A High School classroom is an excellent space for growth-oriented discussion, even during secular studies. Bashy, a teacher of ninth-grade English Language Arts, uses literary pieces on self-growth topics during Sefira.
She sometimes brings in children’s books, too. The students love the lighter atmosphere that picture books bring.
The lesson is structured just like all other Literature classes, and the theme, rhyme structure, imagery, etc. spark quality literary discussion.
Books that can be purchased at national bookstores
The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss
A typical Dr. Seuss-style book about a community of Sneetches who are divided into two groups: those with stars on their bellies and those without. Through the storyline, the Sneetches realize that their external differences do not define their worth, leading to a conclusion about equality and friendship.
Brings home the meaninglessness of peer pressure and how people tend to perpetuate such an environment.
A book about a group of colored circles who stand up to Red, a powerful color that shames and excludes Blue. Through a simple narrative and vibrant illustrations, the book conveys a message about the importance of individuality, friendship, and the impact that one voice can have in creating more inclusivity.
Well-known book that shows a picture and keeps zooming out further and further to add perspective. The children in the first picture are really on the cover of a magazine, in an ad on a bus which is pictured on a tiny postage stamp, and so on.
Can be used to highlight how limited our view of a situation can be. Can be used to encourage taking a wider perspective, or to be dan l’kaf zechus.
Although this book has no words, there is quality to the experience of sharing this book with your class.
A hilarious, almost nonsensical book about a boy who gets his kite trapped in a tree and keeps throwing items at the tree, and they all get stuck too. Highlights how we sometimes react to challenging situations in ways that either don’t solve them or even make them worse.
https://tuteachercenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Excel-grading.mp4 Spreadsheets make calculating students’ grades quick and easy. They’re efficient and can be easily updated if anything changes, saving you from redoing all the math. Plus, they help keep everything organized and accurate, reducing mistakes. With a digital backup, your data is safe and easy to share with the school office, making it simple to include grades on report cards. Overall, spreadsheets make grading a breeze! If you’ve never done this before, here’s a step-by-step guide to creating your custom grading spreadsheet. 1. Set Up the Spreadsheet Header Open Excel and in Row 1, create the following headers: A1: Student Name B1: Test 1 C1: Test 2 D1: Test 3 E1: Test 4 F1: Final Score G1: Grade You can adjust the number of assignments/tests to suit your needs. 2. Enter Students’ Scores In rows 2 and onward, enter data for each student. Example: A2: Aviva B2: 85 C2:
There’s nothing more exhilarating than a pile of marked papers. And there’s nothing more overwhelming than a pile of unmarked test papers. Testing and accurate marking are necessary to hold students accountable and give them the feedback they crave. Here are some tips to lighten your marking load and help you finish the school year paperwork-free! In General: Plan Ahead When creating your test, set up the questions to make the marking move quicker. Use more short-answer or multiple-choice questions. (Click HERE for more tips on creating tests.) Small increments Tackle five to ten tests at a time. Section by section Create a sample answer sheet and cut out the answers to each section. Put the answer key near the students’ answers to rely less on your memory. Magic Marker Hire an assistant or a colleague to help with grading. For Essays and Long Answers: Use symbols or
“Last day’s lesson? Sore topic!” says a fourth-grade teacher. “I can never predict how long the end-of-year assembly will last, so every year I end up either over-planning or under-planning the closure activity!” Navigating the school year’s close can be quite challenging for educators. With various school-wide assemblies and the need to wrap up the curriculum, finding the balance of a quick-but-impactful activity can be tough. However, incorporating one of the following interactive activities can transform the last days of school into a valuable opportunity to celebrate student achievements, share cherished memories, and strengthen the sense of community among classmates. These activities can be adapted to fit a time frame of 15 to 45 minutes, allowing teachers to maintain flexibility as needed. Craft On the last day of school, a third-grade teacher we asked said she wraps up the scrapbook page for the final bracha of Shemone Esrei. “Crafts are
Creating Questions Create an outline of the material taught Mark “must know” vs. “nice to know” information. When creating questions, prioritize questions on “must know” content Be cognizant of students’ skills and age level when choosing types of questions Think ahead towards marking: True/false, multiple choice, matching = quick scoring. Open-ended questions = more time-consuming. Fine-Tuning Take the exam yourself; time it to gauge difficulty. Have someone else take the exam for perspective. This will help you be aware of potential issues students may face. Write clear instructions for each test section. Include a warm note or poem in the cover letter for the final to reduce stress. Preparing Your Students Distribute copies of your outline to students. This provides them with a framework for studying and helps them realize that the content is not infinite. Teach effective study strategies. (You can refer to this article for ideas
https://tuteachercenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Excel-grading.mp4 Spreadsheets make calculating students’ grades quick and easy. They’re efficient and can be easily updated if anything changes, saving you from redoing all the
There’s nothing more exhilarating than a pile of marked papers. And there’s nothing more overwhelming than a pile of unmarked test papers. Testing and accurate
Creating Questions Create an outline of the material taught Mark “must know” vs. “nice to know” information. When creating questions, prioritize questions on “must know”
Over the years, I’ve observed that many students struggle with navigating complex subject matter and managing their time effectively, while juggling a budding teen’s social
A classroom is a busy place. Homework sheets, contests, tests, recess time, projects…the action is nonstop. In this thriving hive of activity, how can we
Please be aware that the deadline for placing orders is Tuesday, August 19. Any orders received after this date will be processed in the order they were placed, starting September 4.
From August 20 through September 3, teachers are encouraged to visit their local Torah Umesorah Teacher Center to shop for preprinted items.
At this time we offer classroom setup materials only for General Studies. You can also browse themed bulletin boards by clicking General Studies in the menu.
