Every year it seems like I find a new set of favorite activities/resources for the coming school year.  Well, this year I have 4 amazing resources to share with you guys for #BestResourceEver for the Back to School 2016 season.  I wanted a “top 3” list but couldn’t narrow it down to just 3 so I picked 2 activities for students and 2 resources for teachers.

The activities are a better fit for history teachers but the teacher resources can be used by any middle or high school teacher.  By the way, there’s no way I could do these justice so definitely click on the links to check them out in more detail!

4 resources secondary (history) teachers need to get this year!

1. This template for a pamphlet activity can be used in over 30 different ways to review ANY history topic!  Each option incorporates academics, opinion, creativity, and visuals.

 It’s an activity that every teacher should have in their go-to stash, especially since no two review pamphlets in a unit would be the same and students would have different options to choose from for the next unit.  You won’t believe the mileage you get out of this!

2.  Students will LOVE learning and reviewing topics such as Jamestown, the Oregon Trail, and all the presidents with these doodle notes.

 They come in a variety of set-ups (color, black and white, notes included, blank for students to take notes in) for your convenience. They are easy for students to personalize and they will keep students fully engaged in the topic at hand.  My favorite part of them (though it was hard to pick just one thing) is the comic figure who tells students things like “it’s always a bad idea to go to the bathroom right next to where you get your drinking water!”

3.  This planner is a must have for secondary teachers.  I splurged on getting it professionally printed and bound and I ADORE it!  Some of my favorites parts of it include the pages/spaces to plan out activities for the month, notes for what not to forget, reflection areas, monthly calendars to plan ahead, and more!

You can get it in a few different patterns/themes, you can easily reprint it to use year after year, and an added perk is how fantastic it is for lefties like myself since it works with a top binding 🙂

4.  Last, but certainly not least, are these “make grading easier” type forms, but really, there’s a plethora of checklists/sheets/forms for you to stay organized and keep records of many different kinds regardless of the subject you teach.

 My favorites are the feedback forms, class bragging sheet, class results analysis form, and post assignment reflection form.  There were sheets included in this that I didn’t realize I wanted/needed until I got this resource.

I’ve been loving putting my lesson plans together in my new planner, I can’t wait to use the pamphlet and doodle note activities, and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the feedback and organization forms positively impact my classroom.

Which resources or activities would make your top 3 or top 4 list?  I’d love to read it in the comments below 🙂

4 resources secondary (history) teachers need to get this year!