing the ultimate classroom management and engagement toolkit for middle school teachers of all subjects: "Classroom Synergy: Building Expectations and SEL Skills." This comprehensive package is expertly crafted to align with the start of the new year, seamlessly integrating across curriculums and focusing on key areas of student development such as social-emotional learning (SEL), writing, collaboration, and public speaking.

Product Description:

1. Classroom Expectations - PDF Handout and Google Slides: Kick off your classroom management with our detailed PDF handout and interactive Google Slides presentation, outlining 16 essential classroom expectations. This resource is designed to clarify what each expectation looks like and sounds like in a middle school setting, creating a solid foundation for a positive learning environment in any subject.

2. Expectations Role Play: Dive into dynamic, hands-on learning with our Expectations Role Play activity. Students actively engage in performing skits that depict various classroom scenarios, fostering an understanding of expectations through practical application. This activity not only reinforces classroom norms but also enhances students' public speaking and critical thinking skills.

3. Creating Expectations Posters: Unleash your students' creativity while reinforcing classroom rules with our poster-making activity. Students collaborate to design and create posters for each expectation, blending artistry with learning. These visual aids serve as constant, colorful reminders of the classroom culture you're building together.

4. Expectations and SEL Writing Prompts: Deepen your students' reflection and introspection with SEL-aligned writing prompts. These thought-provoking prompts encourage students to connect classroom expectations with their emotional and social growth, fostering maturity and self-awareness.

Perfect for the New Year: "Classroom Synergy" is an ideal resource to reset or establish your classroom culture at the beginning of the year. It sets a tone of respect, cooperation, and positivity.

Cross-Curricular and SEL Integrated: Our toolkit is designed to fit seamlessly into any subject area while prioritizing the development of crucial SEL skills. It encourages students to work together, express themselves, and become active, empathetic participants in their learning journey.

Versatile and Easy to Use: With activities catering to various learning styles and needs, "Classroom Synergy" is user-friendly and adaptable, ensuring that every middle school teacher can implement it with ease.

Elevate your classroom environment and empower your students with "Classroom Synergy: Building Expectations and SEL Skills" – your go-to resource for a harmonious, productive, and engaging classroom!

This resource is included in the New Year 2024 Bundle Here: Ring in Learning: New Year's Thematic Middle School Classroom Bundle (TeachShare.com)

Did you have such a fun or relaxing time over winter break that you forgot to plan your lesson for the first day back in the classroom? Have no fear, we're here to save you with our New Year's ESCAPE ROOM for ELA!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length New Year's-themed Escape Room. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task, but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. All tasks are Language Arts skills-based so that with this fun lesson on your first day back from Christmas vacation, learning is not sacrificed. Your students will be having so much fun that they won’t even realize the higher order thinking skills they are applying in the playing of this game!

How does it work?

Your students must face their first major challenge of the new year and are stuck in your classroom until they solve 5 challenging Language Arts skills-based tasks about New Year's!

• In the first task, students will read 8 fun facts about how people celebrate New Year's around the world. In each passage, one word is spelled incorrectly. Students must identify the incorrectly spelled word and write the word with the correct spelling in their answer sheet. Shaded boxes within the answers reveal the first code.
• In the second task, students will read 8 New Year's resolutions from their favorite celebrities and sports stars. They must identify the parts of speech of underlined words within each quote. When parts of speech cards are matched correctly with the resolutions, shaded boxes reveal their second code.
• In the third task, students must solve a word maze. Letters collected along the way, once unscrambled, reveal their third code.
• In the fourth task, students must perform a close reading of Burning the Old Year by Naomi Shihab Nye, a perfect poem to study on the New Year. Letters of the multiple choice question answers following the poem reveal their fourth code.
• In the final task, students must assemble a jig saw puzzle that forms a quote about New Year's. Once the puzzle is assembled and students bring the quote to you, they may escape the room and start the new year off on a strong note!

Product Includes:

- Escape Room Basics

- Detailed Day-Of Instructions

- Escape Room Print Checklist

- Student Teams Chart

- Welcome Sign for Your Door

- Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs to be folded upright, task instructions (2 per page for easy printing), and necessary information to be kept at stations

- Student Answer Booklet (2 printing options)

- Teacher Answer Keys

- Escape Room Reflection for homework or in-class writing activity

This escape room is suitable for middle and high school students and is ideal for the day coming back from winter break.

___________________________________________________________________________

Can't get enough escape rooms? Check out more by Language Arts Excellence here:

⭐ Halloween ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Thanksgiving ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Hanukkah Kwanzaa Christmas Diwali ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Valentine's Day ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ St. Patrick's Day ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Easter ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Shakespeare ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Escape from Dystopia ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Edgar Allan Poe ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Back to School ELA ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ End of Year ELA ESCAPE ROOM

_____________________________________________________________________________________

⭐⭐⭐For the escape room enthusiasts out there, you can now build your own bundle at 20% off the cover price of 3 or more escape rooms! Click the link to check out all of the escape rooms Language Arts Excellence has to offer: Build Your Own Escape Room BUNDLE⭐⭐⭐

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

This engaging article package explores the LA Wildfires in a way that captivates young minds while fostering essential learning. Designed for students aged 8-12, this resource brings together real-world events, history, fun facts, and creative projects to enrich your classroom. With approximately 1-2 hours of instructional material, it is ideal for social studies, geography or general knowledge lessons.

Included Topics:

• Top Stories: Simplified reports of the LA Wildfires, 2025 latest events.  We also explore  "Los Angeles Wildfires in Maps", talking a bit on the following: 

1. Palisades Fire 

2. Eaton Fire 

3. Hurst Fire 

& 4. Woodley Fire.

• Fun Facts: Engaging trivia on wildfires, firefighting techniques and historical events.

• History Corner: A look back at the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

• Person Profile: Spotlight on Kristin Crowley, LA’s trailblazing fire chief.

• Jokes and Riddles: Laughter-filled learning moments.

• DIY Projects: Fire safety poster and mini fire truck activity.

Our Recommendation:

“Los Angeles is facing a huge challenge as four wildfires rage across the city." This gripping start to this article package is sure to spark curiosity in students as they dive into real-life events. The resource not only informs but also inspires discussions about community, safety, and problem-solving. The creative DIY activities and fun trivia ensure active learning, making it a perfect tool for hands-on education.

Why This Resource Is a Must-Have:

• Seamlessly integrates real-world events into the classroom, promoting critical thinking and empathy.

• Encourages creativity with a DIY fire safety poster and fire truck craft.

• Fosters awareness of environmental and community issues with age-appropriate language.

• Combines fact-based learning with humor through jokes and riddles.

• Ready-to-teach format saves time for educators while keeping students engaged.

Do Purchase This, If the Following Is Something You Are Looking For:

• Engaging and ready-to-use classroom materials.

• Resources that promote empathy, safety awareness, and critical thinking.

• Real-world connections to social studies, geography, or STEM.

• Creative activities that blend learning with fun.

• Print-friendly and interactive content tailored for young learners aged 7-12.

This is more than a resource—it’s a gateway to learning through real-life stories. Help your students discover the importance of preparedness and problem-solving in an exciting, educational way.

Behind the Pages ~ Real-World Reports' Remarks:

**Welcome to Real-World Reports! **

At Real-World Reports, we’re all about igniting young scholars with engaging stories and exciting facts. Tailored for curious learners aged 7* and up, our resource-packed publication brings current events and historical highlights to life in a fun, interactive way.

What We Offer:

• Engaging Content: Dive into easy-to-understand summaries of global events and historical moments. Our lively newspaper articles make complex topics accessible and interesting.

• Fun Facts: Fuel curiosity with “Did You Know?” tidbits that spark wonder and inspire further exploration.

• History Corner: Journey through history with captivating tales from ancient civilizations to modern milestones.

• Person’s Profile: Meet influential figures from science, arts, and innovation. Discover their stories and find inspiration for future dreams.

• Creative Activities: Get hands-on with art projects and DIY fun that reinforce learning and foster creativity.

• Visual Appeal: Our print-friendly design ensures clarity and engagement without relying on color, if printing is intended. In some publications, we have opted for a bit of paint, without causing printing problems!

• Versatile Learning: Ideal for classrooms, libraries, and homeschooling, our resources adapt to various age groups and learning styles.

• ***Note: *While my publications aim to cover a broad spectrum of educational themes, each resource may vary in its inclusion of specific features.

Special Feature:

FREE Reading Comprehension Worksheet: Enhance your students’ reading skills with our interactive worksheet. Perfect for quick 5-10 minute sessions, it covers key details, fun facts, and historical summaries (which can be used on this lesson).

Teacher and Student Benefits:

• For Teachers: Simplifies lesson planning with ready-to-use content, boosting classroom discussions and critical thinking.

• For Students: Stimulates curiosity and fosters a deeper understanding of world events and ideas.

*Note (on age preferences): Our publications aim to educate and inspire, without overwhelming young learners with complex or distressing content. Choose resources that fit your students’ needs and interests. 

Why Choose this publication?

- Easy to implement: Simply download and print for instant classroom fun!

- Promotes fun literacy: Spark discussion and critical thinking with captivating stories and interactive activity/ies.

-Ready to educate youngsters with current event/s in a kid-friendly manner!

Explore More:

Discover similar resources on my page that dive into current events, historical contexts, creative projects, and interactive activities. These publications cater to various age groups and learning styles, offering a range of topics to engage your students.

Join us on a thrilling educational adventure with Real-World Reports – where knowledge meets excitement!

For permissions or inquiries, contact us through before purchase. Unauthorized use or reproduction is strictly prohibited.

Resource Information

• Pages: 8 Includes a Terms of Use (TOU) page, a “Get to Know Us” page, and all the engaging content you expect! Cover pages are NOT within this file!

• Ideal for Ages: students in elementary schools (only if you see they are ready to read this sought of publication) likely 8+ in age

• Teaching Duration: 1 class, depending on depth of exploration

• Download Now: This digital product is the full file at your fingertips!

Reminder: This resource is for single-classroom use only. Please refrain from sharing outside your class. Feel free to reach out with any questions before downloading. No refunds available on digital products.

NOTE: “We are not affiliated with or connected to any organizations or references mentioned in this document. This material is intended solely for educational purposes.”

Your Feedback matters!

If you enjoyed this resource, we’d be thrilled if you left a kind review! Your support helps us continue creating more educational content that makes learning exciting and meaningful for students. Thank you!

Thanks for supporting the journey of learning and discovery with Real-World Reports!

Introducing "Cheers to the New Year: Writing Memorable Toasts" – an engaging and ready-to-use resource perfect for middle and high school English Language Arts and public speaking classes. This print-and-go product is ideal for your January back-to-school curriculum, offering a unique blend of writing workshop elements, cultural education, and public speaking skills.

Product Description:

Duration: Structured to span across four class periods, this resource includes:

• Day 1: Introduction to the art of toasting and analysis of exemplar and non-exemplar toasts.
• Day 2: Brainstorming session, guiding students through the creative process of crafting their toasts.
• Day 3: Final draft writing, where students refine and perfect their toasts.
• Day 4: Toast presentations, allowing students to showcase their work and public speaking skills.

Key Components:

• Comprehensive Slide Presentations: Includes 25 informative Google Slides on the history and culture of toasting, and what toasting symbolizes today. Slides include clear directions guiding theteacher and class through the writing process. Designed for easy understanding and engagement, students can participate in popcorn reading and interactive discussions.
• Toastmasters Video and Analysis: Engage students with a professional insight on crafting toasts, followed by interactive discussions and check-for-understanding questions.
• Real-World Examples: Includes both a non-example and a successful example of toasts from popular media, fostering critical thinking and discussion among students.
• Detailed Handouts: Four handouts guide the students from brainstorming ideas to drafting their final toasts. Includes sentence stems for easy differentiation.
• Interactive Tea Cup Activity: A creative cutout activity where students write their wishes for 2024, doubling as a charming bulletin board decoration.
• Presentation Rubric: A detailed rubric is included to assess student presentations, focusing on content, delivery, creativity, and audience engagement.
• How to use resource guide included!

Educational Benefits:

• Cultural Awareness: Students gain insight into the global tradition of toasting, understanding its historical and cultural significance.
• Writing and Communication Skills: Enhances students' writing abilities, focusing on structure, creativity, and clarity.
• Public Speaking: Develops public speaking skills, including articulation, body language, and audience engagement.
• Social-Emotional Learning: Encourages self-expression and reflection, making it a valuable tool for SEL.

"Cheers to the New Year: Writing Memorable Toasts" is more than just a lesson plan; it's an interactive and multifaceted approach to learning that will captivate and inspire your students. Whether it's for a writing workshop or a public speaking exercise, this resource is sure to make the first weeks back at school both memorable and educational.

This resource is included in the New Year 2024 Bundle Here: Ring in Learning: New Year's Thematic Middle School Classroom Bundle (TeachShare.com)

This activity features an engaging and inclusive escape room in which students tackle 5 Language Arts skills-based puzzles about The Lunar New Year!

There is no wonder why escape rooms are so popular; they are highly engaging and encourage people to work together and think creatively in order to solve different puzzles... all while trying to beat the clock! This meticulously-crafted resource features all of the materials you need to conduct a full-length Chinese New Year-themed Escape Room. Planning an escape room may seem like quite the daunting task, but this product provides everything from the basics and set-up instructions to signs and answer keys so that yours runs smoothly from start to finish. The activity involves movement, energy, creative thinking and most of all, collaboration. All tasks are Language Arts skills-based so that with this intrinsically engaging lesson, learning is not sacrificed. No prior knowledge is necessary to complete the activity; in fact, students will come away from it with a great understanding of China's biggest holiday of the year!

How does it work?

Your students must face their first major challenge of the new year and are stuck in your classroom until they solve 5 challenging Language Arts skills-based tasks about the Chinese New Year.

• Chinese New Year Fun Facts: In the first task, students will read 8 fun facts about how people celebrate the Lunar New Year. In each passage, students must identify the incorrect homophone and correct it.
• The Amazing Zodiac Race: In the second task, students must locate the incorrectly spelled word and correct it.
• Chinese New Year Stats: In the third task, using context cues, students must fill in the blanks in 8 statistics about the Lunar New Year.
• The Tyger: In the fourth task, students will perform a close reading of The Tyger by William Blake. Letters of the multiple choice question answers following the poem reveal their fourth code.
• Word Maze: In the final task, students must complete a word maze. Once students complete the task and bring their complete answer sheets to you, they may escape the room and start the Chinese New Year off on a strong note!

Product Includes:

- Escape Room Basics

- Detailed Day-Of Instructions

- Escape Room Print Checklist

- Student Teams Chart

- Materials for 5 Tasks: task signs to be folded upright, task instructions (2 per page for easy printing), and supplementary materials

- Student Answer Sheet

- Teacher Answer Keys

- Escape Room Reflection for homework or in-class writing activity

This escape room is suitable for middle and high school students and is ideal for January - February during the Lunar New Year.

___________________________________________________________________________

Can't get enough escape rooms? Check out more by Language Arts Excellence here:

⭐ New Year's ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Halloween ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Thanksgiving ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Christmas ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Hanukkah Kwanzaa Christmas Diwali ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Valentine's Day ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ St. Patrick's Day ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Easter ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ Back to School ELA ESCAPE ROOM

⭐ End of Year ELA ESCAPE ROOM

_____________________________________________________________________________________

⭐⭐⭐For the escape room enthusiasts out there, you can now build your own bundle at 20% off the cover price of 3 or more escape rooms! Click the link to check out all of the escape rooms Language Arts Excellence has to offer: Build Your Own Escape Room BUNDLE⭐⭐⭐

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence