There is something exciting about the start of a new year. You’ve left the hustle and bustle of the holiday season behind you. Even if you’re not into New Year’s Resolutions, you’ve possibly spent some time reflecting on ways to be your best self in the new year. While many teachers may feel excited about the new year, many also feel apprehension about the upcoming return to school after winter break. I’ve found that I have the best days returning from the break when I have students primarily engaged in independent work. That way, I can go around the classroom and check in with each student. It also provides the opportunity to handle any classroom management issues I saw creeping up before the break. To help you accomplish the same thing, I’ve created a New Year’s reading comprehension bundle that makes the perfect after winter break activities for middle school.
Reading about the history of New Year’s resolutions is a perfect after winter break activity for middle school!
Reading should be fun, but sometimes reading can be dry and tedious at the middle school level. I created this engaging reading passage about the history of New Year’s resolutions! This interesting passage is differentiated and comes at two different reading levels. It also includes reading comprehension questions, a writing assignment, and a differentiated context clues activity. It is the perfect way to bring New Year’s into your classroom while still focusing on essential reading comprehension skills. To make your life even easier, there is a digital Google Slides version so you don’t even have to make copies!
Get your students back into the groove with a fun context clues coloring activity.
Let your students get back into the swing of school by letting them break out their crayons! This fun context clues activity has students use context clues to determine the meaning of unknown words and then color to reveal a mystery image. This activity is essentially self-checking because students will be able to tell if something is wrong with their picture! The finished product also makes a great display for your classroom!
Let your students read text messages, just not the ones on their phone!
My text message analysis activity is one of my best-selling products, and I’ve created a New Year’s version that is a great after winter break activity! In this engaging activity, students read various text messages related to the new year. They will then answer questions requiring them to make inferences and cite evidence to support them. This no prep activity also comes in a digital Google Slides version, so you don’t even have to worry about making copies!
No matter how much you love teaching, returning to school after the winter break can be challenging! These standards-based after winter break activities for middle school are a great way for both you and your students to ease back into the routine. I’ve even created a money saving bundle of these resources!
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