No matter what grade you teach, this week gives you both the opportunity and the need to be highly creative. That’s what it takes to focus the children’s attention on necessary academic instruction while their minds and imaginations are filled with Halloween (even though you might not celebrate this holiday at your school) and the other excitements of the season.

What tricks or treats do you have up your sleeves to keep your students engaged this week? Here’s a suggestion I think might be a triple play! Ask questions about the three topics generating energy and excitement across the country right now:

• “What are you going to be for Halloween?”
• “Who do you think will win the World Series?”
• “If you were old enough to vote, who would you vote for next week?”

All of these questions lend themselves to lively discussions as well as graphing and writing activities. With respect to this historic presidential election, it’s interesting to Google “kids and the election” and collect stories about how involved children of all ages are in presidential politics this year. What are you doing in your classroom or school to involve your students in discussing this American milestone? What do your kids–at school or at home–have to say about politics?

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