Student Contributor: S. Hough ClassDojo is a communication tool put into place by teachers/schools in order to keep in contact with parents and students. Parents are able to interact with their students, as well as being kept up to date on anything going on in the classroom/school/district.This tool can be used to send out reminders about upcoming projects, spirit week announcements, pictures taken in class, links for more information or to sign up for a … [Read more...] about Class Dojo
3rd-5th
Heads Down
Student Contributor: S. Hough When the whole class is not listening, being disruptive, or being too loud you simply say, "heads down!" and everyone puts their heads down on their desks. Then you can give instructions, or ask for better attention from studentsThis tool is really pretty simple. My mentor teacher uses this to get students attention when she has tried a couple different ways, or has had to continually remind students to focus/stay on track. … [Read more...] about Heads Down
Guest Classroom Break
Student Contributor: N. Cabiad When a situation or behavior problem has occurred, the student/s involved will be relocated to a classroom that has previously agreed to take on a student for a break. The student will be handed a pass and will go to the guest classroom for an allotted amount of time to cool off and remove themselves from where the issue had occurred.This tool is when teachers choose to send a student to a separate classroom for a length of … [Read more...] about Guest Classroom Break
Voice-O-Meter
Student Contributor: N. Cabiad At the beginning of the year, with your class you will discuss the issue of noise level in your classroom. During this conversation, you will explain to students that there needs to be noise levels set in place in order to control the volume in your class. The students can help you come up with the level names, but these levels will be referred to before lessons, work time and group work.This tool is used to control the noise … [Read more...] about Voice-O-Meter
Timers
Student Contributor: J.Waleske Timers come in many different styles and shapes, so they can be a fun and unique tool to use in the classroom. They are helpful for supporting kids in taking responsibility for their time management as they can set a timer for how much time they get before moving on.Some of the many ways that timers can be used include giving students more responsibility and rather than guiding them though the day one at a time, you would … [Read more...] about Timers
Flexible Seating
Student Contributor: J.Waleske Flexible seating is the practice of allowing and providing many seating options for students. This means having different types of seats like yoga balls, chairs, couches, stools, etc. This also means given students the freedom to choose where they sit.Flexible seating is a strategy that my current mentor teacher uses, there are many options for the student to sit on including chair, stools, crates, yoga balls, and couches. … [Read more...] about Flexible Seating
Warm and Fuzzies
Student Contributor: M. Lalley Warm and Fuzzies are notes from peers complimenting a student on something or telling them something good that they can take home with them. The notes must focus on positives and are helpful because even if students had a rough day they are able to take something positive home with them to end their day on a good note.Warm and Fuzzies should be used to support community in the classroom. They can be anonymous or students can … [Read more...] about Warm and Fuzzies
Sticky Note Check-In
Student Contributor: M. Lalley Students write how they are feeling that morning on the back of a sticky note (i.e. the side with the sticky on it), and stick it on the white board, so the face of the sticky note is blank and their feelings are kept anonymous on the back. This tool gives the teacher the ability to know how their students are feeling that morning and can kind of gauge how the day will go.This tool should be used as a preventative measure. … [Read more...] about Sticky Note Check-In
12-Sided Fidget Cube
Student Contributor: M. Ohland The 12-Sided Fidget Cube is a perfect tool for students who have trouble focusing or are dealing with anxiety. There are 12 different sides with different fidgets that the students can use.This tool has 12 different sides. They usually consist of a gear, a rotating disk, a button, a silicone ball, a switch, a joystick, a silicone rope, a soft button, a soft silicone, a worry stone, a sliding block, and a something to pinch. … [Read more...] about 12-Sided Fidget Cube
Quiet Coyote
Student Contributor: M. Ohland Quiet coyote is used to get the classes attention when they are working on an assignment and it may be loud in the classroom. It is an easy signal to show that their eyes need to be on the teacher, their ears are open and listening, and their mouths are closed. This is used if you need to tell the class something quick and then they get back to work. This tool is not really a transition tool.To form quiet coyote, you place … [Read more...] about Quiet Coyote