Classroom Management and Google Tip of the Day

Hi everyone!

Here's a quick little tip to start your Saturday. I always number my students. Number your students! For SO MANY REASONS. 

First of all, confidentiality. I can take anecdotal notes on student number 4 without everyone in the school knowing who that is. 

Also, I don't need to relabel things in my classroom every single year - there are some things that are numbered and just stay. Next, the teacher is number 1. 

When I set up programs or sign up for things online, I am student number 1, and I can experience everything as a student. 

When we line up for fire drills, we are in numbered order to make it simple for the teacher (or substitute) to determine if we are missing anyone. Just yell, "One!" and everyone else starts yelling their numbers in order. 

Finally, in Google Slides, if I give kids an assignment, slide 1 is the directions, and the students can each work on their numbered slide. It makes life easy!

Just another tip to make life easier for us teachers!

Teacher Planners

I'm just a wee bit frugal...and every year I have created my own grid on the computer, filled in my schedule, printed them double sided and hole punched the pages to go into a cute binder. That was my plan book. Still is. But THIS. THIS is on my wish list. You can basically create the plan book you like, with various types of pages, like seating charts and grading pages, and personalize it to fit your needs! It is just so cute and organized! I know there are online plan books that lots of teachers are using now, but, call me old-fashioned, I just like writing down my plans and having that quick reference where ever I am, whenever!

Click the link below to check out the website for ordering information. It's never too early to start on next year!

Erin Condren Teacher Planners Website

Substitute Teacher Plans

So, I had to take a personal day today. UGH! Is that not the WORST? I know what non-teachers say...that we get a day off. But a day off from school is actually much MUCH more work. I spent all week creating sub plans. They were LONG. DETAILED. I prepped my kids yesterday. They KNOW what is going on in school today. While I sat in the doctor's office I was picturing chaos and insanity ensuing in my lovely little classroom. Oh yea, and then there's the dreaded sub note I will find ominously sitting on my desk when I return.

Anyway, I have some strategies to help sick days and personal days run a little smoother. First of all, my class is well-trained always. They know the routine and usually correct each other without a teacher having to do so. Next, I have a nifty sub binder. It is bright pink and sitting on my back counter. It is FILLED with class lists, bus lists, sick day sub plans, classroom routines, referrals, attendance slips, lunch slips, calendars, etc. IN ADDITION, I have a SUB TUB. I've seen this on Pinterest and decided to create my own. Inside my SUB TUB, I have emergency activities, totally read. A few math games, some Scholastic magazines, etc.

Even with all of these precautions in place, a day away from school is still stressful. I've checked my email 4 times already!