- Games for School (and Home!)
- Organizational Must-Haves for Packing Up
- Engagement Resources for Last-Minute Lessons
LEARNING GAME NECESSITIES
The first three essentials in my year-end toolkit are games I love using in my classroom across pretty much all grade levels.
They save my sanity when we have weird schedule issues at the end of the year, like when half the class is gone for a band / choir trip or there’s an awards assembly that leaves an awkward 20 minutes left over before the bell. These games fill those voids at the end of the year, and I can take them home for the summer to use with my own family, too!
{Full disclosure: Yes, of course, these are affiliate links to my Amazon store. That means I get a small commission for the recommendation if you purchase them, but at zero cost to you. The price is no different. Plus, I only recommend my absolute favorite tools, and since I’m asked all the time what I use or how I get something done, I figured I’d just share it all here.}
- Games: Apples to Apples
The What & Why: Apples to Apples is not just a hilarious game—it’s a natural progression to vocabulary expansion, critical thinking, and learning plus fun in the classroom. This simple game challenges students to make connections between words and concepts, sharpening their language skills while keeping them entertained. . . So you can tie up your own loose ends, too!
The What & Why: This is all about the power of imagination. The way Superfight works is that players create absurd superheroes and pit them against each other in epic battles of wit and creativity. This game encourages students to think outside the box, develop persuasive arguments, and hone their storytelling skills—all while having a blast.
- Games: Parts of Speech Bingo Game
The What & Why: Gamify grammar with Parts of Speech Bingo. This interactive game helps students review and practice the ins and outs of nouns, verbs, adjectives, and more through a fun and engaging bingo format. Say goodbye to dry grammar drills and boring worksheets!
ORGANIZATIONAL NECESSITIES
The next three essentials in my year-end collection are based on my own organizational needs. I’m sharing them with you in case they solve the same problems of packing up and storing resources that I always seem to spend waaaay too much time on at the end of the year.
- Organization: Extra Large Cotton Rope Basket
The What & Why: Keep your classroom clutter-free and organized with this extra-large cotton rope basket. I use it for storing random books, larger or awkwardly-sized items, and classroom supplies. To me, it’s a super tough-built basket that actually looks nice rather than being purely functional. It’s durable, and I’ve had mine for years and years at this point! I can shove it under a table in my room and leave it there all summer, or I can use the handles to carry it to my car if I want to take it home. I actually have two of these: One for my classroom for the reasons just mentioned, and one at home to store our family room cuddle blankets for movie nights.
- Organization: Large Bulletin / Poster Board Storage Bag (2 Pack)
The What & Why: No more wrinkled posters and torn bulletin board content when you store those larger poster-sized pieces in this convenient, space-saving storage bag. With room for multiple boards, this durable bag protects your teaching materials and makes it easy to transport them between classrooms or store them during breaks. It keeps your favorite posters and larger wall decor items out of the sunlight, too, making them last longer. …And it definitely beats trying to shove them between bookshelves or behind file cabinets for the summer.
- Organization: Reusable Silicone Zip Ties
The What & Why: Get creative with classroom organization using these reusable silicone zip ties. They work really well for bundling cables & cords, securing displays, or creating your own DIY storage solutions. They’re versatile for all kinds of uses when it comes to keeping things neat and tidy. I keep some at school and some at home for those purposes!
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL ENGAGEMENT NECESSITIES
The final four essentials I rely on for the end of the year are not games per se… Rather, they’re learning engagement resources that I wish I had time to implement during other times of the year, but can’t. These are SO good for social-emotional skills and for deep, critical thinking. I love sending my students off into the summer with these learning experiences.
- Engagement: Six Word Memoirs
The What & Why: This is one of my all-time favorites! Spark meaningful reflection and creative expression with Six Word Memoirs. This brief yet powerful little book encourages students to distill their thoughts and experiences into succinct six-word statements, fostering self-awareness and sharpening writing skills in the process. I love it because using these six-word blurbs helps show your students how to get at the main idea of anything they are currently reading. I enjoy challenging my students to write their own six-word “memoirs” in the form of summaries about all kinds of texts and content we’re reading in class. Lots of lightbulb moments here!
Note >> As with anything, do your due diligence when sharing the selections from the book. There are a few things in this book that aren’t appropriate to share with my students (at least where I teach) but the rest are so, SO good, and I use this book every single year 🙂
The What & Why: Inject a burst of energy into your lessons with Mind Joggers, a collection of quick, engaging activities designed to stimulate critical thinking and creativity that takes only about 5 to 15 minutes. From brainteasers to discussion prompts, these activities are sure to keep your students on their toes. I love to incorporate them at the beginning and / or end of class… And I’ve been known to use them in stations throughout the year, too!
- Engagement: 52 Essential Social Dilemmas
The What & Why: Your students get to explore the complexities of human behavior and ethical decision-making with 52 Essential Social Dilemmas. This thought-provoking deck of cards presents real-life scenarios for students to analyze, discuss, and debate, fostering empathy, perspective-taking, and moral reasoning. There are SO many opportunities for discussions, writing responses, and speaking & listening skills here!
- Engagement: 52 Essential Coping Skills
The What & Why: Equip your students with essential tools for managing stress, navigating challenges, and building resilience with this set of 52 Essential Coping Skills. From mindfulness exercises to problem-solving strategies, this deck of cards offers practical techniques to help students thrive in school and beyond.
And there you have it—10 game-changing must-haves to elevate your middle school ELA classroom to new heights of creativity, engagement, and organization. Whether you’re looking to spice up your year-end lessons, streamline your year-end pack-up, or create a more engaged learning environment, these must-have year-end favs are the ones I rely on for the last part of the school year.
For more insights into organizing your time, planning your year, and engaging students in your Middle School ELA Classroom, get your free ticket to the MSELA Summit which is the annual back-to-school virtual conference specifically designed for Middle School ELA Teachers.
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