Listen now! Let’s face it, teaching can feel overwhelming. There are so many hats that teachers wear, and juggling all those roles can feel unmanageable. Caitlin and Jessica hope to change that feeling for teachers! In today’s episode, they encourage listeners to focus their attention on improving one thing in the classroom: engagement. They list out nine positive effects that creating engaging lessons can have on students, as well as teachers. You won’t want to miss these points, as well as information about all the exciting opportunities happening this summer with EB Academics! Tune in now t ..read more

Listen now! In today’s episode, Caitlin and Jessica share the second part of their discussion on how to implement student-led and student-created escape rooms in your classroom. This type of activity is perfect to use at the end of the school year when everyone is needing a break from typical classroom activities. We hope you try this out with your students before the school year ends! Tune in now to hear: [:48] Caitlin introduces the second episode in this two-part series about a unique way to utilize escape rooms in the classroom. [1:10] Before jumping into the episode, Caitlin lets listene ..read more

Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to wrap up the school year? Then why not try an escape room activity with your students! Escape rooms in the classroom are an excellent way to engage students in learning, fostering teamwork and collaboration, critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and leadership. In this blog post, we will guide you on how to have your students create their own escape rooms for their classmates, using topics you’ve studied this year! Create Your Own Escape Room Nail Down a Theme First, divide your students into small groups of 3-4, and have them choose a ..read more

Listen now! Escape rooms have become all the rage, and they’re awesome for team-building and fun! They have also become popular as a classroom activity, and in today’s episode, Caitlin and Jessica share a unique spin on using escape rooms in the classroom. This is the first episode in a two-part series that you won’t want to miss as you motivate your learners at the end of the school year. Tune in now to hear: [:53] Caitlin welcomes listeners to part 1 of this two-part series discussing how to use escape rooms to engage your students at the end of the school year. [1:07] Before diving into th ..read more

Listen Now! The idea of a Genius Hour originated in some of today’s most innovative and groundbreaking companies, and it’s also a great activity to use in your classroom. As the school year comes to a close, and you and your students need fresh and interesting activities, we think implementing a Genius Hour in your classroom will be just the thing to motivate your students! By allowing learners to invest time in their own interests, we can encourage creativity and innovation. Listen to this week’s podcast episode to learn how to implement this unique project in your middle school classroom. Tu ..read more

Listen now! As English teachers, seeing a word misused in a sentence can be cringe-worthy, and you probably catch mistakes in your students’ writing where they have confused two words that sound similar but have very different meanings. Today’s podcast is all about helping your students get a grasp on these most commonly misused words, and this is a grammar lesson they won’t forget! Caitlin and Jessica share how to set up a rousing game of “Homophone Hit” that will help your students master these tricky words once and for all! Tune in now to hear: [1:53] Today’s episode is all about using a g ..read more

If you are a teacher, you have probably come across students who constantly use commonly confused words such as “there” and “their,” “your” and “you’re,” and “its” and “it’s” incorrectly. It can be frustrating, and you may find it challenging to assess their writing skills when their work is riddled with spelling and grammar errors. This issue is particularly noticeable in 7th and 8th-grade students who should already have a firm grasp of these basic concepts. When these words are misused it appears to be a lack of attention to detail and can give the impression that they have not taken the ti ..read more

Listen Now! Teachers know just how important engagement is in a classroom. Not only do students need to be engaged to learn, but engaging lessons are also essential to successful classroom management. While there are TONS of strategies out there, Caitlin and Jessica offer listeners one very simple way to create engagement in the classroom: use music! We think these practical and fun ideas will be just what you need to add some spark and wonder to your lessons as this school year comes to a close! Tune in now to hear: [:48] Caitlin welcomes listeners back to the podcast where she and Jessica c ..read more

Engaging students in the classroom can be a challenging task for educators. With a never-ending list of tasks and responsibilities, it can be difficult to find the time to incorporate new and exciting ways to keep students engaged. Thankfully, there is one tool that is simple, quick, and effective in capturing students’ attention: music. Why Music? Music has been shown to stimulate the brain, evoke emotions, and create a memorable environment. All of which can enhance students’ engagement in their personal learning process. Additionally, music can serve as a mnemonic device, helping students r ..read more

Using games in the classroom can be an easy way to motivate students to review numerous concepts in ELA. To round out April’s four-part series discussing engagement in the classroom, Caitlin and Jessica share details about two of their favorite games to use with students. While these games are both easy to prep and fun, they also provide valuable review time for your learners as the school year winds down.  Tune in now to hear: [:47] Caitlin opens by reminding teachers to listen to the last three episodes where she and Jessica discuss three different projects that are sure to engage your ..read more