If you are like me, you are just a few days away from jumping back into the classroom. I am so excited to get back into my room, start decorating, and start planning for the new academic year. This year will be my 20th year teaching. WOWZERS! Where has the time gone?
Along the way, I have learned a few things that have taken a lot of pressure off me when it comes to preparing my classroom and getting ready for the new bunch of students that are coming in. I’m going to share some of these ideas with you so you can have more time to prep your amazing lessons and more time for yourself at the end of the work day. What I am about to show you works for me and hopefully they will work for you, too. I use them each and every day — and both my students, and their parents, appreciate them.. and I like the time that these simple, yet efficient ideas give back to me throughout the entire school year.
1. I’m the VIP Classroom Management Technique
You might have already read about my VIP management system from THIS blog post. I created this because I was so tired of trying to maintain a rotation system for classroom jobs. I always ran into the problem of keeping up with who did what job, and I always managed to skip over someone even though I tried to keep running records throughout the year. I was spending more time maintaining my classroom job chart than I should have been.
Besides the extra time I have to do other things for my classroom when this system is put in place, the package does touch on life skills and self reflection as well. Should you chose to, your students will fill out an application form for the job of VIP, can reflect upon their experiences, and can also receive a “performance” evaluation at the end of their week. Certificates are also included to thank your VIPs for a job well done!
Ditch those rotating classroom jobs and implement the VIP system! The time you will save yourself makes it totally worth it! To get your own, just click on the product picture up above.
2. Special Needs Checklists
Ever have a parent drop off a Conners evaluation with a very short deadline? Ever be in an IEP meeting and forget to talk about an observation you had last month? Do you scribble notes in your teacher planner about students at risk and then forget about them? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, this product is for you.
These observational checklists are not a valid way of diagnosing your students but they are a great way to keep track of your thoughts and concerns about certain students. Each page has space for anecdotes and can be used by each team member when addressing concerns about specific students. These checklists can also be shared with parents, too! To get your own, just click on the product picture up above.
3. Neurodiversity: How I Learn Activities for Students & Teachers
One of the best things you can do for your students is to find out as soon as possible how they learn and the second best thing that can happen is that your students become aware that their classmates all learn in different ways and at different tempos. With these activities, your students will begin to reflect upon the uniqueness of their brains and all the wonderful things that they do with it! To learn more about what is in this package, click HERE. To get your own, just click on the product picture up above.
4. Fully Editable Half Page Homework Slips
I used to spend so much time getting my students to write their homework in their own agendas. By the time they wrote it down and I ran around to check that everyone had written it down correctly, 25 minutes had flown by! 25 precious teaching minutes were gone fighting with students to get their homework written down.
Are you looking for a solution to getting your homework assigned quickly and efficiently? Want to give out homework just once a week – and staple or glue it easily into your students’ agendas? Look no further! These easy to use, fully editable 1/2 page homework slips are exactly what you need! All twelve months of the year are included with culturally diverse clipart.
These homework slips come in 3 different forms. Group A is completely blank with text boxes for you to add your own categories and assignments. Group B has specific subjects “locked down” on the page, but text boxes are provided for the date and assignments. Group C is completely blank with checkmark boxes for your students to use and fill in their own homework assignments. Text boxes are provided for the date and you may add your own text boxes if you would like to add the homework assignments to the slip. To get your own, just click on the product picture up above.
5. Freebies!
Who doesn’t love a freebie?!? These 3 files are ready for you to download at the I Heart Grade 3 TpT store! It’s my little thank you to you for stopping by and supporting my little blogging adventure!
To get your Code of Conduct posters, click HERE.
To get your Just Think About It posters, click HERE.
To get your I Spy field trip activity, click HERE.
Have a great day!
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