Student Contributor: R. Burland Having jobs in your classroom help builds a sense of community and responsibility within your classroom. The jobs help students feel included throughout the day and feel needed.The idea of having classroom jobs helps the students and the teacher. Every student is given a job no matter how small. When introducing the jobs, explain the importance of each position. It is also important to explain to students that the jobs will … [Read more...] about Classroom Jobs
Preventative
Quiet Critters
Student Contributor: K. Cabiad Quiet Critters is a cute way to help manage volume during work time. It is a little ‘critter’ that is made at the beginning of the year by the students that only like to come out when it is quiet time.This tool is made at the beginning of the year by all the students. All you need is a jar, pom-poms, and googly eyes. At the beginning of the year when making them, you will discuss how they are making little critters to hang … [Read more...] about Quiet Critters
Put In Your Two Cents
Student Contributor: B.Bazaldua This tool is used to prevent the same handful of students from responding all the time. Each student gets two pretend pennies and each time they respond they must put a penny in the jar. They may not give a response until everyone else has put in their two cents. This management tool is great for all grade bands because all classrooms can benefit from giving students equal chances to participate.For this tool, the teacher … [Read more...] about Put In Your Two Cents
Classroom Mailbox
Student Contributor: A. McDonnell I took a previous tool and changed it to fit my classroom better. The students write in their letter in a certain color, let’s say blue if they want a teacher check-in, advice, or help and another color let’s say orange if they just need to get something off their chest (example, tattling or having a bad day)Students will be able to write anything they are feeling or needing to stay on provided paper. Every day after … [Read more...] about Classroom Mailbox
Morning Class Greeting
Student Contributor: A. Turner This tool is something to incorporate into a morning meeting with the class. Each student takes a turn being greeted by their peers at the beginning of the meeting. I think this is a great tool to use with young students in order to build a strong and positive classroom community.This tool should be introduced at the beginning of the school year. It’s a great way to get students in a classroom routine and help build a … [Read more...] about Morning Class Greeting
Use a timer
Student Contributor: C. Layne A timer can be useful during classroom, preparing for recess, or getting ready for a transition.This can be used in any classroom setting; it is a helpful tool when learning transition times. My mentor teacher uses this tool when preparing for recess, when her timer goes off the students know it's time to go outside! I chose to put this into the preventative phase because it can prevent long transitioning, it can prepare the … [Read more...] about Use a timer
Roses and Thorns
Student Contributor: Lara Creighton It helps students understand empathy and to be kind to others because we don't always know what others may be going through.This tool is called roses and thorns and it would be something I would do at the beginning of the year every Friday. I would have a roses side and a thorns side up on the whiteboard. The prompt would be put one thorn of the week (not-so good thing) and and rose (happy thing.) This is an anonymous … [Read more...] about Roses and Thorns
Google It Box
Student Contributor: Drake Johnson The Google It Box is a box that is set up to allow for students to ask questions and get them answered later when there is time to address them. This box is helpful because if there is a time when students are getting off-topic we can put it in the Google It Box so we can come back to it later and students trust they will have their question addressed.The Google It Box can be used in many ways, it can be used during … [Read more...] about Google It Box
Mindset Journal
Student Contributor: H. Rayburn This tool will help students work on growth mindset and eventually be more confident in their work.In students' notebook, they will take the mindset growth quiz at the start of each quarter. Overtime, students will be able to see how their mindset has changed and their improvement in the class. At the end of each week, students will have a mini self-reflection about their mind set and productivity in the class. My mentor … [Read more...] about Mindset Journal
Classroom Flexible Seating
Student Contributor: A. Goo The classroom environment is very important when taking into account how students are learning and what you are wanting when planning the lay out and materials in your room. Students can feel more attentive when learning and have a sense of enjoyment in being able to feel engaged and excited to be in the class community.There are various forms of ways to have flexible seating within your classroom. This could be through … [Read more...] about Classroom Flexible Seating