My husband and I are cleaning out his family home with a plan to move there this summer. His mother passed away two years ago, and she was a wonderful woman and a bit of a pack rat. She saved everything from dishware to wrapping paper to t-shirts from her boys’ scouting days. Amidst the…
Do you have a bag of tricks? You know what I’m talking about, right? It’s a mental list of quick activities you can use to get students on track, transition them to a new activity, get their attention, or fill up unexpected time. A bag of tricks is a helpful and necessary classroom management tool–and…
Well, 2019 is here! Whenever a new year rolls around, I think it’s nice to explore some new transitions to use in the classroom. It’s a fun way to hold your students’ interest and keep your classroom fresh and lively! Check out these fun classroom management options: Eenie Meenie Miney Moe This fun chant is…
Okay, okay–I know we’re just barely into August so it isn’t time for school to start yet. Don’t slash my tires and send me death threats for putting up a back-to-school type of blog post. But I know that August is the perfect time to start thinking about classroom management. Maybe you’re a new teacher…
I am a reasonably clean and germ-aware individual. In my opinion, I’m neither too obsessed nor too lax in my cleanliness. I flush the toilet with my foot, I wash my hands frequently, and I use a paper towel to open the door when leaving the bathroom. Because you know there are people out there…
How annoying is it to receive a nameless student paper? It’s incredibly annoying. But, as a teacher, it wasn’t one of those serious management issues that I felt I needed to tackle immediately. I mean, teachers are busy, right? There were a million and one things on my list. Coming up with a method for…
When I first started teaching, my classroom management skills were not what I would call stellar. I just didn’t know all the tricks—all those things that seasoned teachers have picked up to get their classes quiet, to fill time before a special, or to handle students who don’t raise their hands. My lack of classroom…
Sometimes the best teacher tips use the simplest supplies—or no supplies at all! Check out my current favorite tips that you can implement in a jiffy. Need to get students’ attention? Do it with an invisible remote control (or a real one you don’t use anymore). Simply pantomime holding up a remote and say “click”…
I love tips that make me say to myself, “Holy cow, I’ve never thought of that before!” That’s why I’m a sucker for those lifehack lists people share on Facebook. Clean your keyboard with a sticky note? Sounds great to me! Transform a pants hanger into two chip clips? I’m on it! Keep your boots…