Student Contributor: M. Foraker The tool is a telephone outline picture with 6 empty spots on it that each student will get. The students will pair up (6 different times) and write the name of their partner on one of the numbers in their telephone, the other partner will do the same. Each pair will have the others' name in the same number spot so that the number spots are matching. This will be used for grouping.Once each student has their phone filled out … [Read more...] about Phone a Friend
Collaborative
Community Pencil Dispencer
Student Contributor: L. Witmer A community pencil dispenser is just one of many individual components of community supplies. Making writing implements readily available to all students helps relieve some of the stress students may face when they are unable to provide their own materials, or even if they’ve simply forgotten to bring something with them on a given day.A community pencil dispenser is a wonderful opportunity to repurpose materials from outside … [Read more...] about Community Pencil Dispencer
Name Dropping Interference
Student Contributor: M. Guthrie Name dropping interference is a corrective tool used to let students know when they are off task. Teachers aren't directly pointing out their behavior but rather saying the students name to get their attention and have them answer a question or show the class an example. It is helpful to keep students on task and a good reminder for them to stay on task.Name dropping interference should never be used to embarrass or call out … [Read more...] about Name Dropping Interference
Community Circle
Student Contributor: H. Stinger The community circle is a tool where teachers have students sit alongside them in a circle and talk about a prompt that the teacher gives. Students then pass around a certain object and share their thoughts and feelings about that prompt. This tool is helpful in a classroom because it gives the class the opportunity to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas about the topic at hand.This tool is set up with every student … [Read more...] about Community Circle
Brain Breaks
Student Contributor: M. Smith Brain Breaks are short mental pauses lasting no longer than 2 minutes that are designed to facilitate focus and attentiveness. For a variety of reasons including long lessons, impending holidays, or upcoming tests, students can collectively begin to lose that focus. Brain Breaks are intended to be fun and stimulating by offering a sporadic change from the norm (and sometimes mundane).It is important as a teacher to be aware … [Read more...] about Brain Breaks
Random Acts of Kindness
Student Contributor: M. Guthrie Random Acts of Kindness is a tool used in the beginning of the year where students first pick one envelope each where it has an act of kindness written in it. Their next step is to do that act of kindness and take a picture or write about what they did. It is helpful as it shows students different ways they can show kindness to each other.As this tool is preventative, it should be used before learning. I would use Random … [Read more...] about Random Acts of Kindness
Appealing Classrooms
Student Contributor: C. Hernandez Appealing classroom can be used to nurture reflective thinking. Having cool tone colors and uncluttered rooms can create a positive classroom that will proactively prevent student misbehavior.There is a great power in color. Color can have a psychological, emotional, and mental effect on students learning. Bright colors like reds, yellows, and orange over stimulate students. Having bright colors in the classroom makes it … [Read more...] about Appealing Classrooms
Silent Signals
Student Contributor: B. Musser Silent signals are a few predetermined hand signals/sign language symbols that students are able to use to ask permission from the teacher for simple tasks such as going to the bathroom or getting a drink. This procedure helps to prevent distraction in the classroom and allows for daily tasks to be carried out more smoothly.This is a procedure that is used in place of having raised hands and prevents questions from being … [Read more...] about Silent Signals
Cross the River
Student Contributor: L. Witmer Cross the River can be used to help students build community and respect for one another. Because students are asked to collaborate and work together to formulate a solution to the problem presented to them with limited resources, this activity will help students establish relationships with each other and move towards being able to work as a team.Cross the River is a team building activity in which students are introduced to … [Read more...] about Cross the River
Responsive Classroom Big 3
Student Contributor: M. Smith There are 3 goals of creating rules in the Responsive Classroom approach to discipline. They are 1) establish guidelines and expectations for positive behavior, 2) create a sense of order and safety- both physical and psychological in the classroom, and 3) teach children the purpose of rules by connecting the rules to learning goals.This approach to the Preventative Phase of classroom management will only be effective in a … [Read more...] about Responsive Classroom Big 3