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.