Do you know how many benefits there are from having student jobs in the classroom? Providing your students with leadership roles that your students care about will work wonders for your classroom organization, classroom community, and your teacher sanity! I used to be the teacher with just 2 helpers who did EVERYTHING for me. It […]
Here’s a comprehensive list of 100 teacher must-haves, categorized to help you navigate through your classroom needs.
Last week we talked about how to be consistent with your classroom management plan. Which is especially important to begin the school year. This alone will go a long way toward creating the learning environment you really want. Once you’ve conquered this challenge, however, ... Read more
Learn how to make a seating chart online using a free tool, Google Slides. Get step-by-step instructions for creating a seating chart you can use as a template.
I have to share with you something that I absolutely love: The WOW board! This beautiful piece of poster board was introduced to me by my friend and colleague. I used it throughout the year but found it especially helpful near the end of the school year.
Hey everyone! It's Anna from Hanging with Mrs. Hulsey! The school year is officially in full swing-- and my students are definitely feeling more comfortable with me and each other! One thing I've decided we need to focus on more is our classroom community! Here are some quick ideas to help you promote a positive climate in your classroom! Use Team Builders Team building activities are easy to implement! They don't take a lot of time, students find them to be engaging, and they are often FREE! Here is a quick list of some of my favorite student team building activities: Human Knot (Students stand in circle, reach for hands of people across the way, and then they must untangle themselves without letting go. This can also be done as a spiderweb using a ball of yarn) Tallest Tower (Divide students into groups and give them supplies like straws, tape, blocks, etc. The team that can make the tallest tower wins!) Minefield (Set up a "minefield" that students must navigate a blindfolded partner through) Hula Hoop Pass (Can be played whole class or in teams. Students hold hands and must pass through a hula hoop as quickly as possible) Switch Sides If... (Use a chalk line, rope, or tape line. Have students stand on one side of the line. Read off items like "switch sides if you like to bake", etc.) The internet provides an infinite source of team building activities! I've included a few links below: http://www.ventureteambuilding.co.uk/team-building-activities/ http://www.momjunction.com/articles/team-building-activities-will-keep-kids-busy-summer_0074763/#gref http://mommieshobbies.blogspot.com/2014/01/switch-sides-if.html?m=1 Hold Morning Meetings Time is precious in my classroom because we departmentalize. It feels like we are always on the go. However, I feel that even something as small as a weekly morning meeting would help my students develop a more positive feeling toward one another. You can read more about morning meetings for older elementary students here! I also love this product from TPT! Write Daily White Board Messages I think this is a such a simple way to start the day off with a positive vibe! The night before (or morning of) write a simple prompt on the white board/chalkboard and have students respond on the board. This will foster another sense of ownership and community. You can find white board messages by searching google or Pinterest! Here are some quick ideas to get you started: 1 Thing Wednesday-- name one thing we've done this year that you'd like to do again! I Think I Can Thursday-- what is one goal you want to achieve this year? Flashback Friday-- what is one new thing you have learned this week? Write a compliment for a classmate by their name (no repeats!) Name 3 traits of a great friend What is your favorite book you've read this year? Thankful Thursday-- what is 1 thing you are thankful for? Make it Monday-- what is 1 thing you've always wanted to create?' Top 2 Tuesday-- write your top 2 favorite things about the school year so far Compliment Circles This activity would pair well with morning meetings! You and the students sit in a circle with everyone's legs out straight. Begin the compliment circle by giving a compliment to someone. Once someone has been complimented they cross their legs. Compliments continue until everyone has received 1. I think this is a great way to encourage students to see each other in different ways! Create a Kindness Board I created this one for the visual it would provide to my students. Plus, I wanted them to point out kindness when they see it in others! This one is easy to implement: 1. Print out the letters and hang on a wall or bulletin board. 2. Print the "caught being kind" strips on various colors of paper (I used Astrobright paper). 3. Cut the strips apart and keep on hand for when students catch others being kind. 4. When students experience a kindness or act of friendship, they come and ask you for a "caught being kind" strip. They write down their experience. 5. Start a paper chain and add a new link every time someone catches others being kind! You can find this HERE in my TPT store! Here is another type of board with a similar theme (kindness): You can find these fall themed board HERE in my store! I hope you found these ideas to be useful to implement in your classroom! If you have any questions-- feel free to leave them in the comment section!
Printable observation forms are a practical tool for educators, researchers, and professionals in various fields, allowing for systematic recording of events, behaviors, or phenomena..
Can you believe that the back to school season is already upon us?! While you are decorating your classroom and printing math centers, I think it is very important that you take some time and think about how you will go about teaching and practicing classroom procedures. The number one thing you can do to
Stop taking away recess and using other punishments to control your students. Find success with 10 powerful classroom management strategies!
Stay organized as a high school or transition special education teacher with your caseload, personal schedule and paraprofessional schedule!
Here’s a few classroom procedures that have worked well for me – and a couple awesome ideas I’ve run across since I’ve stepped out of the classroom...
The ultimate list of classroom management strategies, organized into verbal and non-verbal strategies, parent communication tips,rewards and prizes, games, brain breaks, and visual strategies.
Do you want to know the secondary classroom procedure I can't live without??
How do you stop students from blurting out in the classroom? Do you have some processes in place to curb blurting, but they're just not working for you
Sometimes, preventing challenging behavior can be as simple as changing around the furniture. And sometimes it helps to have the furniture you need. Find out how in this post.
Individual behavior management with individual bingo boards to help students reach behavior goals in a fun and effective way.
Hi friends! Are you as frazzled as I am?? Lord have mercy...end of the year is SO stressful!! Each day I get excited about having 14 days left and frantic that I only have 14 days to get everything done! I can't wait to spend my days with my puppy, my online buddies, and my sweet brother. Of course my husband too, but that punk doesn't get home until late anyway. :) Last summer, I read Positive Discipline and it totally wrecked my world. It changed the way I saw behavior management in my classroom, and challenged me to find new ways to connect with my students and encourage good behavior. I got rid of my clip chart, Class Dojo, and lots of other things. I tried to focus on whole class rewards, and have individual conferences. I still TOTALLY believe in this...I haven't given that up. :) BUT my sweeties had been begging me to use Class Dojo...they use it in specials. And I honestly felt like there were times in our day that they weren't learning as much as they could because our class was getting a little c-r-a-z-y. I saw this photo from the Science Penguin and it really struck a chord with me. It reminded me that there isn't ONE way to manage a classroom...each classroom is different, and sometimes each month in each classroom is different! So I decided to give Class Dojo another shot. But I was determined NOT to just use it as a way to ding my kiddos 3 times a day for doing something wrong. I have a few tips for how I have implemented it these past 2 weeks, and a fun tip on changing their avators that I learned from one of my littles! First...I do not have a limit to the number of points they can get in a day. I also don't restart it everyday! They love adding them up and I love that they work hard for days (or weeks) for rewards. Like I said, I give a LOT of points, hahaha! This group needs constant reinforcement, so it works great! I have no idea how many I give in a day, but I try to give them all day long...ESPECIALLY when I am doing something like guided reading...I can keep my group going uninterrupted, and give immediate feedback to kiddos reading independently. I know the whole "everyone gets a trophy" philosophy is not for everyone. And my kids do NOT all have tons of points. But I do my best to make sure that all my sweeties can get points during the day. One of my little friends has a very hard time staying in control of his body. He loves to run, jump, karate kick, etc. :) So...there are times in our day that he is just being calm. And I reward him for that...because for him, that is trying! Of course, he has far fewer points than some of my kiddos with stellar behavior. But I don't ever want a baby to go a whole day without hearing great job and being rewarded for that! I love the data piece of Dojo!! For us...we aim to have 90% positive by Friday. If we do, we get extra time playing outside. They think its for them...but it's really more for me! It keeps me accountable that I am constantly finding ways my students are being successful. You can also look at individual kiddos...this is GREAT data. You can use it for RTI and also for self-reflection. If one of my babies has a big percentage of negative points, I know that I have been focusing on that too much. He might truly be slipping up that many times, but no one wants to work for someone who is constantly criticizing. We want to work for people who make us feel proud! And now for the big tip...I knew they could change their avatars. But I thought that just meant changing to a different Class Dojo monster. I was SO wrong. One of my kiddos taught me how to do this...his family actually has their own account. I love it! :) So here are step by step directions! Ignore "add your students." You just click the one you want to change :). SO fun! Our Class Homepage looks like Disney Princess, Pokemon, and Mortal Kombat threw up all over it! And I love it! I hope these tips are helpful to you! I'm sure there are tons of other Dojo tips I don't know about! I can't wait to hear your fabulous Dojo ideas!
Picture it: You're in the middle of a math lesson and you ask your class, "Does anyone know what 10 - 7 is?" Several students' hands go up, you pick one, and
Your Special Ed Self-Contained classroom needs to be equipped with these essential supplies. Check out my recommended classroom must-haves!
The life of a creative, and sometimes hectic, teacher. Get ideas and inspiration to enhance your classroom - maybe even your life. = )
My absolute favorite classroom management tool is a doorbell! Sounds crazy - right?!?! It has transformed my classroom environment and can for you too!
Exploring research-based systems and strategies to use in your middle school or high school classroom when difficult classroom behaviors arise
How is your seating chart working in your secondary classroom? Avoid these mistakes and make your seating chart more powerful.
The procedures are taught, the students know your expectations, but you still find yourself repeating directions over and over again. Use Mystery Students!
These classroom management strategies will help teachers with all levels of experience with managing classroom behaviours.
Worried that you'll never nail down your classroom management techniques? Read this guest post to learn five things all effective classroom managers do.
It's back to school time! Be successful and avoid the first year mistakes with these ideas about classroom management, organization, personal growth, and much more I wish I knew!
Are you looking for a classroom economy system that holds students accountable and rewards positive behavior?
Middle school teachers are always looking for classroom management tips to strengthen their classroom environment. Check out these classroom tips!
As the end of the school year approaches, students can often start to wind up. Think “senioritis” when you were a high school senior, but bottle up that same excitement in smaller humans. Every spring, come May or June, even a superstar teacher with the most effective classroom management system in place can still suffer the wrath of (dun dun DUN) chatty class syndrome, or as I like to call it, “June Bug.” Even if something has worked all year long, you may feel the need to reach into your bag of tricks for a little extra reinforcement.
3rd grade teacher Deanna shares how she saves time and works more efficiently.
An organized classroom is a place where students can focus, feel appreciated, and navigate their learning environment with ease. Setting up organization systems that can be maintained by you and your students is essential to creating an organized space that lasts. This is especially true for spaces in your classroom that receive heavy use on a daily basis, or have many moving parts, like your math manipulatives and math games.
Teachers love a spotless classroom and there's a huge secret to achieving a spotless classroom that requires little to no effort!
These three classroom management tips get me ready for a brand new school year. As each new group of students arrives, I like to bring back what works in my
Developing a class vision at the beginning of the school year will give your students a voice and a stronger sense of our community.
I've decided to start a new series on my blog called "TeacherBoss Hacks". The plan is to share a tip from my classroom that will hopefully be helpful to other teachers. Today's tip is on keeping track of unfinished work. Update: 2018 New classroom, new set-up, new hacks needed. So, I don't have my orange
4 Classroom management tips for your middle school classroom. How to successfully keep and build positive relationships with your students.
These 15 positive feedback note templates are a great way to build classroom/environment community in your classroom especially positive student relationships/interactions. Great way to show student praise as well. They only come in B/W! You can print on colored paper if you choose. I give out about 5 a day to students and might share them in our morning meeting. These notes do fit in the adhesive pockets sold at Target Dollar Spot but can be used in any classroom!! There are 15 templates included! I did include an editable mascot template in an UPDATE! It is a powerpoint and you will have to add a text box over to make your own. Students would love keeping these on their desks, in their buckets, or even just bringing home. Spreading the positive-ness around your classroom and building a community on relationships with students is essential to great learning! The dimensions of the notes are: 3.25x3.25
The ultimate list of classroom management strategies, organized into verbal and non-verbal strategies, parent communication tips,rewards and prizes, games, brain breaks, and visual strategies.
