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  Teachers Resource Force

Teachers Resource Force
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How to bring the arts into your lessons this autumn

18/10/2017

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As you know, I am a huge advocate of art integration and I often share ideas for how you can incorporate the arts into any lesson. As Autumn is in full swing for many of us around the world, I wanted to share with you some fun "fall" themed paper craftivities that you can include into any of your writing activities this season! 
How to bring the arts in your classroom this autumn @resourceforce
All these autumn themed paper craft activities can be used with any writing assignments you give your students in class. Simply create the crafts (all images below can be clicked to be taken to a "how to" link) and then the paper can be used to write any activities you like! Here are some ideas:

1) Pumpkin lanterns:
How to bring the arts into your lessons this autumn
2) 3D pumpkin "books":
How to bring the arts into your lessons this autumn
3) Origami leaves:
How to bring the arts into your lessons this autumn
4) Pumpkin shaped mobiles:
How to bring the arts into your lessons this autumn
5) Apple stamp door wreath:
How to bring the arts into your lessons this autumn

​Finally, if you want something quick and easy that doesn't take up too much time and assembly to make, you can try these 'unbe-leaf-able' (hehe) "Thankful Leaves"! They come with prompts to come up with things students are thankful for and there are also blank options too which makes them really flexible for absolutely any writing / art activity you can think of! Check out some of the ways you could use them below:
Thanksgiving gratitude leaf crafts for the classroom @resourceforce
Thanksgiving gratitude leaf crafts for the classroom @resourceforce
Thanksgiving gratitude leaf crafts for the classroom @resourceforce
You can use them to make pennants, a door wreath, you can use them to decorate your plants, hang them on a cardboard tree or stick them to a bulletin board! The uses are endless and they're so beneficial to help your students not only practice gratitude, but the blank options make it flexible for you to adapt to any lesson!

If you like these leaves and want to download them, you can find the links here to purchase from TpT ($) or here to purchase from this website (£). I hope you enjoy getting crafty this autumn, I 'be-leaf' (ok, I'll stop now!) you will!

Also, be sure to click the image below to register for the free VIP area which includes loads of resources for you!
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Top 10 tips for teacher well-being

13/10/2017

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As we know, teaching is an incredibly demanding job that if you let it, can completely consume you - your work is never done and that is a hard notion to come to terms with sometimes! Therefore, you need to actively take steps to ensure that you are taking care of your health - physically, emotionally and mentally.
Top 10 tips for teacher well-being @resourceforce
Here are some actionable steps that you can take this week to improve your own well-being:

1. Leave school on time a few days this week.
Just getting those few extra hours at home can make all the difference, especially if your day has felt "extra long", you know the ones...!

2. Get as much of your admin tasks done in the mornings.
Your mind is obviously a lot fresher in the morning before all the craziness begins, and so it goes without saying that that is the best time of the day to get all the heavy thinking done! I don't know about you, but after that last lesson at the end of the day my mind is totally fried and no one is going to get much out of me at that point!

3. Have a hot bath when you get home.
Ahh, there's not much a hot bath can't fix! If you're able to, try and have a few moments alone in a nice pool of hot bubbly water and just let your muscles and mind relax!

4. Get an early night or at least keep your bed time consistent.
Getting your body in a consistent routine will really help with a better night's sleep and improved energy levels throughout the day.

5. Think of 3 things you're grateful for every morning.
You can't feel grateful and negative at the same time, it's impossible. That's why gratitude is so, so important. Try and make it a habit that right when you wake up, or when you're brushing your teeth, or making breakfast etc. come up with 3 or more things you are grateful for each day (and try and make them different things every day too so you're really having to think and reflect on your gratitude).

6. Make sure you stop for lunch during the day.
Seriously, eat something. Your food is fuel and you need to make sure you have enough in your tank to get you through the whole rest of the day!

7. Go off site at lunch to get a change of scenery.
There's something that can be said about having a change of scenery, especially on those days where you just feel drained from too much social interaction! I do try and force myself to go to the staffroom every now and then to check my pigeon hole, but that's not always great as often I get stopped by staff for a "chat", which doesn't help when I need to wind down! Instead, try going out for some lunch or just go for a quick walk down the street. The fresh air, change of scenery and silence can do wonders!

8. Do some exercise or some light stretching.
Keep your body moving - it helps with energy levels throughout the day and the stretches are great for resetting your posture, especially if you've been hunching over students or have been sitting in awkward positions all day!

9. Massage yourself - you can do your own shoulders and feet!
There's nothing like a nice massage, and the good news is that you don't need someone else to do it for you! Just while you're winding down (or I've sometimes done this at school on those rougher days) you can take off your shoes and give your feet a nice rub. Massage your way round the heel, ball and sole of your feet and feel the heaviness melt away! It's even easier to give your neck and shoulders a massage yourself at any moment in time and it can really help relax the tension!

10. Bring some treats in for your colleagues and make everyone smile!
Finally, the people you work closely with play an important role in your own well-being too as you feed off of each others' energy. So make sure everyone is feeling happy and harmonious by bringing in some yummy treats every now and then, and enjoy bonding over some tea and cakes at break time!
Top 10 tips for teacher well-being @resourceforce
A bonus point - you can always access a continuously updated board of various ideas for teacher well-being on this Pinterest board which you're welcome to follow too!

What other ways do you like to wind down and show yourself some self-love? Share your favourite ideas in the comments below!
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Easy ways to celebrate Day of the Dead in Secondary school

3/10/2017

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Easy ways to celebrate the day of the dead in secondary school @resourceforce
The end of October, beginning of November sees a popular celebration in Mexico called the Day of the Dead festival (or Dia de los Muertos) whereby Mexicans remember and honour their deceased loved ones. I think this is such a positive and uplifting way to look at the end of life!

You may already know that I'm a huge fan of positive quotes which can really uplift spirits (golly, no pun intended - honest!) and so in honour of this celebration, I have for you a pack of 10 positive quotes to celebrate the Day of the Dead for your students to colour in and hang up in your classroom! Not only is this activity an enjoyable way to celebrate this holiday, but these specific quotes could be really helpful in helping students who have ever had to deal with the loss of a loved one or a pet. 

Here are some fun ways you can use these pennants to celebrate this day with your secondary students too!
Easy ways to celebrate the day of the dead in secondary school @resourceforce
Easy ways to celebrate the day of the dead in secondary school @resourceforce
1) If you're familiar with my resources, you may be aware that I'm a huge fan of colouring therapy, especially when combined with positive quotes! 

There are so many studies that prove the effectiveness of colouring by reducing stress and helping with concentration. If you're interested in learning more about this, check out this page all about mindfulness colouring!

So it would definitely be beneficial for your students to take time relaxing and colouring these pennants in, and as they do so they can be quietly reflecting on the positive quotes and be remembering the good times shared with their loved ones.

​These then make excellent decor for the classroom or along the corridors for all to enjoy and be inspired by!
2) You could offer your students the opportunity to personalise this activity by using the back of the pennants to create a memory page of their loved ones.

They can describe fond memories of this person or pet, draw pictures, write a poem etc - let them choose how they would like to express their memories!

They could even sit with a friend as they do this and talk through some of the good memories with someone they trust.

Easy ways to celebrate the day of the dead in secondary school @resourceforce
Easy ways to celebrate the day of the dead in secondary school @resourceforce
3) If your students are feeling brave, you could ask them to present their pennants and share their memories of their loved ones.

Speaking out loud about them in this positive way can be very therapeutic and healing! But of course, I'd give them the choice as for some students they may wish to keep this activity personal and private which is totally fine too!
4) Finally, this day is an ideal opportunity to teach about culture! You could get students to research more about the origins of this festival and add some facts to the back of the pennants.

There is also an opportunity to discuss how grief and mourning are celebrated in different cultures too and how Mexico differs with most customs we might be familiar with. 

They could then write an assignment or create a project on what they have discovered for homework, and share whether learning about this festival has changed their views towards death and why.
Easy ways to celebrate the day of the dead in secondary school @resourceforce
I hope you have found at least one easy and effective way for you to not only celebrate Day of the Dead, but also infuse art and culture into your lessons all while supporting students' emotional well-being too! 
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