“Kind Words Kaleidoscope” – A Heartwarming Way to End the School Year

 

As another school year comes to a close, it’s important to create moments that leave lasting impressions—experiences that go beyond exams and textbooks, and remind students of the value of connection, kindness, and community. One of our favourite end-of-course traditions is an activity we lovingly call “Kind Words Kaleidoscope.”

What is “Kind Words Kaleidoscope”?

This simple yet powerful activity turns colourful sheets of paper into treasured keepsakes. At the start, each student receives a brightly coloured paper where they write their name and—if they like—decorate it with a frame or doodles that reflect their personality. The teacher also joins in, participating just like the students.

Then begins the main part: the papers are passed around, and every student writes something kind on everyone else's sheet. It could be a compliment, a shared memory, or a simple note about something they admire or appreciate in the person. Not sure what to say? A cheerful "Have a great summer!" works just fine too.

Once all the papers are complete, students get to read the collection of kind thoughts written just for them. The room quickly fills with smiles, laughter, and sometimes even a few happy tears.

Why It Matters

“Kind Words Kaleidoscope” isn't just a fun exercise—it's a celebration of the relationships that were built throughout the course. In a world that moves fast and often focuses on performance, pausing to recognize each other’s qualities helps reinforce self-esteem, empathy, and gratitude.

It also:

• Fosters a positive classroom atmosphere
  Students end the year feeling appreciated and included. It strengthens the sense of belonging and helps students part ways on a high note.

• Builds emotional awareness
  Writing kind words requires students to reflect on their classmates as individuals, noticing and valuing their unique qualities.

• Creates a lasting memory
  Many students keep their papers for years as reminders of the good times and kind words shared.

A Meaningful Conclusion

Ending a course with “Kind Words Kaleidoscope” reminds us all that learning isn't just about what’s in the books—it’s also about the people we learn with. As students head off into their summer holidays, they take with them not only knowledge, but a small paper full of warmth, kindness, and connection.

Because sometimes, the kindest words are the ones we didn't expect to read—but needed the most.

🎲 Roll & Speak: Turning Dice Into Dynamic Discussions

 Ever wish your speaking activities could spark more energy and creativity—with less prep time? Meet the Roll & Speak method: a low-tech, high-impact classroom strategy that transforms ordinary discussions into spontaneous, laughter-filled speaking marathons.

   

---

🔧 How It Works

This activity blends structured spontaneity (yes, that's a thing) with student choice, critical thinking, and just enough silliness to break the ice.

1. Students get a topic — It could be light (“Pineapple on pizza?”), deep (“Can money buy happiness?”), or imaginative (“What if animals could talk?”).

2. They roll a six-sided die — And whatever number they get determines how they must talk about the topic.

For example:

🎲 Roll                               Task
1	Explain your opinion clearly
2	Give 3 reasons in favour
3	Give 3 reasons against
4	What would your grandma say?
5	Make a comparison
6	Tell a story

Suddenly, “Should students wear uniforms?” becomes a platform for debate, drama, and even impersonations (depending on your dice tasks).

---

🧠 Why It Works

This isn’t just fun—it’s smart pedagogy in disguise. Here's why:

• Cognitive Flexibility: Changing the speaking mode with each roll helps students think from different perspectives.

• Spoken Fluency: Students produce extended language output under playful pressure, which boosts fluency.

• Critical Thinking: They analyze, argue, and reflect—not just talk.

• Social Skills: Polite disagreement? Active listening? Empathy? It's all baked in.

• Motivation: Add the unpredictability of dice, and you've gamified speaking without sacrificing substance.

In short, it's where gamification meets communication strategy training.

Here you have some 7 cards: SAMPLE
The whole set of 30 (soon there will be more) is available for 25zl. 

---

Story Dice – A Fun and Creative Writing Activity for Any Classroom

Looking for a way to spark your students’ imagination and make writing exciting? Try using story dice – simple picture dice (or cards) that inspire spontaneous storytelling. This engaging method works well across age groups and can be adapted for language arts, ESL classes, or even as a warm-up for creative writing.

How does it work?

The activity is flexible, collaborative, and full of surprises. Here's one classroom-friendly approach:

1. Introduction
   Display a random set of story dice (or visual prompt cards) on the board. Students work in pairs or small groups.

2. The Beginning
   Each group selects two images and writes the beginning of a story based on them.

3. The Middle
   After a few minutes, students pass their stories to another group. A new set of three images is shown, and the new group continues the story using those prompts.

4. The Ending
   After another swap, the final group adds a conclusion, inspired by a final selection of images.

5. Sharing
   All stories are read aloud to the class. Expect plenty of laughter, surprises, and unique twists!

To make the experience even more engaging, you can bring students’ stories to life with AI-generated images.

---

Why is this activity worth trying?

Here are just a few benefits of writing with story dice:

• ✍️ Boosts creativity – Students explore unusual combinations and ideas freely.

• 🧩 Encourages logical storytelling – They must connect unrelated prompts into a cohesive narrative.

• 🤝 Fosters teamwork – Group writing builds communication and collaboration.

• 🧱 Reinforces story structure – Beginning, middle, and end are naturally practiced.

• 🎤 Improves oral expression – Reading stories aloud builds confidence and speaking fluency.

• 📖 Makes writing fun – Students see writing as a game rather than a chore.

---

This low-prep, high-energy activity brings joy, imagination, and a sense of play into the writing process. All you need is a set of picture prompts and a classroom full of curious minds!

Saying Goodbye to Summer — and Building Stronger Connections

 As the school year draws to a close and summer stretches out ahead of us, it's the perfect time to slow down, reflect, and reconnect with our students. This year, I created a simple but meaningful worksheet titled "Bye Summer, Hello School" to guide our last lesson together.

It’s more than just a fun activity — it’s a bridge between seasons, a way to celebrate growth, and a gentle reminder of the importance of relationships in education.

Why Focusing on Relationships Matters

In the rush of curriculum goals and end-of-year testing, it’s easy to overlook the heart of teaching: relationships. Research consistently shows that when students feel connected to their teachers and peers, they are more motivated, resilient, and successful.
The end of the year is a powerful moment to show students that they are seen, valued, and heard — not just for their academic achievements, but for who they are becoming as people.

By asking students to reflect on their best memories, their growth, and their gratitude, we encourage them to see themselves as active participants in their own learning journey. It’s an opportunity to celebrate progress over perfection, effort over outcomes.

A Conversation Worth Having

One of the most meaningful parts of the worksheet invites students to write about:

• Their best memories

• What they’re proud of

• Their summer plans and goals

• Thank-you notes to their teachers

Taking the time to sit with students and talk through these reflections can be incredibly impactful. It reminds them that their voice matters — and it reminds us why we do what we do.

Even a five-minute conversation can affirm a student's sense of belonging and hope for the future. And that might be the most important lesson they carry into summer break.

More Ideas to End the Year with Heart

If you want to extend the spirit of reflection and celebration, here are a few more ideas:
🌟 Memory Jar: Have each student write a favorite memory from the year on a slip of paper, then read them aloud together.
🌟 Gratitude Circle: Sit in a circle and take turns sharing one thing you're grateful for this school year.
🌟 Future Letters: Let students write a letter to their future selves about their dreams for the next year — seal them up and return them on the first day back.
🌟 Class Awards: Create fun, personalised awards celebrating each student's unique strengths (e.g., "Most Creative Thinker," "Kindness Champion").

---

In the end, it’s not just about saying goodbye to school and hello to summer — it’s about pausing to say, "You mattered. Your year mattered. You matter."

Because strong relationships don’t end when the school year does — they build a foundation for everything to come.

Here's the worksheet: Bye school, hello summer

Let’s Talk Negotiation! 30 Free Idioms to Boost Speaking Skills

 

As many of you know — I absolutely love idioms, and I love getting my students talking even more! That’s why I’ve put together a set of 30 idiom cards all related to the topic of negotiation. These cards are perfect for speaking activities, pair work, or even role-plays. And yes — they’re completely free to download as a PDF!

   

Why teach idioms through speaking?

🧠 Because idioms bring language t

o life!
💬 Because speaking builds confidence and fluency.
🎯 And because learners remember more when they use the language, not just study it.

Tips for using the idiom cards:

• Ask students to explain idioms in their own words.

• Encourage them to give real-life examples.

• Use the discussion questions to spark debate and storytelling.

• Mix the idioms into role-plays, business scenarios, or mock negotiations.

Idioms are everywhere in English — especially in business and negotiation contexts. By teaching them in a fun, conversational way, we’re helping learners sound more natural, understand more, and express themselves more clearly.

👉 Click below to download your free PDF of 30 negotiation idiom cards – ready to print or share digitally.
Free cards

One Picture, Endless Possibilities: Practicing Deduction in the Classroom

 Modal verbs of deduction can be a tricky topic for students, and at B2–C1 level, they need to show their ability to choose between must, might, could, can’t, or couldn’t have and do it with confidence. One of the most effective ways to help learners master this subtle grammar point is through visual storytelling and speculation.

In this post, I’m sharing  creative ideas for using photo-based cards and ready-to-use conversation questions to bring modal verbs to life. Perfect for speaking practice, grammar review, or an engaging warm-up.

Visuals make abstract grammar tangible. A strange or surprising photo immediately invites curiosity and speculation — and that’s exactly the space where modals of deduction naturally fit.

We ask questions like:

• “What must have happened before this?”

• “Who might have done this?”

• “That can’t be right... can it?”

Students don’t just learn the forms — they use them meaningfully.

I’ve created a series of photo prompt cards — each showing a funny, bizarre, or confusing scene. Alongside each image are targeted questions for both present and past deduction.

Examples include:

• A soaked dog on a couch

• A man in a suit climbing out of a pool

• A laptop covered in peanut butter

• A person barefoot in the snow

Each image sparks a mini-mystery, and students become grammar detectives.

Here are some practical, adaptable ways to use the cards:

1. Guess the Backstory

Skills: Speaking, storytelling
How: Show an image. In pairs, students discuss what might have happened using modals of deduction. Then share their best (or funniest) theory with the class.

2. The Detective Game

Skills: Critical thinking, group discussion
How: Each group gets one card and must prepare a full theory about what happened, using must/might/can’t have.... Then they present their findings like detectives reporting on a case.

3. Write a News Story

Skills: Writing, grammar in context
How: Students write a mini news report based on the image, starting with a headline and using at least three modal structures in the article.

4. Story Puzzle (with multiple images)

Skills: Creative thinking, fluency
How: Give each group 2–3 images. They must create a story connecting all of them, using modal verbs throughout to explain what must/might/can’t have happened.

Want the Cards?

If you're interested in getting these picture prompt cards, just drop me a message! A set contains of:

- 20 cards with pictures and questions 

- 20 cards with pictures

and it can be yours for 20zł.

BIG SET OF FINISH THE SENTENCE

 When teaching students how to justify their opinions effectively in English, it’s essential to make the process both structured and engaging. One of the best ways to achieve this is by using  cards with promts. It provides students with ideas and gives them the opportunity tu use grammar in conversations (not fill in exercises from the coursebooks). Here’s how my big setup works and why it’s an excellent tool for language learners:

---

What Do I Have?

I’ve created 150 cards, divided into three sets, to help students practice and improve their speaking skills.

Set 1: Finish the Sentences - Relatives

Set 2: Finish teh sentences - Conditionals

Set 3: Finish the sentences - Future

1. These cards contain incomplete sentences that students must complete and justify.

• Examples:
• "An ambitious person is someone who..."
• "If I won the lottery, I would..."
• "By this time next year, I will have..."
  Students must think critically and creatively to finish the sentences and then explain their reasoning.

2. To add variety and excitement, I use three spinning circles:

• Circle 1: Decides how long students need to talk (5, 10, or 15 seconds).
• Circle 2: Indicates how many arguments they need to provide (1, 2, or 3).
• Circle 3: Includes transition expressions to use ("what’s more," "not only that," or "another reason is") to ensure fluency and cohesion.

2. Mix-and-Match Activities
   These cards contain a variety of prompts that require students to combine relative clauses, conditionals, and future tenses in their responses.

• Examples:
  • "I will feel successful if... because..."
  • "I would visit more places if I could..."
  • "By the time I turn 30, I will have..."

---

Why Is This a Great Exercise?

1. Encourages Fluency and Confidence
   Students must think on their feet to complete sentences, structure their responses, and justify their ideas. The spinning circles add an element of unpredictability that mirrors real-life conversations.

2. Reinforces Grammar in Context
   Combining relative clauses, conditionals, and future tenses helps students see these structures as tools for communication rather than isolated rules.

3. Promotes Creative Thinking
   The open-ended nature of the prompts encourages students to express themselves imaginatively, drawing on personal experiences or hypothetical scenarios.

4. Interactive and Fun
   The spinning circles gamify the activity, turning grammar practice into an engaging challenge.

5. Customizable and Reusable
   With 150 cards and spinning options, you can tailor the activity to different levels and themes, ensuring it stays fresh and versatile.

---

Creative Ideas to Use These Materials

1. Team Challenge
   Divide students into small groups. Each group takes turns spinning the circles and picking a card. The group must work together to craft a response, with one member presenting their answer. Points can be awarded for creativity and grammar accuracy.

2. Timed Relay
   Students form a line. One spins the circles, completes the sentence, and justifies it. The next person picks up where the first left off, building on the idea with a new argument.

3. Debate Style
   Use the cards to create controversial or thought-provoking prompts. After a student completes and justifies a sentence, another student argues the opposite perspective.

4. Speed Dating Practice
   Arrange students in pairs. Each pair spins the circles and picks a card, then speaks for the assigned time before moving to the next partner.

5. Hot Seat Game
   One student sits in the “hot seat” and must complete sentences and justify them rapidly based on cards drawn by classmates.

6. Classroom Survey
   After completing their sentences, students survey classmates to gather different opinions or justifications, encouraging active listening and interaction.

---

Conclusion

This combination of  cards and spinning circles transforms traditional grammar exercises into an engaging and dynamic learning experience. Students not only practice essential structures like relative clauses, conditionals, and future tenses but also develop fluency, creativity, and confidence. The endless ways to use these materials ensure that every session feels new and exciting, fostering a love for language learning while building critical communication skills.

The BIG SET can be yours for 40zl.