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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.
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Meet other teachers and share classroom tips on our online discussion board
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Your Tips
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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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No Need to Panic: Make Lists
Two weeks ago, we published a question from Maggie, a second-year middle school teacher struggling to gain control of her classroom. In a message titled, "Panic," she said, "I just can't get it together… I feel as if I have lost it." Many readers had advice for her. Here is one of our favorites.
From LK Williams (lokolamb@yahoo.com):
"Making lists helps me to eat the elephant -- one bite at a time. Make two lists covering what you bring to the teaching table: one listing your strong points and another listing your weaknesses. List the things that are going well in the classroom and those things that cause you concern. Label the lists however you like, but understand and like who you are and what you have to offer to students and your colleagues. Next, make lists of things that you can change and things that you can't change. When you finish making those lists (and any other that you can think of), take time to reflect and decide what action to take on each item, if any. Making lists can help bring real fears out into the open, uncover vague misapprehensions, and help direct your actions. When you do act, act on those things that you can change, learn to work with or around those that you can't, prioritize your actions, and enlist help when you can."
Chalkboard Cleaner Revisited
Last week, we ran a tip ("No More Chalk Dust") for using furniture polish to make your blackboards look like new. This tip prompted a strong objection from one reader...
From Pat DeWitt (pat_dewhitt@sjusd.org):
"Don't do it! Furniture polish will eventually stain your chalkboard so much that the chalk won't write on it. The chalkboard coating is actually a microscopically rough surface that scrapes off a little chalk every time you write on it. When you wipe off the chalk dust with an eraser, or even with water, you don't 'fill up' the texture. The oil in the polish will, and will make the bumps so slick that they won't scrape off the chalk. I was even told (decades back when I started teaching) that you need to 'reseason' the chalkboard even when you just wash it with water."
Question of the Week: Making the Most of Parent-Teacher Conferences
From the Works4Me Worker Bees:
"In many instances, teachers' interactions with their students' parents are limited to parent-teacher conferences. Whether you teach elementary, middle or high school students, how do you ensure that your meetings with parents are as healthy, productive and successful as possible?"
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Election Year in Elementary Schools
Heard Last Week in the Works4Me Lounge:
"I am curious if other elementary schools have planned any major events, mock elections, or units on voting during this election year? I would like to hear others' ideas/approach to this topic."
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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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