I never would have thought I would be tracking data digitally, I am really not that savvy when it comes to tech, however, when someone pointed out how easy it was, I had to try it. You guys, its sooo much easier than my typical paper and pencil tracking system. I had data sheets EVERYWHERE!! […]
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.
In my ‘Organization in the Secondary Classroom’ series, I’ve written about how I manage the paperwork in my classroom (this post has been viewed an incredible 81,000+ times) and how I tackle lesson planning. Today I’m sharing how I manage student absences! *Update: Due to multiple requests, the two forms I use that are mentioned […]
Stop taking away recess and using other punishments to control your students. Find success with 10 powerful classroom management strategies!
Have you seen all the excitement about glue sponges? Well, we've gathered all of the glue sponge tips up in one spot to give you the low down on how to make them for yourself and tips we have learned along the way.
Likability is a key principle of SCM—because it makes building rapport effortless. It causes students to want to listen to you, please you, and behave for you. It helps make your consequences matter. Being disliked, on the other hand, makes classroom management far more ... Read more
When you make meaningful classroom procedures for older students, you are establishing comfort and familiarity for them.
Integrating art and content in the ELA classroom. Tips and resources.
Too many classroom icebreakers require students to take big social risks with people they barely know. Or they don't really help students get to know each other. Or they are just plain cheesy.
Check out this Google Classroom tutorial that includes 10 tips to help you make the most of this online teaching platform!
Have you ever had a class that just tried your patience day after day? Have you ever felt like you could walk away from teaching forever tom...
Special education classrooms need decor and organization tweaks to fit the program needs. Read the tips on how to make the best decor choices for your sped classroom.
I had the opportunity this week to observe a truly gifted teacher. She was teaching a lesson to kindergarten students, many of whom she had never met. And they were mesmerized. They were engaged and eager to follow her every direction. But what made ... Read more
Classroom management is one of the most important things a teacher can master. Here are 2 kindergarten classroom management ideas that work!
So you have 100 minutes, but how exactly do you plan and schedule your language arts block for the junior grades?
Substitutes, I don’t have to tell you that you have a unique and challenging job, especially when it comes to classroom management.I reader recently emailed with a great question: “How do I get students to realize they need to follow instructions even though I am ‘just a sub’?”Great question. One th
How to set up and implement a classroom behavior plan that really works, with advice from Smart Classroom Management's Michael Linsin.
Get helpful tips for how to manage data folders in the primary classroom. Download the free student data folders kit to get started!
Want to change up your classroom management style? Check out my post about the Call and Response Classroom Management technique for all ages!
When it comes to classroom management, some of the most common struggles I hear about from teachers are the lack of respect students have for their learning space, and a desire to maintain a more organized classroom. If you are struggling with these, I urge you to consider utilizing well-developed classroom jobs, and a classroom […]
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
Check out this Google Classroom tutorial that includes 10 tips to help you make the most of this online teaching platform!
Put together the perfect teacher planner to improve classroom organization! No more messy binders filled with teacher papers!
When you are busy preparing for and assessing your French students, creating an organized system of where to store your data and assessments may be the last
Massive list of classroom jobs for elementary students in preschool, kindergarten, first grade, or second grade - such great ideas for classroom jobs!
Spring is here and we all have spring fever! Energy levels are higher. Students seem restless. Behaviors that have never been seen before appear. And your once quiet class becomes chatty. Every year I remind myself that this is normal. And to be expected… But that doesn’t mean we can’t remedy the situation. In this ... Read More about 10 Effective Strategies for a Chatty Class
Classroom Management: Using a WOW Board No comments Classroom Management, student recognition, WOW board Have you heard of the WOW board? This tool is not a brand new idea, but I only started using it last year. And, I intend to keep using it! Using a WOW board is a great (and super easy) way to recognize individual students and reward their choices, achievements, and efforts. It is also a great way to boost self-esteem too. What is it? The board is simply a table that is printed onto poster sized paper. The table is labeled with letters along the bottom, and numbers along the side, creating cells. It is laminated so it can be used again and again. I printed my board using the standard poster size setting on our poster maker. I know that some schools may not have a poster maker, but there is no rule that says your WOW board has to be poster sized! How do you use it? When you see a student making a smart choice, setting a good example, making gains, or whatever you feel should be recognized, they add their name to the board. They can choose any space they want and write their name in the selected space. Many WOW boards have 100 spaces, but I like for it to fill up quickly, so my board has only 25 spaces. Since I use other means of recognizing students, like reward tags, I didn't want a board with 100 spaces. Since the board is laminated, students can use an Expo Vis-a-Vis marker to add their name. This makes it easy to erase and start over when we're ready to do so. What do you do when the board is full? When the board is full of students' names, I choose 5 students to receive a "prize." Really, they get to choose a classroom reward coupon. Prize buckets and I don't get along (#clutter). The classroom rewards cost me nothing and the kids love them. You can find all sorts of classroom reward options on TPT. Then, I erase the board and we start filling it up again and the cycle repeats. How do you choose the winners? I usually just pick five random cells and write them on a sticky note, without looking to see whose names are in those cells. For example, I might write down A3, C4, B5, D2, E1. I call out the cell number and identify the name of the student written in that cell. They're a winner! You could write all your cells (i.e. A1, A2, A3, etc.) on color tiles, small slips of paper, or anything else you can fit into a small bucket. Then, when it is time to choose your winners, you just pull a tile, slip of paper, etc. out of the bucket and match it to the name in that space on your board. Using a Wow board is just another way to recognize your students and motivate them to do their best. If you'd like to give it a try, you can download my free template. If your school doesn't have a poster maker, don't dismiss the idea of using a WOW board. You could easily print this on regular paper and just use a smaller sized version. The kids will still love it! DON'T FORGET IT, PIN IT! Share It:
We asked veteran teachers to share their favorite 2nd grade classroom procedures and we got hundreds of fantastic tips!
If you work with children, I can promise you that you will come across at least one student that has these difficult behaviors. Not only are they really stressful for the teacher but they impact the student’s life in many ways. Behaviors like disrespect and defiance can make classroom's chaotic.
Is it that time when your students suddenly forget the classroom expectations? Well, then it's time to try V.I.P student!
As I finish out my 24th year as a teacher, it is always bittersweet to watch my students take the last step in their transition to becoming 8th graders. Of
So my awesome Peeps have put me in charge of sharing something meaningful with you this week! My class loves center time so I wanted to share just a little about how we rotate centers. This year I am going to split up my literacy & math centers. So I am only going to share about my literacy center rotation today. I have 8 literacy centers. Each child gets to go to 2 centers for 20 minutes each while I am pulling groups. I try to put a higher student or 2 with a lower student. That way if they need help there is usually someone there to help. Also when I pull groups according to reading levels there are still children in the center. I take their pictures on day 1 and print them to use for center groupings. The pictures are put up with sticky tack. So if we need a group swap it's easy to move them. The centers in the middle are on velcro. That way each morning I take the bottom center off and move all the centers down one spot then the groups get 2 new centers each day. How do you swap your centers around? Click below to go grab my center sign freebies. Don't forget to check back next week for a tip from one of my Peeps!
Got a talkative class? Check out these 5 ways to quiet the chatter!
Unwanted talking is near the top of the list of teacher frustrations. In this article, learn the actual strategies to finally get rid of it for good.
Struggling with difficult behaviors? These classroom management strategies will help transform your middle school classroom!
Classroom management and thinking through how my classroom will run is more important than the decorations and arrangement! Do you agree? My classroom has several different strategies set up; and as needed, I will adjust accordingly as my students arrive and I learn their needs. Today, I have 8 Classroom Management Tips for you to […]
I talk quite a bit about classroom management on my blog. I have to be honest here. I have tried so many different things. I have tried the clip chart, I have tried check marks, I have tried the “flip the card”. NONE of them work for me. The book Dream Class really changed my thoughts on...
My first year of teaching was full of disruptive students in the beginning. That is, until I discovered this method to control my class!
Use these ideas to help with your rotary classroom organization.
