Hop into the (Eisenhower) Matrix!
I might have mentioned before I possess a unique set of abilities I like to call Mad Organisation Skills. Today I want to share a tool that may be useful both for you and your students: the Eisenhower Matrix!
Entries by Monika Bigaj-Kisala
January? Time for warm-ups!
What’s better to start a lesson than a good warm-up activity? I want to share some ideas on why warm-ups are essential. I also want to share some simple and no-prep warm-ups to practise vocabulary, grammar and communication skills.
Let’s Roll… Toilet Paper in the Classroom
I used to bring a lot of extra materials to the classroom but after some time I got tired with carrying all this stuff. That’s when I decided to use everything I can get on site – but use these objects creatively. I want to share some simple ideas on using toilet paper.
7 Free Online Courses in January
I don’t really believe in the whole New Year New Me attitude, but let’s be honest – it’s easier to motivate oneself into doing something in January rather than in April. That’s why I did my best to find some proper teacher-targeted CPD online courses – they are free, online and really helpful!
Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas songs… with a twist! (playlist)
If you’re already tired with Christmas songs, I’ve got something for you!
I’ve prepared a pretty cool playlist full of songs that somehow relate to Christmas, but don’t worry, you can expect some twists (and shouts, of course).
Secret Santa: how to make everyone happy
Do you do Secret Santa with your students? The main problem is that very often people don’t know one another and really don’t know what to buy, so they go for a random gift (quite logically, a random gift for a random person).
So one day I had an idea that turned out to make everybody happy.
7 Free Online Courses in December
Ready for some winter ho-ho-ho? If yes, let me be a not-so-secret Santa bringing you a batch of interesting free online courses. This time I’ve got something you can use for your New Year Resolution (gardening or healthy food), something to try with your students (stylistics or songwriting) or something that will make your winter break happier (baking and winemaking!).
The benefit of the doubt
Imagine your student approaches you and says I don’t have my homework, I’m sorry, but I forgot it at home – what do you do? Do you shake your head in disbelief? And what would happen if you gave your student the benefit of the doubt and simply chose to believe them?
Teacher, dare to lead! (book review)
may be mid-November, but if you’re looking for a great Christmas present for a fellow teacher, Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown could be a great idea. And since it’s mid-November you can even read it first! Would it be useful? Read my review and find out!
Unzombify your students!
ovember is a vile month for teachers and students, and it’s quite easy to catch a condition called zombification. How to check whether your students are suffering from zombification, which stage of the condition (short, long, permanent?) and how to cure this November plague?