Tried and True Teacher Tips

These are some things that I have found to be helpful in my teaching career. 

I hope you'll find them to be useful in your classroom.

Keeping student desks organized-

Once a week, usually on Fridays, we have a Desk & Binder Clean.  This is a 5-10 minute break in our schedule that students use to clean their desks and binders.  I have a policy that every paper must be in a folder (hopefully the correct one) and not just shoved in their desks.  Students use this time to make sure all of their paperwork is organized correctly, art supplies are put where they belong, and desks and cubbies are neat and tidy.  Students whose materials are already in good shape may have some rare free time or pitch in to help a classmate who is more "organizationally challenged".  Believe it or not, many of them are eager to take the second option.  This time has been so beneficial for my students since we are so busy each day and they don't get much down time for organization.  It is rare that we have a lost or misplaced paper because they really understand the expectations for organization.  If I forget to announce Desk & Binder clean time, they are very quick to remind me!

Collecting Homework-

Students turn their homework into labeled letter trays when they arrive in the morning.  There are trays for each subject.  Social Studies and Science share a tray, since they usually don't have homework in both of these subjects on the same night. 

I have small checklists with the students' names and numbers on them.  I use one of these for each assignment to check off who has turned in their homework.  I can easily see who has not turned their papers in.  I can also make a note of absences, late homework, homework passes, etc.  Students who finish their morning work love to be homework checkers and use the checklists to check off homework papers and remind students to turn in their work if they haven't.

Assigning Homework-

Our school assigns each student in our grade an assignment book, which we refer to as a "planbook".  When students arrive in the morning, after they have taken care of lunch count and homework, they fill out their planbook for the day.  We have a planbook board where the other  teachers and I write what the students will learn about in class and any homework.  Homework is always circled, so students know exactly what their assignments will be. I have a magnetic heading for each subject. 

Students come up with their planbook each morning for a quick face to face time with me.  I can verify that their planbook was filled out correctly, that they have all of their work, and that a parent has signed the planbook as well.  I stamp the page to show that I have checked it.

Missing Homework-