101 (+) Teaching Tips (from the newsletter)

Last update: 5/3/2012

~~ I put students in groups of 3 or 4.  In front of each I place small cubes - either 4, 8 or 12.  Each child can only speak using the number of words according to their cube number.  It causes them to focus on their thinking and use more concise language.  Kathleen Schratz, Ryerson Community School.
 
~~ I call the roll changing all children's names to begin with the sound of the day.They respond by changing my name to begin with the same sound. V. Fleming, grade 1, ON

~~ Decorate the windows of your high school with window decals from colleges and universities that your graduates have attended. (seen at Noble HS, ME)

~~ Every time I make some sort of error, whether it be a calculation error on the board or an error in the solutions of a worksheet, I reward the first student to recognize it and correct it with a lollipop. It keeps them alert and motivates them to question their and my solutions. Mark Bolivar, Upper School, The York School, ON.

~~ In my math class I break the class into teams and have them work the practice problems out as a group, then stamp them off as they finish. We give points for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place team. No name, workshop participant, Montana.

~~ With any academic subject, once it is done, make a storyboard from the content.  Fun, tactile, group activity and easy to observe and grade.  MaryAnn B., 5th grade, IL.

~~ I use dry erase markers directly on my tables and  desks. If you use low odor, you must use a spray to completely erase.  If you get the regular, it wipes right off. We use socks as erasers. My kids  love it. At the end of the day I wipe tables off and they are ready for the  next time. This is amazing for math and spelling. Catherine Miller Elementary Special Education, Santa Fe School District

~~ Empty CD cases with a white piece of a paper or cardstock in it can be used for mini wipe off boards.   - Ann Walker (email)

~~ I have reduced eighth graders from asking to go to the bathroom. How? By placing a mirror near the door entering my room. I have come to the conclusion many teenagers ask to go to the bathroom to make sure they look right when the bell rings and they enter the hallways. Sal Buchetto (via email)

~~ A quick, easy way to make individual whiteboards is  to put a piece of stiff white paper (cardstock)  inside a plastic page protector. A dry erase or whiteboard marker will write on this and wipes off with a paper towel.  Elizabeth J.  Wake Forest, NC.

~~ Save empty boxes that hold kitchen plastic wrap.  The serrated edge works great if you need a fast way to tear paper.

~~ Make "bathroom pass" kits using small tool boxes. You can have one for boys and one for girls. Include items like folded paper towels, liquid soap, small paper cups, hygiene products.  The kit functions as the hall pass and encourages hygiene.  Have the student replenish the kits when returned, from the supply cabinet.

~~ Use a pocket pencil tree in the front of the room. Each student's name is on a pocket.  They pick up their pencil as they come in and return it on their way out.  Easy way to take roll too. Misty Koeppen, Kuna, ID

~~ Ask parents who travel for business to donate their unopened hotel soaps for the classroom sink.

~~ Attach a magnet to your eraser using duct tape or liquid nails.  Now the eraser sticks to the whiteboard or any nearby metal surface - easier than finding it on the floor all the time.  Susan D., N.Y.

~~ I use a sign-out sheet on a clipboard which students take for a hall pass.  I keep another clipboard/sheet next to it.  Students sign BOTH sheets when leaving and returning, so I always have a list in the room of who is out.  Workshop participant,  OH.

~~ I do "Think, Pair, Share" in my class. I allow students time to think, then pair w/ a partner to share ideas. This saves students from having to share with the whole class when they are unsure. January Dabrowski, Orangeville District Secondary School, ON

~~ Teacher-in-Role: The teachers takes on a temporary character to introduce a new topic or concept - NOVELTY. Tony Culp, Orangeville District Secondary School, ON

~~ Gather students at the rug after independent reading to share their thoughts and "wonderings" about their reading. Judi Ropogo, K-6, Orde St. PS, Toronto

. ~~ My classroom door can be a "Magic Door." If kids come in with an attitude, or swear by accident, then they must physically walk through the door and park their attitude outside before returning. I remind them we are in the class to have fun as well as learn in a positive atmosphere. Lea Konforte, Harbord, C.I., Toronto.

~~ Rather than using a school planner for assignments (which can overwhelm some students) just have them make a daily list of assignments on one sheet of paper, changing ink color with each subject. Then they can highlight or cross out as completed. Muskego-Norway teachers.

~~ Applesauce "cups" wash in the dishwasher and work great for science or art. Diana, Judson ISD, San Antonio

~~ Ideas for helping students remember something to do (in lieu of planners): (1) have them mark a colored dot on their hand. (2) Teacher post a tweet on class Twitter site. (3) Using their cell phone, have them call home and leave a message. (4) use bracelets (found @office stores) that you can write on. (5) Have students send an email to themselves. -Compiled from the teachers at Muskego-Norway School District, Wisconsin. (more to come)

~~ When I'm presented with a student disagreement, I move the two students to a private spot and say, "I can see that something has gone wrong. Since I wasn't there at the time the problem occurred , each of you take the next 3 minutes and together come up with one *and only one* story about what happened...it might turn out to only be a misunderstanding." It has been my experience that (especially when used just before lunch or dismissal) 99% of the time they have no choice other than to admit the truth or play it off as a misunderstanding. - M. Veal (via email)

~~ If you sing it, they will listen. Katherine, Dovercourt Public School.

~~ Always have a wide selection of magazines in the room for students to read and peruse. Older ones can be used for them to cut-out. Sephra Khan, Niagara Street, ON.

~~ I put students in groups of 3 or 4. In front of each I place small cubes - either 4, 8 or 12. Each child can only speak using the number of words according to their cube number. It causes them to focus on their thinking and use more concise language. Kathleen Schratz, Ryerson Community School.

~~ Kids get a kick out of seeing pictures of themselves used on my screen saver. I take pictures of students during labs and engaged in other activities in my classroom. It's fun to see these images pop up between the projected bellringer assignment or Power Point lecture notes. I sometimes include them on the bellringer/warm-up slides. Brenda Goebbel, Ann Arbor Huron High Shool.

~~ In my elementary classroom I have a cassette tape that I made from records. (Yup! It's old) I play this as a "wiggle break" for the kids and explain that movement and fun wake up the brain and help us learn. Most of the songs tell the students what to do, but I've also made up a few dances - even took one called the "Boogie Walk" and turned it into dancing the compass rose. I give a wiggle about every 20 minutes mixed in with just walking around the room. - Ellen Martin (via email)

~~ A teacher tip I have used successfully with middle and high schoolers is using a stamp and stamp pad. Kids do bellwork while I take attendance (review questions, test prep activities, homework checks, etc..) after I take attendance or whatever I have to do at the beginning of class, I walk around the class giving a stamp to those who have completed the bellwork. Stamps add up to extra points on a test, a free homework pass, a piece of Jolly Rancher candy, or some other positive reward. Even the seniors want the stamps! Shirley Hartwig, Osceola, FL

~~ Take the tiny pictures of students that the school photographer leaves as leftovers and post them on a sheet of paper. Write the names below and leave for your supply teacher [substitute teacher] so they have a name with a face. Sophy Wong, Niagara St. ON.

~~ I write essential things on a wet chalkboard. That way, I can erase the board and the essential stuff stays until I wash it off (uses: class rules, schedules, etc). Martin Franklin, Givins Shaw School, Toronto.

~~ Create a "Brain Dump" station where students consolidate & reflect on their learning at several points during the class. R. Robb, Heydon Park SS, Toronto ~~ Use cheap wash-bins to organize student work by period or in / out etc. Even in high school this creates routine and minimizes disruption when students arrive and want their "stuff". Christine Dickenson, Toronto, ON

~~ Include lots of opportunity for movement during class time. Teach juggling, or give 3 -minute breaks where students can get up, tell a joke, sing, dance, etc. no name, workshop participant. Toronto, ON

~~ I issue credit cards for each student - one new card each month, and they can carry a max of 25 points over to the next month. Credits issued for being prepared, outstanding contributions, speaking French, reading daily, homework completed. They use the credits to "buy" things, 5 pts for small treat, 15 pts to stay in for recess, 20 points lunch in class, etc. Joanne Jenkins, Toronto, ON.

~~ Have a class set of water proof (in plastic / laminated) name tags to use on class trips or for the supply (substitute) teacher. Sophy Wong, Niagara Street School, Toronto, ON

~~ I use a course web folder - each has a class email, folders with notes, activity sheets, links, connections to the etextbook, assignments & rubrics and the daily / monthly schedule for classes and homework. The students love adjusting the homework and task schedule to meet what is happening in their life. K. Gekiere, Toronto.

~~ I bought a large hanging shoe bag to store calculators. Students have an index card with names written in bright colors. To check out a calculator, they place their index card in the slot. This way I know who borrowed a calculator in the event I lose one. Danira Fernandiz-Flora, KS.

~~ When 2 students demonstrate they can't work together and must move, I have them roll a big pair of red dice - lowest number has to move and tranquility is restored to the table. no name, Workshop Participant, Toronto, ON

~~ I have an "Electronicator Box" in the front of the room that holds ALL cell phones - keeping them safe but out of busy hands during lessons. no name, Workshop participant, Toronto, ON.

~~ Start class with student "good news". This gets them talking and shows interest in their on-goings. (can be an oral or written activity). Keri Lauxman, Lawrence, KS.

~~ Hot glue posters to walls - they stay up and the glue won't take off the paint on your walls. no name, workshop participant, KS.

~~ With spring approaching, have a "plant race". Use the basic seed-in-a-paper-cup germination activity, but award prizes for fastest growth or most leaves, etc. Let students try various things from their own home to affect growth.

~~ Time for spring parent-teacher conferences - remember to have a bowl of candy or some other munchie available at the conference table. A small, sweet offering goes a long way to get the conference off to a good start.

~~ Change the seating arrangements / classroom layout with every new unit. Helps keeps things fresh and novel.

~~ Keep unit sheets in individual files in a stand alone box. Have students grab their file as they come in the door - attendance is finished.

~~ A "C layer" assignment choice for character analysis in an English class: Have the students create a list of daily "tweets" the character would have posted to a Twitter account.

~~ I painted my old, metal teacher’s desk with chalkboard paint and let my students and visitors autograph my desk and draw on it. Then in the summer I paint over the drawings and they can start over the next year. Connie Mclaughlin , South Dakota

. ~~ "C layer" assignment choice for character analysis in an English class: "Create a Facebook page for one of the characters". -seen at Brooklyn International High School.

~~ Encourage "go green" at your high school by designating one day a week that everyone rides the bus / carpools rather than taking their individual cars. Pass out breakfast bars as they board the bus or exit the carpool.

~~ Paint the walls of your classroom with chalkboard paint. Leave colored chalk around for students to create. - seen at Brooklyn International High School.

~~ Rather than the school hallway, install your student lockers inside classrooms - limits access and allows adult supervision around locker areas. - seen at Brooklyn International High School.

~~ When assigning math problems for homework, always send an answer sheet too. Have students self-check after every problem or two. Doing 20 - 30 problems incorrectly and not knowing until the next day, does more harm than good.

~~ Use manipulatives in Spanish to show stem and endings. No name, workshop participant, IL.

~~ I keep a bag full of mini jolly ranchers and give one out to a selected volunteer to clean boards, rewrite agendas, vocab, etc (wash desks even!) no name, Rockford, IL

~~ For spelling practice I make play dough (mixed with kool-aid to make it smell good) for students to practice spelling. They roll out the play dough and then form the word. Tom Ashley, Rockford, IL.