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Previous
Newsletters
Catch up on the ones you missed.
Tips Library
Browse hundreds of tips we've gathered over the years.
Works4Me Lounge
Meet other teachers and share classroom tips on our online discussion board
Send Us
Your Tips
We couldn't do it without you!
DISCLAIMER
Works4Me is a vehicle for instructional staff to share their ideas with other instructional staff. As such, it does not constitute an endorsement of any particular curriculum or teaching method by the National Education Association or any of its affiliates.
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First Day Organization and Confidence
From Courtney Gray, MaEd. (cmgray01@yahoo.com), a high school English teacher:
“I teach high school English on the block schedule. This first day plan takes a lot of preparation on my part, but the result is worth it. When my students walk in on the first day, their names are already taped down on the desks. I've checked with their previous English teachers to see what names they go by, especially since sometimes I'm only given an initial. Then, once the bell rings, I tell them to retrieve the pile from under the desk, sectioned off by block. Inside the first day packet is everything they need, from the student information form they fill out to the first week's vocabulary list to the syllabus and the homework for that night. Honors classes get the weekly agenda, too. They know I'm on top of things. I don't have to spend/waste time putting kids in their right seats or passing out materials. Plus, after ten years of teaching, I still get nervous. I appear completely calm and in control, which sets the tone for the semester.”
Opening Game
From Rob Walker (rwalker@kyrene.org):
“I play a game that requires critical thinking and observation skills called “Crossed or Uncrossed.” Prior to playing the game, I walk around the room with a pair of scissors in my hand, opening and closing them, and staring at them intently. I then have the kids put their desks in a circle or rectangle and tell them that I will pass the scissors to my right and say either crossed or uncrossed. I then tell them that they are to do the same, and I will tell them if they are correct or incorrect. The kids think that crossed and uncrossed relates to whether the scissors are opened or closed. In reality, it's whether or not my legs are crossed at the ankle. This drives them crazy, but most of them figure it out by the third or fourth time around the circle.”
Question of the Week: Classroom Show Off
From the Works4Me Worker Bees:
“We've all had students who think they know it all or just show off on the first day of school. What is the best way to handle these situations? We would like to hear tactful tactics from both elementary and secondary teachers.”
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Mentoring Program
Heard Last Week in the Works4Me Lounge:
"New teachers can often feel isolated and lost during their first year on the job, but mentoring programs that match seasoned pros with first-year rookies can make a huge difference. What are the qualities of a good mentor, and what are the characteristics of a good mentoring program?"
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Submit a Tip
We couldn't do it without you! Click here to submit a tip or reply to this email. Please contribute your own brief, practical, broadly applicable classroom tip to Works4Me. When submitting a tip, please include your full name, school, specific assignment (grade/subject), city and state. This newsletter is only as good as the tips we receive, so send your ideas today. |
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