Pssst…Don’t forget to score your FREE gift at the end of this page, made specifically for teachers who are teacher tired and need a break! Make sure to read to the end of this post!
There’s no tired like teacher tired! Am I right?
Let me set the scene for you. It’s Friday afternoon, you are exhausted and the last thing you can imagine doing is putting on your happy pants to teach an engaging lesson for your students.
What choice do you have?
This lesson has to get done! Your students need to learn the material, and most importantly have to be doing something because or they will get out of control (which is the last thing you need right now).
No.
What you need is an easy way to keep students’ engagement high that requires minimum effort and foresight on your part.
Enter…podcasts!
What are podcasts?
If you aren’t familiar with podcasts, they are an audio source of news, entertainment, and culture, journalism and storytelling. Listening to podcasts can offer students on-the-go insight into current events or compelling stories that supplement and extend classroom learning.
Podcasts are an easy way to capture students’ attention while educating them.
Podcasts have become very popular in the education space, with hundreds of podcasts made specifically for educating kids. Chances are, you can find a podcast that fits in with exactly what you are teaching your students in class.
Best of all, they require minimum prep work and keep your students working silently when you are teacher tired!
Read more about why I love using podcasts in my own classroom by clicking here!
What do you need to bring podcasts into your classroom?
All you need are technology devices (ipads, chromebooks, computers, etc…), headphones and a place for students to record their ideas.
Check out my Podcasts Response Worksheets, available on TpT!
Podcast hosting websites
Here are the top apps and websites to find podcasts.
- Pinna
- Apple Podcasts
- Listen Wise
- StoryCorps
- NPR News
Many podcast series house their episodes on their own websites. If you are having trouble finding a podcast on a specific app or site, be sure to check the podcasts’ website and/or Youtube channel.
How to Implement Podcasts in your Classroom
It is possible that your students won’t have heard of podcasts and do not know what they are.
To introduce podcasts, show your students this video
Discuss with your students how they get information. Chances are, many of them will mention visual mediums such as TV, books and online videos. Explain to students that podcasts are a solely audio way to get information and be entertained.
A great way to introduce podcasts to students is to let them explore and listen to different podcasts by choosing ones that interest them.
Before you go…
I have created a list of podcasts that my students have tried and loved. I want to give you this list for FREE as a thank you for checking out my wesbite!
Download this FREE podcast choice board for students by clicking here!
Do you use podcasts in your own classroom? Be sure to come check out our Facebook group and let us know how you use podcasts with your students by clicking the link below.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/158404296034215
2 thoughts on “Teacher Tired? Give Students This Activity to Keep Them Quietly Engaged”