Here are 5 classroom tips that just came to mind that I thought I’d like to share with you:
1. How to learn students’ names? – Have students write their names on a half sheet of paper, folded in half like a tent and print their first name on the paper in THICK black felt pen. Pick up a few black markers before classes start!
At the end of the class have the students put their name cards in an envelope by the door before leaving, to be picked up again on the way in, next class. These envelopes can be tacked to your bulletin board with the class name on it. THIS is even great at semester turn around if you have one!
2. Plan, copy, and organize your materials for the following school week before you leave on Friday! Have them on your desk or the counter by a window with the “day” on a piece of paper on each pile. Easy peasy! All ready to go. No Sunday evening nightmares or sleepless nights!
3. Put together an “emergency sub plan” that is multi-graded and leave it on your desk! This should be something that will work for multi-grades and can be easily done with a non French speaking sub if you are away! (ie. A webquest or a review package of materials) The only thing the sub needs to do is photocopy before classes begin.
4. Even for high school students’ parents: Send a quick update once a month on what you have been doing in class and what you plan to do next month. Even high school parents LOVE to know what their kids are learning about. If you don’t want to email everyone and have a class “on-line page” find a section to include information for parents on it.
5. If you are doing “interactive notebooks” find a good place in your classroom for your students to leave their notebooks in the room. There’s nothing worse than starting an activity together to find out that 5 of your students have left them at home. Allow them to take them home occasionally for study review or to allow more time to do a longer activity. Always have your own completed copy of the interactive notebook on hand! A substitute teacher will love you for this!
À la prochaine! Lorraine
