Congrats to our 2019 Big Fish Winners!
Inspiring Nebraska teachers with innovative ideas! See winning entries below!
​

WINNER:
Heather Linden
[email protected]
York Middle School
Heather shared her crazy new ways to increase student movement and decrease transition time. These ideas get her students excited about learning as well as help with classroom management. She uses catchy attention call backs such as “1-800 --- CONTACTS,” has students pretend they are in the Starbucks line as they line up to get Chromebooks from the cart, and “the soccer mom lap” just to get them up and moving. Heather feels these strategies are super simple, quick and best of all, take zero prep time.


​

Mindy Podraza
[email protected]
Ralston Middle School
Mindy explained how her school has incorporated an interdisciplinary unit around the Greek Olympics. This unit stems largely from learning about Greek history in Social Studies but involves all subject areas such as LA reads mythological stories, math studies Pythagoras, Science learns about the Hippocratic oath. The grade forms 4 city-state teams and many team building activities are done within homerooms. It culminates with an actual olympic games competition with everyone dressed in togas. Mindy said this is hands down what most RMS alumni recall as their favorite part of middle school.

Dani Niss
[email protected]
Pawnee City
​Dani implemented a classroom Bingo to help with classroom expectations, growth mindset, and behavior management. Some square examples are turning in homework, being on time, being prepared, and celebrating mistakes. The class works as a unit to earn Bingo squares and can earn rewards for different Bingos accomplished. Bingo is student-monitored and they hold one another accountable. All rewards are free and simple such as game time, social time, or outside time to name a few.

Teresa Kathman
[email protected]
St. Joseph School in York
Teresa created a "Homeworkopoly" bulletin board. Every Friday, if kids have turned in all homework on time for the week, they get a chance to roll and move around the board. Chance and Community Lunchbox cards give kids a chance at extra prizes. This has created lots of motivation for many of her students to do their homework. Prizes can range from sitting in her teacher chair, choosing music to listen to, or eating lunch with her. Versions of this can be found online.

Stephanie Peyatt
​[email protected]
St. Joseph School in York
Stephanie explained a technique she uses called “Grammar Rants.” When students make common grammar mistakes, she goes on a “rant” about it with calling anyone out. Because of these hilarious rants, students are more likely to remember and not make those same mistakes again. By laughing and having fun with these mistakes, students learn that there is no shame in making a mistake as long as everyone can learn from it.