Ideas

#1 - The Binder

The idea of having ONE place that you go to for almost everything, and keep almost everything is a little impossible. As teachers we have SOOOO much stuff! But, I got this idea from another blog, so I made it my own, and decided to share with you. I will post the PDF under Freebies so you can use what I made, or you can design your own.

Cut out and stuck into a binder I got from the school. 

Following are the pages I made to put under Lesson Planning:

Backwards planning template - made in PowerPoint, different colors for each grade

Filled in curriculum chart. I took my districts curriculum and  ordered it, then I layed out which topics were taught at each level on the bottom. Again, color coded by grade level and made in PowerPoint.

My take on a "DYI Post-it Planner" - I liked the colorful idea of the post it planner, but it seemed like a bunch of money to put into something, when I would have to transfer the information to something I could turn in to my appraiser anyways. So I made a chart that I can write in, and can copy (always use school resources before your own!!) and just transfer the data to my "turn in" copy. 

#2 - Weather Chart - This is another idea I got from elementary. I turned it into French as a great way to keep practicing weather phrases everyday! Its already set up, so we can take 30 seconds in a class to just say what the weather is like today!

What you need: printed out pictures and words, ribbon/string, scissors, poster board, glue, whole punch, and something to attach the arrows to - chip clips, or I used bobby pins. 

Finished captions, my thermometer doesn't look as great as the one I saw done before, but  its what I came up with! Please share if you can make a better one! :)  - Again, you can access these print outs on the Freebies page. 

#3 - The DIY Hall Pass

Like I said in my blog post, I was a little unenthusiastic about the hall pass I found to purchase online. It was in French, but I knew I could do better (well if its better will be up to you!)

I bought 2 wooden door hanger sign thingies (99 cents each), some blue, white, and red paint (French flag colors), a black paint pen, and a stencil. I already had paint brushes (these are tres cheap at Walmart or anywhere though). I spent about 10 bucks total.  

Supplies: wooden door hangers, stencil, paint brushes, acrylic paint (its washable!), paint pen, and of course, NEWS PAPER to save your table! 

I started with the white since it was the lightest, then did red, and last blue

Make sure to get the edges (but I didn't do the back)

Let the paint dry about 45 minutes or so. 

And make sure to let them dry somewhere different from where you painted so that they don't stick to the paper. I just moved them to the other side of the table. If you don't paint the sides, then they won't stick, but painting the sides gets paint on the paper and then its all stuck together (especially the ring in the top of the wood)

Once it is dry, use the paint pen (or regular paint - I used the pen because my stenciling skills are less than proficient! You can also buy stencil tape to help you out) to fill in the stencil and right your words on there! and Voila! Finis! 

#4 - French Passport of Achievement

This is a great idea that I got from one of my new co-workers! I like it because I was starting to feel overwhelmed with keeping track of all of the different components of student performance (grades, participation, behavior). This consolidates all of them!

With this, you can stamp it or give a sticker every time the student does well in any of the components. Then once the student reaches a certain number of stamps (whatever you decide) they get a prize. I will have different levels of prizes and different amounts of stamps the students need to get each. I have not yet decided what it will be.

I used Microsoft publisher to make a "card" which prints it into a 4 page foldable. I will put the publisher file on the Freebies page, but if you can't get it working, then it is easily reproducible. It took me maybe 3 minutes to make. 

The first page

Inside: Homework/Participation and Performance (grades)

Back page: Behavior

#5 - Directions Magnets

These I love because you can give the class directions, then put the basic directions (turn it in, stay seated) on the board, so that the students don't have to ask you those questions like "do we turn it in???" " can I sit by bobby???" They will do it at first anyways, but if you are consistent, they will adjust.

This will also go on the Freebies page. I just printed them on card stock (or you can laminate them, or both) and then used magnet sticky things to put them on the white board.

You can only put up the ones you want, or just check the ones the students should follow.