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Flexible Thinking vs. Stuck Thinking - Whole Child Counseling
Grades
K to 5
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If you want a video that instantly grabs students' attention while teaching a powerful life skill, this one is a great choice. Being a Flexible Thinker, as presented by Whole...more
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If you want a video that instantly grabs students' attention while teaching a powerful life skill, this one is a great choice. Being a Flexible Thinker, as presented by Whole Child Counseling, teaches children how to navigate life's everyday surprises by shifting from rigid to flexible thinking. Through clear, kid-friendly examples, such as canceled plans, changes in routine, or disagreements with friends, the video helps students see how adjusting their thoughts can reduce frustration and open the door to new solutions. It helps them understand that challenges can be handled in many ways and that remaining open and calm helps them work more effectively with others. The video concludes with interactive scenarios that enable students to practice identifying flexible thinking in real time, making it a valuable tool for building problem-solving skills and resilience, and for promoting positive behavior in the classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): flexibility (9), perspective (30), thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
Have students rewrite short "stuck thinking" statements to show a flexible response. Have students become "thinking detectives" and look for clues that show how someone in a story, video, or real-life classroom situation can use flexible thinking. They can write a short "detective report" describing the problem, the stuck reaction, and a flexible alternative. In small groups, students can create a kid-friendly way to teach flexible thinking to younger students. Options include a skit, comic strip using Free Comic Strip Maker by Adobe, reviewed here, poster, slide deck using Google Slides, reviewed here, or mini-story.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Kindness in the Classroom: Pre-K - Random Acts of Kindness Foundation
Grades
K to 1
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Kindness in the Classroom's Pre-K is a yearlong Tier 1 social emotional learning curriculum that fosters a culture of kindness. Included in the curriculum are six core kindness concepts...more
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Kindness in the Classroom's Pre-K is a yearlong Tier 1 social emotional learning curriculum that fosters a culture of kindness. Included in the curriculum are six core kindness concepts including: Respect, Caring, Inclusiveness, Integrity, Responsibility, and Courage. Each of the six core concepts is explored in a six week format with four weeks of lessons and two weeks of projects. In addition to individual lessons in PDF format there is a newsletter for each of the core concepts.
tag(s): empathy (67), listening (117), preK (322), social and emotional learning (195)
In the Classroom
Have students keep a journal using Seesaw, reviewed here throughout the course of the year, sharing what they have learned. Students can create individual books on the six core concepts using Book Creator, reviewed here. Students can use either resource to record themselves demonstrating one of the core concepts.
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7 Engaging Listening Activities for Small Groups - eSpark
Grades
K to 5
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In the article "7 Engaging Listening Activities for Small Groups," eSpark Learning shares seven playful, easy-to-use activities to help students strengthen listening and speaking skills...more
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In the article "7 Engaging Listening Activities for Small Groups," eSpark Learning shares seven playful, easy-to-use activities to help students strengthen listening and speaking skills in small instructional groups. The ideas include interactive games such as Draw This, Telephone, Simon Says, Popcorn Storytelling, and My Favorite Toss, all designed to build active listening, memory, verbal communication, and collaboration. The article highlights the importance of treating listening as a mindful skill and offers suggestions for adapting activities to different ages and needs. Teachers can use these activities during centers, small-group rotations, or language arts lessons to support engagement, communication, and social learning.
tag(s): blogs (77), game based learning (304), listening (117)
In the Classroom
Have students take turns adding one sentence at a time to create a shared story. Each student must listen closely to maintain the plot and characters. Add a challenge by having them incorporate a vocabulary word or literary device. Play Simon Says with added complexity, such as multi-step directions or academic vocabulary. Have students practice following sequential instructions and staying focused under pressure. After listening to a short passage or poem, students can take turns retelling only what they remember. Each partner adds new details until the whole idea is restored.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What is Empathy? - Sesame Workshop
Grades
K to 2
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What is Empathy? features Sesame Street character Murray and Mark Ruffalo explaining empathy in this short video. In addition to the video, the site also shows how to build empathy...more
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What is Empathy? features Sesame Street character Murray and Mark Ruffalo explaining empathy in this short video. In addition to the video, the site also shows how to build empathy in babies, toddlers, and preschool students.
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In the Classroom
Students can share ways to show empathy. Students can use Book Creator, reviewed here to record themselves sharing how they are empathy. Students can use Seesaw, reviewed here to create an emotions journal.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Five Levels of Listening (Steven Covey) - The Right Questions
Grades
K to 6
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The Five Levels of Listening is a short, engaging YouTube video that introduces Steven Covey's five levels of listening: ignoring, pretending, selective listening, attentive...more
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The Five Levels of Listening is a short, engaging YouTube video that introduces Steven Covey's five levels of listening: ignoring, pretending, selective listening, attentive listening, and empathic listening. Through clear explanations and relatable examples, the four-minute video helps students understand how listening behaviors affect communication, relationships, and understanding. The video encourages viewers to reflect on their own listening habits while emphasizing the importance of active and empathic listening in both academic and everyday conversations.
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In the Classroom
Students can compare and contrast each of the levels of listening using the Interactive 2 Circle Venn Diagram by Read Write Think, reviewed here. Students can use Padlet reviewed here to share one way that they show empathic listening. Students can create comics using ToonyTool, reviewed here explaining the different types of listening.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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TED Talk- Are you really as good at something as you think? - Robin Kramer
Grades
4 to 12
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"Are You Really As Good at Something As You Think?" is a short TED Talk by psychologist Robin Kramer that helps students and teachers reflect on how well they understand ...more
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"Are You Really As Good at Something As You Think?" is a short TED Talk by psychologist Robin Kramer that helps students and teachers reflect on how well they understand their own skills. Kramer explains that sometimes we overestimate our abilities and other times we underestimate them. He also describes how noticing these gaps can help us grow, learn new strategies, and use feedback more positively. This talk gives teachers an easy way to start a conversation about self-reflection, honest goal setting, and building a growth mindset in the classroom.
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tag(s): brain (58), emotions (71), social and emotional learning (195), thinking routines (35), thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
Have students choose a simple classroom task (reading aloud, drawing a shape, solving a math problem). They rate how well they think they'll do, try it, and then rate how they actually did. Compare the two and discuss why the ratings might differ. Give students colorful cards with prompts such as "One skill I want to improve is...," "One thing I'm confident about is...," and "Feedback helps me when...." Students can complete the cards and share with a partner to practice metacognitive thinking. Assign students to pick one skill they want to get better at over a week (typing speed, multiplication facts, drawing, fitness). They make a simple improvement plan, collect daily evidence, and reflect at the end on whether their predictions matched actual progress.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Metacognition - SlideShare
Grades
3 to 12
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The SlideShare presentation "Metacognition" gives teachers a clear, accessible overview of what metacognition is and why it matters for student learning. It explains the difference...more
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The SlideShare presentation "Metacognition" gives teachers a clear, accessible overview of what metacognition is and why it matters for student learning. It explains the difference between thinking and thinking about thinking, highlights how metacognitive strategies improve problem-solving and comprehension, and offers simple routines that students can use to plan, monitor, and reflect on their work. With its straightforward visuals and examples, the presentation serves as a helpful introduction for teachers who want to build more reflection, awareness, and independence into everyday lessons.
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tag(s): presentations (33), professional development (319), questioning (37), social and emotional learning (195), thinking routines (35), thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
During work time, have students pause for a quick "Check My Strategy" moment to note whether their plan is working and what they might adjust. After completing an activity, ask students to create a Metacognition Mini-Poster using Canva for Education, reviewed here that shows one strategy they used, how it helped them, and an example of when they might use it again. Begin a lesson with a "Think About Your Thinking" warm-up and have students briefly write how they plan to approach a task, such as a reading assignment or math problem set.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Reading Ready - The Reading Institute NYC
Grades
K to 5
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The Our Programs page website highlights literacy support resources designed to help early readers and educators. It describes Reading Ready, an early literacy intervention that builds...more
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The Our Programs page website highlights literacy support resources designed to help early readers and educators. It describes Reading Ready, an early literacy intervention that builds foundational skills like phonemic awareness and phonics, and Reading Go, a multimodal elementary literacy intervention focused on the five key components of reading. The page also features the 10-Hour Science of Reading Intro Course, which offers interactive modules linking research to classroom practice. Descriptions and some guides are available online for free. Still, full access to programs and training (such as the Science of Reading course outside NYC/CUNY or team packages) typically requires purchase or paid registration through the site.
tag(s): independent reading (83), literacy (124), reading comprehension (146), reading strategies (93), science of reading (37)
In the Classroom
Using ideas from Reading Ready, set up short literacy stations focused on phonemic awareness and phonics. Activities might include sound sorting, letter-sound matching, or blending practice with teacher-made cards or manipulatives aligned with the program's foundational skills focus. Use the five components of reading emphasized on the site (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension) to run targeted small-group lessons. Each group's focus should be on one component using leveled texts or word work aligned with the program descriptions. Have students take home a simple reading activity inspired by the site's intervention approach, such as word games, rereading familiar texts, or phonics practice. Students can reflect on how practicing at home helped improve their reading skills, reinforcing school-to-home connections.
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Travel Blog: Luxury Travel 2026/2027 - Travelbag
Grades
4 to 12
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The Travelbag blog is a travel inspiration and advice site created by experienced travel specialists. It features destination guides, holiday-planning tips, and themed posts on places...more
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The Travelbag blog is a travel inspiration and advice site created by experienced travel specialists. It features destination guides, holiday-planning tips, and themed posts on places like the USA, the Caribbean, and Dubai, as well as wellness retreats and foodie hotspots, helping readers discover ideas and practical information for planning trips around the world. Content includes travel advice, cultural highlights, budgeting tips, and ideas to spark wanderlust for a variety of holiday types, whether students or educators are curious about global destinations or planning their own family travels.
In the Classroom
Assign students a Travelbag blog post about a destination. Have students identify key details such as location, climate, culture, landmarks, and activities, then share a one-minute destination pitch with the class. Use a blog post as a mentor text. Have students analyze how the author uses descriptive language and sensory details, then write their own short travel blog post or travel brochure using Canva for Education, reviewed here on about a real or imaginary destination. Have students design a mock travel itinerary inspired by the blog. They can include destinations, activities, transportation, a simple budget, and a persuasive explanation of why someone should visit that place.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Habits of Minds Kids - Habits of Minds Kids
Grades
4 to 6
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The Habits of Minds Kids offers free resources for students in grades 4 through 6. Resources include: a poster, lesson plans, and graphic organizers. The featured lesson plans are "Thinking...more
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The Habits of Minds Kids offers free resources for students in grades 4 through 6. Resources include: a poster, lesson plans, and graphic organizers. The featured lesson plans are "Thinking Independently" and "Defining 4 Square- Taking Responsibility Words." Graphic organizers include: Thinking About Your Thinking, Listening with Understanding and Empathy, Gathering Data through All Senses, and Responding with Wonderment and Awe." The site also features a four-minute video on striving for accuracy.
tag(s): empathy (67), senses (22), thinking routines (35), thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
Students can complete the lessons from the website. Students can create a comic showing responsibility, understanding, or empathy using Free Comic Strip Maker by Adobe, reviewed here. Students can use ScreenPal, reviewed here to create short videos modeling the different Habits of Mind.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Activities for Metacognition - DePaul University
Grades
3 to 12
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If you want a clear, practical way to help students understand how they learn, the DePaul University Teaching Commons page on Activities for Metacognition is a useful resource. It explains...more
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If you want a clear, practical way to help students understand how they learn, the DePaul University Teaching Commons page on Activities for Metacognition is a useful resource. It explains metacognition as both reflection (what we know) and self-regulation (how we learn). The guide shows how metacognitive activities can help students identify prior knowledge, set goals, monitor their learning, evaluate their work, and transfer strategies to new tasks. It also shares simple classroom structures such as journal prompts, partner conversations, and whole-class routines that you can use before, during, or after a lesson to strengthen students' awareness of their own thinking.
tag(s): critical thinking (179), social and emotional learning (195), thinking skills (116), visual thinking (13)
In the Classroom
During reading or writing, call a "strategy pause." Have students stop for one minute and write down which strategy they are using, why they chose it, and whether it is helping them build monitoring and mid-lesson adjustment skills. Provide a new reading or writing task and ask students to select one strategy from a previous lesson to apply. Afterward, have them write a short explanation of how the strategy worked in a new situation to encourage long-term skill transfer. Students can create a simple flowchart showing how they approached a challenge: what they knew before starting, what strategies they tried, how they monitored progress, what they changed, and what they learned. Display students' charts to demonstrate visual thinking skills and strategies, or use Padlet, reviewed here to create a digital gallery walk of students' explanations.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Juneteenth Resources for Students of All Ages - Graduation Alliance
Grades
K to 12
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Explore this teacher-friendly collection of books, videos, and learning resources designed to help students better understand the history and significance of Juneteenth. The site organizes...more
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Explore this teacher-friendly collection of books, videos, and learning resources designed to help students better understand the history and significance of Juneteenth. The site organizes recommendations by grade bands (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12), making it easy for educators to locate age-appropriate materials that explore emancipation, freedom, African American history, and the ongoing importance of Juneteenth celebrations. Resources include read-alouds, historical nonfiction, poetry, interactive stories, songs, and educational videos from sources such as Sesame Street and PBS. Teachers can use the collection to support social studies, reading comprehension, media literacy, cultural awareness, and classroom discussions connected to history, citizenship, and diversity.
tag(s): african american (130), holidays (283), Juneteenth (33), poetry (196)
In the Classroom
Watch one of the educational videos suggested on the page, such as a PBS or Sesame Street resource, and lead a class discussion about freedom, equality, and why Juneteenth is still celebrated today. Create a poetry and art activity in which students read poems connected to freedom or perseverance, then design an illustration, collage, or symbolic artwork that represents the meaning of Juneteenth. Extend learning through a community connection project by having students interview family or community members about traditions, celebrations, or important historical events they remember. Students can compile responses into a class book, a podcast with Buzzsprout, reviewed here, or a bulletin board display about remembrance and community history.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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5 Metacognitive Tools to Reveal Hidden Learning - MiddleWeb
Grades
3 to 12
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The MiddleWeb article "5 Metacognitive Tools to Reveal Hidden Learning" shares five practical strategies that help students make their thinking visible by noticing confusion, identifying...more
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The MiddleWeb article "5 Metacognitive Tools to Reveal Hidden Learning" shares five practical strategies that help students make their thinking visible by noticing confusion, identifying patterns, and reflecting on how they learn. Designed for teachers who want to build stronger independence and deeper comprehension, use these tools to help students with ELA, math, science, social studies, and general study skills. Students can engage by jotting down what they think might be challenging before starting a task, enrich their learning by completing a quick reflection card about a strategy they used, and extend their growth by keeping a metacognition journal that tracks thinking patterns and how they overcome confusion.
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tag(s): learning styles (22), personalized learning (13), social and emotional learning (195), thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
Start a lesson with a "What I Think Will Be Hard Today" prompt, in which students jot down possible challenges before beginning a reading or math task. After completing an activity, have students fill out a brief reflection slip describing one strategy they used to learn, solve a problem, or understand a text more clearly. Create a Metacognition Journal on paper or using Book Creator, reviewed here where students record moments of confusion, document how they resolved them, and track patterns in their thinking over time to build ongoing learning habits.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Metacognition - Khan Academy
Grades
4 to 12
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The article on Metacognition in the Learn to Learn resource from Khan Academy defines Metacognition as the process of being aware of your own thinking and learning, knowing what you...more
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The article on Metacognition in the Learn to Learn resource from Khan Academy defines Metacognition as the process of being aware of your own thinking and learning, knowing what you understand and what you do not, monitoring your progress, and adjusting strategies as needed. For teachers, this module provides a clear, student-friendly way to introduce metacognitive skills such as predicting how well you will learn something, checking how you are doing, and reflecting on the strategies you used to become a more self-regulated learner. It offers a helpful starting point for classroom discussions about thinking about thinking.
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tag(s): critical thinking (179), social and emotional learning (195), thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
Read a short paragraph from a class text and model your thinking out loud. Pause to say things like "I am confused," "This reminds me of...," or "I need to reread this sentence." Then have students practice with a partner using a new sentence or poem. Students can color-code their learning during a lesson. Green means "I understand this," yellow means "I understand some of it," and red means "I need help." At the end, they write one sentence explaining why they chose that color. Have students choose one metacognitive skill, such as planning, monitoring, or reflecting, and create a poster that explains the skill and shows an example from their own reading or writing.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Pangram - Pangram.
Grades
4 to 12
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Pangram is a simple tool that helps teachers check student writing for plagiarism or signs that AI may have created it. It provides a dashboard where you can paste text, ...more
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Pangram is a simple tool that helps teachers check student writing for plagiarism or signs that AI may have created it. It provides a dashboard where you can paste text, and it returns a score indicating how likely the writing is to come from a human or an AI program. Pangram works with various learning platforms designed to be fair to students who write in different styles or languages. For teachers, it can be helpful when reviewing essays or other written assignments and can support conversations about what kinds of help are allowed when using AI. It is most effective when paired with clear guidelines and open communication, so students understand expectations and feel supported in developing their own writing voice.
tag(s): artificial intelligence (303), editing (90), writing (309)
In the Classroom
Provide short, teacher-created examples of writing and a few AI-generated samples. Have students work in groups to sort them and explain their reasoning. Have students work together to create a simple class pledge about honest writing, including using their own words, giving credit to sources, and asking for help in appropriate ways. Give students a short prompt and two minutes to write. Then, have them exchange papers and guess whose writing they are evaluating on the basis of voice and style. This exercise helps them recognize what makes their writing unique.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Metacognition in the Primary Classroom - Kent Educational Psychology Service
Grades
K to 6
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The document Metacognition in the Primary Classroom from the Kent Educational Psychology Service explains what metacognition is and why it matters for learning. It describes...more
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The document Metacognition in the Primary Classroom from the Kent Educational Psychology Service explains what metacognition is and why it matters for learning. It describes how metacognitive learners plan, monitor, and evaluate their thinking, and provides teachers with simple strategies to build these skills in everyday lessons. The guide also includes helpful examples from different subject areas and tools you can use right away to support students as they become more confident, independent thinkers.
tag(s): critical thinking (179), social and emotional learning (195), thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
During reading or problem solving, pause at key moments and ask students to share what is going on in their thinking. This quick routine helps students notice the strategies they use and hear new ones from classmates. Ask students to create a page (or a digital slide in Google Slides, reviewed here) that shows three strategies to help them learn. They include when they use each strategy and why it works for them. Combine these pages into a class strategy handbook. In small groups, have students design a short lesson to teach younger students about metacognition. They explain one strategy, give an example, and practice it with the younger class.
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How to Teach Metacognition in a Few Simple Steps - Kid Minds
Grades
2 to 8
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If you want a fresh and simple way to help students understand how their minds work, this article is a great place to start. The KidMinds page, How to Teach ...more
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If you want a fresh and simple way to help students understand how their minds work, this article is a great place to start. The KidMinds page, How to Teach Metacognition in a Few Simple Steps, explains metacognition in clear language and offers a practical five-step framework called A.G.A.I.N. (Assess, Gather, Analyze, Implement, Note). The article shows how students can learn to plan, monitor, and reflect on their thinking, becoming more aware of how they learn. It also highlights how metacognitive habits build confidence, independence, and stronger learning strategies. Teachers will find ready-to-use tools, such as posters, questions, and games, that make practicing metacognition engaging and easy to integrate into daily lessons.
tag(s): behavior (49), game based learning (304), social and emotional learning (195), thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
Give students simple cards with the five steps: Assess, Gather, Analyze, Implement, and Note. As they begin a task, they can hold the card and quickly walk through each step to plan their approach. Select a short reading passage or math problem and model your thinking aloud. Then have students try a short "student think-aloud" with a partner, describing what is happening in their minds as they read or solve. In small groups, students can create a kid-friendly guide to help younger students reflect on their own thinking. They can make posters, mini-books, or slides using Canva for Education, reviewed here that explain the A.G.A.I.N. steps with examples from real classroom tasks.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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A Little Spot of Flexible Thinking - Moomi Read Alouds
Grades
K to 5
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If you want a simple and engaging way to introduce students to the Habits of Mind, this video is a perfect starting point. A Little Spot of Flexible Thinking uses ...more
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If you want a simple and engaging way to introduce students to the Habits of Mind, this video is a perfect starting point. A Little Spot of Flexible Thinking uses relatable characters to show how our thoughts can become rigid and "stuck," much like an oak tree that refuses to bend. As the story unfolds, students see how shifting to flexible thinking, like a palm tree that moves with the wind, helps them adapt when plans change, solve problems creatively, and stay calm in challenging situations. This approach ties directly to the Habit of Mind Thinking Flexibly and encourages learners to consider new perspectives, adjust their approach, and recognize that their mindset influences how they respond to everyday obstacles. This video helps students learn how to stay calm, adjust, and keep an open mind in the classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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tag(s): flexibility (9), perspective (30), social and emotional learning (195), thinking skills (116)
In the Classroom
Give students a set of scenario cards (ex, "Your group changes the plan," "A game has new rules," "You make a mistake on a project"). Have students sort them into rigid-thinking responses and flexible-thinking responses, then discuss how the Habit of Mind Thinking Flexibly would affect the outcome. Students can draw themselves as a palm tree thinker and list three times when they adapted, changed a plan, or tried a new strategy. In partners, have students create a short skit that teaches younger students how to think flexibly. They must include a scenario, an example of rigid thinking, and a flexible alternative. Present these to another class or during a morning meeting.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Celebrating Juneteenth - Museum of the City of New York
Grades
3 to 12
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The Museum of the City of New York's "Celebrating Juneteenth" page provides historical background, poetry, music, and reflection activities that help students explore the meaning and...more
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The Museum of the City of New York's "Celebrating Juneteenth" page provides historical background, poetry, music, and reflection activities that help students explore the meaning and significance of Juneteenth. The resource explains the history of the holiday, including the events of June 19, 1865, and features multimedia components such as spoken-word performances, interviews, and guided poetry-writing exercises featuring poet Shanelle Gabriel. Teachers can use the site to support discussions about freedom, identity, Black history, civic understanding, and creative expression while integrating social studies, ELA, poetry, and culturally responsive learning into the classroom. If your district blocks YouTube, the videos may not be viewable.
tag(s): african american (130), holidays (283), Juneteenth (33), poetry (196)
In the Classroom
After learning about the history of Juneteenth, have students create a classroom timeline using MyLens, reviewed here that highlights important events from the Emancipation Proclamation through June 19, 1865, and modern Juneteenth celebrations. Students can add illustrations, quotes, and historical facts. Encourage students to complete a reflection journal activity in which they respond to prompts about equality, justice, and civic responsibility. Pair the writing activity with small-group discussions to build speaking and listening skills. Use the spoken-word poetry examples on the site as mentor texts, and have students write their own poems about freedom, identity, hope, or community. Students can perform their poems during a classroom poetry celebration.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Juneteenth Lesson Plan: Resources for ELA & Social Studies - Newsela
Grades
K to 12
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Newsela offers a collection of Juneteenth lesson ideas and resources designed to help teachers explore the history, significance, and lasting impact of Juneteenth through ELA and social...more
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Newsela offers a collection of Juneteenth lesson ideas and resources designed to help teachers explore the history, significance, and lasting impact of Juneteenth through ELA and social studies instruction. The article includes differentiated reading materials, multimedia analysis activities, primary sources, historical speeches, videos, timelines, and discussion prompts that help students build background knowledge while strengthening literacy and critical thinking skills. Teachers can find lessons connected to emancipation, the Emancipation Proclamation, Frederick Douglass, Black history, and modern conversations about freedom and equality. The site also highlights ready-to-use text sets and classroom activities that support culturally responsive teaching and cross-curricular learning for elementary through high school students.
tag(s): african american (130), differentiation (92), holidays (283), Juneteenth (33), multimedia (62)
In the Classroom
Have students read a differentiated Newsela article about Juneteenth and create a timeline using Padlet, reviewed here showing important events leading to the end of slavery in the United States. Students can add illustrations, key vocabulary, and cause-and-effect relationships. Create a classroom "Freedom Quilt" project where students design quilt squares representing themes such as freedom, resilience, equality, family, or community. Combine the squares into a collaborative classroom display. Have students compare Juneteenth celebrations today with other national holidays by using a graphic organizer using the 2 and 3 Interactive Venn Diagrams by Class Tools, reviewed here to examine traditions, historical significance, symbols, music, food, and community events.
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