Flocabulary for Mastery Periods, Study Hall Games and Homeroom Help

 

A song like “Prepositions” can serve as quick study hall enrichment for ELL students.Whether your school calls it mastery period, academic achievement period, extra help, homeroom or simply study hall, this time during the school day is an opportunity for students to get extra practice in a subject they may not feel confident in. For teachers, this time can sometimes pose a challenge if, say, you are a math teacher assigned to review reading skills. Lucky for you, Flocabulary has you covered. Many of our songs, videos and lessons lend themselves well to mastery periods: they’re easy to use, and offer a quick review of the basics or opportunities for enrichment. Read on for 7 ways Flocabulary can be used in mastery periods.

1. A Quick Current Events Review

Our weekly current events video, The Week in Rap is perfect for keeping students in touch with the world around them. And it’s great for study hall: many teachers fit their Week in Rap lesson into 5-15 minutes, and its relevant to any subject. We even made a math lesson out of current events!

2. Step Up Your Vocab With Word Up

Studies have shown that a large vocabulary directly relates to effective reading across the curriculum. Our Word Up Program units are organized by grade level, and will build your students’ vocabulary, no matter what subject you teach. Even if they’re studying other words in their language arts class, students can further supplement their vocabulary by using Word Up in mastery period.

3. Know Your Math

Our Math Raps are a great way for students of all grade levels to review important math facts. The second verse of each song gives students an opportunity to say the answer before the rapper. Once or twice a week in mastery period, challenge your students to answer as many questions correctly as possible. A contest will wake them up!

 

4. This Day in History

Introduce a “This Day in History” element to your academic achievement period. If there’s an important event in history, Flocabulary usually has a Social Studies song to go with it! For instance, our song about Postcolonialism paired well with Gandhi’s 143rd birthday on October 2nd. You can challenge your students to find a song that relates to each day.

5. Use the Scientific Method in Daily Life

Review the scientific method outside of science class. The scientific method can be used to solve challenges in many aspects of life. In fact, students probably use it every day without knowing it. From determining the quickest route to school to the breakfast that provides the most energy for gym class, the scientific method is useful even outside the science lab. Check out our lesson plan here.

6. Write Academic Rhymes

Students can build their higher order thinking skills by writing academic rhymes about any subject they are studying in school. If students say that they finished all their homework, challenge them to cement their knowledge by writing their own rhymes about what they’ve learned. They will synthesize information in a way that is more relevant and meaningful to them. Check out our guide to writing academic rhymes here.

7. Enrich English Language Learners’ Grammar Skills

English Language Learners should get as much language enrichment as possible to help them make gains, even outside of Language Arts class. By using our grammar songs during study hall or other free periods, you can help reinforce concepts ranging from nouns to prepositions to commas to subject and predicate. See all our grammar songs here.