1) Visuals – use lots of pictures, preferably modern images students can relate to. For example, I often like to decorate my classroom with emojis related to the topic on display (like a ‘thumbs up’ emoji on a “wonderful work wall” or the ‘information girl’ emoji on a notice board). The visuals are not only helpful cues for children, but adding in the fun emoji factor that most students use every day in their messages to friends, really gives a modern and relatable feel to your classroom! I have created a few emoji clip art sets that you could  use in your own classrooms too if you like:

2) Keep up to date - Connect with your students – listen to them and find out what their interests and hobbies are or what songs or phrases are popular right now, then you could try including these in a lesson. For example, I’ve been known to slip in a “what are thoooose” or a “damn, Daniel” comment into my teaching every now and then for a laugh – let me tell you, the kids absolutely crack up in hysterics when I do! Although slightly cringy, I know they appreciate that I understand them and make an effort to modernise their lessons and school experience! (PS. If you don’t know what on earth those phrases I just mentioned are, they’re videos that went viral online recently - Google the phrases and it’ll make more sense to you. 😉) If that’s not your style, then you can try incorporating popular, modern characters into your lessons that students love: I have had many a Minion make cameos in my lessons in the past, which always goes down well! 

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3) Modernise your resources - Gone are the days of dull worksheets – these days you can find an abundance of engaging resources with lots of life to them that make it fun for your students to learn from. Feel free to check out my freebie on ‘differentiated written activities for any book’, as an example:

 A year ago I wrote a blog post on how to prepare students for the testing period and I shared some of my favourite resources on stress management and relaxation / focus techniques.

Since then, I have created more of my "Don't Stress The Test" colouring pages as I have been receiving such positive feedback about how students have been finding them so helpful! Here are some comments from teachers around the world who have been using these in their own classrooms across all age groups:

The testing season is now underway for most students in the US, and come May/June, it will be time for students in the UK too. This period is a time of anxiety, pressure, nerves and stress for many students and teachers across the world... While there isn't much we can do about the testing culture right now, we can at least take steps to look after our students' well-being.

So bring peace into your own classroom now, to encourage your students to relax and focus before a test with these motivational quote colouring pages!

I hope this has been useful: here's wishing your students all the luck in the world!