Filtering by Tag: lifelong learning

Why Classroom Management Is Just a Fancy Word for Keeping Them Busy

July 13, 2025 / Oskar Cymerman

Let's be brutally honest, my teacher brethren. The holy grail of teaching isn't perfect lesson plans and groundbreaking pedagogical theories. No, it's the mythical monster of the classroom management variety.

Think about it.

We spend countless hours practicing our teacher look in front of the mirror, come up with ways to be proactive rather than reactive, and, if these preemptive strikes don’t work, devising elaborate consequence systems.

But maybe the secret isn't more rules. Maybe, just maybe, getting them to want to be there is the key. Maybe the ultimate classroom management strategy isn't about control, but making our students so utterly engrossed they forget they have phones, mouths, or a burning desire to ask if they can go to the bathroom.

Revolutionary ain’t it? Engaged students are busy students, and busy students are, by definition, not playing Brawl Stars on their phones instead of doing that one assignment or staging a dramatic re-enactment of that TikTok dance that went viral yesterday. When their brains are buzzing with curiosity, there's simply no bandwidth left for shenanigans. So, ditch the stern voice (like 93% of the time) and embrace the art of the creative, captivating curriculum. Your sanity and your classroom furniture will thank you.

5 Lesson Designs that Trick Your Students into Learning (aka How to Survive and Prevent Classroom Destruction)

Here are five cunning lesson strategies designed to suck your students into the learning vortex, leaving no room for mischief.

The Great Debate: Intellectual Thunderdome Edition

Pick a controversial topic relevant to your subject – perhaps the ethics of genetic engineering, the best solution for climate change (with actual scientific backing, obviously), or the merits of different historical figures. Assign roles, provide research materials, and let them duke it out. The sheer competitive energy and the need to sound smarter than their peers will keep them laser-focused. Just remember to set ground rules for actual "decorum," because while intellectual sparring is encouraged, throwing textbooks is generally frowned upon.

Escape Room: The Academic Edition

Transform your classroom into a themed escape room where every puzzle requires knowledge from your current unit. Students work in teams to unlock clues, solve riddles, and complete challenges that reinforce concepts and skills. The ticking clock and the promise of "escaping" (or at least getting bragging rights) is a powerful motivator. If they're too busy deciphering codes based on gas laws, they won't even notice their phone is still in their pocket. Bonus points if the final clue leads them to the bell.

The "Shark Tank" Innovation Challenge

Assign a real-world problem (e.g., how to solve local water pollution, design a sustainable city, or create a new recycling method). Students, working in groups, must research, brainstorm, design a solution, and then "pitch" their innovative idea to a panel of "investors" (you, a colleague, or even local community members). The competitive drive to create the most viable and impressive project will channel all their boundless energy into productive, creative output. Plus, the promise of an “investment" (extra credit for the winners, perhaps?) keeps them surprisingly compliant.

Gamified Learning Journey (with Leaderboards, Obviously)

Turn your unit into an epic quest! Break down content into smaller "levels," each with a specific learning objective and a clear "challenge" (quiz, mini-project, collaborative task). Use a simple points system and a visible leaderboard (because nothing motivates teenagers like public recognition of their superiority). Incorporate short, engaging online games (yes, like Kahoot or Quizlet, but maybe also some more complex simulations such as Minecraft) as "side quests." When they're trying to outscore their friends on a photosynthesis quiz, they don't have time to doodle inappropriate images on their desks.

Check out Matt Miller's Teach with Kahoot! blog post that explains how to use Kahoot! to not just review but deliver new instruction in a fun way and, if you teach chem, grab my Specific Heat Blind Kahoot! (free) to help your students both review the previous and learn some new stuff.

The CSI-style Classroom Mystery Investigations

Forget boring worksheets! Present your students with a compelling, open-ended problem that mirrors a real-world scenario. Maybe it's a mysterious event that led to puddles forming in the parking lot when it has not rained all week that requires them to apply scientific principles to deduce the culprit (dew, but not of the mountain variety). Provide evidence (case files with data, clues, bizarre notes) they must analyze, collaborating in small groups to piece together the truth. When they're arguing passionately about the spectral analysis of an unknown cosmic event, they're not arguing about who cooked and who sold during the football game last week.

And, yes, you'll be sacrificing some sleep and possibly your sanity during the setup phase of a learning experience of the CSI variety. But when you see your students transform into mini-forensic SEP (science and engineering practices) user experts, their brains buzzing with newfound investigative and critical skills, and a deep mastery of the universe, or at least the content, you'll know it was all worth it. Besides, who doesn't love a good mystery, even if the "victim" is just a cleverly disguised gummy bear?

If you don’t mind getting down and dirty, check out my next post on Making Lessons Fun the CSI-style: Classroom Mystery Investigations

But if you like your sleep, enjoy your general lack of crazy, teach Earth Science, and don’t mind spending three bucks, grab my Cosmic Scene Investigation Case, a lesson in which students examine and analyze 5 case files of data collected by various astronomical instruments (mostly various telescopes), which provide them with just enough data to investigate and (hopefully) correctly identify the cosmic event (kilonova) that led to the creation of these data files, aliens not included. Sorry!

So…

there you have it. The real secret to classroom management doesn’t involve waving a magic wand and exclaiming Imperio, Crucio, or Avada Kedavra - though you frequently want to. It's simply designing lessons so crazily compelling that your students forget they're even in school.

Okay, that may be a stretch. But still, you are already spending time devising lessons, ain’t ya? So instead of the tyrraditional (totally a word), mind numbing, sit and get stuff, look for ways to do it so your students are too busy learning, collaborating, and dominating their peers (‘cause it’s all about the dub) to ever consider causing mayhem. You're welcome.

Thanks for reading my thoughts! I hope they help. If you need thoughtful, engaging, and phenomena-based (the whole NGSS thing) Earth and Space Science or Chemistry lessons. I keep the prices decent, but if you cannot spare the $, please email me and I’ll give you whatever you need for free.

BOOKS & TOOLS

EQUITY Poster

$1.50

Sale

Introduction to Earth and Space Science - 5 Phenomenon-Based Projects

$10.00 $15.00

Sale

Back 2 School Classroom Bundle of 8 Posters

$5.00 $8.00

Chemistry Breakout: Gas Laws & Properties Escape Room Review Lesson

$3.50

Climate Change Debate: The Earth Science Intellectual Thunderdome

$4.00

Periodic Table of Students: A Fun Back to School Chemistry Classroom Activity

$3.00

Buy on Amazon

Sale

Earth Science: Create a Computer Simulation of an ESS Concept

$2.00 $3.00

[Earth & Space Science] Cosmic Scene Investigation: A Case of the Kilonova

$4.00

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categories / Science, Earth Science
tags / teaching teens, parenting teens, deeper learning, independence, lifelong learning, simplicity, skills, success skills, learning, making life easier, kids

10 Fun, Free, and Easy Ways to Up Your Earth Science Game This Summer

July 06, 2025 / Oskar Cymerman

While mere mortals might fritter away their precious summer weeks on frivolous pursuits like relaxing or not thinking about work, we, the esteemed purveyors of Earth and Space Science, know better. This isn't a break; it's a strategic window of opportunity to enhance our craft, all while remaining fiscally responsible. Because nothing says "summer" like a spreadsheet tracking your PD hours versus your cold drinks budget.

Here are ten absolutely riveting, budget-friendly activities designed to transform your summer into a pedagogical boot camp, with bonus tips on how to drag your unsuspecting loved ones along for the fun.

1. Embark on Online Geology Tours

Why spend money on gas and actual physical exertion when you can traverse the globe from the comfort of your own sweatpants? Online geology tours offer a truly immersive experience, minus the pesky sunburns and questionable trail mixes. You can ascend Mount Everest or descend into the Marianas Trench virtually, while meticulously mapping plate boundaries for that next year continental drift lesson. Make your significant other to look at your screen periodically and exclaim: "Wow, honey, check out this big ass rock!"

2. Curate Your Own Rock Collection

Forget those overpriced museum gift shops! The true joy of geology lies in painstakingly assembling your own rock collection from the thrilling locales of your local or regional park. Each dull grey pebble becomes a marvel, a testament to your eye for the unique. Involve your children by promising them treasure hunting, then subtly guiding them towards geologically significant specimens (i.e., anything vaguely crystalline) while they're trying to navigate puddles and mud. They’ll barely notice they're doing your fieldwork for you.

3. Apply for Teacher Science Projects

Why settle for merely free professional development when you can earn a paltry stipend while sacrificing your precious summer to actual, grueling research experiences? Imagine, spending weeks elbow-deep in sediment samples or enduring endless PowerPoints on advanced geochemical analysis, all while your peers are actually vacationing. This is your chance to really level up, even if it means forgetting what sunshine feels like. Your family will absolutely revel in your newfound exhaustion and the overly detailed dinner table lectures on the importance of watersheds.

4. Binge Free Online Earth Science Courses

Who needs summer blockbusters when you have an endless supply of free online courses on plate tectonics, atmospheric dynamics, or the intricate dance of the tides? These intellectual feasts will not only expand your mind but also fill those awkward silences at family barbecues with unsolicited facts about glacial erosion. Make your teenagers participate by calling it a screen time challenge. They'll thank you later. Or they’ll run away. Either way, it’ll be eventful.

5. Immerse Yourself in Gripping Earth Science Podcasts

Long car rides, mundane chores, existential crises – all perfect opportunities to pump your brain full of fascinating facts about seismology. Earth science podcasts are the ultimate multi-tasking tool, allowing you to relax while subtly absorbing complex scientific concepts. Pop in your earbuds during family beach trips; your loved ones will appreciate the quiet reflection as you silently judge the sedimentary layers of their sandcastle.

6. Master the Art of the Infographic

Move over, summer novels! The true literary pursuit of the discerning Earth Science teacher is crafting visually stunning, information-dense infographics. Imagine the sheer pedagogical power of distilling an entire unit on climate change into one glorious digital poster. This activity is perfect for those rainy summer days when your family is complaining about boredom; simply hand them a stack of statistics and tell them to make it pop.

7. Join Exclusive Social Media Groups

Summer is the ideal time to delve into the vibrant world of professional online communities. Instagram accounts dedicated to stunning geological formations, X (formerly Twitter) threads debating the precise density of Earth's core – it's all there, waiting for your insightful comments. Your loved ones will be utterly charmed as you spend your family evenings scrolling intently and voicing your approval for this or that channels use of satellite imagery.

8. Embark on Mind and Spirit-Nourishing Local Nature Hikes

Lace up those hiking boots and hit the trails! But don't just “enjoy nature” like some amateur. Every rock outcrop is a teaching moment. Every stream is a lesson in erosion. Point out striations, discuss fluvial processes, and marvel aloud at the wonders of deposition. Your family, craving fresh air, will reluctantly join, eventually developing an encyclopedic knowledge of local fault lines and glacial till.

9. Get Messy with Simple Household Experiments

Who needs a fancy lab when your kitchen is a veritable playground of chemical reactions and physical phenomena? From crystal growing with sugar to observing convection currents in boiling water, the possibilities are endless (and sometimes sticky). Your family will revel in the joy of sharing their living space with bubbling concoctions and the faint aroma of distilled vinegar. It’s a wonderful way to remind them that science truly is everywhere, even in their snacks.

10. Indulge in Highly Addictive Educational Online Games

End your long, hard day of summer PD with the ultimate reward: educational online games like Kahoot, Quizlet, or Gimkit. Spend hours identifying minerals, mastering plate tectonics, or answering red shift questions. Your family will understand you deserve some edutainment. Plus, it's a fantastic way to justify your screen time to yourself: “I'm not playing; I'm preparing!”

So there you have it: ten fun and relaxing ways to ensure you return to the classroom not just refreshed, but brimming with new knowledge and sharpened skills. Your students will be so impressed, they'll never suspect you haven't actually relaxed a single moment. Happy summer, my teacher brethren!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I believe my backyard rain stream sediment trap requires urgent attention.

Thanks for reading my thoughts! Our summer breaks are well earned, so I thought it appropriate to add some sarcasm to a post on summer PD. Below, you will find a little more serious summary of these thoughts in an infographic form. They are things that can really help, but are optional :)

BOOKS & TOOLS

EQUITY Poster

$1.50

Sale

Introduction to Earth and Space Science - 5 Phenomenon-Based Projects

$10.00 $15.00

Sale

Back 2 School Classroom Bundle of 8 Posters

$5.00 $8.00

Anthropogenic Phenomenon Investigation

$3.00

Buy on Amazon

Sale

Earth Science: Create a Computer Simulation of an ESS Concept

$2.00 $3.00

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Relax and Refresh: The Teacher Guide to Balanced Summering

June 29, 2025 / Oskar Cymerman

Summer Break: Where Brains Unwind (and Still Sneak in Some Smart Stuff)

Oh summer… a glorious expanse of unscheduled time, devoid of lesson plans, meetings, never-ending grading, and the enervating flickering of fluorescent lights. But what do we do with this fleeting freedom? How do we recharge our teaching batteries and stay sharp and ready for the end-of-summer onslaught?

Check out my guide to having a relaxing summer that will help you up your teaching game is a sneaky, stress-free way.

Embrace the Art of Strategic Laziness

First things first: you've earned some serious couch time. Just be careful not to let your brain turn into a Netflix-induced pile of mush. Here’s how to strategize your laziness:

Binge-Watch Documentaries aka Couch Professional Development

Forget the latest reality TV drama. Dive into a captivating documentary series. History documentaries? You're practically prepping for social studies. Science documentaries? Boom, STEM integration! Travel documentaries? Global awareness, baby! You're not just vegetating; you're absorbing information passively. Brilliant, ain’t it?

Check out Life on Our Planet on Netflix or any of the history shows on PBS.

Read for Pleasure and Sneak in Some Learning Theory

Pick up that thriller or romance you've been eyeing ‘cause no one has to know. But also grab a book on kick ass teaching, because it will help you kick ass in the classroom. No pressure to dissect it, just let intellectual osmosis take effect. If you accidentally fall asleep with it on your face, consider it a deep dive into the subconscious, as your mind processes what you’ve read while you snooze and drool on yourself.

I’ve recently enjoyed Storyworthy and Ultralearning and always come back to and learn more about how humans learn best when I revisit Brain Rules.

Master the Art of the Nap aka Cognitive Restoration

Naps aren't just for babies, sloths, and baby sloths. They’re brain power-ups. A well-timed or completely unexpected nap can clear the mental cobwebs, help you process information, and spark new ideas (like how to finally get that one student to stop picking his nose or how to get all students to happily put their phones away because they just can’t wait for what you have to say today).

Learn Something New Without Realizing You're Learning

Summer is the perfect time to explore hobbies that accidentally make you a better teacher. Here’s how to do it low key:

Take a Class That Has Nothing to Do with Education

Pottery? Stand-up comedy? Advanced interpretive dance? The more obscure, the better! You'll be honing problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and potentially developing a unique talent to share (or at least laugh about) with your future students. “Remember when I tried to sculpt a vase and it came out looking like a melted traffic cone? Epic!”

Become a Local Tourist aka Uncover Hidden Gems

Explore your own city or nearby towns or natural spaces. Visit museums, historical sites, quirky roadside attractions, or that one waterfall up north. You'll not only relax but also discover local resources and fascinating facts that can be woven into future lessons. "Did you know our town has the world's largest rubber band ball? Let's write a persuasive essay about why it should be our state's symbol!"

Conquer a New Recipe Aka Practice Measurement and Patience

Baking or cooking a complex dish requires precision, sequencing, and the ability to follow instructions (skills often lacking in students and adults). Plus, you get to eat the results! That’s some delicious professional development.

My go to is The Complete America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook, because they use science to perfect classic recipes and I’ve never made a recipe from it that wasn’t delicious.

Play With Technology

Yes, we've spent the school year glued to screens. But let’s be real: if you’re reading this, you’re on a screen. But summer tech does not have to be taxing if you choose to only play with it.

Explore Educational Apps for Fun, Not for Planning

Tinker with a few free educational apps that you've been curious about. Play around with them, see how intuitive they are, and discover their hidden features. You're not vetting them for your classroom; you're just experiencing them. If one makes you laugh or teaches you something surprising, it's a win.

Have you tried Khanmigo, Canva, or AI such as Google Gemini yet?

Listen to Podcasts While Doing Something Else

Commuting, cleaning, sunbathing – podcasts are your auditory companions. Find ones on current events, historical mysteries, or even obscure scientific breakthroughs. It's like having a fascinating lecture whispered directly into your ears; note-taking disallowed.

Hidden Brain, TED Radio Hour, Inquiring Minds, and The Jordan Harbinger Show are my faves.

Tidy Up Your Digital Life aka Reclaim Your Sanity

Delete those 7,000 unread emails. Organize your files. Back up your photos. Decluttered digital space equals a decluttered mind, leaving more room for important things, like remembering the name of that student who always wore mismatched socks (I still do!).

Check out this Digital Declutter Article and Checklist.

Prepare (Just a Little) for Next Year (Without Stressing Out)

A little bit of prep can go a long way in September, but the key is minimal effort.

Brainstorm One Big Idea

Don't plan out your entire year. Just think of one exciting new project or activity you always wanted to try. It could be a class-wide debate, a collaborative art installation, or a unit on the history of memes. Having one exciting idea bubbling will keep your creative juices flowing without overwhelming you.

Treat Yourself to Some New Supplies (Not Necessarily School-Related)

A new pair of shoes for each day of the week? A desktop toy that hypnotizes while it jiggles? A desk-size diffuser to mask the classroom must and stank? Investing in something small and fun for your workspace might create a little spark of excitement for the new year.

I use this classy-looking, inexpensive diffuser.

Reconnect with Colleagues Outside of School

Grab coffee or lunch with a fellow teacher. Or, better yet, arrange a happy hour that’s not on Friday after school to share your summer stories and commiserate about the impending return. It's a reminder that you're not alone in this noble, highly chaotic profession.

So my dear educator: embrace your summer with a relaxed mind and a low key, secret agenda of self-improvement. When September rolls around, you'll be refreshed, recharged, and possibly armed with an impressive collection of traffic cone-themed pottery and teaching strategery. Your students won't know what hit them.

What's one completely non-school-related skill you'd love to learn this summer?

Check out my shop (see top) if you need some classroom wall decor or a few thoughtful and engaging Earth and Space Science lessons. I try to keep the prices decent, but if you cannot spare the $, please email me and I’ll give you whatever you need for free.