So, I'm pretty sure if I hadn't learned anything new from
#edcampTULSA, it would have still been worth it to attend just for the opportunity to snoop around other teachers' classrooms to see what they are up to. I've posted about the math and science specific ideas I plan on stealing. Today, I'm posting pictures of more general ideas I'm thinking about incorporating in my own classroom.
My first experience with a parking lot in the classroom was at an OGAP conference last summer. Every table was given pads of sticky notes. And, we were told that we could post any questions, comments, or concerns that we had on the parking lot. And, the coordinators would make sure that they were covered or taken care of. I don't think anybody used it at all. That doesn't make it a good idea at all.
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| Parking Lot Poster |
One of my main goals for this summer is to work on my classroom management strategies. I'm going to be really honest. Classroom management is probably my weakest area in the classroom. I need to make some major changes. I went into teaching assuming that high school students were capable of knowing when it was appropriate and inappropriate to do certain things. For example, when I'm working a problem out on the SMART Board, it is inappropriate to have a conversation with your neighbor. But, you wouldn't know that by looking at my students. I'm getting sick and tired of hearing myself say "You should not be talking right now. You should not be talking right now." After two years, I've learned that going in without a plan does not lend to a well-managed classroom. So, next year is going to be different. I'm finally seeing the importance of procedures and everything else that I read about before I started teaching.
I'm thinking that if I can train my students to use the parking lot from the very beginning of the school year, it could be very beneficial. It's going to take training and practice, though.
If I am going to have more procedures, I am going to need to find a way to communicate those procedures to my students. I liked this procedure sign that I found in one classroom.
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| Classroom Procedure Poster Reminder |
I liked these Book / Brain / Beyond posters that I saw posted in several classrooms. I know I need to ask my students to do a lot more tasks involving #2 and #3.
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| Book / Brain / Beyond Posters |
I have a box of these clear plastic dry erase pockets in my cabinet. I used them a lot last year, but this year I've been using double sided dry erase boards that my school purchased for me. I liked the idea of storing papers in these pockets for student access. This teacher used the pocket to hold talent show applications. But, I could store anything in them. Since they are see-through, students could easily see what they were accessing.
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| Using Dry Erase Pockets for Organization |
Outside one classroom, the teacher had a frame that invited students to ask them about their college experiences at Oklahoma State University and The University of Tulsa. As a Tulsa grad myself, I was excited to see someone else repping the Golden Hurricanes. It made me realize, though, that I'm not quite sure I've ever asked my students to ask me about my college experience. I've got a couple of TU flags hanging my classroom, and I'll gladly answer questions. But, I've never really sought out their questions. I teach in a community where the majority of our students do not go on to higher education. Some do, and hopefully more will in the future. In the mean time, I need to make sure that my students know that I am more than willing to sit down with them and talk about what college is like.
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| College Display |
In one classroom, I saw a teacher use baseball card holder pages to display senior pictures. I thought this was a brilliant idea! Of course, it's not quite feasible for my classroom and situation. In two years of teaching, I've been given one senior picture. ONE. Maybe I'll be able to collect this many senior pictures by the time I retire...
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| Senior Picture Display |
For the past two years, I've had all of my students turn their papers into the same tray. Next year, I think I'm finally going to make trays for each class. This should save me time and frustration in grading. Now, I just have to find a place in my classroom to put six different trays. This should be interesting...
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| Turn In Trays by Hour |
I'm going to be honest. I'm not sure what this teacher used this pocket chart for. But, it definitely caught my eye. I'm posting this more as a reminder to myself to use the pocket charts I bought last summer at Target. Actually, I need to figure out what I even did with the pocket charts. I haven't used them at all. If anyone has any great ideas for using pocket charts, please share!
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| Pocket Chart |
I'm also starting to think about how I want to grid my dry erase board next year. I've taught for two years and done it two different ways so far. I kind of like the idea of showing a whole week at once. But, I've never done it this way. And, I'm not sure if it would make it harder or easier to maintain.
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| Assignment Grid Board |
I think I posted a similar version of this bulletin board yesterday. This one features a day of the week on each folder, though. I can see myself using this for either absent work or extra handouts.
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| File Folders on Bulletin Board |
Isn't this bulletin board adorable? The teacher took a picture of each class period that she teaches. Every week, she selects a student from each class to fill out a survey about themselves. Their answers are displayed next to the picture of that class inside a picture frame. The board is labeled as Gents and Ladies. I'm thinking of doing this next year to replace my Star Students Board.
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| Gents and Ladies Bulletin Board |
I'm also in love with this turn in tray. It's just a cardboard cover for a stacking paper tray. But, it prevents students from retrieving papers after turning them in or looking at other people's papers. Plus, I love that the make-up papers have to go in a separate tray. I'm thinking about changing my policy on late work for next year, so having a dedicated tray for that would be especially useful!
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| Paper Turn In Tray |
Outside of each classroom, each teacher posts what book they are reading, what book they just read, and what book they want to read. I would love to see this happen at my school. What would happen if I just made these signs and hung them up outside each classroom? Do you think teachers would just start using them? It couldn't hurt, right???
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| Classroom Reading Poster |
I saw these "Time to be Kind" clocks in several classrooms. One of these clocks was distributed to every teacher to post in their classroom. I'm thinking that this could be a student council initiative next year. We could have a week that focused on random acts of kindness. And, these could be posted around the school as a reminder.
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| Time to be Kind Clock |