With Election Day around the corner, now is the time to get students involved in how the election process works and informed about why it is important for them to be voting citizens.

Synonyms and antonyms are a vital part of a student's understanding of figurative language, and of words' relationships to each other. Learning the basics of synonyms and antonyms will give students the ability to express themselves more clearly, expand their vocabulary, and add emphasis to their speech and writing.

Well folks, it's almost Labor Day weekend, which means the start of the school year is a) days away or b) already underway! If you're still looking for a few activities and resources to fill out the next couple weeks, don't fret! We have compiled some of our favorites. Enjoy, and best of luck with the new school year!

The school year may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean that learning comes to a halt. Motivate your students to read this summer with decorative bookmarks, customized reading journals and more!

Sherman Oaks School, a TK-6 Two-Way Spanish Dual Immersion School located in San Jose, California, uses the Awards Maker to recognize incredible student success, and has cultivated a culture that celebrates and covets these awards, therefore encouraging student’s drive to succeed.

This end of year idea is part of our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta 2400 or VariQuest Poster Maker - just be sure you have the latest VariQuest Software v4.0! Lesson: End of Year Reading Celebration Level: Primary Classrooms Objective: Students will celebrate their reading successes for the current school year. Materials: Dr. Seuss Poster Reading awards for each student in the classroom. Snacks and drinks (if desired) Preparation: Print and display the Dr. Seuss poster in your classroom. Prepare individual student reading awards based on observations of student reading behaviors from Reader’s Workshop. We have included some ideas below. Click on each image to download the PDF Celebration Idea: During one of the final Reader’s Workshop times of the school year have the students gather in an area of the classroom to present awards for reading. Serve snacks and drinks (if desired). Take a moment to discuss each student’s successes in reading and present the student with his/her award. Reading Award Ideas: Most improved reader Always uses independent reading time wisely Stays on topic when talking about reading Pays attention during mini-lessons Chooses just right books The teacher might also think about reading skills that are a strength for each child. Here are some skills to consider: Comprehension Fluency Sight words Writing about reading The teacher might also consider what types of books a child reads and understands well (an expert, so to speak): Fiction Nonfiction Animal books History books Mysteries Popular series Did you like this lesson? Leave a comment and let us know what topics you would like us to cover in future posts and we will work on delivering free resources to help you prepare for your lessons!

This end-of-year idea is part of our partnership with educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core-aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta® Poster Design Systems - just be sure you have the latest VariQuest Software! Lesson: End-of-Year Celebration/Photo Booth Idea & Resources Level: K-12 Classrooms Objective: Students will celebrate the end of a successful school year by taking pictures with teachers and classmates. Materials: “Ready for ___ Grade” sign appropriate for grade level taught “School’s Out for the Summer” sign “Photo Booth” sign Photo Props – hats, scarves, sunglasses, headbands, etc. Smartphone or digital camera

This lesson plan is part of our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta Poster Design System - and be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Lesson: Introduction to Problem Solving Strategies (Two-Day Lesson) Level: Primary Objectives & CCSS Alignment: Students will increase independence in using various strategies to solve different types of word problems. *Note: CCSS has problem solving strategies spread throughout the domains for math. This lesson focuses on giving them a review of each of the various strategies. It is suggested that teachers follow up this review with a more in-depth lesson in each of the strategies as they fit naturally into the curriculum or as there is student need. Materials & Visuals: Anchor Chart – Problem Solving Strategies My Math Notes for Problem Solving Click on each image to download the PDF and print to a poster! Preparation: Think through a sample problem for each of the strategies listed on the anchor chart. These will be shown to the students as examples. Prepare “Problem Solving” anchor chart for mini-lesson. Copy the “My Math Notes for Problem Solving” page for each child in the classroom. You may choose to three-hole-punch this page for use in a Math Notes binder/folder to be kept by students and referred to throughout the year. Mini-Lesson: Ask students what a “strategy” is. Accept several answers and then lead the class to the conclusion that a strategy is a plan to reach a goal. In math a strategy would be a plan to reach a final answer. Display the anchor chart titled “Problem Solving Strategies” for the students. Tell them that these are some ways that they can use to solve all kinds of different math problems. Pass out “My Math Notes for Problem Solving” to each student and explain that this page is a place for them to write down some notes that will help them to remember what each strategy is and how to use it. They will keep this in their math binder/folder and can pull it out as a reminder when needed. *Note: The boxes of this resource have been left blank so that the teacher can decide the level of support needed to fill it out. Students may need to draw or write exactly what the teacher shares for each strategy or they may be allowed to draw or write whatever they feel will help them to remember the strategy. Briefly explain a few of the eight strategies and guide students as to how you would like for them to take their notes (copying the teacher notes or creating their own depending on grade or skill level). Introduce however many strategies that time allows for in this first lesson, and then complete the note-taking for the final strategies the following day. Have students place their Math Notes into an organized binder or folder that will be kept and used throughout the year. Did you like this lesson? Leave a comment and let us know what topics you would like us to cover in future posts and we will work on delivering free resources to help you prepare for your lessons!