Student Contributor: M. McLeod Flexible seating is when students have different options of where and what they can use for seating within the classroom. Flexible seating is helpful as it allows for students to be comfortable in the classroom.Flexible seating is used to provide several different seating options in the classroom for students. Some examples that my mentor has in her room are floor tables, stools at tall tables, wobble chairs, seat cushions. … [Read more...] about Student Chosen Flexible Seating
6th-8th
Transition Timers
Student Contributor: M. McLeod Timers can be used to facilitate smooth transitions in the classroom. You can choose any length of time for your timer, whatever works for you. Timers for transitions also provide brain break's for students throughout the day.This tool is super easy to implement into your classroom and can be done in a variety of ways. You can get a physical timer and start it each time you transition, or you can look up timers on YouTube. In … [Read more...] about Transition Timers
Occu-Potty Lights
Student Contributor: C. Shimasaki This tool is helpful for students to not constantly bombard the teacher by asking to go to the bathroom one after the other. With this, they'll be able to know that someone is already in the restroom and they need to wait to ask when they come back/the light is off.You would have those same simple wall-click lights close to the door where everyone in the classroom can see. I would ideally have 2, one for boys and one for … [Read more...] about Occu-Potty Lights
Stoplight Cups
Student Contributor: C. Shimasaki Stoplight Cups are great for students to ask questions and get the teacher's attention without walking around the room, or coming up to you all at once. With this, the teacher is able to scan the room and prioritize who to go to first depending on the color.Students will have 3 cups total, a red, yellow, and green cup. Students can use these when doing independent or group work. The different colors give meaning to how … [Read more...] about Stoplight Cups
Portable Desks
Student Contributor: K. Reed The portable desks tool is meant to help best support student learning by giving them the freedom to move from their usual seating. If students need to be closer to the whiteboard to see or farther from their peers to minimize distractions, they are able to do just that.When introducing this tool, it is important to set expectations so that the portable desks are not misused. Once students understand the expectations of using … [Read more...] about Portable Desks
Pre Paired Partners
Student Contributor: Ashlynn Thielen This tool is helpful because it allows the teacher to place the students into quick and easy groups for transition times. This is also just a fun age-appropriate way to divide the kiddos. The theme can be adjusted to really any theme!This tool should be used during transition times, for turn and talk as well as collaboration and group work. For my personal classroom each student has the student card on their desk that … [Read more...] about Pre Paired Partners
Afternoon Check Out
Student Contributor: R Ruff Afternoon check out is when students meet together before leaving school for the day. This check out is meant to discuss how we felt during the day, how we felt the class did behavior wise and how we feel on the new material we learned today.Afternoon check out is meant to be used at the end of the day before students grab their backpacks and leave for the day. This is the very last thing that students will be doing every day. … [Read more...] about Afternoon Check Out
Classroom Store
Student Contributor: R. Ruff This tool is rewarding students for positive behaviors throughout the months. They get “paid” with points for exceptional choices and can use their points to buy stuff from the end of month store. This helps prevent negative behaviors and encourages students to make good choices.The class store is used at the end of each month where students can use the points they earned to buy prizes based off of their earnings. This supports … [Read more...] about Classroom Store
(Transition) Bell
Student Contributor: Z. Winegar The bell is near the teacher and when the teacher rings the bell, students will know to finish their last thought and to turn their voices off and keep their hands in their lap. This is helpful because it will ideally make transitions flow easier.The tool should be used to help students with their transition to their next task. Students will know what their task is ahead of time so once they hear the bell they know to … [Read more...] about (Transition) Bell
Group Points/Compliments
Student Contributor: A. Williams When you notice groups of students staying on task or not you can add or remove points. If they reach a certain amount they get a small celebration reward.-teams of 4 are optimal because it’s two partnerships. Also, it’s small enough where everyone is accountable, but big enough that there’s not too much pressure on any one student. -the teams have their desks together and sit together when other grouping is not in … [Read more...] about Group Points/Compliments