The Hassle Log

Part of having a strong community and a safe school is good conflict resolution and anger management. Help your students learn more about their emotions and behaviour, reflect on their experiences, and gain the skills they need for positive self-control with "The Hassle Log" from Keep Cool!

Click here to download the log sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Literacy Program Assessment

Does your school have a strong literacy community? Does every member of the school community contribute to making literacy work? Take a look at this assessment checklist from Graham Foster's Working Together to Improve Literacy, and decide what works in your school, what it still needs, and how you can build a better community.

Click here to download the checklist.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Parent & Community Involvement

An important part of a safe and strong school is fostering involvement with parents, families, and the community at large. How successful is your school at forming and keeping these connections? Take this questionnaire from The Principal Difference by Susan Church to find out!

Click here to download the questionnaire.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Building Safer Classrooms

A large part of community building involves ensuring a safe and happy environment for all your students. If you are looking for advice on countering bullying in your school and classroom, this step-by-step advice from Ken Rigby's Stop the Bullying will help you set simple goals, and build a solid anti-bullying plan.

Click here to download the worksheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Life Circles

Happy New Year! We'd like to welcome you back with this great activity from Kathy Paterson's Differentiated Learning -- a simple way to get students thinking about themselves and their place in the world, and develop self-awareness, self-respect, and self-confidence.

Click here to download the activity.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Walk It Out -- Funny Walks!

As the holidays creep closer, you might find your kids getting more wound up and less attentive in class. These great "get moving" exercises from Sheree Fitch's Breathe, Stretch, Write will give kids a chance to walk those sillies out, and refocus on the classroom.

Click here to download the exercises.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Literacy for Fun!

Are your students starting to get impatient for the holidays? Keep their interest in literacy by helping them plan their vacation fun with this guide to deciphering entertainment schedules, from Kathy Paterson's Real Life Literacy.

Click here to download the guide.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Tips for More Effective Studying

With the end of term fast approaching, many of your students may be getting nervous about final tests and exams. Help them to feel more in control of their situation with these great tips on managing time and space to make the most of their study time. (from Learning to Learn, by Mike Coles, Chas White & Pip Brown)

Click here to download the tip sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Get Moving!

It's getting on to that time of year again -- days are darker, drearier, and the holidays are coming up. If your students are having difficulty staying focused and motivated in class, try this great listening activity from Kathy Paterson's 3-Minute Motivators -- challenge your kids to get focused, get creative, and get involved!

Click here to download the activity.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Constructive Talk -- Conflict Resolution

As Ontario wraps up Bullying Prevention Week, it might be a good time to remind students of ways to turn negative and hurtful words into constructive talk. These worksheets from Paula Galey's Keep Cool! offer a blueprint to honest discussion, framing a problem, and negotiating a positive solution.

Click here to download the worksheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Critical Viewing

Today's kids spend a lot of time viewing different types of media, particularly television. How critical are they of what they see and hear? This exercise in critical viewing through genre, from Graham Foster's Language Arts Idea Bank, will help kids be more thoughtful about everything they see, hear, and do.

Click here to download the exercise.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Media Literacy in the Classroom

As you prepare to celebrate Media Literacy Week next week with your students, you might be looking for ideas on where to start. Try one (or more!) of these digital tasks from Lisa Donohue's Keepin' It Real -- sure to inspire students to get thinking, get creative, and get digital!

Click here to download the task cards.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

20 Questions

Before students can be truly successful in research and information gathering, they need to know how to ask the right questions to get the answers they are looking for. Try one of these versions of 20 Questions, along with a student review of the game, from Carol Koechlin and Sandi Zwaan's Q Tasks, to get students thinking critically.

Click here to download the games and review sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Compare and Select Information

Once students have compiled a body of research, it can often be hard for them to decide what to do with it. Try these task sheets, from Carol Koechlin and Sandi Zwaan's Info Tasks, which will guide students in comparing information and sources, and selecting that which will be the most useful for their purpose.

Click here to download the task sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Study Skills

Many students use the library to hit the books -- to study, to learn, and to research. To help them maximize their learning, try these great tips for recall, studying, and keeping an open mind, from Tricia Armstrong's The Whole Brain Solution. They've got everything students need to get the most out of their school library!

Click here to download the tips sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Online Critical Literacy

In honour of Canadian Library Month, October's Friday Freebies will focus on libraries and information literacy. This month, download some information on using critical thinking skills to appropriately evaluate online resources , including a criteria checklist for kids, from Literacy, Libraries, and Learning.

Click here to download the critical thinking bundle.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Planning for Writer's Workshop

To wrap up September's series on writing, we have a very special sneak peek at one of our newest books, Adrienne Gear's Writing Power! If you're wondering how best to manage writer's workshop in your classroom, you'll love these great masters: a weekly writing lesson planner and a teacher-student conference record.

Click here to download the master sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Fractured Fairy Tales

Looking for a fun way to get students thinking about sentence structure and word choice in their writing? Try this activity from Les Parsons' Grammarama! -- cooperative writing of a "fractured fairy tale", sentence by sentence!

Click here to download the student activity sheets and teacher guideline.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Writing Circles

Writing circles -- small groups of students that gather to share and respond to each other's writing -- are a great way to get kids thinking more deeply about their writing. To help students get the most out of this process, try these tip sheets, from Sylvia Gunnery's The Writing Circle, on the best ways to share and respond in a group.

Click here to download the tip sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Patterns of Writing

Are your students sometimes unsure what's being asked of them when they receive a writing assignment? Try this great primer from Maria Carty's Exploring Writing in the Content Areas, which gives simple patterns and tips for the major writing styles that students encounter.

Click here to download the primer.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Writing Assessment

At the start of a new year, one of the best ways to get to know your new students is to get them writing! All September, the Friday Freebie will feature tips and tricks for writing, starting this week with Graham Foster's generic writing rubric from The Writing Triangle -- help your students keep their writing on track and on task!

Click here to download the rubric.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

*For more great writing tips, check out Lisa Donohue's posters complimenting The Write Voice on her blog!*

Classroom People Search

With the new school year starting next week(!), you might be looking for a new and more interesting way to get your students learning each other's names, talking, and getting comfortable in the classroom. Why not try this great "People Search", from Student Diversity, 2nd Edition -- break the ice with a live scavenger hunt!

Click here to download the "People Search" activity.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Planning and Recordkeeping

As you plan for the new year, you might be looking for better ways to plan, organize, and keep good records of your clas observations. Try these great ideas and templates from Maria Carty's Surviving and Thriving -- your perfect guide to classroom management and organization.

Click here to download the templates.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Organizing Space and Time

As you plan for the new school year, are you wondering about the best ways to get organized? Try these top ten tips from Kathy Paterson's 55 Teaching Dilemmas -- ten great ideas for organizing your personal classrom space and organizing your time for a smooth-running year.

Click here to download the tip sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebe archive.

Creating a Classroom

In the latter days of summer, the time will come to start planning for the new school year. As you think about the year you'd like to have, try some of these tips, from Kathy Paterson's How do I teach …and keep my sanity?, to help you plan out a teacher-friendly classroom that you can live in for a year.

Click here to download the tips sheet.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Summertime Literacy

Are you looking for ways to take your kids' summer literacy activities beyond the summer reading list? Try some of these fantastic games and activities centred around newpapers, from Jane Baskwill's Getting Dads on Board. Although originally intended for dads, these ideas are fun for the whole family!

Click here to download the newspaper games.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Storytime

Looking for ways to keep storytime fun, engaging, and rewarding throughout the summer? You'll love this wealth of tips from Early Literacy Fundamentals, by Sue Palmer & Ros Bayley, with advice on telling children stories and children telling stories, along with a list of great books to read aloud.

Click here to download the tip sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Holiday Time

With summer underway, it's time to think about vacations! Are you taking a car trip this year? If so, you'll love this "Holiday Time" prep sheet, from Help Your Child to Succeed by Bill Lucas and Alistair Smith, with a great ideas for getting ready for a car trip, and games to play in the car with kids.

Click here to download the "Holiday Time" sheet.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Summer Novel Lists

Are you worried about students losing their enthusiasm for reading over the long summer holiday? Why not encourage them to try some of the books from this fantastic novel list, one of many book lists from Larry Swartz & Shelley Stagg Peterson's Good Books Matter -- with some of the best children's and YA books out there to choose from.

Click here to download the list.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Working Together -- Body Sculpture

This week, try this great activity for the whole class, from Sheree Fitch's Breathe, Stretch, Write. Providing a fun break from end-of-year demands, Body Sculpture will also get kids working together, thinking more deeply, and inspired with creativity.

Click here to download the activity.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Test Taking

Are your students worried about tests and exams? Ease their fears and give them an edge with these test preparation tips from Catherine Walker & Edgar Schmidt's Smart Tests -- everything they need to know to succeed!

Click here to download the tip sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Essay Writing -- Student Self-Review

When working on final essays, students will want to make sure they have their best work done. With revision in mind, they'll value these two sheets from Graham Foster's I Think, Therefore I Learn -- one a checklist of essay elements, the other a scoring guide, which will help students view their essay from a more critical point of view.

Click here to download the review sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Tips for Revision

Do your students have end-of-year assignments due in the next few weeks? You might want to give them this handy tip sheet from Kathy Paterson's Text Me a Strategy, that will remind them of key points to revisit when editing and revising their work. It's just the thing to stave off last-minute panic and produce polished work!

Click here to download the tips sheet.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Handling Stress

As the end of year approaches, with projects, tests, and exams piling up, many students may find themselves becoming overwhelmed by stress and pressure. This simple checklist, from Mike Coles, Pip Brown, and Chas White's Learning to Learn, will help students put things in perspective and get a better handle on stress.

Click here to download the checklist.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Student Study Tips

With spring comes the thought of the end of school -- and with that, final assignments, tests, exams. To give your students the guidance they need, try this great list of study tips from Kathy Paterson's How do I teach ...and keep my sanity?, that will help kids get organized and study smart.

Click here to download the tips sheet.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Create a Spring Poetry Folder

With spring on it's way, it's a great time to encourage kids to get outside, and inspire great writing about the things they see and find there. This week's Freebie, from Paul Johnson's Making Books, offers a step-by-step guide to creating a poetry folder -- an ideal way to showcase writing about nature and discovery.

Click here to download this week's Freebie.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Sensing Poetry

This week, try out a great anchor lesson in poetry from Jan Wells & Janine Reid's Writing Anchors. With plenty of great ideas for helping students to use their senses to engage with poetic imagery and poetic thinking, this week's freebie includes a reproducible page to track sensory thinking.

Click here to download the lesson.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Discovering Poetry

The best way to introduce kids to poetry is to immerse them in it -- to build an environment where poetry can be found. This week, from Katherine Luongo-Orlando's A Project Approach to Language Learning, discover a host of wonderful ideas for surrounding children with poems and bringing poetry to life in your classroom.

Click here to download this week's Freebie.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Poetry Reading Log

Help your kids keep track of the poems and poets they've read with this Poetry Reading Log from Judy Green's How Bullets Saved My Life. Having a reading record can help kids remember not only what they've read, but what they loved, and serve as a reminder when searching for poetic inspiration.

Click here to download the Reading Log.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Spring into Poetry!

April is National Poetry Month -- what better way to celebrate Spring than with poems, poets, and language fun?! If you're looking for a way to start with poetry in the classroom, try something from our 10 Top 10 Poetry Collections, from Sheree Fitch & Larry Swartz' The Poetry Experience. You'll find ideas for every grade, reading level, and personality.

Click here to download the 10 Top 10s.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Plotting the Plot

Do your students have trouble getting started with story writing? Try this amazing list of imaginative plot ideas from Mark Thurman's Get Graphic -- there's sure to be something to spark the creativity of even the most reluctant writer.

Click here to download this week's Freebie.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Supporting Student Writers

If writing is a struggle in your classroom, look no further than Ron Benson's brand-new book, Write It Right! This week's download offers a valuable sneak peek at this handy tool -- a discussion of some great ways to support and encourage your student writers, while giving them the time the need to complete great pieces of writing.

Click here to download this week's Freebie.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Writing: Planning a Story

Even kids with a lot of imagination, confidence, and style sometimes need to put more thought into their writing. These two planning forms, from Graham Foster's The Writing Triangle, will help writers to organize a more complete piece of writing and to add more specific details that will really shape their stories into something wonderful!

Click here to download the forms.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Parents as Partners

Are you looking for ways to involve parents in their children's literacy learning? Check out these great ideas from David Booth & Larry Swartz' Literacy Techniques. These veteran educators have also included a suggested letter home to parents, introducing them to your classroom's literacy program.

Click here to download the "Parents as Partners" document.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Reading Power: A Guide for Parents

A great way to help parents and families become more involved in their children's literacy learning is to let them know exactly what's going on in the classroom. This guide to reading comprehension for parents, from Adrienne Gear's Reading Power, is a great aide to help parents work along with their kids at home.

Click here to download the guide.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Promoting Early Literacy

With Family Day coming up in Ontario and Alberta, we feel it's appropriate to keeping talking about the relationship between school and home. This week, we offer a sheet of ideas you can share with parents for promoting early literacy with environmental print, from Anne Burke's Ready to Learn.

Click here to download the sheet.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Literacy in Your Living Space

Although Family Literacy Day was January 27, there's always time for literacy in the home! The parents and families of your kids will love these pages from Help Your Child to Succeed, by Bill Lucas and Alistair Smith, that offer a number of great suggestions and activities for literacy and learning in the home living space.

Click here to download the activity sheets.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

The Language of TV

One way to encourage literacy in the classroom is to find it in the activities kids enjoy at home. In Jennifer Rowsell's book, Family Literacy Experiences, one major literacy activity discussed is television. Download these few pages to get a taste of the multimodal possibilities of children's television viewing.

Click here to download the pages.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Introducing Home Connections

Families play a vital role in raising a reader. But before starting to send books and materials home with students, you might want to explain what you are doing and why. In her recent book, Books as Bridges, Jane Baskwill suggests hosting an information night, and provides a sample invitation letter to send to parents that you might find useful.

Click here to download the letter.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.

Take-Home Activity Kits

Are you looking for innovative ways to involve parents in their children's school lives? Try these ideas for Take-Home Activity Kits from Jane Baskwill's Getting Dads on Board -- fun and highly motivating for parents and child, they connect children's school learning experiences with home.

Click here to download the activity sheet.

Click here for the Friday Freebie archive.